Eyes of the racing world on Japanese filly in $10 million Golden Eagle

Expect a flood of Japanese horses to target the Golden Eagle in the coming years if champion filly Ascoli Piceno wins the $10m race next Saturday.

So say the connections of Ascoli Piceno, who hope to emulate the feats of Japanese horse Obamburumai in last year’s feature for four-year-olds.

Joao Moreira rides Golden Eagle favourite Ascoli Piceno for the first time at Canterbury on Wednesday.Credit: Jessica Hromas/SMH

Japan produces some of the best – and fastest – horses in the world, but the Golden Eagle prizemoney has certainly put Sydney on the map with so many owners and trainers.

The Japanese tidal wave could have started much earlier if Australian Turf Club officials succeeded in their pursuit of brilliant filly Gran Alegria at the end of 2019. The ATC came close, but there were difficulties with suitable transport.

To appreciate just how good Ascoli Piceno is, rival jockey Tommy Berry took one look at the filly at Canterbury this week and declared: “I think if she gets all the luck in running, we won’t be beating her – I don’t think anything will get close to her; she’s that good.”

Three-year-olds bred on northern hemisphere time are classed as four-year-old in Australia.

Ascoli Piceno was bred by Northern Farm, the powerhouse operation involved with Delta Blues and Pop Rock, the Japanese duo that finished first and second in the 2006 Melbourne Cup.

Northern Farm’s international racing manager, Yusuke Sai, tipped the interest back home to go to another level if Ascoli Piceno wins.

“I think you will see more horses come to Australia, for sure,” Sai said.

“The travel time from stable to stable is 24 hours, which isn’t too bad. You have the prizemoney, which is worth $5 million to the winner. And at this time of year, there are only a few suitable races for three-year-old fillies over the mile.

“This is a good race for her. She is a very good horse.

Japanese miler Obamburumai wins last year’s Golden Eagle with Josh Parr in the saddle.Credit: Getty

“Racing in Japan is a big sport, she’s a famous filly, so there are lots of fans who follow her.”

Ascoli Piceno and fellow Japanese filly Corazon Beat arrived at Canterbury, in Sydney’s south-west, to begin quarantine on October 15. Strict government protocols require all participants, including Sai, assistant trainer Kenjiro Suzuki, and Yusuke Arakawa, the foreman for Northern Farm Tenei, to shower for three minutes and scrub their phones before exiting the training facility. The trio have spent the past ten days sampling different restaurants each night along Norton St in Leichhardt.

Champion jockey Joao Moreira sat on Ascoli Piceno for the first time on Wednesday, and he was not disappointed.

“She’s just good, man – I’m really excited,” Moreira said.

Ascoli Piceno, a filly which has won four of her six career starts and finished second twice, will start from barrier 17 on Saturday. She will return home before being targeted at big-money races in Saudi Arabia or Dubai early next year.

English horse Lake Forest is also staying at Canterbury, as is a fourth Golden Rose international, unbeaten French galloper Lazzat.