Neither Katsuhiko Sumii, nor Katuichi Nishiura have particularly fond memories of their visit to Meydan a year ago, but the Japanese trainers are aiming to put that behind them by winning Saturday’s Dubai World Cup.
Nishiura had a particularly rough experience because his charge, Hokko Tarumae, finished last in the final World Cup on Tapeta and then suffered a severe bout of colic that resulted in a visit to the Godolphin equine hospital at Al Quoz.
He was the last of the Japanese horses to depart Dubai. Compatriots Just A Way and Gentildonna returned home with connections boasting victories in the Dubai Duty Free and Dubai Sheema Classic, but Nishiura had to make do with giving Hokko Tarumae a long period of convalescence.
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Hokko Tarumae did not run again until November, when he was fourth. He then rattled off two Group 1 victories on dirt to be crowned his country’s horse of the year on that surface.
An easy win in January under rider Hideaki Miyuki, who will be in the saddle on Saturday, and all of sudden the picture is much rosier.
“I really appreciate how they treated him here,” the 63-year-old trainer said. “Last year, he had a great trip, but in the final stretch he really slowed down.
“That was Tapeta, but it has changed to dirt, which is why we wanted to challenge again. He really wants to race. He is very comfortable here and is fresh and ready to go.”
Sumii saddled Denim And Ruby last year to finish 10th of 15 in the Dubai Sheema Classic. He had success previously when he won the Dubai World Cup with Victoire Pisa in 2011, but that victory was bittersweet.
A month previously, a tsunami in Japan killed almost 16,000 people and Victoire Pisa swept into the winners’ enclosure that night on a tide of emotion.
“The great earthquake happened immediately after the horses had left Japan,” Sumii said.
“The mood at home was, ‘Should we be actually conducting horse racing at all at this time?’ Luckily my horse was able to win.”
Last year, Japanese horses competed abroad 18 times, with the wins by Just A Way and Gentildonna in Dubai augmented by Hana’s Goal in the Group 1 All Aged Stakes in Australia a month later.
As an illustration of how strong Japanese racing can be, Hana’s Goal had failed to register a win at the highest level in Japan in five attempts.
Australia also provided the stage for Japan’s finest international performance last season when Admire Rakti stormed to victory in the Caulfield Cup.
Once again, disaster stalked the success as the horse subsequently died of cardiac arrest after finishing last in the Melbourne Cup. Sumii’s Epiphaneia was ranked in December second only to Just A Way in the world standings, despite beating him in the Japan Cup on turf.
At the post-position draw on Wednesday, Epiphaneia, who will be ridden by Christophe Soumillon, was drawn in Gate 8, one inside favourite California Chrome, while Hokko Tarumae will emerge from Stall 2.
Many believe Epiphaneia is the best horse in the US$10 million (Dh36.7m) event, despite the attention given to California Chrome and 2014 winner African Story.
But it remains to be seen whether the Japanese colt takes to the surface in the heat of international competition.
“Right after the flight from Japan the horse was very uptight,” Sumii said. “As the days have gone by, he has become very relaxed. The dirt seems different to that from the United States. A horse can get a lot of speed from the surface.
“At the same time the horse will require a lot of stamina. That is the impression me and my staff have got. He’s gradually getting used to it.”
With so much up in the air, it was important to hear Sumii sum up his chances.
With Japanese racing going riding a roller-coaster in Dubai in recent years, Sumii was in no position to be dogmatic. “I haven’t a clue,” he said.
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