UAE: Derma Sotogake will bid to become Japan’s first winner of the Kentucky Derby after a runaway victory in the UAE Derby on the Dubai World Cup undercard on Saturday [March 25].
Trainer Hidetaka Otonashi confirmed that America’s most famous race on May 6is the target for the colt after a breathtaking 5½-length victory in the $1 million contest, which guarantees a place in the starting gate at Churchill Downs.
A son of top US dirt sprinter Mind Your Biscuits, Derma Sotogake made every yard under Christophe Lemaire, powering away in the stretch to come home at the head of an amazing 1-2-3-4 for Japan in the G2 contest.
Otonashi said the winner will now travel straight from Dubai to Kentucky, where five-time JRA champion jockey Lemaire is set to keep the ride.
“It’s my first time here and Derma Sotogake is my first-ever runner,” said the trainer. “Now I have one runner and one winner – it doesn't get much better than that!
"We didn't exactly plan to go straight to the lead but but he broke well,” Otonashi went on. “We were expecting him to improve and go well but you can never expect things to go that well. We had a different jockey and different ground so you can never be sure how well it works out, but it did.
“He will go straight to Kentucky from Dubai. We'll discuss it but Christophe will probably keep it _ he said he would anyway!”
Lemaire, who later completed a fantastic double on the brillant Equinox in the Dubai Sheema Classic, added: “He can break a little slowly so it was important he began well to use his gate on the rail and he did just that. He travelled nicely on the lead and he relaxed for me down the back stretch. He was still moving smoothly for me as we came into the home stretch and once I pressed the button he was very impressive and I could enjoy the finish on him.
“I hope he goes to America and I would love to ride him there. How could anyone refuse that?”
Among the disappointments was Ballydoyle’s Kentucky Derby possible Cairo, sent off 9-4 favourite after his comeback victory at Dundalk but only tenth of 13 runners. “It was his first run on dirt and he just didn't enjoy himself,” said jockey Ryan Moore.
Cairo was one place ahead of Bob Baffert-trained Worcester, whose rider Frankie Dettori said: “I fluffed the start and struggled from then on.”
• Visit the Dubai Racing Club website and the Kentucky Derby website
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