Dubai World Cup offers relief for Japan

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) - When Buena Vista takes the track Saturday at the Dubai World Cup, the five-year-old mare will be trying to win the world's richest horse race as well as aiming to lift the spirits of Japan.

It is one of three horses - along with Transcend and Victoire Pisa - in the $10 million race that hail from disaster-ravaged Japan.

The mare had already arrived in Dubai when the March 11 earthquake and tsunami struck Japan, but its owners have been forced to relocate 200 other horses and staff from one of its training centers because it was only 19 miles from the damaged Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power plant.

``Every citizen is downhearted after the recent tragedies, and I am sure a victory would lift spirits of the Japanese people,'' said Katsumi Yoshida, a trustee of Sunday Racing Co., which owns Buena Vista. ``Buena Vista is indeed very popular with the racing fans so a victory can only be a good thing for everyone.''

While they are competitive on the track, all three Japanese owners spoke with one voice when it came to the crisis back home. They all said success Saturday could rally the spirits of the country which is struggling to recover from the disaster which so far has killed more than 9,000, left nearly 14,000 missing and could end up costing the country $309 billion.

``Many of those people who died, were injured or suffered from the earthquake or tsunami included lots of horse racing fans,'' said Koji Maeda, the owner of Transcend. ``If my horse wins, it can help encourage them and strongly hope it does.''

Katsuhiko Sumii, the trainer of Victoire Pisa, said he initially considered pulling out of the race.

``My personal feeling was should we really be racing? At first I thought so,'' Sumii said.

``But with the results of this race, we hope to bring back some hope and courage to the people of Japan,'' he said. ``We have three Japanese horses in the biggest race. We have all come together and we are looking for a very good race because all the horses are in terrific condition.''

Horse racing is one of Japan's most popular sports, but until now no Japanese horse has managed to win the Dubai World Cup. By most accounts, this year could be different, with all three horses considered a legitimate chance of winning the race which involves 14 horses from five countries.

Simon Crisford, racing manager at the Dubai ruler Sheik Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum's Godolphin stables, called the three Japanese horses ``top, top notch, top class, very good and very much respected.''

``I like Buena Vista a lot,'' Crisford said. ``The Japanese this year in particular have to be very, very respected because they are bringing quality class horses.''

Crisford is not alone in favoring Buena Vista among the three. Selected as the horse of the year in Japan in 2010, it remains a fan favorite and has the winning credentials after finishing second in Dubai last year in the Sheema Classic on the same day as the World Cup. She has eight wins in 17 career starts as well as six seconds and three thirds - meaning she has never finished out of the money.

Yoshida said that the horse was adapting well to Dubai and he was confident of success come Saturday.

``She looks fit, she has thrived since she arrived in Dubai, and if we did not think she had a chance we would not be here,'' he said in an e-mail interview. ``I know it's a top quality field, but I believe in Buena Vista's ability.''

But the other two horses also have strong records, with Transcend winning eight of its 15 starts and looking strong in training this week.

``He was galloping on this past Sunday as well, so I wanted to give him a steady gallop only for the (200m),'' Transcend's trainer Takayuki Yasuda said.

``As far as I saw him this morning, he looked great,'' he said. ``He eats up very well, and he came from the cold-weather country to Dubai with the warm climate, which was good for his condition. The surface of all-weather is the first experience for me, and I thought it would not be slippery more than expected, and horse seemed to get hold the surface. He usually sets the pace or just off the pace, so inside draw will be preferable.''

Victoire Pisa, meanwhile, has seven wins in 12 starts, including a victory over Buena Vista in December in the Arima Kinen which is a Grade I race in Japan.