Race favorite Suave Richard captures Copa Republica Argentina

Race favorite Suave Richard rose to meet fans’ expectations with a stupendous turn of foot in the stretch as he scooped the Copa Republica Argentina at Tokyo. The 3-year-old, a son of Heart’s Cry, was out in front at the finish by 2 1/2 lengths, with the 5-year-old seventh pick Sole Impact finishing in second place and third choice Sede Brillantes over the line another length and a quarter back in third.

Race second choice Albert, saddled with the race top weight of 58.5 kg, finished in fourth place, with Curren Mirotic making the board in fifth.

Suave Richard was racing under Mirco Demuro for the first time, at the distance for the first time, and he was competing against older horses for the first time. He was also racing for the first time in over 5 months after turning in a second-place finish in the Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby).

From the gate and after a bit of hesitation, Meiner Sage took the lead, followed by Curren Mirotic, as they drew the field of 16 over the 2,500 meters of firm turf in the day’s main race. Suave Richard took an inside track racing just fore of midfield.

Into the straight and still hugging the rail, Suave Richard changed leads at the 400-meter mark, then shot forward between frontrunners Meiner Sage and Curren Mirotic to take the lead. Sole Impact, running under 53 kg (three less than Suave Richard) made his move on the outside as he fought to gain on Suave Richard nearly 2 lengths out in front. With 200 meters to go, however, it was clear there was to be no catching the eventual winner, who romped over the line ahead in a time of 2 minutes 30 seconds flat, a full 0.4 seconds ahead of the runnerup. His time over the final 3 furlongs was 35 seconds.

The 55th running of the Grade 2 Copa Republica Argentina gave Mirco Demuro what would be his only win of his six rides Sunday, his fifth win of the three-day racing weekend. Suave Richard gave both Demuro and trainer Yasushi Shono their first wins of the race and, for Shono, his second win of Grade 2 level races.

Suave Richard, out of the U.S.-bred mare Pirramimma, was bred at Northern Farm and is owned by NICKS. He now has three wins and three seconds from his career seven starts. The win of the Copa Republica Argentina was worth 57 million yen.