Albert – won’t accept
Horse name: Albert
Age: 7
Sex: Horse
Trainer: Noriyuki Hori (trainer of Maurice, Neorealism etc)
Owner: Masamichi Hayashi
Country: Japan
Attempt?: No
Formline: Tenno Sho
Distance Query?: No (actually, the distance might not be far enough!)
Path?:
Likes wet?:
Notes: Fifth in the Tenno Sho behind winner Kitasan Black, second placer Cheval Grand, and confirmed Cup hope Admire Deus (fourth). It’s a hot formline.
Has wins at Group 3 and Group 2 level, including the Group 3 Diamond Stakes over 3400m, and the Group 2 Nippon Sho over 3600m so he’ll eat up the two miles. He was also second in the Group 2 Copa Republica Argentina over 2500m behind Cheval Grand, with that race a handicap. Cheval Grand hasn’t nominated yet so that helps Albert!
Has beaten Admire Deus before too, back on Christmas Day 2016 in the Group 1 Arima Kinen (2500m).
Runs next on September 24th:
Melbourne Cup nominated marathon specialist ALBERT goes to the G2 2200m All Comers at Nakayama on 9/24 for his next start
— G (@LongBallToNoOne) September 2, 2017
I’ve contacted some Japanese sources to find out more about Albert. They’ve told me that he’s a real marathon man with a stayers sprint that takes awhile to wind up but can be sustained over a long distance. His trainer, who is high-calibre, might be able to really target the 3200m and try and get some more sprint into his legs.
Update: Look for horse number 2 in the maroon colours, coming down the outside:
UPDATE: Annnd he’s not coming. No Albert, no Japanese trained horse in the Cup!