Since Maurice’s victory in 2016, overseas runners have been absent from the winner’s enclosure in the HK$24 million G1 FWD Champions Mile (1600m) at Sha Tin, but this year they appear to have a strong chance on FWD Champions Day (Sunday, 26 April).

One is Jantar Mantar, named 2025 JRA Champion Miler. The other is Strauss, who secured his first overseas victory with an emphatic win in the Listed Abu Dhabi Gold Cup (1600m) on 7 February.

Five-year-old Jantar Mantar won the G1 Asahi Hai Futurity Stakes (1600m) at two and the G1 NHK Mile Cup (1600m) at three. Last year, he also captured the spring and autumn mile titles with victories in the G1 Yasuda Kinen (1600m) and the G1 Mile Championship (1600m). Having swept all domestic Group 1 mile races available for colts/horses, he is widely regarded as the leading miler currently in training.

Jantar Mantar is bred by Shadai Farm and trained by Tomokazu Takano, who is based at the JRA-Ritto Training Centre, near Osaka. After winning the Mile Championship last November, the son of Palace Malice was sent to Yamamoto Training Centre, the pre-training farm of Shadai Farm for a spell.

At first, connections wanted to try him over a longer distance than a mile and were planning to run in the G1 Dubai Turf (1800m) in March, but they decided to skip it because of the circumstances in the Middle East.

Instead of cancelling his trip, they shifted to target the race in Hong Kong.

“When the trip to the Middle East was abandoned, we had several options for him both in Japan and overseas. As Japan’s leading miler, the mile in Hong Kong should be the best choice for him, so that was the reason why the decision was made,” said Tetsuya Yoshida, the President of Shadai Race Horse.

Jantar Mantar has shown consistency in his career, finishing in the top three in nine of ten starts. His only disappointing defeat came in the 2024 G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Mile (1600m) when he finished 13th to Voyage Bubble.

However, several factors contributed to the defeat. He had to skip the G2 Fuji Stakes (1600m) in October prior to the trip due to a fever. Although they regrouped and brought him over to race, it seemed connections weren’t able to fully get him into top condition within the limited time frame. As a result, he returned to the race from a long break and was not able to produce his best performance. In addition to that, in the race, he found interference when heading into the stretch.

Since Jantar Mantar returned to the JRA’s Ritto Training Centre, he has been training very well.

Trainer Tomokazu Takano said: “In his gallop at Ritto two weeks ago, with jockey Yuga Kawada in the saddle, we had done what we had in mind at the level close to the races. Last week he had a final gallop before he left for Hong Kong, and he felt really good without pushing him too hard. He was in good enough shape to deliver the result even if he were racing on that weekend. He is in the same great condition as how he was for last year’s Mile Championship.”

Tetsuya Yoshida said: “He wasn’t able to show his best in Hong Kong last time, so this time we really want the Hong Kong racing fans to see the real Jantar Mantar. He’s in perfect condition and has been fully prepared for the race.”

By Mariko Seki

Photo: HKJC