Daiwa Major aims for DDF prize

Daiwa: Major, one of the best racehorses in Japan, is being aimed at the Dubai Duty Free (Gr 1) on World Cup night at Nad Al Sheba.

This son of legendary stallion Sunday Silence won three valuable events towards the end of the 2006 season, and he will be a strong contender in the $5 million turf race. The distance will suit him ideally.

In early October, Daiwa Major beat Dance In The Mood by a neck in the Minishi Okan (Gr 2) over 1800 metres at Tokyo racecourse.

Later in the month, he defeated Swift Current by half a length in the Tenno Sho (Autumn) (Gr 1) over 2,000 metres at the same venue, when Admire Moon, Cosmo Bulk Sweep Tosho, Dance In The Moon and Asakusa Den'en filled the next places. All these are solid G1 performers.

Three weeks later, he won the Mile Championship (Gr 1) at Kyoto. He beat Dance In The Mood by a neck, with Symboli Gran third. It set him up for a stamina test (and a clash with the champion Deep Impact) in the 12.5-furlong Arima Kinen (Gr 1) at Nakayama on December 24.

Deep Impact was too good for him but Daiwa Major also surrendered to the Melbourne Cup (Gr 1) runner-up Pop Rock, who beat him by 3/4 length for third. Deep Impact won by 3 lengths.

Dream Passport, who had been second to Deep Impact in the Japan Cup (Gr 1), was just a nose behind Daiwa Major in the Arima Kinen and Meisho Samson (6th in the Japan Cup) came home in fifth.

Surprise loss

Back in February 2006, Daiwa Major was beaten 5 lengths when second to Balance Of Game in the 1,800-metre Nakayama Kinen (Gr 2) - run on soft ground - and in April he won the Yomiuri Milers Cup (Gr 2) at Hanshin, by holding Dance In The Mood 3/4 length behind this time. He went on to take the Victoria Mile (Gr 1) over the same course and distance in May, and landed the valuable Cash Call Mile (G3) at Hollywood Park in July.

Daiwa Major has the measure of Dance In The Mood every time they meet, but with her fillies' allowance she often makes him pull out all the stops.

Both these runners kept their form remarkably well through the season in Japan, where Daiwa Major was a serious threat to all but Deep Impact in 2006. This Duty Free runner is effective from 1,600 to 2,000 metres, he is almost certainly best suited by firm ground, and is a thoroughly game and genuine runner.

We saw Heart's Cry, another son of Sunday Silence, win the Sheema Classic (Gr 1) in good style for Japan last year, and Daiwa Major is every bit as good as that performer.

That probably says it all - this horse holds a winning chance in the Duty Free.

- Geir Stabell can be contacted at www.globeform.com