Kane Hekili - a serious racehorse

Japan's top dirt performer Kane Hekili joins the mix and whoever decides to toss him out of their exotics may be quite mistaken. Named after 'The Thunder God' in Polynesian mythology, this is a serious racehorse.

Last year's winner of the Japan Cup Dirt (G1) may not, as yet, be confirmed among the best in the world but no horse can do more than win and that is exactly what he has become accustomed to at home.

At Nad Al Sheba, Kane Hekili gets that chance.

Kane Hekili was a narrow, but game, winner of the 2005 Japan Cup Dirt (G1) at Tokyo Racecourse where he beat Seeking The Dia by a nose. Kane Hekili's win was solid, rather than brilliant.

Breaking from post 10 in a 16-runner field, Kane Hekili was ridden from off the pace in the 11-furlong JC Dirt and came with a determined run to reach the lead a furlong out. He battled on well to pip the 51-1 shot Seeking The Dia.

He performed to GF 116+ in the Japan Cup Dirt. His best mark placed Kane Hekili high on our Top 100 three-year-old ranking in 2005. Only 25 three-year-olds earned a higher Globeform rating last year.

He improved again when dropping back to a mile in the February Stakes (G1) at the same course last month. This time, Kane Hekili broke from post 14 and once more the betting public showed absolute faith in the colt. He swept home for an easy 3-length win over Seeking The Dia. The Japan Cup Dirt exacta had been copied, which confirmed the form nicely.

Kane Hekili returned Globeform 120+ in the February Stakes. As he had shown his best form over 10 and 11 furlongs as a 3-year-old, this form over a mile may tell us that he is improving still.

The son of Fuji Kiseki (by Sunday Silence) was every bit as good as the best older dirt performers in Japan last summer.

After outclassing Sunrise Bacchus in the Derby Grand Prix (G1) in September (his fourth straight win), he was beaten by a combination of factors when the pair met again in the Hai Mushishino Stakes (G3) in October.

An unexposed 4-year-old, coming off an easy win in a Group One. Kane Hekili must be respected in the Dubai World Cup (G1). His nose-win in the Japan Cup Dirt, followed by a 3-length win in the February Stakes, gives him a very interesting form profile going into the big race.

That of a young horse who prevailed when he needed to become a bit more 'battle hardened' and then came back to win by daylight in his next big race. That kind of progress often leads to a very big run.

- Globeform.com