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| Staff Writer |
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Japanese master trainer Shozo Sasaki, who famously sent out Tap Dance City to contest the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe in 2004 and Kizuna for the same prestigious race in 2013, is embarking on his most ambitious international mission yet. As the countdown to the US$20 million Saudi Cup intensifies, Japan's latest dirt sensation, Ramjet, stands poised to take on his greatest challenge to date at King Abdulaziz Racetrack in Riyadh. The striking son of Majestic Warrior has been climbing the ranks of Japan's dirt division with a sequence of performances that mark him as something special. The Saudi Cup, contested over 1800 metres on dirt, has rapidly established itself as one of the world's most prestigious races since its inception in 2020, with its massive purse drawing elite performers from across the globe. For Japan's emerging dirt division, success here would represent another significant milestone in their international campaign.
At his Ritto Training Center base in Shiga Prefecture, Japan, Shozo Sasaki is completing his final preparations before departing for Saudi Arabia. The veteran trainer's eyes narrow with focused attention, missing nothing as his charge powers down the straight.
"He hasn't shown his full potential yet, but he was able to compete well with Forever Young. Considering his growth potential, I'm looking forward to seeing what happens next," Sasaki states candidly.
Few trainers understand the complexities of international racing quite like Sasaki. His reputation for masterfully preparing horses for global challenges was forged through an impressive string of international victories, including Tap Dance City's triumph in the 2003 Japan Cup Dirt and subsequent campaign in the 2004 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe. Kizuna added to this legacy with his victory in the 2013 Japanese Derby before his own Arc challenge that same year, while Earnestly secured multiple major successes, including the 2011 Takarazuka Kinen. This methodical approach to international campaigns has established Sasaki as one of Japan's most respected global operators.
The partnership between Sasaki and Koji Maeda's North Hills operation has been one of Japanese racing's most enduring success stories. "I was asked to take care of this horse by Mr Koji Maeda, the owner of North Hills," Sasaki explains. "The owner has been taking care of me since I opened my stable," he reflects, his voice carrying the weight of decades of shared triumphs. "In the past, he has helped me win many big races with Earnestly, Up to Date, and Kizuna. This trip was also decided at the owner's suggestion."
Sasaki's methodical approach to training has always set him apart. His attention to detail and understanding of each horse's individual needs have resulted in a string of Group One successes at home and abroad. With Ramjet, he sees a project still very much in development – a thrilling prospect given what the horse has already achieved.
"He's a horse that has won at 1400 metres and 2000 metres, so I'm not worried about the distance. He doesn't show his true colours, and he's not very intimidated, so I believe he'll run his own way overseas, and if he can do that, I'm sure we'll get good results."
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His most recent effort, strongly finishing third in the Gr.1 Tokyo Daishoten behind Forever Young and Wilson Tessoro, with Ushba Tesoro in fourth, showcased his continued progression. The performance gained added significance as he closed the gap on Forever Young to just 0.3 seconds, a dramatic improvement from the 1.4-second margin in their Japan Dirt Derby encounter.
The emergence of Ramjet represents another significant step forward for Japan's dirt programme, which has historically played second fiddle to the country's prestigious turf races. Recent international successes – including Forever Young's Kentucky Derby third-place finish and Ushba Tesoro's dramatic Dubai World Cup victory – have begun to shift perceptions dramatically. The last decade has seen Japanese dirt horses make significant strides on the global stage, with victories in major international races helping to validate the quality of the domestic programme. Ramjet's performances are now adding another compelling chapter to this evolving story.
Under the guidance of jockey Kosei Miura, Ramjet has developed a distinctive running style that, while sometimes unconventional, consistently delivers results. During his emphatic six-length victory in last year's Tokyo Derby at Oi Racecourse in Shinagawa, Tokyo, Miura observed, "Though he still idled a little bit at the home turn, I was sure he would catch the front after, so I was careful of him not losing concentration after he hit the front. He manages to win in surprising ways every time."
The bloodlines certainly suggest there's more to come. Ramjet's dam Nefertiti, by Gold Allure, traces back to the influential Unbridled's Song mare La Verita. Combined with his sire's A.P. Indy lineage, the genetic blueprint for classic-distance success on dirt is firmly in place. This pedigree blend of American dirt influences with Japanese stamina has proven particularly potent in recent years, producing horses capable of competing at the highest level internationally while maintaining the trademark consistency of Japanese-trained runners.
Sasaki's preparation for the Saudi Cup is characteristically meticulous. The trainer has planned four gallops in Japan before departure, followed by two more in Saudi Arabia. "I'm going to make sure to stretch out his final gallop," he explains. "I won't do anything special just because he's overseas, and I'll go with the same preparations as when I go to a race in Japan."
This pragmatic approach has served him well throughout his career, particularly in managing the complex logistics of international campaigns. The horse is scheduled to depart Japan for Saudi Arabia at 3:00 p.m. on 13 February, giving him ample time to acclimatise to his new surroundings. Every detail of the journey has been carefully considered, from dietary adjustments to exercise schedules, reflecting Sasaki's belief that success in international racing comes from maintaining consistency in training routines while adapting to local conditions. His experience with previous international raiders has taught him the importance of allowing horses time to settle into their new environment while maintaining their regular routine as much as possible.
The Saudi Cup's timing in February presents unique challenges, with runners having to adapt to the climate difference and the unusual training hours necessitated by the desert environment. However, Sasaki's experience with previous international campaigns has equipped him well for these challenges.
Sasaki's assessment of Ramjet's Tokyo Daishoten run is characteristically measured when he says, "At first, we were planning to challenge the Champions Cup, but it seems he stepped on something and hurt his nail, so he couldn't run. He recovered from that and ran in the Tokyo Daishoten instead, so to be honest, I think he was about seven-tenths of what he was in the Tokyo Derby."
The trainer's eye for detail extends to his understanding of Ramjet's physical development. "He has a high waist, runs with his tail up, and his neck is still high, so he lacks forward momentum," Sasaki observes. It is this kind of precise analysis that has allowed him to consistently improve his charges over time.
Earlier in the season, Sasaki had already set his sights on international targets, stating, "If possible, next year we will be able to see him challenge the overseas big races as well... He has not raced seriously yet." That confident assessment now faces its sternest test in the Saudi Cup, where Ramjet will compete against some of the world's finest dirt horses.
The different Saudi Cup card races have strategically split the Japanese contingent, with each horse being placed where connections believe they have the best chance of success. This calculated approach typifies the methodical nature of Japanese racing, where nothing is left to chance.
As Ramjet prepares to face the world's elite dirt performers at King Abdulaziz Racetrack in Riyadh, there's a palpable sense of anticipation among the Japanese racing community. The US$20 million Saudi Cup is not just another international venture for Sasaki, but perhaps his most ambitious yet. Drawing on decades of experience campaigning horses across the globe, from Paris to Dubai, the master trainer's calm demeanour masks the precision of his preparation. "If he can run his own race, I'm sure we'll get good results," he says, the quiet confidence in his voice reflecting years of Group One triumphs on the world stage.
As Ramjet canters past on his early morning routine at Ritto Training Center, Sasaki watches with the practised eye of a horseman who knows exactly what it takes to succeed at the highest level. With the Saudi Cup looming, this latest challenge might just provide the perfect stage for both horse and trainer to etch their names into racing history.