Upset victory for Trillion Cut in Asahi Challenge

Trillion Cut(USA), ridden by Ryuji Wada for the first time, gained an upset victory Saturday in the g3 Asahi Challenge Cup at Chukyo.

Wada said, “I was instructed to have him go after the front runner in the race. I thought that we would catch the leader(Kongo Rikishio) at the line.”

The 6-year-old American-bred sailed behind the front runners early on in the 2,000-meter race, and then caught the pace-setting Kongo Rikishio in the nick of the time. The final time was 1 minute 57.4 seconds. A neck separated the two.

Another 1/2-length back, Keiai Guard followed in third with another 3/4-length back Suzuka Phoenix fourth in the field of 12.

This was the first grade success and the 6th win in 33 starts for Trillion Cut, by Swain out of the Caerleon mare Sabeline, who has raced under the saddle of Hidetaka Otonashi and under the name of Carrot Farm.