Derby dreams for Lucky Kid following Hyacinth Stakes win

Lucky Kid booked himself a trip to Dubai and potentially further afield with victory in the Listed Hyacinth Stakes at Tokyo, Japan, on Sunday, 22 February.

A debut winner for Yukihiro Kato over the same mile trip at the course in October, the son of Discreet Cat had finished third in the Jpn G2 Hyogo Junior Grand Prix before coming home eighth following a slow start on his three-year-old return back at Tokyo at the end of January. 

After breaking on terms in the 10-runner contest, Lucky Kid was prominent leaving the stalls and tracked the leading duo of Taiki Blitzen and Seize The Throne. The Godolphin colt settled in a clear fifth after the first quarter-mile as Arcadia Cafe and Itterasshai took closer order around the field. 

Lucky Kid quickened powerfully after being switched out by Mirai Iwata at the top of the straight and swept by Arcadia Cafe and Itterasshai to take up the running entering the final furlong. Don Erectus laid down a late challenge, with Lucky Kid holding on for a comfortable neck success to pick up 30 Kentucky Derby qualifying points. 

Harry Sweeney, President of Godolphin in Japan, said: “Lucky Kid is entered in the UAE Derby and we now expect that he will be invited. His trainer is keen and he will most likely join Godolphin Japan's other intended runner, Pyromancer, Japan's top two-year-old dirt horse last year. We certainly don't underestimate the task ahead, but it would be great to have two runners in the UAE Derby. 

“Our horses have been running well on dirt of late and Godolphin has won two out of three Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby races contested so far, with just one race remaining.”