'I'm sure he has what it takes' - Masquerade Ball demonstrates Classic potential in Japan

Well-bred colt Masquerade Ball emerged as a potential Japanese Classic contender with an encouraging warm-up win in the Grade 3  Kyodo News Hai Grade 3 at Tokyo on Sunday

From the last crop of Duramente, Masquerade Ball raced in third on the inside under Ryusei Sakai, who was in the plate for the first time on the Shadai Farm homebred.

The pair went to the front in the final furlong and kept a one-length lead from the late challenger Kalamatianos. The Takahisa Tezuka-trained colt is out of Deep Impact's winning mare Mask Off and was marking off a third win from his four starts.

His older sister Masked Diva won two Grade 2 races and showed her blistering turn of foot to finish close to the smart Liberty Island and eventual runner-up in the 2023 Grade 1 Shuka Sho.

Masquerade Ball receives his laurelsCredit: Masakazu Takahashi

Croix Du Nord is the big name in the countdown to the Satsuki Sho (Japanese 2,000 Guineas) and Tokyo Yushun (Derby) but Masquerade Ball has put himself in the picture.

Sakai, who will ride Forever Young in the Saudi Cup next Saturday, said: "He overcome his tension issue that we were concerned about and I thought that if he could just show his ability, he would win the Graded stakes, so I'm glad that he could.

"When a horse came from the inside, he fought again, and it was a comfortable win. He is still young, and if he could run seriously until the end he would win more easily, but I'm glad he managed to win. I'm sure he has what it takes to be a Grade 1 class horse, so if he can show his true potential, I think he'll do well again."

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