takarazuka -- what did you think?

[breezin']

What did you all think about the Takarazuka? I thought it was a good race and it was nice to see Dantsu Flame finally get his G1. Tsurumaru Boy really looked good. Air Shakur doesn't seem to have his old kick. I wonder if Desormeaux didn't move too early on him.

[Horny Harry]

Looked as though the winner just outpluugged the others...the leaders were looking OK untill the last 200...

[specialweek]

Well I hate to question someone who has been watching them go around for a while but it was a very ordinary field and the two that finished 1st and second were impressive to the line but it was basically a G2 or even G3 field on recent form.
Go back a few years and quality horses have won or finished second in this race.
I am a big fan of Dantsu Flame and I wish I had shares but the only improver in the race was the 3yr Roen Green which ran 3rd.
If any of these are in the Japan Cup later this year I'll put Roen in my first three.
Air Shakur continues to hang out and hang in the horse just fefuses to run straight even though I believe KD went 200m early on the horse.
Just for the record I usually post G1 info but I believe this did not warrant the effort this time around.
SW

[specialweek]

sorry,,,,, too many frigin fffffff's

[breezin']

specialweek, if your "questioning'" was meant for me, feel free. People's definitions of "good race" vary. Mine in this case was more "good" "considering." I agree, definitely a G2 or G3 on recent form, with emphasis on that last part. Still, it's always enjoyable to see a good race, taken out of the context that it is a G1 of course. Lohengrin did look good, though he was saddled with 5 kg less than the others.
It seems in recent years the Takarazuka just doesn't pull the big names, no doubt coming as late as it does. It has never been a favorite of mine, always felt like an afterthought for whoever was around still. By the way, it has been an international race for some years now but has yet to attract a foreign-based runner.