Favored Alfredo ran his unbeaten streak to three with a two-length victory in the $1.7 million Asahi Hai Futurity Stakes (Jpn-I) at Nakayama Racecourse Dec. 18 (video).
Sixteen Japanese-bred 2-year-old colts competed in the one-mile event, which Alfredo completed in 1:33.4 over firm turf in his graded stakes debut. The time matched the race mark established by Meiner Recolte in 2004.
Australian Craig Williams rode the winning bay son of Symboli Kris S—Princess Camellia (by Sunday Silence) to victory for trainer Takahisa Tezuka and owner U. Carrot Farm. Northern Farm bred Alfredo.
The winner stalked the leaders along the inside and unleashed a powerful late kick when a gap opened up at the rail with a furlong to run.
Alfredo overtook Tokei Halo to prevail easily. Meiner Robusto came on in the final 50 meters to get the runner-up spot over the fast-closing Leo Active by a half-length. Tokei Halo finished a neck farther back in fourth.