Millennium Farms’ Student Council, preparing for a start in the Nov. 24 Japan Cup Dirt at Tokyo Racecourse, worked a half-mile in :49 on the training track at the Quarantine Center at Shiroi, Japan, Nov. 17.
Under regular exercise rider Jesse Marquez, Student Council “two-minute licked a half-mile, then worked a half in :49 with the last quarter in :24.1, and then galloped out another eighth in :13,” reported trainer Vladimir Cerin. “He has gained 26 pounds since his arrival in Japan on Tuesday afternoon, and now weighs 1,226 pounds. He worked over a deep, sandy surface, and I really liked that he galloped out strong. I think he is coming up to the race great.”
Student Council leaves for Tokyo Nov. 19.
Since being purchased privately by Ro Parra’s Millennium Farms in August, Student Council won the Pacific Classic (gr. I) at Del Mar over the Polytrack surface and the $500,000 Hawthorne Gold Cup (gr. II) on dirt. Both races were at 1 ¼ miles.
A son of Kingmambo out of the multiple stakes winning Kris S. mare Class Kris, 5-year-old Student Council has won seven of 22 lifetime starts and $1,152,731. He is a half-brother to graded stakes winner Gradepoint.
The $2.3 million Japan Cup Dirt, a 2,100 meter (about 1 5/16th-mile) race, offers an $833,300 bonus to the winner of the Pacific Classic.
“We would have loved to have run in the Breeders Cup Classic (Powered by Dodge, gr. I), but the bonus and international prestige of the race in Japan were deciding factors,” Parra said. “We know Student Council prefers deeper tracks like the one in Japan, and we feel he has a great chance to win, and together with his terrific pedigree, enhance his value as a top international sire prospect.”
Richard Migliore, aboard Student Council in both the Pacific Classic and Hawthorne Gold Cup (gr. II), will travel to Japan for the mount.