Off Trail flashes home for second in G2 Swan Stakes

Off Trail narrowly failed to come from last to first as he went down by a neck to Danon McKinley in a frenetic finish to the G2 Swan Stakes at Kyoto, Japan, on Saturday 26 October. 

Trained by Keiji Yoshimura, Off Trail was dropping down to seven furlongs for the first time, with the Farhh colt having posted three wins over further including getting up on the line in the G3 Radio Nikkei Sho over nine furlongs at Fukushima in June. 

Yutaka Take steadied Off Trail in a clear last and the Godolphin three-year-old still had the whole field in front of him when Win Carnelian and Aguri kicked on into a four-length advantage at the top of the straight. 

The leading duo started to come back to the field entering the final furlong, with Off Trail quickening powerfully alongside Travesura and Danon McKinley towards the centre of the course. 

Win Carnelian was swamped in the final strides by the closing pack as Danon McKinley edged out Off Trail on the line, with another neck back to Travesura. 

Harry Sweeney, President of Godolphin in Japan, said: “The positives from the race are that Off Trail has proven that he is very competitive in G2 class and against older horses. Additionally, he banked a sizeable cheque which may be crucial in earning him a starting berth if we opt to run in the G1 Mile Championship in three weeks’ time. Furthermore, he has demonstrated that he has blistering speed. 

“However, my overall mood is one of disappointment. Off Trail was clearly the best horse in the race and recorded the fastest finishing three furlongs of any of the 17 runners. He turned for home in last and absolutely flew to be denied by only a neck. He was given far too much to do, and this race will certainly not feature on the jockey’s highlights reel.”