Ski Paradise, Sayyedati to Race Again--in Tokyo

Ski Paradise, the French filly who finished second in the Breeders’ Cup Mile, and Britain’s Sayyedati, a winner of the 1,000 Guineas, are the favorites in Saturday’s Keio-hai Spring Cup.

The $1.1-million race, open to foreign horses for the first time, drew a field of 18, including Dolphin Street from France and Zietan and Darbonne from the United Arab Emirates.

The winner of the seven-furlong race at Tokyo Racecourse will earn $582,000.

Yutaka Take will ride Ski Paradise, a 4-year-old with four victories in 12 starts. She finished second to Lure in the Breeders’ Cup Mile last November.

Sayyedati beat Ski Paradise by a nose in their meeting at Dauville, France, last August.

Zietan and Darbonne are owned by Sheikh Mohammed al-Maktoum.

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A California trainer paid a record $400,000 for a colt by Gone West on Tuesday during the first session of Keeneland’s April sale of 2-year-olds in training.

The bid by R.W. Mulhall topped the previous record of $300,000 paid for a son of Forty Niner last April during Keeneland’s inaugural session of this sale.