Paraiba Tourmaline (R4 Tokyo, Newcomers, 1600m, dirt, October 30)

Many dirt stars take time to show their preference for the surface but Paraiba Tourmaline was born for it.

The Toru Hayashi-trained filly’s dam Private Jet is a full-sister to 2010 Preakness Stakes winner Lookin’ At Lucky and, based on that breeding and some eye-catching workouts, the market didn’t miss the debutante.

Paraiba Tourmaline started 1.8 favourite and was never in doubt under visiting jockey Cristian Demuro, jumping clean, controlling the race through the middle stages and then kicking clear to win by five lengths.

“She had the gate speed and I took the lead easily,” Demuro said. “Her response was very good in the straight and I think she has potential for the future.”

Lemon Pop (R10 Tokyo, open class, Perseus Stakes, 1400m, dirt, October 30)

Young trainer Hiroyasu Tanaka has his eyes on bigger targets for dirt star Lemon Pop after the colt’s fourth win in a row on Tokyo’s 1400m dirt circuit.

The 36-year-old Tanaka is something of a dirt specialist himself, 73 of his 111 career wins have been on the surface, and he says it is now time to look for stakes races after a dominant win with a big weight.

“He had raced well here in Tokyo, therefore, I kept him at 1400m here,” Tanaka said. “However, there will be limitations if we stay at 1400m in Tokyo, so it is time to choose another distance at another racecourse.”

Jockey Keita Tosaki, also adept on the dirt from his time as a star in the NAR, is happy to go wherever Lemon Pop races next.

“I have always thought he is a talented horse,” Tosaki said. “Although he is top weight (57kg) in this race, he can perform very well. I am looking forward to his future.”

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