Le Vent Se Leve

Originally published on HRF-online in 2017 and republished at DHC on June 15, 2018

Le Vent wins the Champions Cup.

I originally posted the following article on HRF back in December 2017. Copied and pasted it here because I want it here on our new site. I love this horse and I want to keep following his career.

This is Japan's Le Vent Se Leve...

Le Vent Se Leve – Symboli Kris S (USA) – Maestrale (JPN) (Neo Universe)

Chef’s Profile = DP = 2-1-8-1-0 (12) DI = 1.40 CD = 0.33 Mare Profile = 6-1-4-10-9 Speed = 7 Stamina = 19 Index = 0.53 Triads = 11-15-23

Kiyoshi Haiwara, trainer of last year’s Belmont hopeful, Epicharis, has yet another monster in his barn for this year’s campaign. This time, however, if this guy continues along with his dominating performances, it will not just be the Belmont that our American guys need worry about. It will be the entire Triple Crown series.

Back in August, Le Vent debuted at 1 1/8th at Niigata and horrified the field. Running 5-6 wide, he accelerated down the stretch like a cannon ball. First time I saw this I almost fell out of my chair. I simply can not stop watching this race. Keep in mind, this is a 2 year old maiden race.

Le Vent is installed in gate #9.

His second start on October 14, he won the Patanus Sho on a track listed as "sloppy" and broke the Juvenile Track record. (Thank you Brian for sending the link)

Again, as winning performances on a Sloppy track goes, Speed dominates. Stamina suffers.

Le Vent, with his overtly stamina pedigree, not only won the race, but he broke the track record as well. The track in the video doesn't look all that sloppy to me - but apparently thats the way it was listed. It still a spectacular performance no matter how you slice it.

He is in Gate #6.

His third start, on December 13th, he was hand-ridden to victory once again. Watch the monster installed in gate #9, running 5 wide passing horses on the outside.

What comes to mind here, is the fact that these overseas beasts depict the most fascinating charts and the most spectacular numbers rarely ever seen in the States these days.

The historical articles written by “Buckpasser” of those old time Champions remind us of how our breeding here in the United States has turned 180 degrees in favor of the speed dominating pedigree. His articles show a time in horse racing history when the influences from European breeds were still front and center and that they displayed the unusual stamina to run unheard of amounts of races, winning them with dominating performances and eventually becoming a chain through their sire line throughout their long careers.

We say, “They just don’t make them like that any more".

But they do.

And they are tearing up the tracks thousands of miles away. These types of thoroughbreds could demolish our guys here but unfortunately they always seem to take the same path. They run their hearts out overseas, only to be shuttled onto a plane a few days before the big race here, quarantined and then left to their own peril. It happens over and over again. Unless these guys are starring in a Breeders cup TURF race, they will always have the disadvantage and handicap of running against our speedy colts at Churchill, Pimlico or Belmont. Always. Same story – different year.

Le Vent Se Leve is a monster. He has that old time stamina. The type who cruises along for as long as he pleases and then decides to SPRINT after the final turn. He could do that at a mile, at 9f, at 10f and 12f without blinking his eyelashes. He could run a race a week if they let him. He could run 7 wide away from the pack and still have enough stamina and speed to conquer the distance. Once in a great while, one of our superstars will pack that type of pedigree, but practically years and years go by before one steps out onto the track. And even when they do, they usually want to show off on Turf.

In his first three races, this guy has already shown his stamina. He’s shown his speed by breaking a juvenile track record. He’s shown his undeniable class. Not one two year old here in the good old USA can compare to the configurations and the perfect stamina inheritance of Le Vent. He is in a class all his own. (That is only the second time I have ever said that about a 2 year old in my life).

His next race, the Hyacinth Stakes in February, he is almost a lock to win. This will propel him onward hopefully to the UAE Derby and then to Churchill Downs. We can only cross our fingers that they look to the huge mistakes of the past and ship this guy out a month or more prior this time around. The only way an overseas stamina colt could ever beat our Speed demons is to at least give him a fighting chance with his feet planted firmly on our dirt longer than 3 days.

The Numbers: Chef’s Profile = DP = 2-1-8-1-0 (12) DI = 1.40 CD = 0.33 Mare Profile = 6-1-4-10-9 Speed = 7 Stamina = 19 Index = 0.53 Triads = 11-15-23

One of my main complaints concerning two year old debuts here in the States is on full display right here. Unlike our American trainers, who insist on the 6f maiden race regardless of what their charge has running in their veins, Haiwara debuted Le Vent at almost 9f. Genius. Perfect. Had this one come out at the normal and tedious 6f, we may never even know his name right now. This saga plays out every year here and could (and does) defeat an otherwise potential superstar before he even gets started. Understanding the optimum distance of any colt is paramount FIRST TIME right out of the gate. This guy is the epitome of reserving his speed when it counts, late down the stretch, and if he were forced to run at 6 or 7f, he would have been the caboose in his maiden. No doubt wandering around the barn afterwards, wondering when his race was actually going to start.

His chefs Index and CD numbers, just to highlight for sentimental reasons, are the exact same as Shared Belief and Beholder. Not that this gives any real classification to what Le Vent is capable of, but it highlights the start of where the horse should begin their career, and the potential of the type of configuration they share in how that translates onto the track. Basically, what a horse has going forward and the importance of confidence building early on.

When a horse starts his career, it is imperative to understand that if the chefs are dominant in stamina, lacking in sprinters blood, and lopsided to optimum distances over 10f then place the horse correctly and give him a fighting chance at success. When he wins that first maiden, it could potentially solidify a Champion in the Making as opposed to allowing him to fail during those crucial first months. This happens as routine in our stables, not so much overseas.

I will say this until my dying day… A speed horse who was blessed with an overabundance of sprinters blood and who wins his early races are a dime a dozen. The hype is comical at first but as the distances become longer and these guys continue to display their speed going further and further, THEN it would seem appropriate to say that this guy has something special. American Pharoah comes to mind. On the flip side, when a stamina guy beats those speedsters at two years old without even breaking a sweat, you know you are looking at greatness from day one. And it just keeps on going.

Le Vent is at the top of the mountain with that standard and with that quality. His Mares configuration is testament to this standard. With optimum distance inherited from his Mare’s being 14f+, it is safe to say that his first 3 performances shatter all expectations of a colt bred like this. Again, please, excuse my constant references to Shared Belief, but he is the best example of how these dynamics depict a Champion in the Making. A 2 year old colt (and a young 3 year old) who displays win after win at distances that are not his optimum only solidify the greatness to come. Frankel, Animal Kingdom, Beholder, Gun Runner and of course Shared Belief, all possessed the makings of a Champion early on based on their inheritance versus their performances. Le Vent goes even further with his stamina inheritance from his Mares and underscores the total dominance of his performances. The weight of his triads leans him into Man of War territory, but this guy toppled the speed he was up against in what could arguably be deemed as “way too short” for him.

I have often stated the words… “Running against what he is made of”… as a way to define a colt who has a few races under his belt as opposed to analyzing an untested 2 year old. Of course, once a horse runs, you can make certain statements and determinations that coincide with his performances. No big feat there. With a speed horse who wins his first short early races, you can easily state that the horse is running true to his numbers and make a reasonable determination when that streak will likely end. When a Stamina horse wins his early races it is almost like a hurricane has come and it is never subsiding. Le Vent is running against what he is made of. He has not been entered in a race to date that is of his true liking and at his true optimum.

This is an overseas Superstar in the Making along the lines of Frankel. His dosage configurations are severely top notch and at odds with his performances to date. He is in a class all his own.

(On a side note, thank you Bill for bringing this Champion in the Making to my attention. These types are truly one of a kind and bring that excitement back to this sport that I love so much.)

After his 3rd smashing race, Le Vent suffered leg issues and was subsequently taken away from the track for awhile to heal. He missed the Hyacynth Stakes and the UAE Derby. He came back off his long layoff and was entered into The Fukuryu Stakes at Nakayama and unfortunately came in second to Don Fortis. A noble effort for a guy who must have had some bad leg problems to be taken away from his bid for the Kentucky Derby.

Continue to follow his career below in the thread. Good luck and safe travels to this beast!