Horse Profile: Ecoro Sieg

Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint Scouting Report

(Editor's note: Originally published in the 2024 BRISnet Breeders' Cup International Report)

Fresh off a juvenile record-smashing romp at Nakayama, unbeaten Ecoro Sieg will try to give Japan’s pioneer on the world scene, Hideyuki Mori, a first Breeders’ Cup win.

Mori, the first Japanese horseman to try the Kentucky Derby (with 14th-placer Ski Captain in 1995), also was the first to win a Group 1 race abroad (with Seeking the Pearl in France in 1998). He’s similarly taken his chances at the Breeders’ Cup, although he’s yet to hit the board from nine previous starters at the championships. 

Ecoro Sieg, a Kentucky-bred by Twirling Candy, was purchased for $250,000 as an OBS March juvenile. Out of the Grade 3-placed Bernstein mare Lily Pod, he shared the bullet time of :9 4/5 for a furlong at his under tack session on March 7.

The odds-on favorite in both of his starts at about six furlongs, Ecoro Sieg has shown devastating speed while racing well within himself and making it look easy. He romped by five lengths in an Aug. 17 newcomers’ race at Niigata in 1:08.9, just missing the juvenile course record of 1:08.7.

Ecoro Sieg obliterated Nakayama’s two-year-old course record Sept. 21. Blasting in 1:07.2, he crossed the wire 2 1/2 lengths clear.

According to idolhorse.com, Ecoro Sieg even broke the overall Japanese juvenile record (1:07.5 held by Freed since 2020). Nakayama’s previous course record (1:07.8) in his division had stood since 2001. 

One cause for pause is that the runner-up, Mozu Nana Star, shaded the old course record in 1:07.7 herself. She’d never cracked 1:09 and change before, including when seventh to Satono Carnaval (Juvenile Turf) in the Hakodate Nisai (G3). The third and fourth behind Ecoro Sieg also clocked 1:07.8 and 1:07.9, respectively. 

Another potential caveat is that Ecoro Sieg will face more pace pressure from five-furlong specialists at Del Mar, compared to his opponents in Japanese turf sprints. Although his splits at Nakayama were sensational (:21.8, :43.8, and :55.3), his fractions first time out at Niigata were more typical (:23.1, :46.3, and :57.4). 

The question is whether Ecoro Sieg will run as he did at Niigata, or at Nakayama, at Del Mar. The former might be vulnerable on the cutback, but the latter could just be too fast.