Admire Zoom had made a remarkable impression in only his third start and first-stakes race. As the calendar turned to December, the attention shifted to Japan's 2-year-olds, with hopes for their performance in the upcoming Classics. Admire Zoom made a strong case for himself with a commanding win in the Asahi Hai Futurity (G1) on December 15 at Kyoto Racecourse.
With Yuga Kawada aboard, Admire Zoom broke well from the No. 2 gate in the 1,600-metre race, positioning himself among the three early leaders. He maintained this favourable position as he navigated the outer loop of the turf course and accelerated toward the finish with minimal urging. As the finish line approached, Admire Zoom pulled away effortlessly, winning by a margin of 2 1/2 lengths over Museum Mile, while Lance of Chaos finished third, also 2 1/2 lengths back.
Kawada expressed satisfaction with the colt’s performance, noting that he had anticipated a strong showing based on Admire Zoom's potential, despite the horse's challenging temperament. The race highlighted the competitive landscape, with Daishin Ra, at 149-1 odds, finishing fourth, and the favourite Arte Veloce placing fifth.
Bred by Shadai Farm and owned by Junko Kondo, Admire Zoom is a son of Maurice out of the Heart's Cry mare Daiwa Zoom. With high hopes for the future, both Kawada and trainer Yasuo Tomomichi expressed excitement about his prospects heading into the new year.