Danon Smash

During his track career he carried the red and white colours of Danox Co Ltd the business software enterprise of his owner Masahiro Noda, and was trained by Takayuki Yasuda.

[5] Danon Smash began his racing career by finishing second in a contest for previously unraced juveniles over 1400 metres on firm ground at Niigata Racecourse on 2 September.

[7] On his first run as a three-year-old Danon Smash started favourite for the Grade 3 Falcon Stakes at Chukyo Racecourse on 17 March but finished seventh behind Mr Melody after racing towards the rear of the field for most of the 1400 metre trip.

In the Arlington Cup over 1600 metres at Hanshin in April he was ridden closer to the lead before coming home fifth behind Tower of London, finishing two and a half lengths behind the winner.

In the Grade 1 NHK Mile Cup at Tokyo Racecourse in May he raced in second place for most of the way before tiring in the closing stages and finishing seventh of the eighteen runners behind Keiai Nautique.

[10] When stepped up to Grade 1 class for the Takamatsunomiya Kinen at Chukyo in March he started favourite but came home fourth behind Mr Melody, Seiun Kosei and Shonan Anthem, beaten just over a length by the winner.

[12] Five weeks later the colt started favourite for the Group 1 Sprinters Stakes at Nakayama Racecourse and produced his customary late run but was unable to overhaul the leaders and finished a close third, beaten half a length and a neck by Tower of London and Mozu Superflare.

[16] Danon Smash was then stepped up in trip for Grade 2 Keio Hai Spring Cup over 1400 metres at Tokyo on 16 May in which he was ridden by the Australian jocken Damian Lane and started the 3.9/1 second favourite behind Tower of London.

After settling in fourth place behind the front-running Seiun Kosai he gained the advantage in the closing stages and won by a length and a neck from Meisho Glocke and Mr Melody.

[21] As in the previous year, Danon Smash ended his season at Sha Tin and was ridden by Ryan Moore as he contested his second Hong Kong Sprint on 13 December.

[24] Ridden by Kawada, he started the 5/1 second choice in the betting behind Resistencia in field of eighteen runners which also included Lauda Sion, Indy Champ, Danon Fantasy and Mozu Superflare.

In a race run on yielding ground, Danon Smash was positioned on the outside in tenth place as Mozu Superflare set the pace, before making steady progress in the straight.

"[25] On 25 April Danon Smash made a third trip to Hong Kong to contest the Group 1 Chairman's Sprint Prize, but despite starting the 6/5 favourite he never looked likely to win and came home sixth behind the improving four-year-old Wellington.

Danon Smash's trainer Takayuki Yasuda