Kodama aims for glory with Silwana Takashi Kodama might not be a familiar name to many racegoers, but he is hoping to make something of a mark this season, beginning with a good effort from Silwana in the Coolmore Vintage Crop Stakes at Navan. Bought out of Dermot Weld's stable for 320,000 euro at the end of last year, the mare will eventually become a stalwart of the breeding operation run by her owners, the Kawakami Racing Syndicate, who are big movers in Japan. All bar one of Kodama's string are owned by Japanese interests and having been based there for 20 years, the trainer certainly knows the landscape. Silwana faces a tough ask, though, taking on St Leger second Bondi Beach. "She's in good form. The ground was too tacky for her and the distance too short on her first run," said Kodama. "I also wasn't really sure how to train her as I hadn't had her that long. "I expect her to be a bit better this time. I don't think the small field will bother her and she's been showing more at home. "She used to wear blinkers but Shane Foley said she doesn't need them any more and she can just wear cheekpieces this time. I think she'll run well. "The owners are big breeders in Japan. I had picked out a Listed race at Leopardstown for her in two weeks, but as she is already a Listed winner, the owners felt it wasn't really worth going for that. "So, she's running in a Group Three and my aim with her is to pick up as much black type with her as possible." He added: "I have 21 horses in and all bar one are owned by Japanese owners, lots of them are two-year-olds and all of them are fillies." Silwana is just one of four runners in the Vintage Crop, with Bondi Beach, the Dermot Weld-trained Zannda and John Kiely's Toe The Line in opposition.
