Welcome to Noel Michaels’ Weekend Winners, the place to go for weekend best bets and spot plays from veteran handicapper and tournament-play pioneer Noel Michaels. Check back every week for a couple of highlighted selections designed to help you cash a few bets and make some money.
Month: August 2023
Sapporo Kinen An Important Jumping-Off Point For Big Names
The return of Group 1 racing in Japan is officially about six weeks away, but Sunday's 2000-metre Sapporo Kinen–a Group 2 in name only–sees the return to action of some familiar names who are potentially looking to prep for big spots further afield over the coming months.
Shahryar (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}), the 2021 G1 Tokyo Yushun hero, makes his first start since finishing fifth to world's top-rated racehorse Equinox (Jpn) (Kitasan Black {Jpn}) in defence of his title in the G1 Longines Dubai Sheema Classic Mar. 25, with a trip to America for the GI Breeders' Cup Turf in the offing, all things equal. The 5-year-old son of Dubai Majesty (Essence of Dubai) will be ridden for the first time by Takeshi Yokoyama. Loves Only You (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) was just defeated in the 2021 Sapporo Kinen before going on to annex the GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf.
The progressive Prognosis (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}), third to Shahryar in Group 3 company in 2021, earned his first success at pattern level when prevailing by 3/4 of a length in the G2 Kinko Sho last March. It was off to Hong Kong for his next and a meeting with local champion Romantic Warrior (Ire) (Accalamation {GB}) in the G1 FWD QE II Cup in late April, and Prognosis covered himself in glory in finishing two lengths adrift of the course-and-distance specialist in second. All roads could lead back to Sha Tin for the Longines Hong Kong International Races meeting in December.
Win Mighty (Jpn) (Gold Ship {Jpn}) steps out for the first time since finishing a narrowly beaten second when going for consecutive victories in the G3 Mermaid S. at Hanshin June 18. The 6-year-old, third in the 2021 G1 Yushun Himba, holds an entry for the G1 Caulfield Cup during the Melbourne Spring Carnival Oct. 21, but will need a strong effort to merit the journey down under.
Defending chamipion Jack d'Or (Jpn) (Maurice {Jpn}) won a star-studded renewal of the G1 Osaka Hai going this distance at Hanshin Apr. 2 and cut back to the mile for his latest in the G1 Yasuda Kinen, where he finished a determined fifth to the Breeders' Cup-bound Songline (Jpn) (Kizuna {Jpn}) after setting the pace. He would become the first back-to-back winner of this race since Air Groove (Jpn) in 1997-98. Danon Beluga (Jpn) (Heart's Cry {Jpn}), who ran on well to finish three-parts of a length adrift of the three-peating Lord North (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) in the G1 Dubai Turf at Meydan when last spotted, should also appreciate Sunday's 10-furlong trip. The 4-year-old is reunited with Joao Moreira this weekend.
Derby winner SHAHRYAR midweek fast ahead of the blockbuster G2 Sapporo Kinen on Sun
He looks in good condition under Takeshi Yokohama
Hasn't raced since 5th Equinox, Dubai Sheema
, finished beside MOSTAHDAF etc
On trial for Breeders Cup Turf
tilt pic.twitter.com/KY2a1h4XeQ
— Graham Pavey (@LongBallToNoOne) August 17, 2023
The post Sapporo Kinen An Important Jumping-Off Point For Big Names appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.
Two-Year-Old Spotlight Presented By Stonestreet Bred & Raised: Half To Cody’s Wish Makes His Own Way
Summer means an increased focus on 2-year-olds, most notably at some of the country's most prominent meets.
Each week, we'll look at a race of interest to those looking for horse racing's next rising stars.
On this week's episode, Emily White explores a maiden special weight at Saratoga that features the debut of none other than the younger half-sibling of fan favorite Cody's Wish.
That colt isn't the only one with pedigree, though, and we take a look at some of these blue-blooded young horses.
Watch this week's 2-Year-Old Spotlight video below:
The post Two-Year-Old Spotlight Presented By Stonestreet Bred & Raised: Half To Cody’s Wish Makes His Own Way appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.
Honor Code To Stand At Yushun Stallion Station In Japan
Multiple Grade 1 winner Honor Code, the sire of Grade 1 winners Honor A. P., Maracuja, and Max Player, has been sold and will stand the 2024 breeding season at Yushun Stallion Station in Japan. He will stand alongside notable sires such as Henny Hughes.
The 12-year-old son of A.P. Indy, out of a granddaughter of champion Serena's Song, will offer an outcross to the many Sunday Silence mares in Japan and is expected to receive great support. Honor Code entered stud in 2016 at Lane's End Farm.
Honor Code was bred in Kentucky by Dell Ridge Farm. Campaigned by Lane's End Racing and Dell Ridge Farm, Honor Code broke his maiden at first asking at two in a Saratoga maiden special weight, placed in the Grade 1 Champagne and won the G2 Remsen. At four, he won the G2 Gulfstream Park Handicap, then made it back-to-back Grade 1 wins in the Metropolitan Handicap and Whitney Stakes
Upon retirement from stud duties, Honor Code may return to Lane's End.
“We are hopeful that on completion of his stud career Honor Code will return to Lane's End. He has provided us with so many memories. We would love to have him back some day,” said Bill Farish of Lane's End Farm.
The post Honor Code To Stand At Yushun Stallion Station In Japan appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.
