Christophe Lemaire | Horse Racing Free Tips

Almond Eye Claims Eighth Group 1 Win in Tenno Sho

Almond Eye (Jpn) (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}) ephasised her status as one of the greats of the Japanese turf with a half-length score in the G1 Tenno Sho (Autumn) at Tokyo on Sunday. The first back-to-back winner since Symboli Kris S (Kris S.) in 2002/03, the bay mare is the sixth horse to salute in seven Japanese Group 1s and the first Japanese horse to win eight Group 1 races worldwide on turf. Two-time G1 Tenno Sho (Spring) victor Fierement (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) was second, with the G1 Takarazuka Kinen winner Chrono Genesis (Jpn) (Bago {Fr}) third by a neck.

Caught two deep in fourth into the opening bend, Almond Eye relaxed as Danon Premium (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) galloped on an five-length lead. The field reached the final 800 metres with the 2-5 favourite maintaining her position in between horses and when they reached the head of the straight, jockey Christophe Lemaire cut her loose. Out in the four path, Almond Eye set sail for the longtime leader, passing Daiwa Cagney (Jpn) (King Kamehameha {Jpn}) and Kiseki (Jpn) (Rulership {Jpn}) just inside the quarter pole. Chrono Genesis and Fierement were also making similarly rapid progress farther out on the course, but Almond Eye, who passed Danon Premium inside the final 50 yards, held on for the victory. Fierement fought past Chrono Genesis late on for place honours. The pacesetter was another two lengths back in fourth.

“Today, the mare was relaxed before the start and we were able to break well,” said Lemaire, who was noticeably emotional-a rare occurrence for him-post race. “She showed a great turn of foot in the straight but ran out of steam a bit climbing the hill. The others were gaining on us but she didn’t give up. I have to admit, to win the eighth Group 1 title was a big pressure, but she didn’t let us down—her performance was awesome. Her future lay in the hands of the owner and trainer but I would very much like to ride her again.”

The Japanese Filly Triple Crown winner of 2018 claimed Japanese Horse of the Year honours after winning the G1 Japan Cup later that year. She also scored in the G1 Dubai Turf at Meydan in March of 2019 and returned to her homeland to take third in the G1 Yasuda Kinen that June. A winner of last year’s G1 Tenno Sho (Autumn), Almond Eye ran an uncharacteristic ninth in her 4-year-old swansong, the G1 Arima Kinen in December. Kept in training this term, she saluted in the May 17 G1 Victoria Mile, but was runner-up in the June 7 Yasuda Kinen in Tokyo, her last start prior to defending her title on Sunday.

Pedigree Notes

Almond Eye is one of four Group 1 winners and 23 black-type winners for her sire Lord Kanaloa (Jpn). The seventh of 10 foals out of her dam, and one of eight winners from eight runners, the 5-year-old is followed by the winning duo of Listed Anemone S. third Unakite (Jpn) (Johannesburg), a 4-year-old filly, and 3-year-old colt Satono Esperanza (Jpn) (Rulership {Jpn}), Fusaichi Pandora (Jpn)’s latest foal is an unnamed juvenile by Rulership (Jpn).

The extended family under blue hen third dam Sex Appeal (Buckpasser) is riddled with Group 1 winners like champions and successful sires El Gran Senor (Northern Dancer) and Try My Best (Northern Dancer), GI Breeders’ Cup Mile victor Domedriver (Ire) (Indian Ridge {Ire}), G1 Nunthorpe S. winner Bahamian Pirate (Housebuster) and GI United National S. hero Chinchon (Ire) (Marju {Ire}). Italian highweight and sire Blue Air Force (Ire) (Sri Pekan) is also present, as is Brazilian champion and Group 1 winner Estrela Monarchos (Monarchos).

Sunday, Tokyo, Japan

TENNO SHO (AUTUMN)-G1, ¥289,600,000 (US$2,762,578/£2,134,219/€2,365,843), Tokyo, 11-1, 3yo/up, 2000mT, 1:57.80, fm.
1–ALMOND EYE (JPN), 123, m, 5, Lord Kanaloa (Jpn)
                1st Dam: Fusaichi Pandora (Jpn) (MSW & G1SP-Jpn,
                                $3,264,457), by Sunday Silence
                2nd Dam: Lotta Lace, by Nureyev
                3rd Dam: Sex Appeal, by Buckpasser
O-Silk Racing; B-Northern Farm (Jpn); T-Sakae Kunieda;
J-Christophe Lemaire. ¥152,520,000. Lifetime Record:
HotY-Jpn, Ch. 3yo Filly-Jpn, Hwt. Older Horse-UAE, G1SW-UAE,
14-10-2-1. Werk Nick Rating: A+++. *Triple Plus*. Click for the
   eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Fierement (Jpn), 128, h, 5, Deep Impact (Jpn)–Lune d’Or (Fr),
by Green Tune. O-Sunday Racing; B-Northern Farm (Jpn);
¥60,720,000.
3–Chrono Genesis (Jpn), 123, f, 4, Bago (Fr)–Chronologist(Jpn),
by Kurofune. O-Sunday Racing; B-Northern Farm (Jpn);
¥38,360,000.
Margins: HF, NK, 2. Odds: 0.40, 16.40, 3.40.
Also Ran: Danon Premium (Jpn), Kiseki (Jpn), Daiwa Cagney (Jpn), Jinambo (Jpn), Cadenas (Jpn), Scarlet Color (Jpn), Win Bright (Jpn), Blast Onepiece (Jpn), Danon Kingly (Jpn).
Click for the JRA chart & video or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree

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Gran Alegria Tries for Third Group 1 in Sprinters

One of two Group 1 sprints on the Japan Racing Association calendar, the 1,200-meter G1 Sprinters S. draws a full field of 16 for Sunday’s 54th renewal. Heading the morning line at 2-1 is dual Group 1- winning Gran Alegria (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}), out of Tapitsfly (Tapit), a two-time Grade I winner on the turf in the United States.

Victorious in last season’s G1 Japanese 1000 Guineas and G2 Hanshin Cup, the filly finished runner-up in the 1,200-meter G1 Takamatsunomiya Kinen over soft ground at Chukyo in March before returning to best champion Almond Eye (Jpn) (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}) in the G1 Yasuda Kinen over 1,600 meters at Tokyo Racecourse June 7.

“She ran a strong race in the Takamatsunomiya Kinen, which was her first time at the trip,” explained assistant trainer Masaru Oehara. “In the Yasuda Kinen, she put in a good late spurt from the fourth corner, so in both races she ran very well. She’s had a summer break and has come back to the stable looking bigger and stronger.”

Gran Alegria, who will be making her first start at Nakayama, will be accompanied by Christophe Lemaire, who has a 25% strike rate at the oval.

Attempting to record his first win at the Group 1 level, Danon Smash (Jpn) (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}) has shown consistency this season, winning on three occasions and finishing in the top three in five starts. Additionally, six of his nine career wins have come over the Sprinters’ distance of 1,200 meters.

Third in this test last year, he kicked off 2020 with a win over this course in the 1,200-meter G3 Yukan Fuji Sho Ocean S. Mar. 7 before a flat 10th in the Takamatsunomiya later that month. Back in the winner’s circle following Tokyo’s G2 Keio Hai Spring Cup May 16, the 5-year-old was eighth in the Yasuda Kinen before rebounding to score in the Sept. 13 Sankei Sho Centaur S. over 1,200 meters at Chukyo.

“He drew an outside gate last time [in the Centaur S.], but by the third corner had got himself into a good position and went on to win well,” said trainer Takayuki Yasuda, who has won the race three times. “I feel he’ll come on quite a bit for that run.”

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Cafe Pharoah Looking To Stay Perfect in Japan Dirt Derby

Having already sewn up the Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby and a berth in the starting gate at Churchill Downs on the first Saturday of September if connections so choose, Cafe Pharoah (American Pharoah) will stretch out to 2000 meters for the first time in his career as he tries to make it four wins from as many starts in Wednesday’s $711,743 Japan Dirt Derby at Ohi Racecourse.

The $475,000 OBS March graduate won his debut going nine furlongs in December, then cut back to Toyko’s one-turn mile for the Listed Hyacinth S. Feb. 23, where he overcame a very slow start to pick up 30 Kentucky Derby points. The son of the very talented turf mare Mary’s Follies (More Than Ready) took the next four months off, returning to add 40 additional points and clinch the Derby spot with an easy five-length tally in stakes-record time in the June 21 G3 Unicorn S., the first of two Japanese races added to the Road to the Derby in light of the coronavirus-related postponement. Damian Lane returns in the saddle.

Barnard Loop (Jpn) (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}) was beaten 10 lengths into second by Cafe Pharoah on their respective debuts, but the dark bay has not lost since, with a pair of victories at Nakayama ahead of a neck defeat of Danon Pharaoh (Jpn) (American Pharoah) in the Listed Hyogo Championship at Sonoda May 6. Leading jockey Christophe Lemaire has the call.

A son of GI Santa Anita Oaks victrix Crisp (El Corredor), Danon Pharaoh fetched the equivalent of $1.63 million at the JRHA Select Yearling Sale two summers ago and has two wins from his seven trips to the post.

Daimei Corrida (Jpn) (Eskendereya) could manage only a ninth-place effort to Cafe Pharoah in the Hyacinth, but has improved with a stretch-out in trip and exits a close second in the Listed Hosu S. over Wednesday’s trip at Hanshin June 21.

Full Flat (Speightstown), a $250,000 Keeneland September acquisition, defeated Sunday’s G1 Prix du Jockey Club hero Mishriff (Ire) (Make Believe {GB}) in the $800,000 Saudi Derby Cup in February, but was no match for the favorite when sixth in the Unicorn S. last time out.

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