Tag: Chukyo

All Eyes On Sodashi In Champions Cup

The world's best-known–not to mention most-talented–white Thoroughbred, Sodashi (Jpn) (Kurofune) gets a different sort of test when she tries the dirt for the first time in Sunday's G1 Champions Cup (ex Japan Cup Dirt) at Chukyo Racecourse, a race won in scintillating fashion by her sire 20 years ago.

Named the champion of her generation when capping a perfect freshman campaign in the G1 Hanshin Juvenile Fillies last December, Sodashi resumed with a victory in the G1 Oka Sho (Japanese 1000 Guineas) over the metric mile Apr. 11, but did not see out the 12 furlongs of the G1 Yushun Himba (Japanese Oaks) May 23, finishing eighth to Uberleben (Jpn) (Gold Ship {Jpn}). Given a break, Sodashi defeated history-maker Loves Only You (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) in the Aug. 23 G2 Sapporo Kinen (2000mT), but weakened to 10th after racing prominently as the odds-on favourite in the G1 Shuka Sho (2000mT) Oct. 17.

In addition to her sire's dirt exploits, her equally popular dam Buchiko (Jpn) (King Kamehameha {Jpn}) was a four-time winner on the main track and is a half-sister to Yukichan (Jpn) (Kurofune), a three-time stakes winner on the dirt.

“On her pedigree, it looks like she'll be able to perform on dirt, and in her training uphill she's been running well and posting good times,” said trainer Naosuke Sugai of the rail-drawn Sodashi. “I think she's well prepared for her first run on dirt over 1800 metres. I hope she can be well forward and not use up too much, too soon.”

 

Chuwa Wizard (Jpn) (King Kamehameha {Jpn}) rallied from midfield to scoop this valuable prize last year before venturing abroad to be ninth in the Feb. 20 Saudi Cup and runner-up in the G1 Dubai World Cup the following month. Sixth to T O Keynes (Jpn) (Sinister Minister) in the Listed Teio Sho at Ohi in June, the 6-year-old prepped for this with a sound third–with T O Keynes fourth–in the Listed JBC Classic at Kanazawa Nov. 3.

American Pharoah is represented by a pair of runners, each drawn awkwardly. Danon Pharaoh (Jpn) has gate 14 and made the Listed Diolite Kinen in March his one success from four runs this term. He exits a seventh after racing handy to the pace in the JBC Classic. Drawn widest of the 16 is Cafe Pharoah, a low-odds sixth behind Chuwa Wizard last December after winning this track's G3 Sirius S., and who took out this year's G1 February S. at Tokyo. But has generally struggled over the NAR tracks and was fifth to Casino Fountain (Jpn) (Casino Drive) in the Listed Kashiwa Kinen at Funabashi in May, and is best forgiven for a ninth-place effort when trying the grass for the first time in the G3 Hakodate Kinen in July. The 4-year-old makes his first start since.

The relatively lightly raced Sunrise Hope (Jpn) (Majestic Warrior) has risen through the grades this term and is understandably well in the market off his last-out success in the Sirius S. Oct. 2.

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Japan: All-White Sodashi Makes The Switch To Dirt In Dec. 5 Champions Cup

All-white cult horse Sodashi is set to try dirt for the first time on her next start in the Champions Cup under a change that could open more options for the Classic winner.

Having registered two G1 wins on turf, including the Oka Sho (Japanese 1,000 Guineas) in April, Japan's 'idol horse' will switch surface to contest the G1 Champions Cup at Chukyo on Dec. 5.

Trainer Naosuke Sugai is taking the route knowing she is bred from a family of dirt winners. Her sire Kurofune won the Japan Cup Dirt in 2001, and her mother Buchiko also scored all four wins in the dirt.

Sugai referred to her pedigree in announcing he would “try it once” and “keep an eye on it” with the race set be run over her ideal distance of 1,800m [9f], adding there would be more options for her if the switch proves successful.

Sodashi, also referred to as a 'unicorn', has become one of Japan's most popular horses, not just because of her rare color but on the track where she has established a record of six wins from eight starts.

She became the first officially white horse to win a G1 during an unbeaten two-year-old campaign and, in addition to winning the Oka Sho, defeated Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf winner Loves Only You in the G2 Sapporo Kinen in September.

She suffered her two defeats in the Japan Oaks and Shuka Sho last time out when she banged her mouth on the starting gate and subsequently had a tooth removed.

This story was reprinted with permission by Horse Racing Planet. Find the original piece and more content here.

The post Japan: All-White Sodashi Makes The Switch To Dirt In Dec. 5 Champions Cup appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Notable US-Bred & -Sired Runners in Japan: Oct. 2 & 3, 2021

In this continuing series, we take a look ahead at US-bred and/or conceived runners entered for the upcoming weekend at the tracks on the Japan Racing Association circuit, with a focus on pedigree and/or performance in the sales ring. Here are the horses of interest for this weekend running at Chukyo and Nakayama Racecourses. A trio of American-bred runners takes their place in a field of 18 for Sunday's Sprinters' S. at the latter venue as Group 1 racing returns to Japan for the first time since late June:

Saturday, October 2, 2021
9th-NKY, ¥30,400,000 ($271k), Allowance, 2yo, 2000mT
BEYOND THE FATHER (JPN) (c, 2, Curlin–Galileo's Song {Ire}, by Galileo {Ire}) is the first foal from his multiple Grade III-placed dam, a $1-million purchase by Shimokobe Farm with this colt in utero at Keeneland November in 2018. Galileo's Song is a half-sister to Magnificent Song (Unbridled's Song), who came from 11th and last to validate favoritism in the 2006 GI Garden City Breeders' Cup S. on the grass at Belmont Park. Beyond the Father debuted with a five-length victory on the dirt at Niigata Aug. 7 (see below, gate 7), but tries the turf this time around. Mirco Demuro has a return call. B-Shimokobe Farm

 

 

Sunday, October 3, 2021
2nd-NKY, ¥9,680,000 ($86k), Maiden, 2yo, 1600mT
SEA VIXEN (f, 2, Into Mischief–Sly Warrior, by First Samurai) has burned money as the favorite in her first two trips to the races, each over the metric seven furlongs, finishing a debut third at Sapporo Aug. 22 before improving one spot at that track Sept. 5. A $130,000 KEESEP yearling turned $500,000 OBS March breezer, the bay is out of a half-sister to MSP Pull Dancer (Pulpit), the dam of the versatile MGSW & MGISP Good Samaritan (Harlan's Holiday) and GSW Brave Nation (Pioneerof the Nile). The filly's third dam Emmaus (Silver Deputy), a half-sister to Caress (Storm Cat) and Bernstein (Storm Cat) et. al., produced Horse of the Year Wise Dan's sire Wiseman's Ferry (Hennessy). Breeze Easy acquired the filly's dam for $50,000 in foal to Kitten's Joy at Fasig-Tipton November in 2017. B-Breeze Easy LLC (KY)

4th-CKO, ¥13,400,000 ($120k), Newcomers, 2yo, 1800m
ARME MATE (c, 2, Frosted–G Note, by Medaglia d'Oro) breezed an eighth of a mile in :10 flat at this year's OBS April Sale and was hammered down for $210,000. The New York-bred is out of a daughter of these breeders' GSW Seeking the Ante (Seeking the Gold), whose MSW daughter Mineralogist (Mineshaft) bred SW Can You Diggit (Tiznow). The Bromans acquired the colt's multiple Grade I-winning third dam Antespend (Spend A Buck) for $900,000 at Keeneland April in 1997 and from her, bred Friends Lake (A.P. Indy), winner of the 2004 GI Florida Derby. B-Chester & Mary Broman (NY)

STRIKE RICH (JPN) (c, 2, American Pharoah–Opulence, by Giant's Causeway), a half-brother to Japanese winner Fort Wadsworth (Verrazano), is the first Japanese-foaled produce for his dam, an unraced daughter of Eclipse Award and GI Belmont S. winner Rags To Riches (A.P. Indy). Third dam Better Than Honour (Deputy Minister), the $14-million mare, also produced Rags To Riches's Belmont-winning half-brother Jazil (Seeking the Gold); GSW/G1SP Casino Drive (Mineshaft); SW Man of Iron (Giant's Causeway); and the dam of GISW Streaming (Smart Strike) and SWs Treasuring (Smart Strike) and Cascading (A.P. Indy). B-Mishima Bokujo

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Heavy Hitters Return in Japan

The once-beaten Lei Papale (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) and reigning G1 Tokyo Yushun hero Shahryar (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) each return to begin their autumn preps in Group 2 events Sunday in Japan.

Carrot Racing's Lei Papale worked her way through the grades in under-the-radar fashion, missing the 3-year-old filly Classics while running the table in five starts, including a breakthrough success at group level as the lone female in a field of 11 in the G3 Challenge Cup at Hanshin last December. Connections could scarcely have selected a more demanding 4-year-old debut for Lei Papale in the G1 Osaka Hai, hooking a field that included 2020 Triple Crown champion Contrail (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}), fellow Derby winner Wagnerian (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) and multiple champion Gran Alegria (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}).

Contested in miserable conditions and in testing ground, Lei Papale made the lead beneath Yuga Kawada and had plenty left late to cause an 11-1 upset (see below). She has one run since, a third to the G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe-bound Chrono Genesis (Jpn) (Bago {Fr}) in the G1 Takarazuka Kinen over 2200 metres June 27.

Lei Papale has gate 12 in a field of 16 for the G2 Sankei Sho All Comers S. at Nakayama and is drawn just to the outside of G1 Longines Hong Kong Vase hero Glory Vase (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) in the 11-furlong test.

 

WATCH: Lei Papale dusts a classy field in the G1 Osaka Hai

 

Campaigned in the colours of Sunday Racing Co. Ltd., Shahryar makes his return to action in Sunday's age-restricted G2 Kobe Shimbun Hai (2200mT) at Chukyo. A maiden winner in a single juvenile appearance at Kyoto last October, the dark bay was third to future G1 Satsuki Sho (Japanese 2000 Guineas) hero Efforia (Jpn) (Epiphaneia {Jpn}) at Group 3 level in February, took out the G3 Mainichi Hai the following month and became the second foal from Dubai Majesty (Essence of Dubai) to win the Japanese Derby, just nosing out Efforia in the Tokyo centrepiece when last seen May 30 (video). Shahryar's full-brother Al Ain (Jpn) was victorious in the 2017 Derby.

Shahryar breaks from the widest alley in a field of 10 in a field that also includes Stella Veloce (Jpn) (Bago {Fr}), a Group 3-winning juvenile who was third in both the 2000 Guineas and Derby.

Top-level racing returns to Japan a week from Sunday with the running of the G1 Sprinters' S. (1200mT) at Nakayama. The JRA tracks stage one Group 1 event on all but two weekends between now and the end of the year, highlighted by the US$5.8-million Longines Japan Cup at Tokyo Nov. 28.

 

WATCH: Shahryar gets up in time in this year's Japanese Derby

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