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Japan Success Generations In The Making

The main event on Saudi Cup Day two weeks ago was all about the host nation, with the locally owned and trained Emblem Road (Quality Road) posting a remarkable upset in the world's richest horse race. Saudi Arabia has announced its presence on the global horse racing scene loud and clear, and the country-with its ever-increasing investment in racehorses and breeding stock globally–will continue to be heard from for years to come.

When the layers are peeled back on the third running of the Saudi Cup card, however, it was another nation who made the biggest statement. Japan swept the first four international races on the card and finished second and third in the G3 Saudi Derby. In other words, the only race in which Japan did not hit the board was the Saudi Cup.

While Saudi Cup Day marked a breakout performance for Japan on the world stage, it was far from its first-the dust had still barely settled on Japan's two-win days at both the Breeders' Cup and Hong Kong International Meeting last year-and in fact, the crescendo has been rising for years. Japan's increasing frequency of success on racing's biggest days have gone hand-in-hand with the internationalization of its industry in recent decades, and indeed each of the nation's winners and placegetters on Saudi Cup Day boast pedigrees that have criss-crossed the continents for generations.

Undoubtedly the most major turning point in the history of Japanese breeding came when Zenya Yoshida–the father of current-day Japanese breeding doyens Teruya, Katsumi and Haruya Yoshida-purchased American Classic winner Sunday Silence to stand at stud at Shadai Stallion Station in Hokkaido, reportedly paying $7.5-million for 75% of the horse in 1991 (Yoshida had purchased 25% of Sunday Silence in training so was buying out his partners on the remainder). Sunday Silence, the 10-time champion sire in Japan, had his presence felt on Saudi Cup day not only through his best-known son Deep Impact (Jpn), whose son Kizuna (Jpn) sired the G3 1351 Turf Sprint winner Songline (Jpn), but also through another son, Stay Gold (Jpn), and his own son in turn Orfevre (Jpn).

Stay Gold (Jpn) was a member of Sunday Silence's third crop and was his sire's first major international winner, traveling to take the Dubai Sheema Classic and Hong Kong Vase. Stay Gold has sired 56 stakes winners and 10 Group 1 winners and Stay Foolish (Jpn), a member of Stay Gold's last full crop, joined his sire as an international winner with a victory in the 3000-metre G3 Red Sea Turf H., defeating the G1 Irish St Leger scorer Sonnyboyliston (Ire) (Power {GB}).

Another of Stay Gold's international winners-and, in fact, the second-richest racehorse in history-was Orfevre (Jpn), the Japanese Triple Crown and two-time G1 Arima Kinen scorer who is probably best known internationally for twice finishing second in the G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, including when he famously snatched defeat from the jaws of victory when hanging badly inside the final furlong while on the lead in 2012, once again dashing Japan's still unfulfilled Arc dreams.

Orfevre's Authority (Jpn) was already a triple group-race winner in Japan but he landed on the public radar in November when finishing second to Contrail (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) in the Japan Cup, and he kicked off Japan's four-timer on Saudi Cup Day when justifying favouritism in the 2100-metre G3 Neom Turf Cup. Orfevre is also the sire of last year's GI Breeders' Cup Distaff winner Marche Lorraine (Jpn), who was sixth in her final start in the Saudi Cup.

Authority and Stay Foolish's victories bookended the filly Songline in the 1351 Turf Sprint, and she became the first stakes winner over 1200 metres for her exciting young sire Kizuna, a Japanese Derby-winning son of Deep Impact. Kizuna is another to have represented Japan admirably on the world stage: racing for the Maeda family, which regularly supplements its stock with American bloodlines, Kizuna traveled to France to beat the Derby winner Ruler Of The World (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) in the G2 Prix Niel and was fourth behind Treve (Fr) and Orfevre (Jpn) in the 2014 Arc.

Another sire story of the day belonged to Symboli Kris S, broodmare sire of both Authority and Songline. Symboli Kris S was bred in Kentucky by Takahiro Wada and like Sunday Silence descends from the Hail To Reason line, he through Roberto and Kris S. Symboli Kris S was exported to Japan for his racing career and was highly successful, winning two renewals each of the G1 Arima Kinen and G1 Tenno Sho Autumn before retiring to Shadai. The best of Symboli Kris S's five Group 1 winners thus far has been the G1 Japan Cup and Classic-winning Epiphaneia (Jpn) and he, incidentally, is a full-brother to Authority's dam Rosalind (Jpn). Epiphaneia and Rosalind are out of Cesario (Jpn) (Special Week {Jpn}) who, like Stay Gold, was a pioneering Japanese shipper, traveling to California to win the GI American Oaks by four lengths in 2005 after taking the Yushun Himba (Japanese Oaks). Cesario has become an excellent producer; in addition to Epiphaneia and Rosalind, she is the dam of the 2015 champion 2-year-old colt Leontes (Jpn) (King Kamehameha {Jpn}); Saturnalia (Jpn) (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}), a Group 1 winner at two and a Classic winner, and two other Group 2-placed winners. Songline is a descendant of European champion filly Sonic Lady (Nureyev), and it is also the family of Deirdre (Jpn) (Harbinger {GB}), who scored a hugely popular victory when winning the G1 Nassau S. at Glorious Goodwood in 2019 before staying on to train in Newmarket and traveling the world to run in Group 1s.

Dancing Prince (Jpn) (Pas De Trois {Jpn}), Japan's fourth winner on Saudi Cup Day in the G3 Riyadh Dirt Sprint, brings together influences of Mr. Prospector, Halo and Northern Dancer through their Japanese imported sons End Sweep, Sunday Silence and Northern Taste, respectively. The 7-year-old Dancing Prince, who won the G3 Capella S. on Dec. 12, is the most successful horse sired by the multiple Group 3-winning turf sprinter Pas de Trois, whose sire Swept Overboard won the GI Ancient Title S. in 2001 and the GI Met Mile in 2002. Swept Overboard was sold to stand in Japan upon the conclusion of his racing career and his best runner is Omega Perfume (Jpn), who won four straight renewals of the Tokyo Daishoten, a local Group 1, including the most recent renewal in December. Swept Overboard's sire and grandsire, End Sweep and Forty Niner, were both champion first-season sires in America before being sold to stand in Japan.

Dancing Prince is out of a mare by Bubble Gum Fellow (Jpn), a champion 2-year-old from Sunday Silence's first crop. His second dam, Sawayaka Princess (Northern Taste), produced the G1 Mile Championship winner Durandal (Jpn) (Sunday Silence). Japan was also third and fourth in the Dirt Sprint with Chain Of Love (Jpn) (Heart's Cry {Jpn}) and defending winner Copano Kicking (Spring At Last).

When it comes to passion for horse racing, it would be tough to top the Japanese. There is an incredible betting culture and fandom surrounding the sport in Japan, and international success seems to directly fuel not only increased global participation, but also the spend on bloodstock: just days removed from the nation's Breeders' Cup double with Marche Lorraine and Loves Only You (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}), Japanese breeders headed to the Kentucky breeding stock sales and purchased 13 seven-figure mares, including the Classic-winning filly Swiss Skydiver (Daredevil) for $4.7-million and four additional mares that topped $3-million.

Now, Japan is poised to bring an unprecedented squad to Dubai World Cup night that currently numbers 24. Authority and Stay Foolish are on the lists, respectively, for the G1 Sheema Classic and G2 Gold Cup. Sekifu (Jpn) (Henny Hughes), who was runner-up in the G3 Saudi Derby, is pencilled in for the G2 UAE Derby. Among those set to join Authority in the Sheema Classic are Glory Vase (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}), the back-to-back winner of the G1 Hong Kong Vase, and last year's G1 Tokyo Yushun and G1 Yushun Himba scorers Shahryar (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) and Uberleben (Jpn) (Gold Ship {Jpn}). Schnell Meister (Ger) (Kingman {GB}), who was bred in Germany but is campaigned in Japan by Sunday Racing and beat Songline in last year's G1 NHK Mile Cup, is among those earmarked for the G1 Dubai Turf, while Vin De Garde (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}), who was runner-up in the 1800 metre event last year, is set to return. Copano Kicking and Chain Of Love lead the Japanese squad for the G1 Dubai Golden Shaheen. Japanese dirt star Chuwa Wizard (Jpn) (King Kamehameha {Jpn}) will line up for the $12-million G1 Dubai World Cup.

Those are just a handful of the runners that could give Japan another night to remember in Dubai later this month. And regardless of the outcomes at Meydan, it is an odds-on bet that the global racing community will continue to see the effects of Japan's incredible investment in and commitment to its racing and breeding programme.

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Dettori, O’Brien Mourn Loss Of Top Ballydolye Filly Snowfall

Classic-winning filly Snowfall had to be euthanized after sustaining a pelvic injury in her stall, reports the Racing Post. Bred by the Coolmore partners, the 4-year-old daughter of the late Deep Impact was foaled out of a full sister to 2016 Arc de Triomphe winner Found.

Trainer Aidan O'Brien mourned the loss, telling racingpost.com: “We did everything we could for her but it wasn't to be. She is a massive loss to everyone here, from a racing and breeding perspective – she was such a high-class mare.”

A five-time winner from 14 starts, Snowfall came to prominence in 2021 with a 16-length victory in the Group 1 Epsom Oaks, the largest margin of victory in the race's history. She would go on to win the G1 Irish Oaks by 8 1/2 lengths and the G1 Yorkshire Oaks, her first try against older fillies and mares, by four lengths.

“I've ridden 21 British Classic winners in my life but I have never ridden an easier one than her in the Oaks,” Frankie Dettori told racingpost.com. “It was just unbelievable. I had the race won at Tattenham Corner. She was at her peak and just brilliant. She went through the field like a hot knife through butter.

“In this day and age, I don't think we will see a performance like that again. I don't expect to ever win another Classic like that in my life.”

Snowfall's dam, Best In The World, has also foaled a 2019 colt by Deep Impact named Newfoundland, who has yet to start, and an as-yet unnamed 2-year-old colt by Dubawi.

Dual Classic Winner Snowfall Dead

Snowfall (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}), the record 16-length winner of the G1 Cazoo Oaks last June, has been euthanised after suffering a pelvic injury in her box.

“It's very sad news, terrible,” said trainer Aidan O'Brien. “The lads were thinking of keeping her in training but they hadn't quite made up their minds. It was very possible.

“She had a pelvic injury in her box. Sometimes pelvic injuries go the right way or they can go the wrong way. Unfortunately this one went the wrong way. It's very sad and I feel very sorry for the lads, for Derrick [Smith], Michael [Tabor] and John [Magnier].”

Snowfall was bred by the Coolmore partners and is the first foal out of Best In The World (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), a Group 3-winning daughter of the G1 Matron S. and G1 Lockinge S. victress Red Evie (Ire) (Intikhab), and therefore a full-sister to the G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe and GI Breeders' Cup Turf scorer Found (Ire), the G3 Flame Of Tara S. winner and dual Oaks-placed Divinely (Ire) and the G3 Park S. winner Magical Dream (Ire). Best In The World was sent to Japan to start her stud career with consecutive matings to Deep Impact, the first resulting in Snowfall and the second the newly turned 3-year-old Newfoundland (Ire).

Snowfall broke her maiden in July of 2020 at The Curragh at third asking but failed to find the winner's enclosure in four subsequent starts as a juvenile. She first garnered headlines when a saddling enclosure error ahead of the G1 Fillies' Mile saw she and Mother Earth (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}) saddled with each other's towels and ridden by each other's jockeys; it was initially thought that she ran third at 50-1, but the mistake was soon realised and she was correctly identified as finishing eighth. Both Mother Earth and Snowfall would go on to Classic victories and multiple Group 1s at three.

Partnered with Ryan Moore for the first time in the G3 Musidora S. on seasonal debut last May, Snowfall was a surprise 14-1 winner by an eye-catching 3 3/4 lengths over the highly regarded Noon Star (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). Moore nonetheless took the ride on race favourite Santa Barbara (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) in the Oaks, but on the first Friday in June there was no question who was best. Partnered by Frankie Dettori fresh off his win aboard Mother Earth in the G1 1000 Guineas, Snowfall traveled inconspicuously in the second half of the pack at Epsom. She began to creep closer leaving Tattenham corner and, when pressed by Dettori, burst to the lead two out, sprinting clear to win by a record 16 lengths at odds of 11-2.

Dettori drew comparisons post-race to the great Enable (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}), who he won the Oaks on in 2017, saying, “four out I had everything beat. I looked in front and they were all gone. I just cut through the middle-it was like a hot knife through butter. It was quite remarkable, because I pulled up by the stables and everybody else pulled up by the winning post. I've won many Classics, but none as easy as this one. Enable did the Irish Oaks, King George and Arc as a 3-year-old after this, and I wouldn't put that past her, she's that good.”

Six weeks later, Snowfall resurfaced at The Curragh for the G1 Irish Oaks reunited with Ryan Moore. Buried midpack on the fence, she nonetheless found a seam upon straightening for home and was once again an incredibly easy winner, striding an effortless eighth lengths clear of a trio of her chasing stablemates, with her relative Divinely, who had been third in the Oaks, picking up second.

Four weeks later, it was off to York for Snowfall to face elders for the first time in the G1 Yorkshire Oaks, and the result was much the same, with the bay traveling near the rear of the pack and, when asked, quickening to the lead and drawing away to win by four lengths, establishing herself as favourite for the G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.

It came as quite a surprise then, when Snowfall suffered her first reversal when second to Teona (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) in the G1 Prix Vermeille in September. Forced to face a bottomless Arc three weeks later, Snowfall was not disgraced but off the board for the first time when beaten 4 3/4 lengths in sixth, and made what was to be her final start when third in the G1 British Champions Fillies & Mares S. at Ascot on Oct. 16. Snowfall won five races from 14 starts for earnings of £885,696. Her dam, Best In The World, has an as-yet unnamed 2-year-old colt by Dubawi (Ire).

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Japanese Derby Winner Wagnerian Dead

Makoto Kaneko's Wagnerian (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}-Miss Encore {Jpn}, by King Kamehameha {Jpn}), the winner of the 2018 G1 Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby), has died age seven of organ failure, according to published reports.

The winner of the G3 Tokyo Sports Hai Nisai S. at two at the end of a three-race, unbeaten 2-year-old campaign, Wagnerian won the Tokyo Yushun at third asking at three. He added the G2 Kobe Shimbun Hai before the season was out, and though that would prove to be his last win, Wagnerian was third in the following spring's G1 Osaka Hai S. and the 2019 G1 Japan Cup. He was last seen trailing in last in this year's Japan Cup.

Wagnerian raced as a homebred for Kaneko, who also raced his sire, Deep Impact, and his damsire, King Kamehameha.

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