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Japan: Gran Alegria Headlines Sunday’s Mile Championship

This week Japan's top-level racing remains at Hanshin Racecourse with the 38th running of the Mile Championship on Sunday, Nov. 21. 18 horses ranging in age from 3 to 8, including three foreign-breds, four females and five 3-year-olds, have been nominated for the 18 berths of the 1,600-meter turf test, again at Hanshin this year.

The spotlight lingers longest on Gran Alegria, awarded Best Sprinter of Miler for 2020, and now 5-year-old. The Deep Impact mare looking to leave even more of an impression by notching back-to-back wins of the race and her sixth Grade 1 victory. At the same time soon-to-retire trainer Kazuo Fujisawa gets his last chance to add one more feather to his cap and his already-record-setting five wins of the Mile Championship.

Gran Alegria's not the only one in the lights. German-bred Schnell Meister, who captured the 3-year-old showcase NHK Mile Cup in the spring, is seen as Gran Alegria's biggest threat. Back again is Indy Champ, who won the race in 2019 and missed the winner's circle by 0.1 seconds last year. Salios, also a returnee, is looking for a better break and improvement on last year's fifth, while 2020 Grade 1 Hopeful Stakes winner and last year's Best 2-Year-Old Colt Danon the Kid and 2020 Asahi Hai Futurity Stakes winner Grenadier Guards add considerable color and competition to the mix.

The Hanshin outer course over the mile is the usual venue for two Grade 1 fillies-only events, the Hanshin Juvenile Fillies and the Oka Sho (Japanese 1000 Guineas). The race is often clinched by the runner with the fastest time over the final three furlongs. Stamina is also brought into play with Hanshin's sharp hill just before the finish line. From just past 200 meters out, the track rises 1.8 meters over some 100 meters.

Assigned weights for the Mile Championship are 57 kg for males 4 years old and up, with a 1-kg allowance for 3-year-old colts and a 2-kg allowance for fillies and mares. The Mile Championship is the 11th race on the Sunday card of 12 at Hanshin. Post time is 3:40 p.m.

Here's a look at the expected top choices.

Gran Alegria: This daughter of Deep Impact has quite the spectacular record herself. In 14 starts, she has eight wins and has finished out of the top three spots only twice, a fourth in this year's Grade 1 Osaka Hai over 2,000 meters and fifth in the 2019 NHK Mile Cup (she crossed the line in fourth but was demoted for interference). Eleven of her starts have been at the top level and she's competing in her ninth Grade 1 in a row. Following the Osaka Hai in April, she took on the Victoria Mile in May, then returned just three weeks later for the Yasuda Kinen, which she lost to Danon Kingly by a mere head. She returned on Oct. 31 for the 2,000-meter Grade 1 Tenno Sho (Autumn) but finished third, only 0.2 seconds behind this year's Satsuki Sho (Japanese 2000 Guineas) winner Efforia and half that time behind last year's Triple Crown winner Contrail. Now, with only three weeks between races, she's back, but at her best distance, and with jockey Christophe Lemaire expected to be in the saddle, the winning duo of last year is hoping for a repeat winning performance. If she can pull off a repeat, she'll be the first to do it since Daiwa Major in 2006 and '07.

Schnell Meister: A 3-year-old son of Kingman, Schnell Meister was victorious in the NHK Mile Cup in early May and followed that up with a third-place finish half a length behind Gran Alegria in the Yasuda Kinen a month later in his first time competing against older horses. The colt has a number of firsts to conquer, however. It will be his first time at Hanshin and, based at Miho, his first long haul to the track. His assigned weight of 56 kg will not be the most he's carried but it will, unlike the 54kg he shouldered in the Yasuda Kinen, be the most when competing amid older horses. Expected in the saddle is a familiar face, however. The young jockey Takeshi Yokoyama, hungry for his fourth G1 win this year, partnered Schnell Meister twice before, in the colt's winning debut and in the Yasuda Kinen.

Danon the Kid: Top 2-year-old last year with a 3-for-3 record, the Just a Way colt Danon the Kid was handed his first defeat with a third in the Grade 2 Hochi Hai Yayoi Sho Deep Impact Kinen in March. His next start was no better, with him finishing only one off the rear in the Satsuki Sho. He was later diagnosed with a fracture. He returned after 6 months for a fourth in his first mile, the Grade 2 Fuji Stakes on Oct. 23 at Tokyo, and the distance may prove more to his liking. Out of the mare Epic Love, his half-brother Mikki Brillante has five wins, three of them over the mile.

Salios: The 2019 Asahi Hai Futurity Stakes winner Salios finished fifth here last year. The Heart's Cry 4-year-old drew the far outside gate and, traveling from close to the rear, still managed to turn in the field's fastest final three furlongs time of 33.1 seconds to finish only 0.4 seconds behind the winner. He next posted 5-8 in his two starts hence, both at the G1 level. Both were difficult runs, with the Osaka Hai run over heavy ground. Next out only two months later, he encountered interference at the furlong pole in the Yasuda Kinen. Returning straight from the Yasuda Kinen, Salios is to be partnered with jockey Kohei Matsuyama again. Based at Ritto, Matsuyama made the trip last week to the Noriyuki Hori stable at Miho to ride Salios in trackwork. “I put the colt in quarter-cup blinkers with a cross noseband and he ran well,” said Hori. “We were aiming for a good time but he was a bit excited and the time was fast. His breathing wasn't good. He's had enough work so this week we'll work on his weakpoint, his power from behind. I'll have him in good shape for the race. He's a different horse from what he was in the Yasuda Kinen,” Hori claims.

Indy Champ: If ever there's a consistent horse who deserves to win another Grade 1, it's Indy Champ. The 6-year-old son of Stay Gold also returns straight from the Yasuda Kinen (which he won in 2019), finishing fourth only a neck behind Schnell Meister and 0.2 seconds behind winner Danon Kingly. First here in 2019, and second last year, Indy Champ's last win was the Grade 2 Yomiuri Milers Cup in late April 2020. Since then, he's run only in graded races, all in the 1,200-1,600 range, four of them G1s, but has failed to win. One second, three thirds and two fourths. Regular partner Yuichi Fukunaga is set for the ride. Veteran trainer Hidetaka Otonashi, who has won the Mile Championship three times before, says, “He felt too good in the Yasuda Kinen and in hindsight, he made his move too soon and was overtaken with only 50 meters left. It wasn't a bad race at all. We followed the usual routine in getting him ready, with this race as our sole objective.”

Grenadier Guards: First in the Asahi Hai Futurity Stakes last year, the Frankel-sired Grenadier Guards has only figured out of the top three spots once in his seven starts. He missed the winner's circle narrowly in his three starts since his Grade 1 win, all in graded stakes, then lost by a head in the seven-furlong Grade 3 Chunichi Sports Sho Falcon Stakes at Chukyo, and finished third only half a second behind Schnell Meister in the NHK Mile Cup at Tokyo. Trained at Ritto by Japan's current leading trainer for wins MItsumasa Nakauchida and to be paired with jockey Kenichi Ikezoe, the colt returned after four months off to finish third in the Grade 3 Keisei Hai Autumn Handicap on Sept. 12. Both Grenadier Guards' two wins have come at Hanshin, one of them over the mile.

Others to watch are:

Lotus Land has consistently run first or second in all but three of her starts. She captured the Grade 3 Sekiya Kinen in August over the Niigata 1,600 meters, but returned in late October 10 kg heavier for a 10th in the Fuji Stakes at Tokyo. Matured since her 12th in the Hanshin Juvenile Fillies in 2019, and with a sharpened behind her, this American-bred girl could surprise. Third in the 2019 NHK Mile Cup, Catedral takes on his second Mile Championship following his sixth in 2019. Often slow at the break and no different last out in the Keisei Autumn Handicap, he nonetheless won with a final 600-meter time of 33.9 seconds under Keita Tosaki, expected back up on Sunday. The Heart's Cry 5-year-old is 1-2-10 at Hanshin. The 6-year-old Sound Chiara rose consistently from her debut and shone through her second in the Victoria Mile last year. Since then, including a 10th here last year and an 11th in this year's Victoria Mile, she returned after five months off to land a second amid mixed company in the Grade 2 MBS Sho Swan Stakes over the Hanshin 1,400 meters on Oct. 30 and may be on the up and up.

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Japan: Sophomore Akaitorino Musume Headlines Sunday’s QEII Cup

After a great weekend at the Breeders' Cup for Japan, this coming Sunday (Nov. 14) sees the domestic Grade 1 action return to the Hanshin Racecourse, where the Queen Elizabeth II Cup will be run over 2,200 meters (about 1 3/8 miles) on the track's inner turf course. Established in 1976, it was originally run over 2,400 meters (1 1/2 miles), but when the race's format changed in 1996 to allow fillies and mares over 3 years old to enter, the distance was shortened to its current 2,200 meters. It became an international Grade 1 in 1999. It is also the first leg of four races of what is now known as the Japan Autumn International series of races, and one that includes the prestigious Grade 1 Japan Cup.

There are eighteen nominations for this year's Queen Elizabeth II Cup, including recent Grade 1 Shuka Sho winner Akaitorino Musume. As a 3-year-old filly, she'll be able to claim a 2kg allowance, whereas 4-year-olds and up are allotted 56kg. There were originally three runners nominated from overseas, but none of them will take a place in the final line-up. The race hasn't been kind to first favorites in the last ten years, with just two heading the market and going on to win. Third favorites have fared better, taking out four of the last ten races. 4-year-olds have been dominant over the same time period, winning on six occasions. Record time for the race was set just last year, when Lucky Lilac (now retired) won the race for the second year in a row, setting a time of 2 minutes 10.3 seconds, although it must be remembered that last year the race was also run at Hanshin, not its regular venue Kyoto. The winner's check this time around is JPY105 million (approximately USD 1 million).

The Grade 1 Queen Elizabeth II Cup will be Race 11 on the Sunday card at Hanshin, with a post time locally of 15:40. The final field and the barrier draw will be available later in the week.

Here's a look at some of the fillies and mares expected to take on the race:

Akaitorino Musume: The 3-year-old filly by Deep Impact managed to go one better last time than she did in the Grade 1 Yushun Himba (Japanese Oaks) back in May, when winning the Grade 1 Shuka Sho over 2,000 meters at Hanshin in October. It's a fairly tight rotation, but trainer Sakae Kunieda feels the horse is coping with everything just fine. “She ran a good race in the Shuka Sho, which was her first race in a while, and ran smoothly despite drawing an outside gate, so I was very pleased. She quickly recovered from the race, and getting her back in work has been an easy task,” said the trainer recently. The filly is now four wins from her seven career starts, and jockey Keita Tosaki is expected to ride her again here.

Lei Papale: Another filly by Deep Impact, her stunning six-win streak finally came to an end in the Grade 1 Takarazuka Kinen back in June, when she finished third, and most recently she had to settle for fourth in the Grade 2 Sankei Sho All Comers over 2,200 meters at Nakayama in September. It would seem she just has to find a bit more over the extended distance. Trainer Tomokazu Takano commented: “In the All Comers last time, I don't think she found her best rhythm throughout the race, but she did find the front briefly in the homestraight, and showed what ability she has. The extra furlong just found her out, so the key will be getting her to stay that little bit more.” Connections have been quick to secure the services of Christophe Lemaire this time, so a big run can be expected from Lei Papale.

Win Marilyn: Winner of the Grade 2 Sankei Sho All Comers at Nakayama on her last start, the 4-year-old filly by Screen Hero looks set for a run here, and before her last victory she finished a creditable fifth in this year's Grade 1 Tenno Sho (Spring) back in May. Trainer Takahisa Tezuka said, “She ran very well last time when taking on the male horses, especially when you consider she hadn't run in a while. She had an operation on a leg swelling a while ago, and after this last race it flared up a bit and she had a fever, but we've kept her at the stable since and she's been back in work recently. She's running slightly awkwardly, but I expect that to improve.”

Win Kiitos: As with Win Marilyn, Win Kiitos was also bred at Cosmo View Farm, but is a daughter of Gold Ship, who claimed his first Grade 1 as a sire earlier this year. Win Kiitos won the Grade 2 Meguro Kinen over 2,500 meters back in May at Tokyo, and is coming off a second place finish in the Grade 2 Sankei Sho All Comers. “In recent training, I intended her to do a five-furlong piece of work solo in about 70 seconds, but in front of the stand she ended up running with a horse from another stable and got quite switched on. Consequently, her time was faster than expected. She's in good shape though, and things are pretty much going according to plan,” said trainer Yoshitada Munakata. The trainer is looking for his first ever JRA Grade 1 victory.

Terzetto: Looking like jockey Mirco Demuro's big race ride, the improving filly by Deep Impact is now six wins from eight career starts. Trainer Shoichiro Wada was pleased with her latest win in the Grade 3 Hokkaido Shimbun Hai Queen Stakes over 1,800 meters at Hakodate in August. “The jockey managed to get the best out of the horse last time, especially with a great turn of foot at the end of the race. She was relaxed, and it was just a short distance from the paddock to the track, so this helped her stay calm,” stated the trainer. Terzetto has run beyond 1,800 meters just once, when finishing third over 2,000 meters at Nakayama as a 3-year-old.

Des Ailes: Another filly by Deep Impact, the 4-year-old still boasts an almost 50% win strike rate, despite finishing outside the first three in her last two starts, an 8th in the Grade 1 Victoria Mile in May, and a disappointing 16th of 18 last time in the Grade 2 Ireland Trophy Fuchu Himba Stakes at Tokyo in October. Trainer Yasuo Tomomichi is not too worried about her latest run. ”It was unlike her to drop out of the race like she did last time, and since being back at the stable she seems her usual self. I think in the summer when she was at the farm, she obviously wasn't being prepared for a race, and it showed in that last run. I think we're in a much better place now that she's got a race under her,” commented the trainer.

Rambling Alley: As with Des Ailes, Rambling Alley carries the colors of the Shadai Race Horse Co. Ltd. and is a stablemate of the former. Every race she's taken on this year has been a graded one, so her experience in those races points to a likely good run in this one too. She finished second in the Grade 1 Victoria Mile in May, and last time out she was seventh in the Grade 2 Sankei Sho All Comers over 2,200 meters at Nakayama in September. Of the 5-year-old mare, trainer Yasuo Tomomichi said: “She got a bit too far back last time and wasn't suited by the pace, but it wasn't a bad result. She's been working well in training and there's no change with her.” The trainer has thirteen JRA Grade 1 wins, but they don't include a win in this race, although it looks as if he'll be well represented here this time if both his runners get a start.

Clavel: The 4-year-old filly by Epiphaneia has been in the first three eight times from her twelve-race career, and her graded race experience, while limited, has been quite impressive. Most recently she produced a great late run in what was a tough race, the Grade 3 Niigata Kinen over 2,000 meters in September. Trainer Shogo Yasuda said, “She has done well before, saving ground in races and showing a good late turn of foot, but in her last race, she really flew home in a good final three-furlong time. It took a bit out of her, so she's had a rest at the farm, but on returning to the stable, she's currently running with a good rhythm.” The trainer is seeking his first JRA Grade 1 success.

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Loves Only You Breaks Through For Japan With Thrilling Filly & Mare Turf Triumph

It's been 35 years since Japanese Triple Crown winner Symboli Rudolf came to the U.S. in search of a major stakes victory in California that never materialized. It's been 26 years since Ski Captain traveled from Japan for an historic, but ultimately futile, attempt to win the Kentucky Derby. Sixteen years ago, Cesario scored a breakthrough Grade 1 victory for a Japanese-trained Thoroughbred in the American Oaks at Hollywood Park and it's been six years since French-trained Karakontie won the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Mile to become the first Japanese-bred winner of a Breeders' Cup race.

But until Loves Only You and jockey Yuga Kawada burst through a narrow opening in midstretch to beat My Sister Nat to the wire in Saturday's Grade 1, $2-million Filly & Mare Turf, no Japanese-bred and Japanese-trained horse had been successful on the world's biggest stage for Thoroughbreds, the Breeders' Cup World Championships.

The 5-year-old mare by Japanese Triple Crown winner Deep Impact, a son of 1989 U.S. Horse of the Year Sunday Silence, was considered the best runner ever sent by a Japanese horseman to the Breeders' Cup, and the globe-trotting Loves Only You did not disappoint. Sent off the 4-1 third betting choice, she secured a ground-saving spot just behind the early leaders in the 1 3/8-mile Filly & Mare Turf, awaited room at the top of the stretch and then demonstrated a quick turn of foot to overtake the front-runners and hold off a fast-finishing My Sister Nat by a head.

War Like Goddess, the 2-1 favorite, finished a head back in third after moving to the lead with an eye-catching, wide rally from the three-eighths pole to the wire. Love, the Aidan O'Brien-trained multiple Group 1 winner from Ireland, finished fourth as the 3-1 second betting choice, with defending Filly & Mare Turf winner Audarya fifth in the field of 12 fillies and mares. She was followed across the finish by Ocean Road, Rougir, Pocket Square, Acanella, Dogtag, Going to Vegas and Queen Supreme.

Loves Only You, owned by DMM Dream Club Co. and bred by Northern Farm, ran the 1 3/8 miles on firm turf in 2:13.87, about 2 4/5 seconds off the course record, and paid $10.60 on a $2 mutuel.

Going to Vegas went to the front, as expected, setting fractions of :24.10, :47.83, 1:13.06 and 1:38.20 while under pressure Dogtag. War Like Goddess, last early, turned up the heat with her move entering the far turn and was in front with an eighth of a mile to run after a mile and a quarter was clocked in 2:02.46.

A classic winner of the G1 Japanese Oaks at 3, Loves Only You was winless in five starts as a 4-year-old in 2020, but rebounded this year to win the G1 Queen Elizabeth II Cup in Hong Kong in April after finishing a close third to Mishriff in the G2 Dubai Sheema Classic at Meydan in Dubai. After a summer freshening, Loves Only You returned with a second-place finish in the G2 Sapporo Kinen in Sapporo, Japan, her last start before the Breeders' Cup.

“You know, when we finished second at Sapporo, I picked that race because the turf track is similar to Del Mar,” said trainer Yahagi.

The Filly & Mare Turf winner was produced by the U.S.-bred Loves Only Me, an unraced daughter of Storm Cat who was purchased by Japan's leading breeder, Katsumi Yoshida, for $900,000 from the Lane's End consignment at the 2009 Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale. Loves Only Me was bred by the Niarchos and is a granddaughter of two-time Breeders' Cup Mile winner Miesque.

“I'd like to say thank you to my horse,” Yahagi said. “She did a great job. It's a dream come true for Japanese horse racing history. I'd love to come back Breeders' Cup at Keeneland next year and do the same thing, to win!”

Quotes from other connections:

Trainer Chad Brown (My Sister Nat (FR), second) – “My Sister Nat ran great. Pocket Square just couldn't run that far. Jose (Ortiz) rode a great race. We had a plan to follow War Like Goddess, which he executed perfectly. I just said, 'If you have any chance to win, just follow her and draw alongside of her in the stretch and if our horse is good enough battle it out.' That's what Jose did. I'm so proud of this mare. It's bittersweet because she ran the race of her life, but it was her last race, and unfortunately, she never got that Grade 1 win that she deserves. She had a couple of tough beats. Nevertheless, she is off to the breeding shed and she has been a wonderful mare to train. I look forward to training her babies.”

Trainer Bill Mott (War Like Goddess, third as favorite) – “Being third's not as good as first. She ran hard. She made the lead a little early, maybe, and was a little wide off the turn – didn't have much choice about that.”

Jockey Julien Leparoux (War Like Goddess, third as favorite) – “We had a good trip. She was nice and relaxed relaxed early. Just before the three-eighths pole she took a hold of the bridle on her own and made that big move. I had to go on with her then and we got carried wide. It was sooner than I would have liked. She ran a very good race.”

Jockey Ryan Moore (Love, fourth) – “She ran well just not good enough on the day.”

Jockey William Buick (defending winner Audarya, fifth) – “She ran a very big race considering the run we had. She got boxed in then denied a clear but ran on strong to the line.”

Jockey Oisin Murphy (Ocean Road, sixth) – “Had a great run round and she's put up a good performance.”

Trainer Hugo Palmer (Ocean Road, sixth) – “She ran very well and is going to be a lovely filly for next year. I expect her to keep improving.”

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Snowfall’s Brother Starts At Dundalk

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-pedigreed horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Today's Observations features a full-brother to multiple Classic scorer Snowfall (Jpn).

1.05 Nottingham, Mdn, £14,000, 2yo, c/g, 8f 75yT
KALAHARI PRINCE (IRE) (New Approach {Ire}) is one of five Godolphin representatives lining up for this “Golden Horn Maiden” won 12 months ago by Adayar (Ire) (Frankel {GB}), and one of a pair of Charlie Appleby-trained newcomers, with William Buick in the saddle. A half-brother to the listed scorer and dual Group 3-placed Duneflower (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), the January-foaled chestnut is joined by the stable's Untold Mystery (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), a half-brother to the G1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere winner Royal Marine (Ire) (Raven's Pass).

5.00 Dundalk, Mdn, €14,000, 2yo, 7f (AWT)
NEWFOUNDLAND (IRE) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) is the second foal out of Coolmore's G3 Give Thanks S. scorer Best In the World (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), whose first turned out to be this May-foaled colt's sensational full-sister Snowfall (Jpn). With the connection to that G1 Epsom and Irish Oaks heroine and to Found (Ire), the Ballydoyle newcomer will probably need middle-distances in time unlike the Juddmonte debutante Trent (GB) (Kantharos), a Ger Lyons-trained fellow debutante who is out of a half to the G1 1000 Guineas winner Special Duty (GB) (Hennessy).

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