Milers’ Delight In Tokyo

The G1 NHK Mile Cup has attracted a field of 18 3-year-old milers, none better credentialed than morning line favourite Dolce More (Jpn).

Racing for Three H Racing Company, the Rulership (Jpn) colt was undefeated at two, where he parlayed his G3 Saudi Arabia Royal Cup victory into a sparkling win in the G1 Asahi Hai Futurity S. at Hanshin in December. Named the Japanese Champion 2-Year-Old Colt, he is on a retrieval mission, as he lost his unbeaten tag to Eeyan (Jpn) (Silver State {Jpn}) in the G2 New Zealand Trophy going out too quickly first up at Nakayama in April.

“He was leading out in the New Zealand Trophy last time, but the pace was a bit too quick in the backstraight and it became difficult for him to maintain his lead at the end, so he eventually had to settle for seventh place. Since that race, things have gone smoothly with him, and he's been working well uphill with stablemate Sodashi (Jpn) (Kurofune),” said trainer Naosuke Sugai.

That rival has now won three in a row since cutting back to 1600 metres and will have Keita Tosaki at the controls from gate six. “He drew inside in the New Zealand Trophy, but he started well and wanted to get on with things and had plenty of room turning for home,” said trainer Daishi Ito of Eeyan. “He was driven out well in the closing stages to go on and win. Even though he hasn't won at Tokyo, he ran well enough there on his debut, and I don't see a problem with the course.”

A group winner at two and three, Obamburumai (Jpn) (Discreet Cat) enters this test coming off a victory in the 1600-metre G3 Arlington Cup at Hanshin. Trainer Keiji Yoshimura said, “He got into the race well last time, and although I wasn't sure about how he might finish off, he came with a good late run and caught the others just before the line. Thinking about Tokyo with him, this kind of run seems to suit him.”

Adding some intrigue is Keio Hai Nisai S. runner-up From Dusk (Bolt D'Oro), who was third in the Listed Crocus S. in January. The Susumu Fujita runner breaks from stall one. He will be making his first start since a trip overseas to run ninth in the G3 Saudi Derby in Riyadh in February.

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Kitasan Black’s Equinox Named 2022 Japanese Horse Of The Year

Dual Group 1 winner Equinox (Jpn) (Kitasan Black {Jpn}) followed in his sire's footsteps and claimed the 2022 Japanese Horse of the Year crown with 282/288 votes, according to published reports. The son of G3 Mermaid S. heroine Chateau Blanche (Jpn) (King Halo {Jpn}) raced for trainer Tetsuyama Kimura in the colours of Silk Racing Company, Ltd.

Also named the Japanese Champion 3-Year-Old Male with 285/288 votes, the Northern Farm-bred was second in both the G1 Japanese 2000 Guineas and G1 Japanese Derby, but added his name to the roll of honour of the G1 Tenno Sho (Autumn) and G1 Arima Kinen in the second half of the year. Kitasan Black, who stands at Shadai Stallion Station, was a two-time Japanese Horse of the Year in 2016/2017.

The severity of the blow to the Japanese breeding industry with the premature loss of King Kamehameha (Jpn)'s son Duramente (Jpn) continues to deepen, as no less than three of his progeny were named year end champions for 2022. A champion 3-year-old in his native land in 2015 and the Japanese Champion First-Season Sire in 2020, the dual Classic winner was fifth on the year-end sire tables in Japan.

Leading the charge for their Kingmambo sire line was Japanese Champion Older Male Titleholder (Jpn), who rattled off a trio of wins starting with the G2 Nikkei Sho in March, and then made Hanshin his playground with a brace of Group 1 wins in May and June, with the Tenno Sho (Spring) going his way followed by the Takarazuka Kinen, the former over two miles, the other over 11 furlongs. Nabbing 280 of the 288-vote total, the Okada Stud-bred Toru Kurita trainee carried the Hiroshi Yamada silks in 2022.

A Classic winner, just like Titleholder, Shadai Race Horse Company's Stars On Earth (Jpn) was named the Japanese Champion 3-Year-Old Filly (286/288 votes) for a five-race campaign last year. Second in a pair of Group 3s in January and February, she clawed out a nose victory in the G1 Japanese 1000 Guineas and added the G1 Japanese Oaks in quick succession in the spring for trainer Mizuki Takayanagi. Bred by Shadai Farm, the February foal was an unlucky third when trying for the Japanese Triple Tiara in October. Her German female family stood her in good stead in 2022, as her second dam is champion Stacelita (Fr) (Monsun {Ger}), the winner of five top-level races overall. Stacelita, in turn, is the dam of 2016 Japanese Champion 2-Year-Old Filly Soul Stirring (Jpn) (Frankel {GB}), who would go on to take the G1 Japanese Oaks.

Duramente's 2-year-old daughter Liberty Island (Jpn) was awarded the Japanese Champion 2-Year-Old Filly title. The G1 Hanshin Juvenile Fillies victress was also second in the G3 Artemis S. after winning her debut. Bred by Northern Racing and raced by Sunday Racing Company, the Mitsumasa Nakauchida charge is the only horse of 2022 to be a unanimous champion with 288 votes. Liberty Island's dam, the All American (Aus) mare Yankee Rose (Aus), thrived at both two and three and was named champion Down Under both years, as well as taking second in the G1 Golden Slipper to boot.

The title of Japanese Champion 2-Year-Old Male went to the three-for-three Dolce More (Jpn), who is by another son of King Kamehameha in Rulership (Jpn). Trained by Naosuke Sugai for Three H Racing Company, Ltd., the son of the Classic-winning Ayusan (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) took both the Oct. 8 G3 Saudi Arabia and the G1 Asahi Hai Futurity S. in December. Bred by Shimokobe Farm, he accrued 279 of the 288 votes.

Third in Equinox's G1 Arima Kinen, G1 Queen Elizabeth II Cup winner Geraldina (Jpn) (Maurice {Jpn})'s 2022 track record was deemed enough to defeat the white wondermare Sodashi (Jpn) (Kurofune) in the year-end category for top distaffer, with 239 votes to Sodashi's 32. Placed in another two group races during a busy campaign, the then-4-year-old is another Sunday Racing colourbearer after Liberty Island. Bred by Northern Racing, the mare is out of two-time Japanese Horse of the Year and superstar Gentildonna (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) and is trained by Takashi Saito.

Crack miler Serifos (Jpn) (Daiwa Major {Jpn}–Sea Front {Fr}, by Le Havre {Ire}) made headlines as the victor of Hanshin's G1 Mile Championship in November after an earlier tally in the G2 Fuji S., and those two wins, on the back of a pair of fourths in the G1 NHK Mile Cup in May and the G1 Yasuda Kinen a month later, were enough to see him wear the champion sprinter laurels for G1 Racing Company and trainer Mitsumasa Nakauchida (156/288). Bred by Oiwake Farm, the 4-year-old is the second foal of the Listed Prix Maurice Zilber heroine Sea Front, who also ran third in a French Group 3 and was sold for €135,000 to Haruya Yoshida at the 2016 Arqana December Breeding Stock Sale. The late Le Havre's daughters have also thrown additional Japanese Group 2 winner Des Ailes (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) in the Land of the Rising Sun.

Excelling on dirt, just like his American Triple Crown-winning sire American Pharoah, Café Pharoah claimed all bar four votes to be named the Japanese Champion Dirt Horse. Seen in action three times last term for trainer Toru Kurita, the Koichi Nishikawa-owned bay won his second consecutive G1 February S., as well as the Listed Mile Championship Nambu Hai in October. The 6-year-old is a product of the breeding programme of the late Paul Pompa, and was selected as a juvenile out of the OBS March Sale for $475,000 in 2019. His dam, Mary's Follies (More Than Ready), made $500,000 when bought by BBA Ireland in foal to Curlin at the 2021 Keeneland January Sale; while his Animal Kingdom half-sister Regal Glory–picked up by Peter Brant's White Birch Farm for $925,000 at the same sale–has continued to embellish her race record and is now a three-time Grade I winner on grass.

Iconic Japanese jumper Oju Chosan (Jpn) (Stay Gold {Jpn}–Shadow Silhouette {Jpn}, by Symboli Kris S.) was named champion steeplechaser for the fifth time (2016-2018, 21/22), but managed that feat by only a single vote at 138, as Nishino Daisy (Jpn) (Harbinger {GB}) earned 137. Aged 11 when racing to his title, the Naoyoshi Nagayama-bred represented Chosan Company and trainer Shoichiro Wada.

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Dolce More Remains Unbeaten in Asahi Hai

Backed down to 2-1 favoritism while trying to remain undefeated, Three H Racing's Dolce More (Jpn) (Rulership {Jpn}) did not disappoint, coming home a neck winner over Danon Touchdown (Jpn) (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}) in Sunday's G1 Asahi Hai Futurity at Hanshin.

Exiting Post 2, Dolce More broke alertly but was eased back to ground-saving third behind All Parfait (Jpn) (Real Steel {Jpn}) and Granite (Jpn) (Danon Ballade {Jpn}). Turning for home while still behind the pace, the colt shifted outward while in search of running room, took over soon after the 200-meter marker, and edged clear under left-hand urging while holding off a strong challenge from the second choice Danon Touchdown. Labeling (GB) (Frankel {GB}) rounded out the top three.

“It all went as planned with the trainer, just as I had pictured,” said winning rider Ryusei Sakai, who was registering his second JRA Group 1 score after notching his first with Stunning Rose (Jpn) in the Shuka Sho in October. “I expected the pace to be fast since there were runners coming off short-distanced races. My colt ran in a good position and responded and held on

well. I'm grateful to have been given the opportunity to ride him today.”

The bay broke his maiden at Sapporo in August before annexing his first group victory in the G3 Saudi Arabia Royal Cup Oct. 8. The victory marks the 15th JRA Group 1 win for trainer Naosuke Sugai.

Pedigree Notes:
The fourth Group 1 winner for the impeccably-bred Rulership, Dolce More is out of 2013 G1 Japanese 1000 Guineas (Oka Sho) heroine Ayusan, a full-sister to G1SP Mau Lea (Jpn) and a half to SW Saki To Me (Fusaichi Pegasus). Ayusan is also a granddaughter of Grade I winner Buy The Firm (Affirmed), herself responsible for Grade III scorer Storm Broker (Storm Cat).

Sunday, Hanshin, Japan
ASAHI HAI FUTURITY S.-G1, 135,740,000, Hanshin, 12-18, 2yo, colts/fillies, 1600mT, 1:33.90, fm.
1–DOLCE MORE (JPN), 121, c, 2, by Rulership (Jpn)
1st Dam: Ayusan (Jpn) (G1SW-Jpn), by Deep Impact (Jpn)
2nd Dam: Buy the Cat, by Storm Cat
3rd Dam: Buy the Firm, by Affirmed
1ST GROUP 1 WIN. O-Three H Racing; B-Shimokobe Farm;
T-Naosuke Sugai; J-Ryusei Sai; ¥71,218,000. Lifetime Record:
3-3-0-0.  Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*
Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Danon Touchdown (Jpn), 121, c, 2, by Lord Kanaloa (Jpn)–
Epic Love (Ire), by Dansili (GB). (¥240,000,000 yrl '21 JRHAJUL)
O-Danox Inc.; B-Northern Farm; ¥28,348,000.
3–Labeling (GB), 121, c, 2, by Frankel (GB)–Noyelles (Ire), by
Docksider. (€360,000 wnl '20 GOFDEC; 300,000gns yrl '21TATOCT; €520,638 HRA '22 GOFMAR). O-Big Red Farm; B-Sir Nicholas & Lady Nugent; ¥18,174,000
Margins: NK, NK, 1 1/4; Odds: 2.10, 2.60, 5.50.
Also Ran: Kyoei Brisa (Jpn), Bagradas (Jpn), All Parfair (Jpn), Obamburumai (Jpn), Tinia (Ire), Corpus Christi (Jpn), Granite (Jpn), Nishino Best One (Jpn), Dondengaeshi (Jpn), Suzuka Double (Jpn), Miscela Dorata (Jpn), Ume Musubi (Jpn), From Dusk, Emphasize (Jpn)
Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Click for the JRA chart and video.

 

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Colts Vying For Just Desserts In Asahi Hai Futurity

Rated 109, just like fellow group winners Dolce More (Jpn) (Jpn) and Obamburumai (Jpn) (Discreet Cat), All Parfait (Jpn) (Real Steel {Jpn}) is one of the more fancied runners as 17 colts line up for the 1600-metre G1 Asahi Hai Futurity S. at Hanshin on Sunday. Leaving from post three, the Ryoichi Endo homebred has won his past two starts, after running second in a Tokyo maiden in June. Resuming over this trip in a maiden at Nakayama on Oct. 2, he won by two lengths, prior to defeating Danon Touchdown (Jpn) (Lord Kanaloa {GB}) by a half-length over this course and distance in the G2 Daily Hai Nisai S. on Nov. 12.

Takuya Ono has ridden the horse in all his races and said, “He's coming along nicely, but he has to transport over to the track, so I don't want to overdo things with him. He found a good rhythm in the race last time after starting from a wide gate, and was strong in the finish.”

Undefeated in two starts–a Sapporo newcomer affair in August, and besting Granite (Jpn) (Danon Ballade {Jpn}) by 1 1/4 lengths in Tokyo's G3 Saudi Arabia Royal Cup on Oct. 8, Dolce More has been pleasing trainer Naosuke Sugai in his gallops.

“He has been training well, and while he's not one to really catch the eye, he's done enough work and looks fine,” said Sugai. “In his final work, checking his rhythm was more important than his time, and his breathing's been good. He has gained some weight, but that's him developing and it should help him in a race. He ran right-handed in his first race and I'm not worried about it being his first time at the course this time. He doesn't have any bad habits and he's quite a serious horse that can race well, so I don't have any worries with him and hope he can run a good race.”

Last year's champion sire in Britain and Ireland, and this term's European champion sire elect, Frankel (GB) has a pair of colts entered to build on his earlier Japanese successes in the winners Labeling (GB) and Tinia (Ire). Three of Frankel's four stakes winners in the Land of the Rising Sun are Group 1 scorers, with 2020 hero Grenadier Guards (Jpn) holding the stakes record for this race in a snappy 1:32.30. In addition, his Soul Stirring (Jpn) won the G1 Hanshin Juvenile Fillies–the filly equivalent–as his very first top-level winner back in 2016, the first year the Juddmonte supremo had runners.

Trainer Yuichi Shikato commented on the prospects of Labeling, “There hasn't been long between races, but he's in very good shape. He ran a good race last time, and with the ability he seems to have, I'll look forward to things from now.”

Bolt d'Oro, who is an excruciatingly close three-way battle with Justify and Good Magic for leading freshman sire Stateside, is represented by $200,000 Keeneland September yearling turned $900,000 OBS March juvenile From Dusk. The progressive colt was second by a length in the G2 Keio Hai Nisai S. to the 109-rated Obamburumai on Nov. 5.

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