Epiphaneia | Horse Racing Free Tips

Favored Efforia Proves Best In Japan’s Season-Ending Arima Kinen

Carrot Farm Co. Ltd's once-beaten 3-year-old colt Efforia rallied from mid-pack under Takeshi Yokoyama to score a three-quarter-length victory over Deep Bond in Sunday's season-ending Arima Kinen, a Group 1 fixture for 3-year-olds and up run for the 66th time at Nakayama Racecourse in Tokyo, Japan. Total prize money was almost $6.2 million.

The son of Epiphaneia (by the Kris S. stallion Symboli Kris S) was bred in Japan by Katsumi Yoshida's Northern Farm and trained by Yuichi Shikato. He covered 2,500 meters (about 12 1/2 furlongs) in 2:32 on good to firm turf and paid 210 yen on a 100 yen bet. Longshot Deep Bond tried to keep up with Efforia in the final furlong of the Arima Kinen but the winner was just too good. Chrono Genesis, second choice in the betting and winner of this race in 2020, was third in the field of 16 runners.

The Arima Kinen field is determined by a combination of top earners and a popular vote among Japanese racing fans.

The win was the sixth in seven starts for Efforia, who was produced from Katies Heart, a daughter of the Sunday Silence stallion Heart's Cry. Two of his previous wins came in G1 races, the Satsuki-sho (Japanese 2000 Guineas) in spring and the Tenno-sho in autumn. Efforia's only career defeat came when second to Shahryar in the G1 Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby) on May 30.

Jockey Takeshi Yokoyama is the son of active rider Norihiro Yokoyama, who won the 1996 Arima Kinen, making them the second father and son duo to be victorious in the race. The first was Kunihiko Take and his son Yutaka.

Panthalassa went to the front to set a quick pace and opened a lengthy early lead, with Efforia tracking prime rival Chrono Genesis – the 2020 Arima Kinen winner – for much of the way while racing to the outside in mid-pack on the clockwise-running course. He moved up to loom a threat on the stretch turn as the front-runner began to tire and took a narrow lead inside the furlong pole. Deep Bond gave a valiant effort to be second best.

“He wasn't in the same perfect condition today as in the Tenno Sho in which he was 120%, but his potential proved he still could give a remarkable performance even with the added distance – 2,500 meters is the longest he's ever run,” said Yokoyama. “Unlike in the Derby, he was relaxed and positioned well and was able to show his true strength.”

Attendance was limited because of COVID-19, with a crowd of 6,140 reported on a day that historically would see more than 100,000 fans on-track. A total of $549,500,188 was wagered throughout Japan on the 12-race Nakayama program that is traditionally the biggest betting day of the year for the Japan Racing Association. A total of $429,077,971 was wagered on the Arima Kinen itself.

The post Favored Efforia Proves Best In Japan’s Season-Ending Arima Kinen appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Japan: Circle Of Life Wraps Up 2-Year-Old Filly Title In Hanshin Juvenile Fillies

Circle of Life marked her first G1 victory in this year's Hanshin Juvenile Fillies, her third win in a row from four career starts to become the champion two-year-old filly of 2021.

Kicking off her career in August with a third over 1,800 meters, the filly broke her maiden in her following start at a mile and landed her first grade-race title in her next Artemis Stakes (G3, 1,600m, or one mile) on Oct. 30. Trainer Sakae Kunieda picked up his 21st JRA-G1 title, the first since with Akaitorino Musume (the Shuka Sho) in October, and his second victory in this race after with Apapane in 2009. Jockey Mirco Demuro, whose last G1 victory this year was in the Yushun Himba (Japanese Oaks) with Uberleben, is now a winner of 34 JRA-G1 titles.

Circle of Life, after a smooth break, was unhurried while the race opened with a rush of horses scuffling for a good position in front and traveled in mid-field and three-wide throughout most of the trip. Still way behind turning for home, the Epiphaneia filly still had plenty of energy left to carry her further out for a clear path and mow down the stretch to reach contention after the furlong pole and engaged in a four-horse rally in the last 100 meters. While still having to brush off her foes once taking command with just 50 meters to the wire, the improving filly prevailed to a half a length victory.

“She was great today, she had a good break, and we had a smooth trip. We went wide at the stretch but the track was really good on the outside and the horses (in previous races of the day) seemed to stretch well along that path. My filly was closed well over the smooth track so I trusted her to make it and indeed she exhibited strong finishing speed. I was certain in the last 200 meters that she would win. I've ridden her since her debut and she really takes it in her stride in new surroundings and unfamiliar tracks so she has plenty of energy to use in the race. I'm sure she can further extend her distance in future races so I'm really looking forward that too,” commented jockey Mirco Demuro in the post-race interview.

Eight favorite Lovely Your Eyes was smooth out of the gate and was checked briefly as the horses in front disputed for the lead. Settling between rivals in mid-division around sixth along the backstretch, the Logotype filly met traffic into the stretch but escaped smartly for a clear run along the center lane inside Water Navillera who assumed command before the furlong pole. Joined by the eventual winner and Namur who loomed to contention from the inside, Lovely Your Eyes gave her all stretching her legs to out-finishing Water Navillera by 1/2 lengths while short of the winner by the same margin for second.

Water Navillera was smartly positioned in third along the rails and had a smooth trip and a clear run at the homestretch where she assumed command at early stretch. She continued gamely while joined by foes in the last 100 and while sustaining her bid to the end, was outrun by the first two finishers for third.

Race favorite Namur broke poorly and cost her the race as she traveled well behind the pace while saving ground. Her jockey smartly guided her along the inside route after turning for home and the filly showed a good turn of speed to reach contention in the critical stages but was unable to sustain her bid in the last strides and finished fourth, one-plus lengths from the winner.

Other Horses:
5th: (1) Namura Clair—hugged rails around 11th, switched to outside at early stretch, showed effort but no match for top finishers
6th: (16) Belle Cresta—settled 4-wide around 13th early, advanced after 3rd corner, failed to sustain bid
7th: (8) Sternatia—traveled 3-wide around 6th, lacked needed kick
8th: (5) Statistics—sat 2nd from rear, angled out, passed tired rivals
9th: (12) Anegohada—ran 3-wide around 4th, remained in contention up to 200m pole
10th: (7) Kimiwa Queen—took economic trip around 4th, showed response up to 200m pole
11th: (14) Saku—made headway from last to 13th, circled wide, never fired
12th: (9) Sea Cruise—positioned 3-wide around 13th, showed little at stretch
13th: (4) Toho la Vie en—chased leader in 2nd, faded after 300m out
14th: (15) Dark Page—set pace from wide draw, maintained lead until early stretch
15th: (6) Tana the Wing—raced around 13th, never threatened
16th: (18) Personal High—sat 4-wide around 6th, outrun at stretch
17th: (2) Namura Lycoris—saved ground around 6th, gradually fell back
18th: (3) Hinokuni—traveled around 10th, unable to reach contention

The post Japan: Circle Of Life Wraps Up 2-Year-Old Filly Title In Hanshin Juvenile Fillies appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Deep Impact Yearlings In The Spotlight

The foal session of the JRHA Select Sale is normally the headline-grabber, but the presence of four yearlings from the final crop of the late, great Deep Impact (Jpn) during Monday's opening session could just steal the show during the two-day sale in Hokkaido.

Deep Impact, the Triple Crown winner and breed-shaping sire, died on July 29, 2019, having missed much of the preceding covering season with the spinal issues that ultimately took his life. His small final crop was expected to contain around 20 foals, four of which will go under the hammer this week and will, in fact, bookend Monday's yearling session. They are lot 1, a colt out of GII Gulfstream Park Oaks and GII Black-Eyed Susan S. winner Go Maggie Go (Ghostzapper); lot 52, a filly out of GI Beverly D. S. winner Watsdachances (Ire) (Diamond Green {Fr}); 130, a filly out of the four-time winner Jewel Maker (Jpn) (Empire Maker); and lot 248, a colt out of champion and three-time Group 1 winner Sweep Tosho (Jpn) (End Sweep), who has produced seven winners from seven runners.

At the first renewal of Japan's market-leading sale following Deep Impact's death last summer, buyers were keen to get their hands on some of his last progeny and indeed he was responsible for the top six yearlings by price and twice during the session his progeny set a new record for high price for a yearling at the sale, topped by a half-brother to GI Kentucky Oaks winner Cathryn Sophia (Street Boss) who fetched ¥510-million (£3.77m/€4.19m/$4.75m) from Tetsuhide Kunimoto.

Deep Impact has continued to posthumously justify those buyers' confidence in the 12 months since the 2020 Select Sale; he earned his eighth consecutive champion sire title in 2020, his leading light being Contrail (Jpn), who was his third straight G1 Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby) winner-and sixth overall–and emulated his sire by winning the Japanese Triple Crown. For good measure, Shahryar (Jpn) continued the Deep Impact Tokyo Yushun procession this year.

Deep Impact likewise bolstered a remarkable record in Europe last July with Fancy Blue (Ire), winner of the G1 Prix de Diane and G1 Nassau S., and he notched a fourth European Classic winner in four years-and fifth overall–last month when Snowfall (Jpn) ran away with the G1 Cazoo Oaks by a record 16 lengths. Others to fly his flag over the past year include G1 Mile Championship, G1 Sprinters S. and G1 Victoria Mile winner Gran Alegria (Jpn); G1 Queen Elizabeth II Cup scorer Loves Only You (Jpn); G1 Osaka Hai victress Lei Papale (Jpn); G1 Yasuda Kinen winner Danon Kingly (Jpn) and Fierce Impact (Jpn), who became the latest Australian Group 1 winner for his sire in the Makybe Diva S. Last year was, in fact, Deep Impact's best-ever year by stakes winners and calendar-year earnings, with 35 black-type winners notched (for 46 total stakes wins) and $78,145,659 in the bank.

The JRHA Select Sale will, of course, not be all about Deep Impact; leading local sires like Epiphaneia (Jpn), Heart's Cry (Jpn) and Lord Kanaloa (Jpn) are well represented. With the death of Deep Impact and King Kamehameha in 2019 and the more recent retirement of Heart's Cry, Japanese stud masters have made a significant investment in stallion prospects the past few years and those represented by members of their first-crop weanlings or yearlings here include American Horse of the Year Bricks and Mortar; G1 Japan Cup winner Cheval Grand (Jpn); champion 3-year-old Satono Diamond (Jpn); multiple Grade/Group 1-winning sprinter Mind Your Biscuits; Deep Impact's G1 2000 Guineas winner Saxon Warrior (Jpn); and the Japanese-bred, American Grade I winner Yoshida (Jpn), who himself graduated from this sale. The catalogue also includes some of the first Japanese-bred progeny of GI Kentucky Derby winner California Chrome, and second- and third-crop progeny of American champion sprinter Drefong, who has his first runners this year.

Other highlights from Monday's yearling section of the catalogue include a Heart's Cry colt who is the first foal out of G1 Golden Slipper She Will Reign (Aus) (Manhattan Rain {Aus}) (lot 19); a colt by Satono Diamond out of G2 Oaks d'Italia winner Cherry Collect (Ire) (Oratorio {Ire}), a stakes producer and half-sister to G1 Yorkshire Oaks victress Sea Of Class (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) (lot 65); a Daiwa Major (Jpn) colt out of GI Alcibiades S. winner and stakes producer Wickedly Perfect (Congrats) (lot 74); a Lord Kanaloa colt who is the first foal out of G1 Queen Elizabeth II S. winner Queens Ring (Jpn) (Manhattan Cafe {Jpn}) (lot 96); a Lord Kanaloa colt out of American champion female sprinter Finest City (City Zip) (lot 100); a colt from the first crop of American Triple Crown winner Justify who is the second foal out of GI First Lady S. scorer Zipessa (City Zip) (lot 113); a Heart's Cry colt who is the second foal out of triple Grade I winner Curalina (Curlin) (lot 132); a Heart's Cry son of French Classic winner Elusive Wave (Ire) (Elusive City), a stakes producer whose progeny have topped this sale twice (lot 141); and a colt by Just A Way (Jpn) out of Australian Classic winner Absolutely (Aus) (Redoute's Choice {Aus}) (lot 193).

Highlights of the foal section include a filly by Kizuna (Jpn) out of dual Group 1 winner Covert Love (Ire) (Azamour {Ire}) (lot 307); a colt by Duramente (Jpn) out of dual Grade I winner Vasilika (Skipshot) (lot 316); a Frankel (GB) colt out of GI Las Virgenes S. winner Callback (Street Sense) (lot 329); a Heart's Cry filly out of American champion 2-year-old She's A Tiger (Tale of the Cat), whose Heart's Cry colt was last year the second-top lot at the foal sale when bringing ¥270-million ($2,451,091/£1,763,058/€2,063,729) (lot 342); a colt by Maurice (Jpn) out of dual Grade I winner Photo Call (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) (lot 388); and a Lord Kanaloa colt out of Australian champion Yankee Rose (Aus) (All American {Aus}) (lot 398).

The yearling session of the JRHA Select Sale begins at 10 a.m. local time on Monday, with the foal session following at the same time on Tuesday.

The post Deep Impact Yearlings In The Spotlight appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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Fans Welcomed For Daring Tact Bid

Sunday’s G1 Shuka Sho will mark the first time since February that limited fans will be permitted to attend a Group 1 race in Japan, and it is fitting that it coincides with a fillies’ Triple Crown bid by Daring Tact (Jpn) (Epiphaneia {Jpn}). Daring Tact is unbeaten in four runs including the G1 Oka Sho (Japanese 1000 Guineas) over a mile and the G1 Yushun Himba (Japanese Oaks) at 2400 metres. There is little that appears to be causing fear for connections-she recorded the fastest-ever final three furlongs in the Oka Sho, indicating that a drop back in trip to 2000 metres here shouldn’t pose a problem. While fillies typically prepare for this race with a sharpener off a summer break, trainer Haruki Sugiyama said it is by design that Daring Tact is going straight to the Shuka Sho from the Yushun Himba.

Among those looking to thwart Daring Tact’s bid for history is Ria Amelia (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}), Silk Racing’s daughter of the American champion 2-year-old filly Ria Antonia (Rockport Harbor). Ria Amelia was herself a Group 3 winner at two and though she faltered when 10th over the yielding ground in the Oka Sho, she was a good fourth after a slow break in the Yushun Himba and put in a seamless prep when winning the G2 Sho Rose S. over this trip at Chukyo on Sept. 20. This will be her first time running at Kyoto but she broke her maiden at Hanshin, also a right-turning track.

The Yushun Himba second and third Win Marilyn (Jpn) (Screen Hero {Jpn}) and Win Mighty (Jpn) (Gold Ship {Jpn}) are back to re-oppose, as is Maltese Diosa (Jpn) (Kizuna {Jpn}), who was unplaced in both prior Classics but won a key prep for this, the G3 Shion S., over 2000 metres at Nakayama on Sept. 12.

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