Dozen Juveniles Line Up For Kentucky Derby Points Race in Japan

A field of 12 Japanese-bred 2-year-old colts descends on Kawasaki Racecourse Wednesday evening for the $490,090 Listed Zen-Nippon Nisai Yushun, a 1600-meter contest that serves as the second of four legs on the Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby. A total of 42 Derby points are on the line, to be awarded to the first five finishers on a scale of 20-10-6-4-2.

Aigle Noir (Jpn), a son of Eclipse Award winner Bricks and Mortar, looks for his fourth win from five starts overall and will try to remain undefeated on the dirt in the process. Fourth on turf debut at Hanshin in June, the dark bay graduated over 1700 meters at Kokura Sept. 2 and narrowly prevailed in a Tokyo allowance Oct. 14, defeating Amante Bianco (Jpn) (Henny Hughes). Aigle Noir stepped up to stakes company last time, besting the re-opposing Satono Phoenix (Jpn) (Henny Hughes) in the Listed Hyogo Junior Grand Prix Nov. 22 (see below, SC 7), while Amante Bianco further flattered the form with a handy success in the Cattleya S., the first of the Japanese Kentucky Derby points races at Tokyo three days later.

 

 

Forever Young (Jpn) (Real Steel {Jpn}) was purchased for ¥98 million ($720,603) as a yearling at the JRHA Select Sale and is flawless in his two starts to date. A son of GII Santa Ynez S. victress Forever Darling (Congrats) and from the family of Japanese Horse of the Year Zenno Rob Roy (Jpn) (Kris S.) , the Yoshito Yahagi trainee opened his account with a stylish four-length victory in an 1800-meter newcomers event at Kyoto Oct. 14 and was the facile winner of the Listed JBC Nisai Yushun at Mombetsu when last seen Nov. 4 (see below, SC 3). Ryusei Sakai rides the narrow second ante-post favorite.

 

 

Godolphin homebred Nasty Weather (Jpn) (Pyro) is also two from three on the dirt, while Seltsam (Jpn) (Henny Hughes)–a distant third to Aigle Noir and Satono Phoenix last time–is the lone group winner in the field, having upset the G3 Hakodate Nisai S. on the turf back in July.

None of the participants from the Cattleya S. presses on to this test, meaning that the winner takes over at the top of the standings. The series continues with the Listed Hyacinth S. at Tokyo Feb. 18 and the Fukuryu S. (allowance) at Nakayama Mar. 23.

The 2022 renewal was won by subsequent G2 UAE Derby hero and recent GI Breeders' Cup Classic runner-up Derma Sotogake (Jpn) (Mind Your Biscuits).

 

The post Dozen Juveniles Line Up For Kentucky Derby Points Race in Japan appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Familiar Names Front and Center at JRHA Select Yearling Sale

As reported in more detail by European Editor Emma Berry in Tuesday’s TDN European Edition, members of the final crop of the late Deep Impact (Jpn) predictably dominated the yearling section of the JRHA Select Sale Monday on the island of Hokkaido, accounting for the day’s top six sellers and eight of the top nine. Lot 114, the second Japanese foal from Sheave (Mineshaft)–the dam of GI Kentucky Oaks winner Cathryn Sophia (Street Boss)–led the way on a record final bid of ¥510 million ($4,766,356), as the offspring of American-bred and -raced mares acquired by the Yoshida family lit up the board one after the next.

Sheave, an unraced daughter of GSW & GISP Belterra (Unbridled), was bred by the late Bob Manfuso and was carrying a full-sister to Cathryn Sophia when she was acquired privately and exported to Japan. In February 2017, she produced Sharie al Malika (Jpn), who was a close second on debut in a Nakayama dirt maiden this past March. Sheave is the dam of the 2-year-old colt Satono Sky Turf (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) and her colt foal by Heart’s Cry (Jpn) sells Tuesday as lot 383.

The session’s second-dearest offering at ¥400 million ($3,738,318) was lot 56, a colt out of Forever Darling (Congrats), who won the 2016 GII Santa Ynez S. for owner/trainer Richard Baltas and partners before continuing her career in the colors of Katsumi Yoshida. Forever Darling is a daughter of MSW & MGISP Darling My Darling (Deputy Minister), whose half-brother Zenno Rob Roy (Jpn) (Sunday Silence) won the 2004 G1 Japan Cup en route to Horse of the Year honors. Forever Darling’s first produce, Mon Favori (Jpn) (Frankel {GB}), won a newcomers’ event on turf over 1200 meters June 20 at Hakodate, scoring by five lengths in 1:08.7 (see below, gate 9). Daughters of Congrats have produced eight winners from nine starters in Japan, including Group 2 winner Hartley (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}).

 

During her racing career, Teddy’s Promise (Salt Lake) registered her biggest victory in the 2011 GI La Brea S. and her Deep Impact foal of 2019 (lot 36) was the session’s most expensive filly on a bid of ¥240 million ($2,242,991). Teddy’s Promise is the dam of two winners from as many to race in Japan, most prominently My Rhapsody (Jpn) (Heart’s Cry {Jpn}), victorious in Group 3 company last year and ninth, but not beaten far, behind Contrail (Jpn) (Deep Impact) in this year’s G1 Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby). Teddy’s Promise’s current 2-year-old, a filly by 2015 Derby hero Duramente (Jpn), fetched ¥52 million last year.

In other results of note, lot 108, a Deep Impact son of GI American Oaks winner Cambina (Ire) (Hawk Wing) and kin to two group-placed runners, hammered at ¥200 million ($1,869,159); lot 92, a Deep Impact half-brother to Classic winner and Three Chimneys stallion Palace Malice (Curlin) made ¥190 million ($1,775,701); lot 23, a colt by Duramente out of GI Kentucky Oaks winner Proud Spell (Proud Citizen), sold early in the session for ¥160 million ($1,495,328); a Deep Impact daughter of GI Beverly D. S. winner Euro Charline (Ire) (Myboycharlie {Ire}) realized ¥145 million ($1,335,141) as lot 171; and lot 106, a Screen Hero (Jpn) half-brother to recent Listed Japan Dirt Derby winner Danon Pharaoh (Jpn) (American Pharoah) fetched ¥96 million ($897,197).

The post Familiar Names Front and Center at JRHA Select Yearling Sale appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

U.S.-Born Broodmares Power Record Prices At Japan Select Yearling Sale

While the yearling session of 2020 Japan Racing Horse Association Select Sale started under cool weather with a little rain at Northern Horse Park on Monday, July 13, the market was hot all way through the day.

Hip 36, a Deep Impact filly by Teddy's Promise, was bought by Kieffers Co. Ltd. for 240,000,000 yen (US$2,242,991).

“I think this is the one which I shouldn't miss to buy today,” Masaaki Matsushima representing Kieffers said of the latest recruit. “As always, my dream is to win Arc de Triomphe and this is the one to aim the Arc in 2022.”

Mikio Matsunaga at Ritto Training Center will train the filly out of the winner of Grade 1 La Brea Stakes at Santa Anita.

Masaaka Matsushima has kept some horses in training in Europe recently. One of them is the British-born multiple Group 1 winner Japan, trained by Aiden O'Brien, and Matsushima co-owns the Galileo colt with Coolmore partnership.

A record price at the JRHA yearling session was established when Hip 56, colt by Deep Impact out of Forever Darling, went through the ring.

The consignment from Northern Farm, out of the G2 Santa Ynez Stakes winner, was bought by Masahiro Noda's Danox Co.Ltd for 400,000,000 yen, (US$3,738,318), which surpassed the price of Last Groove, who was bought for 360,000,000 yen in 2011, and The Rest Nowhere, who was bought for 360,000,000 yen in 2019.

“I think there are two outstanding yearlings in the catalog and this is one them,” Yoshiki Okada, racing manager to Masahiro Noda, commented about the colt. “This is big strong colt, which may not be typical progeny by Deep Impact. But he is a very good mover. I visited Northern Farm to inspect yearlings for several time and he always looked fantastic. And Mr. Noda saw him yesterday and decided to buy him. I believe he stays a mile and half, and hope he will be our Derby horse.”

“While I expected high price, as several major owners are interested in this colt, I did not expect the price more than 300 million yen.” said Katsumi Yoshida of Northern Farm, the consignor of colt. “Mr. Noda visited Northern Farm yesterday and said this is the pick of day. I would like to express my sincere thanks to owners and trainers who travel to Hokkaido under the current challenging situation.”

As expected, a hot bidding war was seen for Hip 67, colt by Deep Impact and a half-brother to La Cressoniere, the unbeaten winner of French 1000 Guineas and French Oaks, bought by Kaneko Makoto Holdings Co/ Ltd/ for 220,000,000yen, (US$2,056,075). The colt is out of the unplaced Galileo mare Absolute Lady.

“Mr. Kaneko visited our barn this morning and this colt caught his fancy”, said Teruya Yoshida of Shadai Farm, the consignor of colt. “I am very happy with the price of this colt and very happy with today's market, which is stronger than I expected.”

The record price of Hip 56 lived very shortly – only for two hours – as Hip 114, a colt by Deep Impact out of Sheave, consigned by Northern Farm, was bought for 510,000,000yen, (US$4,766,356), by Tetsuhide Kunimoto.

“I am involved in ownership of racehorses for more than 35 years and I am sure this is one of the best yearlings I have ever seen,” Kunimoto said of the sales topper. “I visited Northern Farm three times to inspect yearlings and went to the barn of Northern Farm at sales ground this morning, when I am determined to buy him. Price is no object with regard to this colt and I hope his quality is as high as his price.”

Sheave, an unraced daughter of Mineshaft, is the dam of 2016 Kentucky Oaks winner Cathryn Sophia.

Kunimoto also says the colt will be trained by Tomokazu Takano, who trained Shonan Pandora, winner of Japan Cup in 2015, for Tetsuhide Kunimoto.

It is obvious that the second-to-last crop by Deep Impact boosted the market. From 13 yearlings by Deep Impact were offered, 12 of them were sold for 2,497,000,000 yen (US$23,281,187) in total and the average price was 208,083,333yen, (US$1.94 million).

On Monday, 229 lots were sold for 10,428,000,000 yen (US$97,227,161) in total, which is a 2.8 percent decline as compares with 2019. The average price, 45,537,118 yen (US$424,490), marked a 5.9 percent decline. The clearance rate was 92 percent, down slightly from 92.9 percent last year.

“This is amazing market” Katsumi Yoshida of Northern Farm, the leading consignor at the session, commented at the conclusion of first day. “I was actually worried about the market, because there were travel restrictions until June 19 in Japan and owners/trainers could not come here to inspect yearlings cataloged until then. I am very happy with the gross sale, which is the second-highest at yearling session, and am more than happy with the clearance rate, 92 percent. I would like to express my sincerely thanks to owners and trainers who supported the market.”

The foal session of the JRHA Select Sale begins Tuesday.

The post U.S.-Born Broodmares Power Record Prices At Japan Select Yearling Sale appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Verified by MonsterInsights