G1 Osaka Hai | Horse Racing Free Tips

Lord Kanaloa’s Bellagio Opera Ekes Out Osaka Hai Win

Looking for his first Group 1 tally following a productive second-place effort in the Feb. 11 G2 Kyoto Kinen, Bellagio Opera (Jpn) (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}) got up in time to land Sunday's G1 Osaka Hai at Hanshin.

A winner in last season's 1800-meter Spring S., he was a well beaten 10th in the G1 Satsuki Sho (Japanese 2000 Guineas) prior to finishing fourth in the G1 Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby) over 2400 meters. He concluded his 3-year-old season with a victory in Hanshin's G3 Challenge Cup in December.

Breaking sharply from the outer stall this time, Bellagio Opera rushed into contention and settled just behind Stunning Rose (Jpn) (King Kamehameha {Jpn}) who led the way. Keeping that front-running rival in his sights through the final two turns, the second betting choice took over before the 200-meter pole and managed to fend off a game Rousham Park by a nose with fast-closing Rouge Eveil (Jpn) (Just a Way {Jpn}) getting up for third. Race favorite Tastiera (Jpn) (Satono Crown {Jpn}) hugged the rails in fourth and shifted slightly to the outside after entering the lane to make bid, but the colt was one paced and gradually fell back in the last 200 meters to finish 11th.

Jockey-turned-trainer Hiroyuki Uemura, who opened his yard in 2019, celebrated his first JRA Group 1 and fifth graded title while jockey Kazuo Yokoyama registered his third Group 1 title.

“I was so disappointed when we lost the Derby that I really wanted to win a Group 1 with this horse. So, I'm really, really happy. Bellagio Opera has very good maneuverability, and I knew that he was in good condition, so I decided to race him toward the front. He's really strong when it comes to a close rally. I'm glad he held off his rivals,” commented jockey Kazuo Yokoyama.

Pedigree Notes:
The 10th Group 1 winner for Lord Kanaloa, Bellagio Opera is out of Air Routine, a sister to Group 3 winner Air Anthem (Jpn) (Symboli Kris S). and multiple group placed Satono Helios (Jpn) (Epiphaneia {Jpn}). This represents the family of Champion 3-year-old and Japanese Classic winner Air Shakur (Jpn).

Sunday, Hanshin, Japan
OSAKA HAI-G1, ¥384,800,000, Hanshin, 3-31, 4yo/up, 2000mT, 1:58.20, fm.
1–BELLAGIO OPERA (JPN), 128, c, 4, Lord Kanaloa (Jpn)
1st Dam: Air Routine (Jpn), by Harbinger (GB)
2nd Dam: Air Magdalene (Jpn), by Sunday Silence
3rd Dam: Air Deja Vu (Jpn), by Northern Taste
1ST GROUP 1 WIN. O-Shorai Hayashida; B-Shadai Farm;
T-Hiroyuki Uemura; J-Kazuo Yokoyama; £203,360,000.
Lifetime Record: 8-5-1-0. . Werk Nick Rating: A++
Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree
2–Rousham Park (Jpn), 128, h, 5, by Harbinger (GB)–Reinette
Groove (Jpn), by King Kamehameha (Jpn). O-Sunday Racing;
B-Northern Farm; ¥80,960,000.
3–Rouge Eveil (Jpn), 123, m, 5, Just a Way (Jpn)–Nothing But
Dreams (GB), Frankel (GB). O-Tokyo Horse Racing; B-Shadai
Farm; ¥50,480,000.
Margins: NO, NK, 2; Odds: 2.60, 2.40, 31.80.
Also Ran: Stella Veloce (Jpn), Geoglyph (Jpn), Pradaria (Jpn), Sol Oriens (Jpn), Stunning Rose (Jpn), Catedral (Jpn), Epiphany (Jpn), Tastiera (Jpn), Hayayakko (Jpn), Harper (Jpn), Mikki Gorgeous (Jpn), Killer Ability (Jpn), Licancabur (Jpn)
Click for the JRA chart & video. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.

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Derby Winner Makes 2024 Bow In Osaka Hai

Despite an ever-growing Japanese presence at the Dubai World Cup meeting in the UAE, Sunday's 2000-metre G1 Osaka Hai at Hanshin still boasts five Group 1 winners, four of them Classic scorers and several other progressive types hunting for their first Group 1 ring.

One of the top picks in the 16-strong field is last year's G1 Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby) winner, Tastiera (Jpn) (Satono Crown {Jpn}), who ran second in both the G1 Satsuki Sho (Japanese 2000 Guineas)–to Sol Oriens (Jpn) (Kitasan Black {Jpn})–and the G1 Kikuka Sho (Japanese St Leger) on either side of his Derby win from May to October, and lines up for his 2024 bow. Sixth with traffic trouble behind G1 Dubai Turf hope Do Deuce (Jpn) (Heart's Cry {Jpn}) in the G1 Arima Kinen in December, he will break from gate three.

Trainer Noriyuki Hori said, “His appetite has been good, and better than it was before the Arima Kinen, so he's healthy and in good condition overall. He's been training solo and running well, with some power still in reserve. We've been careful not to overwork him, getting him just to stretch out at the finish in training. His breathing is good as well. While his footwork is still a little heavy, I have a good image of him going into this race.”

Favoured for Sunday's test is filly-on-the-up Harper (Jpn) (Heart's Cry {Jpn}). Ninth in the Arima Kinen after a midpack trip, that effort does not reflect her true merits, as the 2023 G3 Daily Hai Nisai Queen victress ran fourth in the G1 Oka Sho (Japanese 1000 Guineas), second in the G1 Yushun Himba (Japanese Oaks) and third in the G1 Shuka Sho (Japanese Fillies' St Leger), all to turf superstar Liberty Island (Jpn) (Duramente {Jpn}), who is competing in arguably the race-of-the-year at Meydan on Saturday, the G1 Dubai Sheema Classic.

“She had a break at Northern Farm Shigaraki, with this next race in mind,” said trainer Yasuo Tomomichi. “She's handled her workload in training well, and her reactions at the finish have been good. The weather on the day is an issue, but I'm not particularly worried about soft ground for her.”

Although left with too much to do when too far back to be eighth contesting the G1 Hong Kong Cup during the Longines Hong Kong International Races, Sunday Racing's Rousham Park (Jpn) (Harbinger {GB}) won both the G3 Hakodate Kinen and G2 Sankei Sho All Comers S. in succession in July and September of 2023.

“He's still a horse that's improving, and since before, I've seen him filling out and getting into better shape,” said trainer Hiroyasu Tanaka. “His appetite's been better on his return to the stable this time. I've been pleased with him physically so far this year, but there's just a bit more for him to improve on mentally.”

Fourth choice Pradaria (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) defeated Bellagio Opera (Jpn) (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}) in the G2 Kyoto Kinen, and will be shortening up 200 metres. He will break from gate eight.

Said conditioner Manabu Ikezoe, “He's had the same training pattern as before his last race. His rider has been pleased with his work, and says his footwork is good. His times have been fine, including a final furlong time of :11.3 seconds, and he's improving going into this race. Soft ground wouldn't be a worry, and it's mostly about how he'll handle the flow of things in the race itself. He has another good chance to win.”

A winner of the 2022 edition of the Fillies' St Leger, Stunning Rose (Jpn) (King Kamehameha {Jpn}) is aiming for redemption, as are fellow Group 1 winners Geoglyph (Jpn) (Drefong) and Killer Ability (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}). The last-named horse won the G1 Hopeful S. back in 2021, and is making his first start back in Japan after running with credit when second to Spirit Dancer (GB) (Frankel {GB}) in the G2 Neom Turf Cup in Saudi Arabia on February.

Rail-drawn Mikki Gorgeous (Jpn) (Mikki Rocket {Jpn}) is a live longshot, and, although she is 17-1 in the ante-post betting, she has compiled a three-straight winning streak, including the G3 Aichi Hai over this trip at Kokura on Jan. 13.

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Deep Impact Filly Upsets Osaka Hai to Remain Unbeaten

Lei Papale (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}), undefeated in five previous appearances, relished the soft going in the 2000-metre G1 Osaka Hai at Hanshin on Sunday, defeating several well-hyped Group 1 winners including 2020 Japanese Triple Crown winner Contrail (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}). The Carrot Farm colourbearer is just the third horse in JRA history to claim a Group 1 title for older horses unbeaten after Fine Motion (Ire) (Danehill) in 2002 and Chrysoberyl (Jpn) (Gold Allure {Jpn}) in 2019.

Sent off as the fourth choice at 11-1, the bay was a touch slowly away, but soon skipped up to the head of the field and shouldered pacesetting duties. Allowed to bowl along as the rain continued, the 4-year-old filly covered an opening quarter in :23.50 and her half-mile split of :47.70 saw her still on an uncontested lead. She traveled 1200 metres in 1:12.60 and was still moving smoothly after a mile in 1:36.90. Steered off the fence for the stretch drive, Lei Papale displayed another gear and quickly scampered away from her rivals, none of whom appeared more than workmanlike on the soft ground with the exception of the rallying Mozu Bello (Jpn) (Deep Brillante {Jpn}), who flashed home for second.

The 4-5 favourite, Contrail settled in midpack while tracking 9-5 second choice and 2020 Japanese Champion Sprinter/Miler Gran Alegria (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) for much of the contest. He began to improve on the backstretch and drew close to Gran Alegria with less than a half-mile remaining, as that pair moved in tandem and appeared poised to pounce on the winner. However their bids flattened out a bit late on, with Contrail three-parts of a length behind Mozu Bella and a neck to the good of Gran Alegria.

“I had always believed in her outstanding talent since her debut but of course it was a tough ask this time against a top class [field] after registering out first group-race victory [in December],” said pilot Yuga Kawada, who was winning his 17th JRA Group 1. “She felt good during the post parade and she was able to jump into her rhythm throughout the race without being pressed. I was able to shift her out without interfering the horses coming from behind for her stretch run as there was still plenty room between her and the rest of the field at the top of the stretch. And to still have the strength to find another gear over the turf condition today—she is an exceptional filly to keep her speed right to the end. Now that she's a Group 1 winner, expectations will suddenly be quite high from now on, but I hope to be able bring out her best in each race.”

Lei Papale did not make her racecourse debut until January of her 3-year-old season, but she handled a one-mile newcomer race at Kyoto, before returning on June 6 and taking a Hanshin affaire over the same distance. Upped to 1800 metres at Niigata in July, the bay continued to find the winner's circle, and back at Kyoto, the good-ground Ohara S. went her way on Oct. 18. Tried for the first time at the group level and going 2000 metres, the filly duly saluted in the Dec. 5 G3 Challenge Cup at Hanshin, her final start as a sophomore. The Osaka Hai was the first time she was tested over a soft turf course.

Pedigree Notes

The late Deep Impact's stakes winners stand at 172, with 138 group winners and Lei Papale's Osaka Hai victory brings his total of Group 1 winners to 48. Lei Papale is the third Group 1 winner for her broodmare sire Kurofune (Jpn) and first by Deep Impact. Although, the Deep Impact/Kurofune cross has already resulted in the winner's full-sister MGSW Shining Lei (Jpn), Japanese Group 3 hero Staphanos (Jpn), who placed five times at the highest level and two other group winners.

Shells Lei ran second in a pair of listed stakes at three and retired as a three-time winner. Bred exclusively with Deep Impact for her first four foals, the quartet of winners yielded G2 Hopeful S. and G3 CBC Sho winner Shining Lei as the best of them until Lei Papale, foal number eight and part of an octet of winners from nine to run. She has had fillies by Duramente (Jpn) and Daiwa Major (Jpn) in 2019 and 2020, and was covered by Real Impact (Jpn) last spring.

Second dam Oyster Ticket (Jpn) (Winning Ticket {Jpn}) also threw the GSP Encore Plus (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}), the MSP Black Shell (Jpn) (Kurofune {Jpn}) and the SP Double Timpani (Jpn) (Sunday Silence). Farther back in the pedigree is 1968 Japanese Champion 2-Year-Old Riki Eikan (Jpn), a colt by Never Beat (GB).

Sunday, Hanshin, Japan
OSAKA HAI-G1, ¥260,520,000, Hanshin, 4-4, 4yo/up, 2000mT, 2:01.60, sf.
1–LEI PAPALE (JPN), 121, f, 4, Deep Impact (Jpn)
         1st Dam: Shells Lei (Jpn) (MSP-Jpn, $823,464), by Kurofune
         2nd Dam: Oyster Ticket (Jpn), by Winning Ticket (Jpn)
         3rd Dam: Namura Pieris (Jpn), by Tosho Boy (Jpn)
1ST GROUP 1 WIN. O-Carrot Farm; B-Northern Farm (Jpn);
T-Tomokazu Takano; J-Yuga Kawada. ¥137,814,000. Lifetime
Record: 6-6-0-0. *Full to Shining Lei (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}),
MGSW-Jpn, $1,168,154. Werk Nick Rating: A+++. *Triple
   Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Mozu Bello (Jpn), 126, h, 5, Deep Brillante (Jpn)–Harlan's
Ruby, by Harlan's Holiday. O-Capital System; B-Murata Farm
(Jpn); ¥54,804,000.
3–Contrail (Jpn), 126, c, 4, Deep Impact (Jpn)–Rhodochrosite,
by Unbridled's Song. O-Shinji Maeda; B-North Hills (Jpn);
¥34,402,000.
Margins: 4, 3/4, NK. Odds: 11.20, 67.80, 0.80.
Also Ran: Gran Alegria (Jpn), Salios (Jpn), Cadenas (Jpn), Ardentlt (Jpn), Bravas (Jpn), Admire Virgo (Jpn), Persian Knight (Jpn), Crescendo Love (Jpn), Makahiki (Jpn), Happy Grin (Jpn).
Click for the JRA chart & video or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.

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