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Gun Runner Son of Stellar Agent Looks To Star at Hanshin

In this continuing series, we take a look ahead at US-bred and/or conceived runners entered for the upcoming weekend at the tracks on the Japan Racing Association circuit, with a focus on pedigree and/or performance in the sales ring. Here are the horses of interest for this weekend running at Fukushima, Nakayama and Hanshin Racecourses. The colts' Classics kick off Sunday at Nakayama in the G1 Satsuki Sho (Japanese 2000 Guineas), with champion Jantar Mantar (Jpn) (Palace Malice) squaring off against Sottsass's sales-topping full-brother Shin Emperor (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}) from the barn of Yoshito Yahagi:

Saturday, April 13, 2024
1st-FKS, ¥10,480,000 ($68k), Maiden, 3yo, 1150m
ECORO KAISER (c, 3, American Pharoah–High Heeled Girl, by Malibu Moon), a $180,000 purchase at the 2022 Keeneland September Sale, was hammered down to Emmanuel de Seroux's Narvick International for $300,000 after breezing an eighth of a mile in :10 flat ahead of last year's OBS April Sale. The colt's dam, a $75,000 acquisition by Stonehaven Steadings at Keeneland November in 2016, is a daughter of two-time stakes winner and multiple Grade I-placed High Heeled Hope (Salt Lake), also the dam of Grade III winner Lady T N T (Justin Phillip). The mare's current 2-year-old, a filly by Nyquist, made $750,000 at this year's OBS March sale after hammering for $250,000 at KEESEP last fall. B-Stonehaven Steadings (KY)

2nd-NKY, ¥10,480,000 ($68k), Maiden, 3yo, 1800m
TOKUSHI GENERAL (JPN) (c, 3, Omaha Beach–Lucky Number, by Smart Strike), knocked down for $110,000 with this colt in utero at the 2020 Keeneland November Sale, is out of an unraced half-sister to GISW Got Lucky (A.P. Indy), the dam of SW & GSP Slip Mahoney (Arrogate) and GSP Overtook (Curlin). The Grade III-winning third dam, a full-sister to champion Rhythm, produced MGSW/GISP Daydreaming (A.P. Indy), GISW Girolamo (A.P. Indy), MGSW/GISP Acclerator (A.P. Indy) and the dam of GI Kentucky Derby winner Super Saver (Maria's Mon) and GSWs Cyrus Alexander (Medaglia d'Oro) and Brethren (Distorted Humor). B-Yuki Dendo

3rd-HSN, ¥10,480,000 ($68k), Maiden, 3yo, 2000m
XEBEC (JPN) (c, 3, Gun Runner–Stellar Agent, by More Than Ready) is the first foal from his dam, a longshot third in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies' Turf in 2018 and sold carrying this colt for $400,000 at KEENOV in 2020. A daughter of the stakes-placed Lawn Party (Medaglia d'Oro), Stellar Agent is a half-sister to SW Anaconda (Pioneerof the Nile) and the deeper female family includes champions Flanders (Seeking the Gold) and her daughter Surfside (Seattle Slew). Ryusei Sakai rides for Yahagi. B-Mishima Bokujo

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Well-Bred American Pharoah Colt Debuting at Hanshin

Saturday, March 30, 2024
1st-HSN, ¥10,480,000 ($69k), Maiden, 3yo, 1800m
CRITICAL HIT (c, 3, American Pharoah–Mythical Mission, by Giant's Causeway) is out of a stakes-winning full-sister to MGSW/GISP and two-time Canadian champion Irish Mission who was purchased by Shimokobe Farm for $575,000 with this colt in utero at the 2021 Keeneland January Sale. Also a half-sister to GSW French Beret (Broad Brush) and to the dam of Mission of Joy (Kitten's Joy), a dual Grade III winner and third in last year's GI QE II Challenge Cup, Mythical Mission foaled a Justify filly in Japan in February 2022, her last listed produce. B-Shimokobe Farm (KY)

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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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Palace Malice’s Noble Roger Goes For Three Straight In Mainichi Hai

Saturday, March 23, 2024
11th-HSN, Mainichi Hai-G3, ¥77.8m ($514k), 3yo, 1800mT
NOBLE ROGER (c, 3, Palace Malice–Noble Ready, by More Than Ready), a $70,000 OBS April breezer, was an impressive debut winner going a mile at Tokyo Nov. 12 and successfully negotiated the hike to group level with a cozy success in the G3 Nikkan Sports Sho Shinzan Kinen at Kyoto in early January (see below, SC 5). A May foal, Noble Roger is out of a multiple stakes-placed full-sister to GSW Zindaya, whose 'TDN Rising Star' son Carl Spackler (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) posted a career-best in last year's GII National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame S. at Saratoga. Noble Ready is also kin to US Grade I winner and British Group 3-placed Western Aristocrat (Mr. Greeley). Yuga Kawada has the riding assignment. B-Candy Meadows LLC (KY)

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