Tag: hanshin

All-Star Cast For Takarazuka Kinen

Hanshin Racecourse is the site of Sunday's fan-voted G1 Takarazuka Kinen over the metric 11-furlong trip, with the winner earning a fees-paid berth in the GI Longines Breeders' Cup Turf at Keeneland Race Course the first weekend of November. And with scarcely an exception, 18 of Japan's best middle-distance horses–with formlines from all over the world–are set to face the starter.

A logical case can be made for perhaps as many as nine runners Sunday afternoon, including reigning Horse of the Year Efforia (Jpn) (Epiphaneia {Jpn}), who looks to bounce back from a lacklustre ninth as the $1.50 (1-2) favourite when making his 4-year-old debut in the G1 Osaka Hai at this venue back in April. In finishing four lengths adrift of the upset-minded Potager (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}), the Carrot Farm colourbearer was suffering the second defeat of his career, the first coming when pipped by this year's G1 Longines Dubai Sheema Classic hero Shahryar (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) in the 2021 G1 Tokyo Yushun. Blinkers go on and his latest fast work–with the new equipment–made something of a statement.

“His preparation has gone well, and he's probably in better shape than he was for his last race,” said trainer Yuichi Shikato. “He has been more switched on wearing blinkers in training, and running in between two other horses. It was too bad about his last race, so I want to see the real Efforia this time, and hope that he can show what a talented horse he is and give his best showing in the race.”

 

 

 

Leaving votegetter Titleholder (Jpn) (Duramente {Jpn}) (by a shade less than 3000 votes over Efforia) made all when winning last year's G1 Kikuka Sho (Japanese St Leger) by five lengths and, since finishing fifth to Efforia in the G1 Arima Kinen in December, led throughout to win the G2 Nikkei Sho (2500m) in March and the 3200-metre G1 Tenno Sho (Spring) May 1, where he had the talented G2 Qatar Prix Foy hero Deep Bond (Jpn) (Kizuna {Jpn}) some seven lengths behind in second. Titleholder's pint-sized older half-sister Melody Lane (Jpn) (Orfevre {Jpn}) is one of three females in Sunday's test.

 

 

 

Two graduates of this year's Dubai World Cup program could make things tough up front for Titleholder. Authority (Jpn) (Orfevre {Jpn}) was one of four winners for Christophe Lemaire on Saudi Cup night when leading them a merry chase in the G3 Neom Turf Cup over an extended 10 furlongs and set the pace in the Sheema before being overhauled late by Shahryar and the fast-finishing Yibir (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}). Panthalassa (Jpn) (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}) took his rivals past every pole to annex the G2 Nakayama Kinen (1800m) by 2 1/2 lengths Feb. 27 and most recently shared the spoils with Lord North (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) in the G1 Dubai Turf. The 5-year-old is a bit of a question mark at Hanshin and over this distance.

Stay Foolish (Jpn) (Stay Gold {Jpn}) is another with imposing Middle East form, having accounted for Sonnyboyliston (Ire) (Power {GB}) in the G3 Longines Red Sea Cup in Riyadh in February before repeating the dose–albeit from slightly off the speed–in the G2 Dubai Gold Cup at Meydan Mar. 26.

Also not without a chance are the consistent Hishi Iguazu (Jpn) (Heart's Cry {Jpn}), second to Loves Only You (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) in December's G1 Longines Hong Kong Cup and a running-on fourth in the Osaka Hai; and 2020 Filly Triple Crown heroine Daring Tact (Jpn) (Epiphaneia {Jpn}), who was a respectable sixth to multiple champion Sodashi (Jpn) (Kurofune) first off a 15-month absence in last month's G1 Victoria Mile.

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Oscar Performance Represented By First Japanese Starter

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 Saturday at Tokyo and Sunday at Hanshin. The latter venue plays host to Sunday's G1 Takarazuka Kinen, the final top-level event in Japan for three months and offering the winner a spot in the field for the GI Breeders' Cup Turf in November. The field appears at the end of TDN Europe and a full preview can be found in Saturday's TDN Euro:

Saturday, June 25, 2022
5th-TOK, ¥13,400,000 ($99k), Newcomers, 2yo, 1800mT
MEINER VISION (JPN) (c, 2, Oscar Performance–Songoficeandfire, by Dynaformer) becomes the first Japanese starter for his first-crop sire (by Kitten's Joy), who has already been represented by the impressive debut scorer Andthewinneris at Keeneland at the end of April. The bay is the third to the races for his dam, twice placed in turf marathon events at Grade III level and acquired for $200K with this colt in utero at the 2020 Keeneland January Sale. Songoficeandfire is a daughter of G1 Yorkshire Oaks heroine Catchascatchcan (GB) (Pursuit of Love {GB}), the dam of Irish Group 2 winner Antonius Pius (Danzig), whose Group 1 placings included the St James's Palace, the Prix du Moulin and the Breeders' Cup Mile. B-Big Red Farm

 

 

Sunday, June 26, 2022
5th-HSN, ¥13,400,000 ($99k), Newcomers, 2yo, 1800mT
KAUPILI (c, 2, Frosted–Heavenly Romance {Jpn}, by Sunday Silence) is the latest produce for his Tenno Sho-winning dam, whose other notable offspring include MGSW/MG1SP and $4-million earner Awardee (Jungle Pocket {Jpn}), five-time stakes winner Amour Briller (Smart Strike) and the enigmatic G2 UAE Derby winner and GI Belmont S. third Lani (Tapit) from the same sire line. It should be noted that the three siblings were a combined four for 30 on the grass, but improved dramatically with a switch to the dirt track. B-North Hills Co Limited (KY)

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Ashford Stallions Front and Center Sunday in Japan

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 Hanshin and Tokyo Racecourses. Sunday's racing at headquarters features the G3 Unicorn S., a race won in 2020 by future multiple Group 1 scorer Cafe Pharoah (American Pharoah) and which includes the progressive Ju Taro (Arrogate) trying stakes company for the first time. Also in the field are G2 UAE Derby participants Combustion (Jpn) (Discreet Cat) and Sekifu (Jpn) (Henny Hughes):

Sunday, June 19, 2022
2nd-HSN, ¥9,900,000 ($75k), Maiden, 3yo, 1400mT
LA LA GARGOUILLE (c, 3, Classic Empire–Sweet Saturday, by Any Given Saturday), a $150K Keeneland September acquisition, is out of a winning daughter of the stakes-placed Dawn Raid (Vindication), most notably the dam of 2016 GI Preakness S., GI Haskell S. and GI Santa Anita Derby hero Exaggerator (Curlin). The colt's three-times stakes-placed third dam was responsible for Sovereign Award and dual Grade III winner Embur's Song (Unbridled's Song) from this sire line. China Horse Club purchased dam Sweet Saturday for $70K at the 2016 Fasig-Tipton November Sale. B-China Horse Club International Limited (KY)

6th-TOK, ¥13,400,000 ($99k), Newcomers, 2yo, 1400m
ADVANCE PHAROAH (c, 2, American Pharoah–Fair Huntress, by Tiznow) was a $140K purchase by trainer Hideyuki Mori at KEESEP last fall and is out of an unraced half-sister to John Gunther's part-owned GIII Chicago H. victress Devil By Design (Medaglia d'Oro). Gunther's name was on the docket when this colt's dam fetched $22K at KEEJAN in 2017 and saw the mare's value increase when Devil By Design's daughter Competitionofideas (Speightstown) won the 2018 GI American Oaks. Yutaka Take has the debut riding assignment. B-John D Gunther & American Pharoah Syndicate (KY)

 

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Champagne Room’s First Foal Goes For Two Straight in Japan

In this continuing series, Alan Carasso takes 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 a pair of fillies by American Pharoah for this Saturday running at Hakodate and Hanshin Racecourses. Notable American-breds entered for action Sunday will appear in Saturday's TDN:

Saturday, June 18, 2022
3rd-HAK, ¥9,900,000 ($75k), Maiden, 3yo, 1000m
GLUTTON LASSIE (f, 3, American Pharoah–Brassy Lassie, by City Zip) was crunched into 7-10 favoritism for a 1400-meter Tokyo maiden last Nov. 20, but never landed a serious blow in seventh and makes her return to the races over the minimum trip Saturday. A $40K Keeneland September yearling, the February-foaled bay was knocked down for $350K at last year's OBS March Sale after breezing an eighth of a mile in :10 flat. Glutton Lassie is the only live foal to date for her dam, a half-sister to 2015 GIII Jefferson Cup S. winner Saham (Lemon Drop Kid). The filly's stakes-winning third dam Ticket to Houston (Houston) produced GSW/MGISP Runway Model (Petionville), the dam of four-time 'TDN Rising Star' Grade I winner and current Gainesway stallion McKinzie (Street Sense). B-Fleur de Lis Stable & Ashford Stud (KY)

8th-HSN, ¥14,670,000 ($111k), Allowance, 3yo/up, 1800m
CORDON ROUGE (f, 3, American Pharoah–Champagne Room, by Broken Vow) just failed at odds-on going this distance on Chukyo debut Mar. 13, but got it right last time, carrying the visiting Damian Lane to a popular four-length graduation at that same track and trip (see below, SC 10). The bay is the first foal from her dam, who secured an Eclipse Award with a victory in the 2016 GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies. Champagne Room's Japan-based 3-year-old half-brother Fidele (Jpn) (Kizuna {Jpn}) was third at Group 3 level last term and is listed-placed this season. B-Northern Farm (KY)

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