Uncle Mo’s Distant Sky Faces Winners At Tokyo

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 Tokyo Racecourse. An otherwise-typical Sunday afternoon of racing at headquarters is spiced up considerably by the seasonal debut of the US-conceived reigning Japanese champion 2-year-old male Jantar Mantar (Jpn) (Palace Malice) in the G3 Kyodo News Hai over 1800 meters:

Saturday, February 10, 2024
2nd-TOK, ¥11,850,000 ($79k), Newcomers, 2yo, 1400m
GRAND MEADOW (c, 3, American Pharoah–Meadow Breeze, by Meadowlake), a $150,000 Keeneland September graduate, is out of the 2006 GI Matron S. winner who is also responsible for Grade III winner Magic Star (Scat Daddy) and GI Hopeful S. runner-up Royal Copy (Bodemeister). Meadow Breeze is kin to 11 winners from 15 to race, including GI Arkansas Derby hero Overanalyze (Dixie Union), GISP Majesto (Tiznow) and GSP Mighty Monsoon (Forestry). B-Betz/D J Stables/CoCo/Burns/American Pharoah Syndicate (KY)

REGGAE BEACH (c, 3, Omaha Beach–Reggae Rose, by Touch Gold) was bought back on a bid of $90,000 at Keeneland September in 2022, but was hammered down to JS Company for $200,000 after breezing an eighth of a mile (video) at last year's OBS April Sale. The May 6 foal, whose dam is a half-sister to GSW/GISP Celtic New Year (North Light {Ire}), is herself related to MGSW Shakhimat (Lonhro {Aus}) and GSW Whatmakessammyrun (We Miss Artie). The stakes-winning third dam Valid Victress (Valid Appeal) produced champion Perfect Sting (Red Ranson), whose seven winners as a broodmare include GIII Selene S. victress Smart Sting (Smart Strike). B-Nursery Place, Donaldson, Broadbent (KY)

Sunday, February 11, 2024
7th-TOK, ¥14,880,000 ($100k), Allowance, 3yo, 1600m
DISTANT SKY (c, 3, Uncle Mo–Elisheva, by Smart Strike) opened his account with a 1 1/4-length victory in a 1400-meter newcomers' event at Kyoto Jan. 11 (see below, SC 13) and looks to repeat the dose here over a bit more ground with Yutaka Take back in the irons. The North Hills homebred is out of a daughter of champion Believe (Jpn) (Sunday Silence), also the dam of G1 Sprinters' S. winner Gendarme (Kitten's Joy), MSW/G1SP Faridat (Kingmambo) and SW & GSP Fiducia (Medaglia d'Oro). B-North Hills Co Ltd (KY)

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Noble Roger Rolls Home For Red-Hot Palace Malice In Shinzan Kinen

Having been announced as one of the newest members of the stallion roster at Darley Japan, Palace Malice remained in a rich vein of form with his young progeny, as US-bred Noble Roger was given a perfect steer by Yuga Kawada to take out Monday's G3 Shinzan Kinen at Kyoto. It was the sire's second pattern winner in the last month, adding to the success of the American-conceived, but Japanese-foaled Jantar Mantar (Jpn) in the G1 Asahi Hai Futurity.

Looking to build on a smart debut victory going a mile at Tokyo Nov. 12, the $70,000 OBS April juvenile settled back in the field as they went a good gallop on the pointy end. Slipped a bit of rein on the turn, Noble Roger crept into contention while securing a clear, albeit deep, run around the turn and had every conceivable chance five wide into the lane. Popped the question by Kawada in the straight, Noble Roger responded in kind, outfinishing favored Ecoro Bloom (Jpn) (Daiwa Major {Jpn}) to score comfortably. Water Licht (Jpn) (Drefong) was up for third at cricket-score odds.

“It was quite difficult at times, but I think it was a race that showed his high level of ability,” Kawada told Netkeiba. “I was able to find a spot in the middle of the pack and built the race from there. Everyone has been using the inside [of the track] since opening day, so I deliberately chose the outside here. I am glad this horse has become a stakes winner.”

The 14-year-old Palace Malice, winner of the GI Belmont S. over a mile and four furlongs and the GI Metropolitan H. going eight furlongs, is now the sire of 12 black-type winners, six at the graded/group level.

Everett Dobson's Candy Meadows purchased Noble Roger's dam for $180,000 as a foal at the 2014 Keeneland November Sale and raced her to a pair of victories and three placings in black-type company. Noble Ready is a full-sister to Grade II winner Zindaya, the dam of the outstanding multiple graded stakes-winning 'TDN Rising Star' Carl Spackler (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}), Godolphin's 3-year-old filly Regal Gallery (Ire) (Frankel {GB})–a 450,000gns TATOCT yearling–and a 2-year-old sister to Carl Spackler that made the same amount from A.C. Elliott, agent, at Tattersalls last October. Noble Ready is a half-sister to Western Aristocrat (Mr. Greeley), who won the 2011 GI Jamaica H. in New York for Jeremy Noseda and is now a leading sire in India.

Noble Ready is the dam the 2-year-old colt Sock It to Me (Violence), a $50,000 purchase at last year's Keeneland September Sale, and was sold to Saudi Arabian interests for $25,000 in foal to Mystic Guide at last year's Keeneland November Sale.

 

 

 

Monday, Kyoto, Japan
NIKKAN SPORTS SHO SHINZAN KINEN-G3, ¥78,230,000, Kyoto, 1-8, 3yo, 1600mT, 1:34.50, gd/fm.
1–NOBLE ROGER, 126, c, 3, by Palace Malice
1st Dam: Noble Ready (MSP), by More Than Ready
2nd Dam: Aristocratic Lady, by Kris S.
3rd Dam: American Dynasty, by Quiet American
1ST STAKES WIN, 1ST GROUP WIN. ($70,000 2yo '23 OBSAPR). O-Normandy Thoroughbred Racing; B-Candy Meadows LLC (KY); T-Tatsuya Yoshioka; J-Yuga Kawada; ¥41,651,000. Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0, ¥48,851,000. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Ecoro Bloom (Jpn), 126, c, 3, Daiwa Major (Jpn)–Sugar Shock, by Candy Ride (Arg). (¥84,000,000 Ylg '22 JRHAJUL). O-Masatoshi Haramura; B-Northern Farm; T-Yukihiro Kato; J-Christophe Lemaire; ¥16,186,000.
3–Water Licht (Jpn), 126, c, 3, Drefong–Water Peony (Jpn), by Victoire Pisa (Jpn). O-Masato Yamaoka; B-Fushikida Farm; T-Hiroshi Kawachi; J-Hideaki Miyuki; ¥10,093,000.
Margins: 1.1/4, HD, HF. Odds: 3.90, 1.80, 206.60.
Click for the JRA chart.

 

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Palace Malice’s Jantar Mantar Times It Right In the Futurity

Hot on the heels of the announcement that his US Classic-winning sire would be relocating to Japan in time for the 2024 breeding season, Shadai Race Horse's American-conceived, but Japanese-foaled Jantar Mantar (Jpn) (Palace Malice) provided the perfect advertisement Sunday with a smart success in the G1 Asahi Hai Futurity S. at Hanshin. With the victory, his third in as many trips to the races, the homebred is in the reckoning for champion Japanese 2-year-old male honours.

Favoured to build on his last-out score in the G2 Daily Hai Nisai S. at Kyoto Nov. 11, Jantar Mantar was one of the first to break the line from stall three, but there was plenty of speed on and he ultimately settled about mid-division. Second choice Strauss (Jpn) (Maurice {Jpn}), who was slightly tardy from barrier 17, was asked early by Tom Marquand and burned across to take up the running with fully 1000 metres to travel.

Riding the rails throughout beneath Yuga Kawada, Jantar Mantar was sent through inside of the well-backed, but difficult-to-handle Danon McKinley (Jpn) (Maurice {Jpn}) three furlongs from home and struck the front inside of the weakening Strauss at the juncture of the inner and outer turf courses. Jantar Mantar drifted a bit, having hit the front relatively early, but had enough in hand to be home comfortably first, as Ecoro Walz (Jpn) (Black Tide {Jpn}) finished off well to be second. The filly Tagano Elpida (Jpn) (Kizuna {Jpn}) finished with credit in third, having skipped last weekend's G1 Hanshin Juvenile Fillies in favour of this spot. Danon McKinley was a disappointing eighth and Strauss equally so in 10th.

“I urged him to go a bit earlier than planned, as it didn't seem like we were going to get a clear path,” said Kawada, firmly entrenched in second in the jockeys' premiership behind Christophe Lemaire. “He has a good character and he's a highly capable horse, so I think he will continue to grow and I look forward to his future races.”

Pedigree Notes:

Jantar Mantar becomes the second elite-level winner for Palace Malice, whose first-crop son Structor won the 2019 GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf and was sold to Japanese interests in 2022 for his stallion career. Jantar Mantar is one of two of the sire's five graded/group winners that hails from an A.P. Indy-line dam and one of four of 11 stakes winners that are similarly bred. Jantar Mantar was produced on a similar cross to this year's listed winner Brocknardini, who is out of a daughter of Wilburn's sire Bernardini.

India Mantuana produced a career-best in upsetting the GIII Red Carpet H. over 11 furlongs on turf in 2018 and, after being led out unsold on a bid of $145,000 at the 2019 Fasig-Tipton November Sale, was purchased by Shadai for $100,000 pregnant to Accelerate at Keeneland January in 2020. She unfortunately aborted that foal and was bred to this sire prior to her export to Japan, where she slipped her Kizuna (Jpn) foal in 2022 and produced a filly by Pyro this past February.

Palace Malice is a half-brother to G1 Tenno Sho (Spring) winner Justin Palace (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) and Group 2 winner Iron Barows (Jpn) (Orfevre {Jpn}), who are set to meet in next Sunday's G1 Arima Kinen at Nakayama.

Sunday, Hanshin, Japan
ASAHI HAI FUTURITY S.-G1, ¥135,740,000, Hanshin, 12-17, 2yo c/f, 1600mT, 1:33.80, gd/fm.
1–JANTAR MANTAR (JPN), 123, c, 2, by Palace Malice
1st Dam: India Mantuana (GSW-US, $223,100), by Wilburn
2nd Dam: Speed Wagon, by Tomorrows Cat
3rd Dam: Rajica, by El Baba
1ST GROUP 1 WIN. O-Shadai Race Horse Co Ltd; B-Shadai Farm; T-Tomokazu Takano; J-Yuga Kawada; ¥71,218,000. Lifetime Record: 3-3-0-0, ¥116,810,000. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Ecoro Walz (Jpn), 123, c, 2, Black Tide (Jpn)–Petit Princesse (Jpn), by King Kamehameha (Jpn). 1ST BLACK-TYPE, 1ST GROUP 1 BLACK-TYPE. O-Masatoshi Haramura; B-Shimokobe Farm; ¥28,348,000.
3–Tagano Elpida (Jpn), 121, f, 2, Kizuna (Jpn)–Tagano Reventon (Jpn), by King Kamehameha (Jpn). 1ST BLACK-TYPE, 1ST GROUP 1 BLACK-TYPE. O-Ryoji Yagi; B-Niikappu Tagano Farm; ¥18,174,000,
Margins: 1 1/4, NK, HD. Odds: 1.70, 9.00, 12.20.
Also Ran: June Take (Jpn), Tagano Dude (Jpn), Satomino Kirari (Jpn), Set Up (Jpn), Danon McKinley (Jpn), Taiki Vainqueur (Jpn), Strauss (Jpn), Namura Hooker (Jpn), Band Shell (Jpn), Enya Love Faith (Jpn), Awesome Stroke (Jpn), Ask One Time (Jpn), Clean Air (Jpn), Miltenberg (Jpn). Click for the JRA chart.

 

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Jantar Mantar Looks To Remain Unbeaten In Asahi Hai Futurity

It was announced just Thursday that American Classic winner Palace Malice (Curlin) would be joining the Japanese stallion ranks at Darley beginning in 2024, and Shadai Race Horse Co.'s US-conceived Jantar Mantar (Jpn) can provide his sire with a timely boost in Sunday's G1 Asahi Hai Futurity S. going a right-handed 1600 metres at Hanshin Racecourse.

A son of American Grade III winner India Mantuana (Wilburn) and bred on a variant of the wildly successful cross of Curlin over A.P. Indy-line dams, the dark bay colt debuted with an impressive 2 1/2-length victory going 1800 metres at Kyoto Oct. 8 and overcame a penchant to overrace with a fast-finishing defeat of Enya Love Faith (Jpn) (A Shin Hikari {Jpn}) and Namura Hooker (Jpn) (Suave Richard {Jpn}) to win the G2 Daily Hai Nisai S. over this distance Nov. 11 (see below, SC 2). Leading jockey Yuga Kawada takes over in the saddle Sunday afternoon from a low draw.

 

 

“There have been no problems with him, and his responses at the finish in training have been good, and he's moving well,” said trainer Tomokazu Takano. “He's had the same four-week period of time between races as he had before his last race. I'm not worried about it being his first time at the Hanshin track.”

Carrot Farm's Strauss (Jpn) (Maurice {Jpn}), whose dam Blumenblatt (Jpn) (Admire Vega {Jpn}) won the G1 Mile Championship S., demolished a field of Toyko newcomers by nine lengths in soft ground June 3, but was not seen again for four months, resuming with a third in the G3 Saudi Arabia Royal Cup at headquarters in October. He stepped out to nine furlongs in the G2 Tokyo Sports Hai Nisai S. Nov. 18 and returned to winning ways with a 1 1/2-length victory. Tom Marquand has the riding assignment from barrier 17 of 17 Sunday.

“He might be a 2-year-old, but he feels quite mature,” the jockey said. “He stood out among the other horses in his last race, so I hope he can run in a similar way to how he did last time.”

Danon McKinley (Jpn) (Maurice {Jpn}), a ¥220 million (£1.22 million/US$1.62 million) purchase out of last year's JHRA Select Sale, tries the mile for the first time, having easily won his 1400-metre unveiling over the Hanshin course Sept. 30 before overcoming a tardy dispatch to easily scoop a 1-win class conditions test over the same trip Nov. 19. His time of 1:20.7 was 0.6 seconds quicker than the 1400-meter split of the Mile Championship S. a few races later.

With Strauss drawn widest, it seems fitting that Ecoro Waltz (Jpn) (Black Tide {Jpn}) jumps from the inside box as he looks to make it three-from-three in his young career. He most recently carried Yutaka Take to a six-length victory in an 1800-metre conditions test at northern Sapporo Aug. 13.

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