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Japan Relaxes Strict Criteria For Short-Term Jockey Licenses In Hopes Of Drawing Female Riders

French riding sensation Mickaelle Michel's chances of riding regularly on Japan's premier circuit have received a major boost after the strict qualifying criteria for short-term licenses were relaxed.

At the end of the summer, Michel plans to return to the Far East to sit the first part of the JRA license course for a permanent license.

She was a massive hit in Japan earlier this year when she set a new record of wins by a visiting jockey on a short-term license on the second-tier National Association of Racing.

Japan now wants to encourage more elite women jockeys like her to participate in its racing and this week announced a different set of eligibility rules to those for men, who must either be champions of their country or winners of G1 races like the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, for a short-term license.

“It's fantastic news,” said Michel's partner and agent Frederic Spanu. “It means Mickaelle can make an application for the JRA short-term license. She is so happy and excited.

“But she will also take the test for a permanent JRA license on September 29 – if obviously we can get on the plane.”

To qualify, jockeys from the UK and France must be the leading female in their country in either of the last two seasons, have ridden more than ten winners and ranked in the top 50 for prize-money, or ridden a G1 winner. There are similar criteria for riders from the USA, Canada, Ireland, Australia, Germany, Hong Kong and New Zealand. Only five short-term licenses will be granted at any one time.

In Japan, Nanako Fujita is the only female jockey riding the JRA circuit but more females are entering the jockey school and the governing body wants more role models for them.

A spokesman for the JRA said: “The purpose of this rule introduction is to create a better open environment for more female jockeys to take part in our races.

“We currently have a number of female students at our racing school. By introducing a separate criteria for overseas female jockeys to ride in Japan, we hope that the best female jockeys will be able to get a short-term licence and hopefully be great role models for the females in Japan and influence them to become a jockey as well as having a positive impact in the Japanese horse racing industry.”

Michel was sponsored by the powerful Shadai Farm on her last trip to Japan where visiting jockeys must also find an owner and trainer to support them.

She will also need coronavirus restrictions to be lifted as Japan is currently not allowing foreigners into the country due to COVID-19.

This article was reprinted with permission from Horse Racing Planet. You can find more of their content here.

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Chrono Genesis Earns Spot In Breeders’ Cup Turf With Overpowering Takarazuka Kinen Victory

Sunday Racing Co.'s 4-year-old filly Chrono Genesis (JPN) pulled away in mid-stretch to win the US$3 million, 1 3/8-mile Takarazuka Kinen (G1) at Hanshin Racecourse near Osaka, Japan, on Sunday by a stakes-record six lengths. With her victory, Chrono Genesis, ridden by Yuichi Kitamura, earned an automatic berth and fees paid into the $6-million Longines Breeders' Cup Turf (G1) through the international Breeders' Cup Challenge Series.

The Breeders' Cup Challenge is an international series of stakes races whose winners receive automatic starting positions and fees paid into a corresponding race of the Breeders' Cup World Championships, which is scheduled to be held at Keeneland Race Course in Lexington, Ky., on Nov. 6-7.

As part of the benefits of the Challenge Series, Breeders' Cup will pay the entry fees for Chrono Genesis to start in the Longines Breeders' Cup Turf, which will be run at 1 1/2 miles over the Keeneland turf course. Breeders' Cup also will provide a travel allowance of US$40,000 for all starters based outside of North America to compete in the World Championships.

Chrono Genesis becomes the third horse to gain a free berth into the 2020 Longines Breeders' Cup Turf, joining Gran Premio International Carlos Pellegrini (G1) winner Nao Da Mais (BRZ) and Prince of Wales's Stakes (G1) winner Lord North (IRE).

Chrono Genesis, a gray daughter of Bago (FR) out of the Kurofune mare Chronologist (JPN) claimed her second Group 1 title after taking last year's Shuka Sho, the last jewel of the fillies Triple Crown.

Trained by Takashi Saito, Chrono Genesis completed the 1 3/8 miles in 2:13.50 over a course listed as good, as the 4-1 second choice in the 18-horse field.

Chrono Genesis, one of the only two female contenders in the race, broke smoothly out of stall 16 and settled around ninth from frontrunner Tosen Surya (JPN). Continuing to take a wide route rounding the last two turns, she advanced strongly to enter the lane in second behind 5-year-old mare Lucky Lilac (JPN), also entered by Sunday Racing.

Once assuming command 300 meters out, Chrono Genesis unleashed a powerful kick despite the somewhat soft going due to rain, leaving the field behind.

“The filly broke smoothly and we were able to travel in good rhythm in good striking position,” said winning rider Kitamura. “I didn't really have to urge her to go but she just went spontaneously. She was responding really well so I knew that she will stretch well in the lane. She has become a powerful filly and was in very good condition. She was really strong,”

Tatsue Ishikawa's 6-year-old Kiseki (JPN) stalked Chrono Genesis from her position in the middle of the field, but could not match her rally and was the runner-up for the second consecutive year. He finished five lengths ahead of longshot Mozu Bello (JPN).

Carrot Farm's 5-2 favorite Saturnalia (JPN), the 2019 Japanese 3-year-old Male Champion, broke smoothly, hugged the rail in 10^thand angled out turning the last corner for the attack but was unable to exert his strong late kick due to the soft ground, finishing fourth. He was followed by longshot Meisho Tengen (JPN) in fifth. Lucky Lilac, the nearly 5-1 third choice, could not sustain a drive in the stretch and finished sixth.

Chrono Genesis improved her record to six wins in 11 starts. She won her seasonal debut against open company in the 1 3/8-mile Kyoto Kinen (G2) over a yielding course on Feb. 16 before finishing second to Lucky Lilac in the 1 1/4-mile Osaka Hai (G1) at Hanshin on April 5.

Chrono Genesis becomes the fourth Breeders' Cup Challenge Series winner in Japan this year. The 6-year-old Mozu Ascot was the first automatic qualifier, winning the February Stakes (G1) at Tokyo Racecourse on Feb. 23, and earned an automatic berth into the $7 million Breeders' Cup Classic. The 5-year-old mare Almond Eye (JPN) won the Victoria Mile (G1) on May 17 and secured a free starting position into the Maker's Mark Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1), and the 4-year-old filly Gran Alegria (JPN) took the Yasuda Kinen (G1) at Tokyo Racecourse on June 7 and a “Win and You're In” spot for the TVG Breeders' Cup Mile (G1).

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Breeders’ Cup Turf Slot Up For Grabs In Japan’s Takarazuka Kinen

Led by multiple Group 1 stakes-winning mare Lucky Lilac (JPN) and last year's Satsuki Sho (Japanese 2000 Guineas) (G1) winner Saturnalia (JPN), a field of 18 has been entered for Sunday's US$3-million, 1 3/8-mile Takarazuka Kinen (G1) at Hanshin Racecourse. The winner of Sunday's race will receive an automatic berth and fees paid into the $6 million Longines Breeders' Cup Turf (G1) through the international Breeders' Cup Challenge Series.

As part of the benefits of the Challenge Series, Breeders' Cup will pay the entry fees for the Takarazuka Kinen winner to start in the Longines Breeders' Cup Turf, which will be run at 1 1/2 miles over the Keeneland turf course. Breeders' Cup also will provide a travel allowance of US$40,000 for all starters based outside of North America to compete in the World Championships.

The Takarazuka Kinen, the fourth Breeders' Cup Challenge race to be held in Japan this year, will be run in a clockwise direction. The race will be televised live on TVG at 11:40 p.m. PT on Saturday.

Sunday Racing Co.'s 5-year-old Lucky Lilac, trained by Mikio Matsunaga and ridden by Mirco Demuro, has finished in the top three in her last five starts. She comes into the race off a hard-fought win over the 4-year-old filly Chrono Genesis (JPN), also owned by Sunday Racing, in the 1 1/4-mile Osaka Hai (G1) on April 5 at Hanshin. Blocked in deep stretch, Lucky Lilac finally found room moving off the rail in the last 50 yards to prevail by a neck.

The Osaka Hai was the third Group 1 win for the chestnut daughter of 2011 Japanese Triple Crown winner and 2012 Takarazuka Kinen winner Orfevre (JPN). Lucky Lilac's dam, Lilacs and Lace, won the 2011 Central Bank Ashland Stakes (G1) at Keeneland, and her broodmare sire, Flower Alley, won the 2005 Travers Stakes (G1). Last November, Lucky Lilac won the Queen Elizabeth Cup (G1) at Kyoto, and as a 2-year-old in 2017, she won her initial Group 1 in the Hanshin Juvenile Fillies.

Following her Queen Elizabeth Cup victory, Lucky Lilac was sent to Hong Kong for the 1 1/2-mile Longines Hong Kong Vase (G1) on Dec. 8 at Sha Tin, where she finished second to Glory Vase (JPN). In her first start this year on March 1, Lucky Lilac finished second by 1 ¾ lengths to Danon Kingly (JPN) in the 1 1/8-mile Nakayama Kinen (G2).

“After her last race, she went to Northern Farm Shigaraki, and although restrictions on movement meant I wasn't able to check on her, she has come back looking really well,” Matsunaga said to JRA.com. “Her movement is good, and she has filled out in a way that really makes her look bigger and stronger.”

Carrot Farm's 4-year-old Saturnalia, trained by Katsuhiko Sumii, was the 2019 Japanese Male 3-year-old Champion. He sports a consistent mark of six wins in nine starts, highlighted by last year's victory in the 1 1/4-mile Satsuki Sho at Nakayama. He was favored at 3-5 in the Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby) (G1) in his next start, but wound up fourth. He returned to his winning ways in September over the firm ground at Hanshin, scoring a three-length win in the 1 1/2-mile Kobe Shimbun Hai (G2). Saturnalia took on the best older runners in his final two starts last year, finishing sixth behind Almond Eye (JPN) in the Tenno Sho (Autumn) (G1) on Oct. 26, but improved next time out on Dec. 22 with a second-place finish behind Lys Gracieux (JPN) in the Arima Kinen (The Grand Prix) (G1).

Saturnalia began 2020 in good form, winning the 1 1/4-mile Kinko Sho (G2) at Chukyo on March 15 as the odds-on favorite. Assistant trainer Takashi Kotaki said, “He was helped last time by the lack of noise due to no spectators, and everything went smoothly in the preliminaries. He adjusted well to the slow pace of the race, and ran as a comfortable winner. He's been at the farm since, but on his return to the stable, he's been his usual self as he prepares for this race.”

Chrono Genesis' second-place finish to Lucky Lilac in the Osaka Hai came after the 4-year-old filly by Bago (FR) won her seasonal debut against open company in the 1 3/8-mile Kyoto Kinen (G2) over a yielding course on Feb. 16.

“Last time she drew a wide gate, but quickly got into a position where she settled into stride well,” said trainer Takashi Saito regarding the Osaka Hai. “She finished second in the end, but showed her ability, which has definitely improved as she's gotten older.”

Chrono Genesis, ridden by Yuichi Kitamura, has won five of 10 starts, including the 1 ¼-mile Shuka Sho (G1) at Kyoto last October against fillies. In her first race against older fillies and mares, she finished fifth behind Lucky Lilac in the Queen Elizabeth to close out her 2019 season.

Silk Racing Co's 5-year-old Blast Onepiece (JPN), is another starter coming out of the Osaka Hai, in which he finished seventh. The performance continued a recent inconsistent pattern for the bay son of Harbinger (GB), who won the 2018 Group 1 Amira Kinen. Prior to the Osaka Hai, Blast Onepiece, trained by Masahiro Otake and ridden by Yuga Kawada, opened 2020 with a 1 1/4-length victory as the favorite in the 1 3/8-mile American Jockey Club Cup (G2) at Nakayama.

Going back to August, Blast Onepiece won the 1 1/4-mile Sapporo Kinen (G2), and preparations were made to start him next in the Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (G1) at ParisLongchamp. He raced in mid-pack in the Arc, but could not sustain a drive in the final three furlongs, and wound up 11th of 12 runners.

Silk Racing also has entered the 5-year-old Glory Vase, a dark bay son of Deep Impact (JPN), who will be making his first start since his 3 ½-length triumph in the Hong Kong Vase over Lucky Lilac. Glory Vase, trained by Tomohito Ozeki and ridden by Damian Lane, has won four of 10 starts, which includes last year's 1 1/2-mile Nikkei Shinshun Hai (G2) at Kyoto. Sunday's race will be his first start at Hanshin.

Also of interest is Tatsue Ishikawa's 6-year-old Kiseki (JPN), who was second in last year's race as the 5-2 favorite, finishing three lengths behind Lys Gracieux. Trained by Katsuhiko Sumii, Kiseki, a dark bay son of Rulership (JPN) out of the Deep Impact mare Blitz Finale (JPN), was sent to France last fall, where he finished third in the Qatar Prix Foy (G2) at ParisLongchamp and was seventh in the Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe. Kiseki comes into this year's race off a sixth-place finish in the about two-mile Tenno Sho (Spring) (G1) at Kyoto, leading the race into the stretch before giving way. Yutaka Take, who has won the race four times, including aboard Deep Impact in 2006, has the mount on Sunday.

In the three prior Breeders' Cup Challenge races in Japan earlier this year, the 6-year-old Mozu Ascot won the February Stakes (G1) on Feb. 23 and earned an automatic berth into the $7-million Breeders' Cup Classic; the 5-year-old mare Almond Eye (JPN) won the Victoria Mile (G1) on May 17 and secured a free starting position into the Maker's Mark Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1) and the 4-year-old filly Gran Alegria (JPN) took the Yasuda Kinen (G1) at Tokyo Race Course on June 7 and a “Win and You're In” spot for the TVG Breeders' Cup Mile (G1).

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