Japan | Horse Racing Free Tips

Fan-Voted Arima Kinen Lures Japan’s Star Gallopers

Sunday's G1 Arima Kinen offers fans of international racing the ultimate Christmas gift, as a field of 16–largely selected by the public–will face the starter in one of the world's most valuable Group 1 races not held in a desert environment.

Titleholder (Jpn) (Duramente {Jpn}) was the leading votegetter and looks to atone for his speed-and-fade 11th-place effort in that boggy-ground renewal of the G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe at ParisLongchamp Oct. 2. He'd earned the right to contest Europe's weight-for-age championship, having defeated fellow Arc runner Deep Bond (Jpn) (Kizuna {Jpn}) in the G1 Tenno Sho (Spring) over the metric two miles in May followed by a two-length score in the G1 Takarazuka Kinen the next month. Fifth in this race last season, Titleholder looms the controlling speed and could prove tough to peg back.

“Last week, jockey Kazuo Yokoyama, who knows him best of all, rode to check his balance and how well he was communicating with the rider. Everything was fine,” said trainer Toru Kurita. “He carried himself well, with good balance, and raced solidly to the end. He is improving slowly, but surely. His muscle tone and coat are looking good and his wind was better than it had been the week before. He is also more eager to run. There are no particular points of concern.”

The flashy Equinox (Jpn) (Kitasan Black {Jpn}) was second in this year's G1 Satsuki Sho (Japanese 2000 Guineas) and G1 Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby) and most recently returned from a five-month break to post an improbable victory over loose leader Panthalassa (Jpn) (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}) in the G1 Tenno Sho (Autumn) at Tokyo Oct. 30.

“At the bottom of the slope, he was so far behind the front-runner I was worried he wasn't going to make it,” admitted assistant trainer Yu Ota. “In the end, however, he moved on his own, gave it his all and was able to overtake the front-runner.”

Equinox will be looking to complete the same Tenno Sho/Arima Kinen double this year as did Efforia (Jpn) (Epiphaneia {Jpn}) did 12 months ago with a 3/4-length defeat of Deep Bond. But it hasn't been plain sailing since for the reigning Horse of the Year, who resumed with a slow-starting ninth in the G1 Osaka Hai at Hanshin Apr. 3 and his lone appearance since was a moderate sixth to Titleholder in the Takarazuka Kinen.

Vela Azul (Jpn) (Eishin Flash {Jpn}) was given a masterful steer from Ryan Moore to be up in the final couple of jumps in the G1 Longines Japan Cup Nov. 27 and shoots for a fourth straight victory, while Geraldina (Jpn) (Maurice {Jpn}) will try to follow-up on her win over recent G1 Longines Hong Kong Vase heroine Win Marilyn (Jpn) (Screen Hero {Jpn}) in the G1 Queen Elizabeth II Cup last month. Geraldina's dam, the great Gentildonna (Jpn), swansonged victoriously in the 2014 Arima Kinen, as did the latter's legendary sire–Deep Impact (Jpn)–in 2006.

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Justify Filly Tries Two Turns on Nakayama Debut

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 Saturday running at Nakayama Racecourse. The highlight of the weekend and one of the year's main events, the G1 Arima Kinen (Grand Prix) has attracted most every top galloper in Japan. Tune in Sunday morning at 1:40 a.m. ET if still setting out the milk and cookies ahead of Santa's arrival:

6th-NKY, ¥13,400,000, Newcomers, 2yo, 1800m
JASPER TIARA (f, 2, Justify–Sweetgrass, by Street Sense) is the first foal to the races for her dam, placed no fewer than five times at the graded-stakes level for Six Column Stables and Randy Bloch and purchased by Baccari Bloodstock for $250,000 at the 2017 Fasig-Tipton November Sale. The May 3 foal, who was scratched from an intended debut in July, was one of 12 youngsters purchased by trainer Hideyuki Mori at Keeneland September last fall, hammering for $150,000. A full-sister to Jasper Tiara fetched $160,000 at this year's KEESEP sale, while Sweetgrass was sold on for $135,000 in foal to City of Light at last month's Keeneland November sale. B-Chris Baccari, Brad Stephens & Breeze Easy (KY)

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Weep No More Filly Debuts at Nakayama

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 the horses of interest for this weekend running at Chukyo, Nakayama and Hanshin Racecourses. Juvenile Fillies got their chance at Group 1 glory last weekend and it's the boys' turn this weekend at Hanshin, with the running of the G1 Asahi Hai Futurity:

Saturday, December 17, 2022
5th-CKO, ¥13,400,000, Newcomers, 2yo, 1800m
REGNUM (c, 2, American Pharoah–Big Meesh {Ire}, by High Chaparral {Ire}) was a $170,000 purchase out of the 2020 Keeneland November Sale and was bought back on a bid of $265,000 at KEESEP before fetching $340,000 as an OBS April breezer this past spring (:9 4/5). The colt's dam, a half-sister to MGSW turf distaffer Noble Stella (Ger) (Monsun {Ger}), was acquired by Grantley Acres with Regnum in utero for $250,000 at the 2019 KEENOV sale. B-Grantley Acres & Ryan Conner (KY)

6th-NKY, ¥13,400,000, Newcomers, 2yo, 1800m
KEEP SMILING (JPN) (f, 2, Quality Road–Weep No More, by Mineshaft) is the second foal from her dam, upset winner of the 2016 GI Ashland S. at Keeneland and who produced $400,000 KEESEP grad War Classic (War Front) before being acquired privately by Northern Farm and bred to this successful stallion prior to her export. Weep No More, a half-sister to GSW Current (Curlin) and to the dam of the SW & GSP Half Is Enough (Frosted), is also responsible for a colt by the late Duramente (Jpn) that fetched better than $735,000 as a yearling at this year's JRHA Select Sale. The filly's third dam is 2001 GI Kentucky Oaks victress Flute (Seattle Slew). B-Northern Farm

Sunday, December 18, 2022
11th-HSN, Asahi Hai Futurity-G1, ¥136m, 2yo, 1600mT
FROM DUSK (c, 2, Bolt d'Oro–Foolish Cause, by Giant's Causeway) realized a bid of $200,000 at last year's KEESEP sale before blossoming into a $900,000 OBS March juvenile. A fighting debut winner at Kokura Sept. 3, he was compromised by a slow start first time against winners Sept. 24, but made the majority of the running when last seen in the G2 Keio Hai Nisai S. over seven furlongs and was caught in the dying yards (see below, SC 7). Yutaka Take takes the ride on the colt, whose dam is a half-sister to the treble Grade I-winning turfer Get Stormy (Stormy Atlantic). B-Springhouse Farm (KY)

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Liberty Island Far Too Strong In Hanshin Juvenile Fillies

Sunday Racing's Liberty Island (Jpn) (Duramente {Jpn}) all but locked up champion 2-year-old filly honours in Japan with a thoroughly convincing defeat of 17 rivals in Sunday's G1 Hanshin Juvenile Fillies.

Yuga Kawada, who was forced to miss this past Wednesday's Longines International Jockeys' Championship in Hong Kong after testing positive for COVID prior to his departure, was cleared to ride the Sunday feature and settled the 8-5 favourite right in midfield and a few paths off the inside for the opening half-mile. Traveling with cover as they raced around the turn, the homebred was produced wide into the stretch and was a bit late switching her legs, but raced away in the final 200 metres to score by daylight.

Liberty Island got her career off on a higly impressive note, covering her final 600 metres in a near-unfathomable :31.4 at Niigata in late July and had just one start since, a troubled runner-up effort to Ravel (Jpn) (Kitasan Black {Jpn}) in the G3 Artemis S. at Toyko Oct. 29.

“I am happy that the filly was at her best today,” said Kawada. “She cruised along smoothly and her response when asked was just as I had imagined, so I was quite confident that she would make it to the finish line. She has given us a promising view on what to expect and aim for in her coming future.”

Pedigree Notes:

Liberty Island becomes the eighth stakes winner and third Group 1 winner for her sire, who was unfortunately lost to the Japanese breeding industry in August 2021.

Yankee Rose was purchased for a mere A$10,000 by Darby Racing at the 2015 Inglis and was runner-up to Capitalist (Aus) in the 2016 G1 Longines Golden Slipper S. before taking out the G1 Inglis Sires' S. She added the G1 Spring Champion S. at three and was third to Winx (Aus) in the 2016 G1 W. S. Cox Plate before being acquired by Northern Farm.

The second foal for her dam, Liberty Island is also a half-sister to a colt by Lord Kanaloa (Jpn) that fetched ¥370 million (US$3.3 million) to rank as the second-priciest foal at the JRHA Select Sale in 2021. Yankee Rose foaled a filly by Kizuna (Jpn) this past February and was covered by Contrail (Jpn).

Sunday, Hanshin, Japan
HANSHIN JUVENILE FILLIES-G1, ¥125,200,000, Hanshin, 12-11, 2yo, f, 1600mT, 1:33.10, fm.
1–LIBERTY ISLAND (JPN), 119, f, 2, by Duramente (Jpn)
1st Dam: Yankee Rose (Aus) Ch. 2yo Filly, Ch. 3yo Filly & MG1SW-Aus, $1,627,487), by All American (Aus)
2nd Dam: Condesaar (Aus), by Xaar (GB)
3rd Dam: Condescendance, by El Gran Senor
1ST STAKES WIN. 1ST GROUP WIN. 1ST GROUP 1 WIN. O-Sunday Racing; B-Northern Farm; T-Mitsumasa Nakauchida; J-Yuga Kawada; ¥66,330,000. Lifetime Record: 3-2-1-0, ¥85,432,000. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Werk Nick Rating: B. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Shinryokuka (Jpn), 119, f, 2, Satono Diamond (Jpn)–Lei Carla (Jpn), by King Kamehameha (Jpn). O-Kentaro Yui; B-Shimokobe Farm; ¥26,380,000.
3–Doe Eyes (Jpn), 119, f, 2, Rulership (Jpn)–Roseman Bridge (Jpn), by Deep Impact (Jpn). O-G1 Racing HD; B-Northern Farm; ¥16,190,000.
Margins: 2HF, NK, 3/4. Odds: 1.60, 52.90, 43.50.
Also Ran: Aroma de Rosa (Jpn), Mississippi Tesoro (Jpn), Dura (Jpn), Santee Tesoro (Jpn), Aim in Life, Miss Yokohama (Jpn), Bouton d'Or (Jpn), Ravel (Jpn), Moryana (Jpn), Itinerator (Jpn), Kita Wing (Jpn), Umbrail (Jpn), Haupia (Jpn), Moon Probe (Jpn), Rivara (Jpn). Click for the JRA chart & video.

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