Japan | Horse Racing Free Tips

Peptide Nile Earns Breeders’ Cup Berth With February Surprise

With the cream of the Japanese dirt crop readying for next weekend's G1 Saudi Cup, Sunday's G1 February S. presented a golden opportunity for gallopers perhaps just a cut below the very best to shine, with a trip to the GI Breeders' Cup Classic on the line. When the dust had settled, the majority of the market leaders faltered and it was the unheralded Peptide Nile (Jpn) (King Kamehameha {Jpn}) that proved the chief beneficiary at boxcar odds.

Away cleanly from stall nine, Peptide Nile raced prominently through the early stages as the hulking Don Frankie (Jpn) (Daiwa Major {Jpn})–a son of dual Grade I-winning juvenile filly Weemissfrankie (Sunriver)–led from 29-10 second favorite Wilson Tesoro (Jpn) (Kitasan Black {Jpn}). Tracking four wide on the turn while traveling well within himself, Peptide Nile was held together into the long straight and went up to challenge Don Frankie for the lead about five off the inside with a bit more than 200 metres to travel. Wilson Tesoro was still plugging away between the two of them, but Peptide Nile proved not for catching from there and scored comfortably in the finish. Gaia Force (Jpn) (Kitasan Black {Jpn}) ran home gamely for second in his first go on the dirt, while Sekifu (Jpn) (Henny Hughes) came from well back to win a photo for third. Wilson Tesoro faded to eighth, while the unexposed Omega Guiness (Jpn) (Logotype {Jpn}) beat just two home as the 21-10 chalk.

“The pace was tough, but he ran a great race,” said jockey Yusuke Fujioka, winning his second Group 1 on the JRA. “We were able to sit in a better position than expected, but I didn't imagine he would take over the lead that early and that easily. The wire seemed very far today. His last start didn't turn out as hoped, but as long as he's able to run in good rhythm as he did today, I'm sure we can look forward to solid performances in the future.”

Pedigree Notes:

A member of the third-last crop of the outstanding King Kamehameha, Peptide Nile is one of 100 of his black-type winners and became the 68th to strike at group level. He is a 15th elite-level winner for King Kamehameha and fourth of those on the dirt, joining Hokko Tarumae (Jpn), Chuwa Wizard (Jpn) and Jun Light Bolt (Jpn).

Queen Olive has a 3-year-old filly by King Kamehameha's G1 Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby)-winning son Rey de Oro (Jpn) and a yearling colt by top dirt sire Sinister Minister. She is due to Drefong this term.

Sunday, Tokyo, Japan
FEBRUARY S.-G1, ¥233,160,000, Tokyo, 2-18, 4yo/up, 1600m, 1:35.70, ft.
1–PEPTIDE NILE (JPN), 128, h, 6, by King Kamehameha (Jpn)
1st Dam: Queen Olive (Jpn), by Manhattan Cafe (Jpn)
2nd Dam: Olive Branch (Jpn), by Machiavellian
3rd Dam: Sopranino, by Theatrical (Ire)
1ST GROUP WIN, 1ST GROUP 1 WIN. O-Kazuhiko Numakawa; B-Kineusu Farm; T-Hidenori Take; J-Yusuke Fujioka; ¥123,612,000. Lifetime Record: 20-8-1-1, ¥262,596,000. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Gaia Force (Jpn), 128, h, 5, Kitasan Black (Jpn)–Natale (Jpn), by Kurofune. 1ST GROUP 1 BLACK-TYPE. (¥30,000,000 Wlg '19 JRHAJUL). O-KR Japan; B-Oiwake Farm; T-Haruki Saugiyama; J-Yoshihito Nagaoka; ¥49,032,000.
3–Sekifu (Jpn), 128, h, 5, Henny Hughes–Siyabona, by Kingmambo. 1ST GROUP 1 BLACK-TYPE. O-Akira Nakatsuji; B-Bamboo Farm; T-Koshiro Take; J-Yutaka Take; ¥30,516,000.
Margins: 1 1/4, NK, NO. Odds: 37.00, 12.00, 47.20.
Also Ran: Tagano Beauty (Jpn), King's Sword (Jpn), Red le Zele (Jpn), Mick Fire (Jpn), Wilson Tesoro (Jpn), Don Frankie (Jpn), Alpha Mom (Jpn), Igniter (Jpn), Dura Erede (Jpn), Speedy Kick (Jpn), Omega Guiness (Jpn), Karate (Jpn), Champagne Color (Jpn). Click for the JRA chart.

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Twirling Candy’s $900k Pikari Steps Up To Listed Company 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 the horses of interest for this weekend running at Kyoto and Tokyo Racecourses. Group 1 racing returns to Japan this weekend with Sunday's running of the G1 February S., whose defending champion Lemon Pop (Lemon Drop Kid) swerves the race in favor of next weekend's G1 Saudi Cup. The co-featured Listed Hyacinth S. is the third of the four races on the Japan Road to the Triple Crown and includes the expensive US-bred 3-year-old filly Pikari (Twirling Candy):

Saturday, February 17, 2024
1st-TOK, ¥10,480,000 ($70k), Maiden, 3yo, f, 1400m
COLLEVILLE (JPN) (f, 3, Omaha Beach–Tiz a Chick, by Tiznow), who was purchased for $200,000 in utero by J S Company at the 2020 Keeneland November Sale, is out of an own sister to 2009 GII Demoiselle S. heroine Tizahit, who has since gone on to produce GI Ballerina S. winner Come Dancing (Malibu Moon), GSP So Darn Hot (Ghostzapper) and the dam of SW & MGSP Skipalute (Midnight Lute). This is also the female family of Tiznow's champion 2-year-old filly Folklore, multiple Eclipse Award winner Essential Quality (Tapit) and Japanese Triple Crown winner and Horse of the Year Contrail (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}). B-Kazuyoshi Yamagami

4th-KYO, ¥11,850,000 ($79k), Newcomers, 3yo, 1800m
KENJO (c, 3, Gun Runner–Be Fair, by Exchange Rate) is a half-brother to 2022 GI Del Mar Debutante S. winner And Tell Me Nolies (Arrogate) whose Grade III-winning and GI Apple Blossom H.-placed dam was purchased for $35,000 with this colt in utero at the 2021 OBS January Sale. An April foal, Kenjo also made an appearance at OBS, selling for $200,000 at last year's April Sale, having made $150,000 as a weanling at Keeneland November in 2021. Be Fair is a half-sister to GISW Macho Again (Macho Uno). B-Lara Run LLC (KY)

4th-TOK, ¥11,850,000 ($79k), Newcomers, 3yo, 1600m
WIDE ETOILE (f, 3, Justify–Overheard, by Macho Uno) is the latest to the races for her dam, a two-time graded winner on the grass for the late Josephine Abercrombie's Pin Oak Stud and trainer Malcolm Pierce. A daughter of SW Whisper To Me (Thunder Gulch) and from the extended family of the Grade I-winning juvenile filly Confessional (Holy Bull), Overheard was purchased by Arch Bloodstock for $300,000 in foal to McKinzie out of the Pin Oak sale at Fasig-Tipton and produced a colt in 2022 who has since been sent to Russia. Overheard passed away in 2022. B-The Justify Syndicate & Pin Oak Stud LLC (KY)

Sunday, February 18, 2024
9th-TOK, Hyacinth S.-Listed, ¥36,200,000 ($241k), 3yo, 1600m
PIKARI (f, 3, Twirling Candy–Laudation, by Congrats) fetched $265,000 from Redwings Enterprises at the 2022 Keeneland September Sale before blossoming into a $900,000 OBS March breezer that was purchased by trainer Hideyuki Mori for owner Susumu Fujita. Placed once from three starts on the grass to begin her career, she switched to the dirt for the first time in her most recent appearance and managed to break her maiden going six furlongs (see below, SC 9). She tries a one-turn mile in this spot. Pikari's dam is a daughter of GSW Rite Moment (Vicar), herself responsible for the Group 3-winning 'TDN Rising Star' Mimi Kakushi (City of Light) and dual stakes winner Moment Is Right (Medaglia d'Oro). Woods Edge Farm acquired Laudation for $150,000 with this filly in utero at KEENOV in 2020. B-Woods Edge Farm LLC (KY)

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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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Debuting Fillies To The Fore This Weekend in Japan

Saturday, January 20, 2024
3rd-NKY, ¥11,850,000 ($80k), Newcomers, 3yo, 1200m
ROLY GLORY (f, 3, Justify–Roly Poly, by War Front) is the first foal from her dam, winner in England of the G1 Falmouth S. and G1 Sun Chariot S. and the G1 Prix Rothschild in France. Second dam Misty For Me (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) won the 2011 G1 Irish 1000 Guineas and has since gone on to excel in her second career, producing champion and treble Group 1 winner U S Navy Flag (War Front) and Cover Song (Fastnet Rock {Aus}), a $2.1-million buyback at Keeneland November last fall. This is also the family of G1 Prix Marcel Boussac heroine Ballydoyle (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), whose progeny include the listed-winning Monday (Fastnet Rock {Aus}) and Group 3 winner Red Riding Hood (Ire) (Justify), one of the sire's 17 worldwide winners at the group/graded level from just the two crops to race. B-Orpendale/Chelston/Wynatt (KY)

Sunday, January 21, 2024
2nd-KYO, ¥11,850,000 ($80k), Newcomers, 3yo, 1800m
G T SPEED (f, 3, Into Mischief–Iotapa, by Afleet Alex), a $510,000 Keeneland September acquisition by J S Company, is out of a winner of the GI Vanity S. and GI Clement L. Hirsch S. who was also third to Untapable (Tapit) in the 2014 GI Breeders' Cup Distaff before selling to China Horse Club for $2.8 million at the Keeneland November Sale a few days later. Iotapa is closely related to SW/GSP Saintly Joan (Northern Afleet), the dam of recent Louisiana Champions Day Turf winner Behemah Star (Star Guitar). B-CHC Inc (KY)

KEA LAULE'A (f, 3, Quality Road–Hard Not to Like, by Hard Spun), a half-sister to GSP 'TDN Rising Star' Faustin (Curlin), is out of a dam who starred on the grass, with a victory in the 2014 GI Jenny Wiley S. for Hillsbrook Farms and Michael Matz before being purchased by Speedway Stables for $1.5 million at that year's KEENOV sale. Kept in training at age six, Hard Not to Like added the GI Gamely S. and GI Diana S. and was knocked down to DATTT Stable for $2.2 million at KEENOV in 2015. The deeper female family includes the MGSW marathon dirt horse Lone Rock (Majestic Warrior) and GSW Gerrymander (Into Mischief). Kea Laule'a was hammered down to North Hills for $500,000 as a KEESEP yearling. B-DATTT Farm LLC (KY)

JAMILA NOOR (f, 3, Uncle Mo–Layla Noor, by Midnight Lute) is out of a Grade II-placed daughter of SW & MGSP Senada (Pulpit) who was purchased by Shadai Farm for $660,000 with this filly in utero at the 2020 Keeneland November Sale. Senada's half-brother Arthur's Tale (Bernardini) was runner-up in the 2011 GI Wood Memorial S., and this is also the family of SW/MGSP Gingham (Quality Road) and SW Blackadder (Quality Road). Layla Noor was bred to American Pharoah in 2021 and exported to Japan, where she produced a filly by American Pharoah the following season. B-Shadai Farm (KY)

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