Tag: Japan

Notable US-Bred Runners in Japan: March 28, 2021

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 Sunday running at Hanshin, Nakayama and Chukyo Racecourses, the last of which hosts the G1 Takamatsunomiya Kinen and its defending champion US-bred 6-year-old mare Mozu Superflare (Speightstown):

Sunday, March 28, 2021
3rd-CKO, ¥9,680,000 ($89k), Maiden, 3yo, 1900m
MOZU TREASURE (f, 3, California Chrome–Somethinaboutbetty, by Forestry), a $200K Keeneland September acquisition in 2019, finished well down the field in her career debut on the grass at Kyoto last October and switches to the main track here. Though her Maryland-bred dam earned her lone graded placing on the turf, she was a four-time stakes winner on the dirt and has thrown GSP Dewey Square (Bernardini) and SP Something Super (Super Saver). This is also the family of MGSW/MGISP Eskenformoney (Eskendereya). B-Siena Farms LLC (KY)

7th-HSN, ¥14,360,000 ($132k), Allowance, 4yo/up, 1600mT
LOTUS LAND (f, 4, Point of Entry–Little Miss Muffet, by Scat Daddy) has a record of 1-3-0 from five starts, but has kept some rugged company, finishing second to Takamatsunomiya Kinen entrant and future G1SW Lauda Sion (Jpn) (Real Impact {Jpn}) as a juvenile and to subsequent MGSW Babbitt (Jpn) (Orfevre {Jpn}) in allowance company last May. A comebacking second off an eight-month absence over course and distance Feb. 20, she should take a fair bit of beating here. B-Dr Aaron Sones & Winchester Farm (KY)

11th-NKY, March S.-G3, ¥68m ($623k), 4yo/up, 1800m
AMERICAN SEED (c, 4, Tapit–Sweet Talker, by Stormin Fever) looks to remain unbeaten and untested in four tries since switching to the main track in the Sunday feature at Nakayama. Bred by Courtlandt Farm, who is set to be represented by GI Curlin Florida Derby favorite Greatest Honour (Tapit), this $825K KEESEP grad, listed-placed on the turf last year, has won his three previous races by a combined 17 lengths, including a ridiculously easy drubbing of his opposition in a Jan. 24 allowance over this track and trip (see below, gate 6). Don Adam's operation acquired American Seed's Grade I-winning dam for $1.15 million at KEENOV in 2005 and she has gone on to produce SW & GSP Sweet Tapper (Tapit) and MGSP Perregaux (Distorted Humor). Sweet Talker is a half-sister to the versatile Silver Medallion (Badge of Silver). Christophe Lemaire retains the call. B-Courtlandt Farms (KY)

 

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International Group 1 Winner Mogul A Strong Lone Entry For Coolmore On Dubai World Cup Night

Ballydoyle's blue-blooded multiple Group 1 winner Mogul comes into this Saturday's Group 1, $5 million Longines Dubai Sheema Classic in top form, but it seems no matter his success, expectations persist. A $4.6 million yearling purchase, the Aidan O'Brien-trained half-brother to top-level performers Secret Gesture and Japan has a pair of prestigious wins of his own, but a lingering debate of whether there is more potential in him is a common query. Such could be put to rest come Saturday at Meydan Racecourse.

The son of Galileo comes to Dubai a the lone runner for the powerful Coolmore operation, as well as the global powerhouse's sole nomination to the meeting. A Group 2-winning 2-year-old of 2019, winning the Champions Juvenile (G2) at Leopardstown before a fourth to Kameko in the Vertem Futurity Trophy (G1), he entered his sophomore season as obvious Derby material, but a sole prep at Royal Ascot—fourth as the favorite in the King Edward VII (G2)—did not provide enough bottom for him to stand up to the challenges of Epsom.

Stepping up his game with fitness, Mogul went on to win three of his next five races against some of the world's best, including Grand Prix de Paris (G1) and Hong Kong Vase (G1). Wedged between was a good fifth in Tarnawa's Breeders' Cup Turf (G1). The Hong Kong Vase, in mid-December, gives him a 15-week break coming to Dubai.

“We're happy with everything he's done,” O'Brien said. “He had a little break after Hong Kong and then he got going again and seems to be in good form. He's a horse who takes his racing very well and we think he's ready to start back again.

“I suppose it is his first run of the season, but he ran in December and that's hopefully an advantage,” he continued. “He wouldn't have had as long a break as he would have had last year, so we're hoping he's well enough and fit enough to do himself justice, really.”

Progress from three to four is expected from the well-built sort, but such was also the case for Japan, whose 2020 4-year-old campaign was a bit underwhelming. A winner of Group 1s, including the Juddmonte International and Grand Prix de Paris, in 2019, Japan could manage only a pair of thirds from five tries last year.

“Mentally they're a bit the same, but physically they're different,” O'Brien explained. “Mogul is probably a stronger, more powerful type of horse than Japan. Japan looks like a mile and a quarter, mile and a half horse, physically, whereas this horse looks more like a sprinter-miler. I suppose, physically they're different, but mentally, they're the same. They're relaxed horses who sleep and eat well.

“He's a big, strong, powerful horse and there's a lot of Danehill in him, so he carries plenty of condition. Even though he is fit and has done plenty of work, he still looks round and strong and looks more like a horse who will improve with the run, but that's the way he always looks.”

While O'Brien only has one win in the race–with the brilliant St Nicholas Abbey in 2013–his horses have often given strong accounts of themselves in a race that is arguably the toughest of the card. St Nicholas Abbey was second in 2012 and talented filly Seventh Heaven took up the same spot in 2017. In 2020, before the cancellation, he held a strong entry with Derby winner Anthony Van Dyck. One thing all those had in common was an affection for firm ground, which is likely at Meydan on its expansive 12-furlong course this Saturday.

“The quicker the ground the better,” O'Brien concluded. “The flat track will suit him and a nice even pace will suit him. He likes to take his time and he comes home well. He's flying out on Monday and we will be on the track as soon as we can.”

After a 48-hour quarantine, Mogul will make his first appearance to the public, post-Hong Kong-conquering, at morning track work on Thursday.

The current best-price $5 million Dubai Sheema Classic (G1) market:

5/2 CHRONO GENESIS
11/4 MISHRIFF
6/1 MOGUL
7/1 WALTON STREET
8/1 CHANNEL MAKER
16/1 STAR SAFARI
20/1 LOVES ONLY YOU
25/1 BERKSHIRE ROCCO
50/1 SIMSIR

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Notable US-Bred & -Sired Runners in Japan: March 20 & 21, 2021

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 Chukyo and Hanshin Racecourses:

Saturday, March 20, 2021
1st-CKO, ¥9,680,000 ($89k), Maiden, 3yo, 1800m
NEFERTARI (JPN) (f, 3, American Pharoah–What a Spot, by Arch) finished a close third on career debut going this trip at Hanshin Nov. 22 (video, gate 8) and was a midfield eighth when last seen over that track and distance Dec. 20. The late April foal is out of a winning half-sister to GISWs Coil (Point Given) and Chiropractor (Kitten's Joy); MGSP Decorating (Galileo {Ire}); and MSP Ellyb (Pioneerof the Nile) and was acquired in utero for $225K at the 2017 Keeneland November sale. The filly's third dam produced champion Possibly Perfect (Northern Baby). Christophe Lemaire has the call. B-Hattori Bokujo

11th-HSN, Wakaba S.-Listed, ¥38m ($349k), 3yo, 2000mT
AMERICAN MACH (c, 3, Kitten's Joy–Cat On a Tin Roof, by Catienus) failed to handle the local dirt track in a pair of starts at this venue late last year, but has–not surprisingly–gone much better on the grass, including a near-miss second over the course and distance Feb. 28 (see below, gate 10), enough to earn a green light for this test as a four-start maiden. The $310K KEESEP acquisition is a full-brother to SW Sniper Kitten and is out of a full-sister to MSW and English G1SP Cannonball. The female family inclides GSW/GISP Emotional Kitten (Kitten's Joy) and MSW & GISP Unspoken Word (Catienus). B-Kenneth & Sarah Ramsey (KY)

 

 

Sunday, March 21, 2021
3rd-HSN, ¥9,680,000 ($89k), Maiden, 3yo, 1800m
ROSE EMPEROR (c, 3, Medaglia d'Oro–Arch Support, by Arch) has one previous start to his credit, a strong runner-up effort over this track and distance on debut Feb. 14 (see below, gate 10). A $220K KEESEP RNA turned $350K OBS March breezer (:10 1/5), the dark bay colt is out this breeder's Arch Support, runner-up to the exceptional Winter Memories (El Prado {Ire}) in the 2010 GIII Miss Grillo S. on the Belmont Park turf course. Yutaka Take sees fit to ride. B-Lee Pokoik (KY)

 

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Champion Boston Harbor Dies In Japan At Age 27

Boston Harbor, the champion 2-year-old male and Breeders' Cup Juvenile winner of 1996, died March 9 in Japan from the infirmities of old age. He was 27.

The announcement was made on social media by Shigeki Yusa of the Japan Bloodhorse Breeders Association.

Racing as a homebred for Overbrook Farm, the son of Capote proved himself to be the best in his class as a juvenile, securing the Eclipse Award with wins in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile at Woodbine, the Grade 2 Breeders' Futurity, the G3 Kentucky Cup Juvenile Stakes and Bashford Manor Stakes, and the listed Ellis Park Juvenile Stakes.

He raced just once at three, finishing fourth in the listed Santa Catalina Stales at Santa Anita Park. He suffered a fractured cannon bone in training a few weeks later, and he retired to Overbrook Farm in Kentucky for the 1998 breeding season.

Boston Harbor has sired 18 crops between his time at Overbrook and his eventual sale to Japan for the 2001 breeding season, with 431 winners and combined progeny earnings of more than $54.7 million.

His top domestic runner was Healthy Addiction, winner of the G1 Santa Margarita Invitational. Other U.S.-born runners of note included Grade 2 winners My Boston Gal and Boston Common, and Grade 3 winners Mark Four and Boston Bull.

After moving to Japan, Boston Harbor was led by Group 3 winners Daiwa Bandit and Wonderful Days.

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