Japan | Horse Racing Free Tips

Saudi Cup: Japanese Grade 1 Winner Chuwa Wizard ‘In Really Good Form’

Japan's challenger in Saturday's $20 million Saudi Cup has made his second visit to the Gulf region with hopes from connections that it will be more successful than his first.

Chuwa Wizard had started his 2020 term in flying form in the Grade 1 Kawasaki Kinen, with the son of King Kamehameha clinching a six-length win in what had looked to be a good preparation for the Dubai World Cup at Meydan last March.

However, the cancellation of the meeting from the Covid-19 pandemic saw a 20-strong Japanese contingent, including Chuwa Wizard, flying back home instead.

So Chuwa Wizard reappeared in June, with Christophe Lemaire partnering him to finish third behind Chrysoberyl, last year's Saudi Cup contender, in the 2000m (1 1/4-mile) Teio Sho at NAR-Oi.

In the following JBC Classic, at the same track in November, Lemaire had his mount sitting handily in the field on a rain-affected track but he finished third behind his biggest rival, Chrysoberyl, once again.

But in December, in the Champions Cup at Chukyo, he finally gained not only his first Grade 1 at the top-tier JRA level in Japanese racing, but the edge over Chrysoberyl as he came two and a half lengths clear in an ideal prep for his Saudi Cup challenge.

“He's a very talented horse,” said trainer Ryuji Okubo. “From the tactics we had in the JBC Classic, I decided to change the strategy again in the race. I wanted to make the most of what he had, so I told the jockey (Keita Tosaki) to settle him further back, targeting Chrysoberyl from behind.”

Bred by the Japanese leading breeding operation Northern Farm, Chuwa Wizard has barely put a foot wrong since winning a maiden at Kyoto in February 2018. Since his debut, he has been unplaced only once in his 18 career starts.

Tosaki has partnered Chuwa Wizard in his exercise since he arrived in Saudi Arabia on Monday and is happy with what he has seen.

“He has matured a lot and showed lots of progress every time he races,” the jockey said. “I think he is in really good form and has been the same as how he is at home, feeling good.”

After helping his mount to his most significant victory to date in Japan, Tosaki is keen to make the most of their partnership in what will be a new experience.

“Having riding experiences overseas is nothing but very special for me,” he said. “My last trip to overseas was the Shergar Cup at Ascot (in 2017), and this is my first trip to Saudi Arabia.

“I have had a really good time and it is a great experience to ride here. Even under the difficult circumstances, I am very honored and grateful to have been invited.”

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Lys Gracieux Produces First Foal

Between them, they won two Japanese Horse of the Year titles, three additional divisional awards and four major races on foreign soil. Late Sunday evening, Lys Gracieux (Jpn) (Heart's Cry {Jpn}) was represented by her first foal when she produced a colt by the brilliant Maurice (Jpn) (Screen Hero {Jpn}).

Trained by Yoshito Yahagi and carrying the green-and-white colours of Carrot Farm, Lys Gracieux retired to stud in 2019 after winning seven of her 22 trips to the post, four of which came at the highest level. The dark bay, now seven, defeated her peers for a maiden Group 1 in the Queen Elizabeth II Commemorative Cup in 2018 before just failing to catch Exultant (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) in that year's G1 Longines Hong Kong Vase. She concluded her career with defeats of males in her final three appearances–the G1 Takarazuka Kinen, the G1 Cox Plate in Melbourne (see below) and a smashing five-length success over two-time Horse of the Year Almond Eye (Jpn) (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}) and others in the G1 Arima Kinen (video). She was named Horse of the Year in 2019.

WATCH: Lys Gracieux rolls home in the Cox Plate

Maurice was campaigned by Kazumi Yoshida and came to hand as a 4-year-old, winning the G1 Yasuda Kinen, G1 Mile Championship and G1 Longines Hong Kong Mile in succession in 2015 to secure Horse of the Year honours. He added an additional three top-level scores in 2016, easily taking the G1 Champions' Mile back at Sha Tin in May before wrapping up his career with facile wins in the G1 Tenno Sho (Autumn) and G1 Longines Hong Kong Cup, both over 2000 metres.

From his first crop to the races in 2020, Maurice was the sire of 32 winners for progeny earnings of better than ¥393 million. He was second to Duramente (Jpn) in each of those categories. He is the sire of Group 3 winner Pixie Knight (Jpn) and four other black-type performers.

Maurice is also the sire of 3-year-old colt Buena Ventura (Jpn), a son of 2010 Horse of the Year Buena Vista (Jpn) (Special Week {Jpn}), and is also responsible for the 3-year-old filly Geraldina (Jpn), whose dam Gentildonna (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) was Japan's Horse of the Year in 2012 and 2014. Gentildonna is due to Maurice for 2021.

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Notable US-Breds in Japan: Feb. 6 & 7, 2021

Saturday, February 6, 2021
6th-TOK, ¥11,400,000 ($108k), Newcomers, 3yo, 1800mT
JOYOUS CHANT (c, 3, Kitten's Joy–Sweet Chant, by Distorted Humor) cost $140K as a weanling at the 2018 Fasig-Tipton November sale, and the fact he was purchased by the Godolphin braintrust is no surprise, as the March foal is out of a half-sister to Campanologist (Kingmambo), winner of five Group 1 races for Sheikh Mohammed's operation in Germany and Italy and winner of group races in England and on World Cup night in Dubai. The colt's third dam was Canadian Horse of the Year Glorious Song (Halo), the full-sister to Saint Ballado, and dam of such luminaries as Singspiel (Ire) and Rahy (Blushing Groom {Fr}). B-Teneri Farm, Bernardo A Calderon, Kenneth L & Sarah K Ramsey (KY)

Sunday, February 7, 2020
2nd-TOK, ¥9,680,000 ($92k), Maiden, 3yo, 2100m
NIGHT FROLIC (c, 3, Into Mischief–Frolic's Revenge, by Vindication) stretches out significantly in trip off a distant sixth on his 1600-meter debut to the very promising Annunciation (Union Rags) last Oct. 31. His five-time stakes-winning dam has already been responsible for SW American Frolic (Blame) and SP Mc Awesome (Super Saver) and is herself a half-sister to GSW & MGISP Super Frolic (Pine Bluff). Night Frolic, a $300K Keeneland September yearling, has the services of leading rider Christophe Lemaire. B-Woodford Thoroughbreds (KY)

4th-CKO, ¥13,830,000 ($131k), Allowance, 3yo, 1800m
LADY MERCY (f, 3, American Pharoah–Two Oceans, by Cape Town) has improved with a stretch-out to two turns, finishing third in his first route attempt at Kyoto Oct. 17 before defeating fellow US-bred Voix d'Ange (Curlin) in a course-and-distance test Dec. 19 (see below, SC 11). A maternal granddaughter of MSW & GSP Ocean Cat (Storm Cat), Lady Mercy hails from the extended female family of Japanese Horses of the Year Narita Brian (Jpn) (Brian's Time) and Biwa Hayahide (Jpn) (Sharrood). B-Toshihiro Matsumoto (KY)

4th-TOK, ¥13,830,000 ($131k), Allowance, 3yo, 1400m
SATONO MUSTANG (c, 3, Mineshaft–Mare and Cher, by Old Fashioned) found only Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby points-getter Lemon Pop (Lemon Drop Kid) too strong on his 1300-meter bow at this track Nov. 7 before posting a convincing maiden success over the same distance when last seen Nov. 21 (see below, SC 8). A half-brother to Cruise and Danze (Danza), the $25K KEESEP yearling turned $150K OBS March breezer is out of a half-sister to SW & GSP Fight On (Into Mischief) and his third dam includes Sheave (Mineshaft), the dam of GI Kentucky Oaks winner Cathryn Sophia (Street Boss). B-Haymarket Farm LLC (KY)

9th-TOK, ¥19,110,000 ($181k), Allowance, 3yo, 2400mT
AIR SAGE (c, 3, Point of Entry–Nokaze, by Empire Maker) could scarcely have been more impressive on debut, finding his best stride in the final furlong en route to a comfortable success over 2000 grassy meters at Chukyo Jan. 5 (video, SC 10). A half-brother to Japanese GSW Air Almas (Majestic Warrior) and to Air Fanditha (Hat Trick {Jpn}), victorious at Chukyo last weekend, Air Sage counts the aforementioned Glorious Song's full-sister Angelic Song as his third dam. This is also the female family of last year's GI Kentucky Derby third Mr. Big News (Giant's Causeway). B-Winchester Farm LLC (KY)

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Notable US-Bred Runners in Japan: Jan. 30 & 31, 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 Tokyo and Chukyo Racecourses. The latter plays host to Sunday's G3 Silk Road S., which has drawn a typically full field of 18 turf sprinters, led by American-bred Group 1 winner Mozu Superflare (Speightstown) and the hard-knocking Shivaji (First Samurai):

Saturday, January 30, 2021
2nd-TOK, ¥11,400,000 ($109k), Newcomers, 3yo, 1400m
FINE HAPPY (f, 3, Runhappy–Unbridled Empire, by Empire Maker) is a half-sister to Grade I-winning turf marathoner Arklow (Arch) and to MGSW grasser Maraud (Blame) and cost owner Masatake Iida $340K at Keeneland September in 2019. His unplaced dam is a half-sister to Fourty Niners Son (Distorted Humor), a Grade I winner on turf in this country who later stood in Japan; and to GISW Cindy's Hero (Sea Hero), the dam of MGSW & GISP Delegation (Speightstown). B-John R & Frank Penn (KY)

4th-CKO, ¥11,400,000 ($109k), Newcomers, 3yo, 1800m
CAREERISM (c, 3, Upstart–Out of Goodbyes, by Out of Place) is the latest foal from his stakes-winning Massachusetts-bred dam, a half-sister to romping fellow Mass-bred black-type winner No More Goodbyes (More Than Ready). An $85K Fasig-Tipton November weanling purchase, this February foal was knocked down for $120K at FTKJUL in 2019 and fetched $200K at last year's OBS March Sale after breezing a quarter-mile in a strong :21 2/5. B-Golden Pedigree LLC (KY)

ERIE TESORO (f, 3, California Chrome–Celtic Chant, by Songandaprayer) cost $130K as a KEENOV weanling in 2018 before improving into a $235K KEESEP yearling the following year. Her stakes-winning dam has already been responsible for the Grade III-placed Irish Mischief (Into Mischief), while the deeper female family includes MGISW Vicar (Wild Again) and his stakes-winning half-sister Sheepscot (Easy Goer), the dam of 2007 G1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains hero Astronomer Royal (Danzig) and U.S. GSW Navesink River (Unbridled). Erie Tesoro was entered for, but ultimately scratched out of a similar spot Jan. 17. B-Clarkland Farm LLC (KY)

4th-TOK, ¥13,830,000 ($133k), Allowance, 3yo, 1600m
ANNUNCIATION (c, 3, Union Rags–Acquant, by Giant's Causeway) makes his 3-year-old debut in this spot, having hosed up by 3 1/2 very impressive lengths at short odds over course and distance Oct. 31 (see below, gate 3). A $230K KEESEP yearling that races in the colors of Silk Racing Co. Ltd., the chestnut is out of a winning daughter of MGSW Social Queen (Dynaformer), the dam of GISW Force the Pass (Speightstown). The chestnut with four white socks also hails from the female family of MSW & MGISP Wonder Gal (Tiz Wonderful). B-Colts Neck Stables LLC (KY)

Sunday, January 31, 2021
1st-TOK, ¥9,680,000 ($93k), Maiden, 3yo, 1400m
TAPITAIL (f, 3, Tapit–Lady of Fifty, by After Market) went favored in each of her two starts last season going a mile on the Tokyo dirt, finishing fourth in the slop Oct. 10 before improving a couple of spots when last seen over a dry strip Nov. 29. The colt's dam, a Grade I winner on the main track, was acquired privately in 2017 and foaled this filly the following January before being exported. Her 2020 produce is a Heart's Cry (Jpn) colt that fetched ¥36 million ($335,538) as a foal at last year's JRHA Select Sale. B-Teruya Yoshida (KY)

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