Japan | Horse Racing Free Tips

Almond Eye Claims Eighth Group 1 Win in Tenno Sho

Almond Eye (Jpn) (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}) ephasised her status as one of the greats of the Japanese turf with a half-length score in the G1 Tenno Sho (Autumn) at Tokyo on Sunday. The first back-to-back winner since Symboli Kris S (Kris S.) in 2002/03, the bay mare is the sixth horse to salute in seven Japanese Group 1s and the first Japanese horse to win eight Group 1 races worldwide on turf. Two-time G1 Tenno Sho (Spring) victor Fierement (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) was second, with the G1 Takarazuka Kinen winner Chrono Genesis (Jpn) (Bago {Fr}) third by a neck.

Caught two deep in fourth into the opening bend, Almond Eye relaxed as Danon Premium (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) galloped on an five-length lead. The field reached the final 800 metres with the 2-5 favourite maintaining her position in between horses and when they reached the head of the straight, jockey Christophe Lemaire cut her loose. Out in the four path, Almond Eye set sail for the longtime leader, passing Daiwa Cagney (Jpn) (King Kamehameha {Jpn}) and Kiseki (Jpn) (Rulership {Jpn}) just inside the quarter pole. Chrono Genesis and Fierement were also making similarly rapid progress farther out on the course, but Almond Eye, who passed Danon Premium inside the final 50 yards, held on for the victory. Fierement fought past Chrono Genesis late on for place honours. The pacesetter was another two lengths back in fourth.

“Today, the mare was relaxed before the start and we were able to break well,” said Lemaire, who was noticeably emotional-a rare occurrence for him-post race. “She showed a great turn of foot in the straight but ran out of steam a bit climbing the hill. The others were gaining on us but she didn’t give up. I have to admit, to win the eighth Group 1 title was a big pressure, but she didn’t let us down—her performance was awesome. Her future lay in the hands of the owner and trainer but I would very much like to ride her again.”

The Japanese Filly Triple Crown winner of 2018 claimed Japanese Horse of the Year honours after winning the G1 Japan Cup later that year. She also scored in the G1 Dubai Turf at Meydan in March of 2019 and returned to her homeland to take third in the G1 Yasuda Kinen that June. A winner of last year’s G1 Tenno Sho (Autumn), Almond Eye ran an uncharacteristic ninth in her 4-year-old swansong, the G1 Arima Kinen in December. Kept in training this term, she saluted in the May 17 G1 Victoria Mile, but was runner-up in the June 7 Yasuda Kinen in Tokyo, her last start prior to defending her title on Sunday.

Pedigree Notes

Almond Eye is one of four Group 1 winners and 23 black-type winners for her sire Lord Kanaloa (Jpn). The seventh of 10 foals out of her dam, and one of eight winners from eight runners, the 5-year-old is followed by the winning duo of Listed Anemone S. third Unakite (Jpn) (Johannesburg), a 4-year-old filly, and 3-year-old colt Satono Esperanza (Jpn) (Rulership {Jpn}), Fusaichi Pandora (Jpn)’s latest foal is an unnamed juvenile by Rulership (Jpn).

The extended family under blue hen third dam Sex Appeal (Buckpasser) is riddled with Group 1 winners like champions and successful sires El Gran Senor (Northern Dancer) and Try My Best (Northern Dancer), GI Breeders’ Cup Mile victor Domedriver (Ire) (Indian Ridge {Ire}), G1 Nunthorpe S. winner Bahamian Pirate (Housebuster) and GI United National S. hero Chinchon (Ire) (Marju {Ire}). Italian highweight and sire Blue Air Force (Ire) (Sri Pekan) is also present, as is Brazilian champion and Group 1 winner Estrela Monarchos (Monarchos).

Sunday, Tokyo, Japan

TENNO SHO (AUTUMN)-G1, ¥289,600,000 (US$2,762,578/£2,134,219/€2,365,843), Tokyo, 11-1, 3yo/up, 2000mT, 1:57.80, fm.
1–ALMOND EYE (JPN), 123, m, 5, Lord Kanaloa (Jpn)
                1st Dam: Fusaichi Pandora (Jpn) (MSW & G1SP-Jpn,
                                $3,264,457), by Sunday Silence
                2nd Dam: Lotta Lace, by Nureyev
                3rd Dam: Sex Appeal, by Buckpasser
O-Silk Racing; B-Northern Farm (Jpn); T-Sakae Kunieda;
J-Christophe Lemaire. ¥152,520,000. Lifetime Record:
HotY-Jpn, Ch. 3yo Filly-Jpn, Hwt. Older Horse-UAE, G1SW-UAE,
14-10-2-1. Werk Nick Rating: A+++. *Triple Plus*. Click for the
   eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Fierement (Jpn), 128, h, 5, Deep Impact (Jpn)–Lune d’Or (Fr),
by Green Tune. O-Sunday Racing; B-Northern Farm (Jpn);
¥60,720,000.
3–Chrono Genesis (Jpn), 123, f, 4, Bago (Fr)–Chronologist(Jpn),
by Kurofune. O-Sunday Racing; B-Northern Farm (Jpn);
¥38,360,000.
Margins: HF, NK, 2. Odds: 0.40, 16.40, 3.40.
Also Ran: Danon Premium (Jpn), Kiseki (Jpn), Daiwa Cagney (Jpn), Jinambo (Jpn), Cadenas (Jpn), Scarlet Color (Jpn), Win Bright (Jpn), Blast Onepiece (Jpn), Danon Kingly (Jpn).
Click for the JRA chart & video or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree

The post Almond Eye Claims Eighth Group 1 Win in Tenno Sho appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Notable US-Bred & -Sired Runners in Japan: Oct. 31, 2020

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 Kyoto and Tokyo Racecourses. Former Horse of the Year Almond Eye (Jpn) (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}) makes her first start since June in defense of her title in the G1 Tenno Sho (Autumn), a race connections will use as a springboard to potential targets at home and/or abroad over the next six weeks:

Saturday, October 31, 2020
5th-KYO, ¥13,400,000 ($128k), Newcomers, 2yo, 2000mT
VICTORION (JPN) (c, 2, Uncle Mo–Easter Island, by Giant’s Causeway) is the first foal for his dam, an unraced daughter of GISW Awesome Maria (Maria’s Mon), who was purchased for $350K carrying this foal in utero at the 2017 Keeneland November Sale. Victorion, whose female family includes Grade I winners Discreet Cat and Discreetly Mine, was purchased for ¥20 million ($180,400) as a foal at th 2018 JRHA Select Sale and his yearling half-sister by successful young sire Duramente (Jpn) made ¥22 million ($206,785) at the Hokkaido Summer Yearling Sale this past August. Easter Island also has a weanling colt by Orfevre (Jpn). B-Hidaka Taiyo Bokujo

6th-TOK, ¥13,400,000 ($128k), Newcomers, 2yo, 1600m
AMERICAN YELL (c, 2, Tapit–Sindy With an S, by Broken Vow), a $700K KEESEP purchase, is out of a Grade III-winning dam who has already worked well with this sire, producing SW & GSP My Miss Tapit and the GSP duo I’ll Wrap It Up and Rattataptap. Owner Katsumi Yoshizawa, who campaigned Master Fencer (Jpn) (Just A Way {Jpn}) in the 2019 Triple Crown, also races SP American Seed (Tapit), who aired by seven lengths in his first start on dirt last weekend. B-Gainesway Thoroughbreds Ltd (KY)

ANNUNCIATION (c, 2, Union Rags–Acquant, by Giant’s Causeway) is the first produce for his three-time winning dam, a daughter of dual Grade III winner Social Queen (Dynaformer), whose son Force The Pass (Speightstown) took out the 2015 GI Belmont Derby Invitational S. A $230K KEESEP acquisition, the chestnut is a half-brother to an Arrogate colt that was bought back for $425K at KEESEP last month and a weanling colt by Mastery. B-Colts Neck Stables LLC (KY)

NIGHT FROLIC (c, 2, Into Mischief-Frolic’s Revenge, by Vindication) is out of a five-time stakes winner that has already been responsible for SW American Frolic (Blame) and SP Mc Awesome (Super Saver). The April foal’s MSW second dam Stormy Frolic (Summer Squall) was a daughter of GSW Lindsay Frolic (Mt. Livermore), whose 10 winners from 12 to race included GSW/MGISP Super Frolic (Pine Bluff). Night Frolic cost $300K at KEESEP. B-Woodford Thoroughbreds (KY)

The post Notable US-Bred & -Sired Runners in Japan: Oct. 31, 2020 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Notable US-Bred & -Sired Runners in Japan: Oct. 24, 2020

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 a busy Saturday running at Kyoto and Tokyo Racecourse, including a pair by American Pharoah and the stakes debut of the exciting Vanishing Point. Sunday’s runners will feature in Saturday’s TDN:

Saturday, October 24, 2020
4th-KYO, ¥13,400,000 ($128k), Newcomers, 2yo, 1800m
RUSSIAN SAMOVAR (f, 2, American Pharoah–Megalicious, by Songandaprayer), a $70K Keeneland November weanling, improved to be a $165K KEESEP yearling and was acquired by Katsumi Yoshida for $650K after breezing a quarter-mile in a green :20 2/5 at this year’s OBS March Sale. Bought back for $120K when offered in utero at KEEJAN in 2018, the April foal is a half to MSP My Sweet Stella (Eskendereya) and is out of a half-sister to MSW & MGSP Abbondanza (Alphabet Soup). Russian Samovar is bred 4×4 to Unbridled. B-Zayat Stables LLC (KY)

SATONO IMPULSE (c, 2, Tapizar–Allencat, by Storm Cat) is out of an unraced daughter of GISW Pharma (Theatrical {Ire}) who has already bred MSW Miss Frost (Curlin), the dam of MSP Torres Del Paine (Karakontie {Jpn}). The colt’s third dam is champion and MG1SW Committed (Hagley), whose son Hap (Theatrical {Ire}) was a six-time GSW and twice GISP and whose daughter Belva (Theatrical {Ire}) is the dam of champion MGISW English Channel (Smart Strike). A $60K KEEJAN short yearling, Satono Impulse fetched $135K as a Fasig-Tipton July yearling and was hammered down for $500K at OBSMAR after drilling a furlong in :10 flat. Tapizar is the sire of three winners from as many runners to date in Japan. B-Kendall E Hansen MD Racing LLC (KY)

5th-KYO, ¥13,400,000 ($128k), Newcomers, 2yo, 1200mT
TOP THE BILL (JPN) (f, 2, American Pharoah–Top Decile, by Congrats) is the first foal from her dam, second in the GI Darley Alcibiades S. and GI Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies for Klaravich Stable and Al Stall, Jr. in 2014. Off the board in a pair of sophomore starts, Top Decile was purchased by Stronach Stables for $400K at KEENOV in 2015, remained in training and won one of four starts before selling for $950K with this filly in utero at KEENOV in 2017. Top Decile is the dam of a yearling filly by Heart’s Cry (Jpn) and a weanling filly by Daiwa Major (Jpn). B-Shadai Farm

9th-TOK, Ivy S.-Listed, ¥32,400,000 ($309k), 2yo, 1800mT
VANISHING POINT (c, 2, Tapit–Unrivaled Belle, by Unbridled’s Song), a $1.5m KEESEP yearling and full-brother to two-time Eclipse Award winner Unique Bella, makes his second career appearance, having romped home by seven lengths over 2000 meters on Sapporo debut Aug. 2 (see below, gate 7). The gray’s dam, winner of the 2010 GI Breeders’ Cup Distaff (ex Ladies’ Classic), was purchased by Whisper Hill Farm’s Mandy Pope for $3.8 million in foal to Tapit at KEENOV in 2016. Leading rider Christophe Lemaire retains the mount. B-Whisper Hill Farm LLC (KY)

The post Notable US-Bred & -Sired Runners in Japan: Oct. 24, 2020 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Contrail Aims To Be Third Undefeated Colt To Capture Japan’s Triple Crown In Sunday’s Kikuka Sho

Contrail, a son of the late Triple Crown champion Deep Impact, stands to become only the third colt to capture Japan's classic treble while unbeaten, this Sunday (Oct. 25) at Kyoto Racecourse in Japan. His sire did it before him in 2005, and 21 years before that, Symboli Rudolf had been the first to claim the classic three with a pristine record.

The G1 Kikuka Sho (3000m, or approximately 15 furlongs), or Japanese St. Leger, is second only to the spring Tenno Sho Spring as Japan's longest top-level flat race and caps the Triple Crown, which begins in the spring with the G1 Satsuki Sho (2000m, or approximately 10 furlongs) and the G1 Tokyo Yushun (2400m, or approximately 12 furlongs), or Japanese Derby.

Of the 23 horses who have claimed both spring classics, 15 went to the Kikuka Sho gate to claim that final feather in their cap, but only seven succeeded, beginning with St. Lite in 1941.

If any horse can do it again, it's Contrail. This week, his last drill before the race took the colt up the hill course at Ritto under an assistant to trainer Yoshito Yahagi, who is eager to lay claim to his 17th big-race win and first Kikuka Sho victory.

Wednesday morning (Oct. 21), the woodchip surface was heavy and the colt, eager to run, was held back over the first half before slowly being allowed to accelerate. He used his body fully with exemplary form, for top marks and a time of 52.5 seconds for a half-mile with a final 200 meters (approximately one furlong) in 12.9 seconds.

“He's switched on,” said the rider. “So I concentrated on not letting him overdo it. The ground was slow, but there were no problems with either his movement or breathing.”

Contrail's training has gone smoothly, all according to plan. Returning from his spring campaign, he kicked off the fall with a win by 2 lengths over Weltreisende in the G2 Kobe Shimbun Hai at Chukyo on Sept. 27.

“He broke away from the crowd with stupendous acceleration,” said Yahagi of the race. “I was in the position of not being able to lose that race and, at the same time, not being able to push him too much, so that he'd be ready for the Kikuka Sho. It was quite a conflict and a very difficult race.”

The trainer and Contrail have overcome difficulties and look poised for success.

“Contrail seems to understand what our intentions are. He turns off after a race. He slowly revs up before one. He really is a very clever horse,” said Yahagi.

Contrail has started favorite in all six of his races (three of them Grade 1s), and this Sunday will be no different as he bids to write another page in the history books. There's plenty of confidence from the stable too.

“It was a good win last time and we were relieved by that. That race was enough to get him switched on and so we don't need to worry about anything. He's come out of it well and has been at the stable in the three-week period since,” said assistant trainer Yusaku Oka.

Jockey Yuichi Fukunaga has struck up a good partnership with the horse and will be looking to get the best out of him again here.

No matter how good the chances that Japan will see a second unbeaten youngster capture a Triple Crown in as many weeks, the search is heated for the other two to fill out the winning trio.

G2 Kobe Shimbun Hai runner-up Weltreisende, by 2009 G1 Arima Kinen champ Dream Journey, is one of the most mentioned, as is Babbitt and Satono Flag.

Weltreisende was third in the Derby and has only figured out of the money once, when finishing eighth in the G1 Satsuki Sho. The extra distance of the Kikuka Sho will be a plus for him.

A likely longshot that may be most advantaged by the distance this time out is Black Hole (ninth in the Satsuki Sho, seventh in the Derby), a Goldship colt of stayer stature (978 lb).

Satono Flag looked in fine form with a first-up second in the G2 St. Lite Kinen on Sept. 21 at Nakayama. Satono Flag and Danon Gloire are the two colts nominated for Sunday's race by super mare Almond Eye's trainer, Sakae Kunieda.

Babbitt, by Nakayama Festa (second in the 2010 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe), bypassed the Classics and, racing solely in the 1800-2200m range, has sped to his first G1 on a four-race winning streak that included the G2 St. Lite Kinen last out.

The 81st running of the Kikuka Sho is set for 2:40pm Hong Kong time this Sunday, 25 October.

The post Contrail Aims To Be Third Undefeated Colt To Capture Japan’s Triple Crown In Sunday’s Kikuka Sho appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post