Japan | Horse Racing Free Tips

Shin Emperor Off The Mark at First Asking at Tokyo

Susumu Fujita's Shin Emperor (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}), the full-brother to G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe winner Sottsass (Fr) and €2.1-million topper at the 2022 Arqana August sale, made a successful racecourse debut Saturday, bursting through with 400 metres to travel en route to a three-length success at Tokyo Racecourse.

Trying an 1800-metre trip for this first go, the son of Starlet's Sister (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) was first to break the line and could have led had they chosen, but Takeshi Yokoyama elected to allow the colt to find his feed and settled in a handy fourth behind a steady tempo for the long run down the back straight. Patiently handled on the circle just behind the speed, Shin Emperor traveled strongly and had to be pulled off heels with the real running about to begin, but he split rivals decisively and sprinted his final 600 metres in a strong :33.8 for an easy victory as the $4 (3-1) second favourite.

“He was stronger than I imagined, and I thought he was a good horse from the start,” said Yokoyama. “He's still a kid and he's still a challenge, but he's a horse I'm looking forward to.”

Added winning trainer Yoshito Yahagi: “I'm relieved to see such a performance from a new horse with such a deep pedigree.”

While not specifying any future targets, Shin Emperor would certainly be on a trajectory towards the 2024 Japanese Classics, which begin with the G1 Satsuki Sho (Japanese 2000 Guineas) in April. There are two top-level opportunities for 2-year-old males in December in Japan, the Asahi Hai Futurity over a mile and the Hopeful S. going 2000 metres.

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Cave Rock Full-Brother Debuting 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 Saturday running at Kyoto and Tokyo Racecourses. Group 1 racing takes the week off in Japan, giving leading riders Christophe Lemaire and Yuga Kawada an opportunity to make the trans-Pacific trip to the Breeders' Cup, but plenty of action to be witnessed all the same:

Saturday, November 4, 2023
4th-TOK, ¥13,720,000 ($91k), Newcomers, 2yo, 1600m
ASSURBANIPAL (c, 2, Arrogate–Georgie's Angel, by Bellamy Road) is the latest to the races from the 2011 GIII Schuylerville S. victress whose biggest claim to fame thus far is this colt's full-brother Cave Rock, named a 'TDN Rising Star' when graduating by six lengths at first asking two days before this year-younger sibling sold to Tom McCrocklin, agent for Champion Equine, for $700,000 to top the 2022 Fasig-Tipton New York-Bred Sale. Cave Rock would go on to add the GI Del Mar Futurity and GI American Pharoah S. before settling for second in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile, and those efforts helped assure that Assurbanipal would be one of the star turns at OBS March, where he fetched $1.05 million from Katsumi Yoshida (breeze video). Joao Moreira takes the call. Longford Farm acquired Georgie's Angel for $75,000 with this colt in utero at Keeneland November in 2020. Also debuting here is $125,000 KEESEP grad American Runner (Gun Runner), a son of Uruguayan champion 3-year-old filly Acqua Fresh (Uru) (Ecclesiastic). B-Kathleen Schweizer (NY)

5th-KYO, ¥13,720,000 ($91k), Newcomers, 2yo, 1600mT
LA LA MONSTRE (c, 2, Mitole–Speightstastic, by Speightstown) was the third-priciest of 105 yearlings reported as sold in 2022 (121 ring) for this first-crop sire (by Eskendereya) when hammering for $390,000 at the Keeneland September sale. Cove Springs acquired this colt's dam, a full-sister to MGSW & GSP Bayerd and half to MSP Sphene (Bodemeister), for $65,000 at Keeneland November in 2017, and the mare's current yearling, a colt by Not This Time, made $725,000 from Repole/Spendthrift at this year's Fasig-Tipton Saratoga sale. B-Cove Springs LLC (KY)

DEFERLER (f, 2, Mendelssohn–Heavenly Romance {Jpn}, by Sunday Silence) is out of a dam that upset Zenno Rob Roy (Jpn) in the 2005 Tenno Sho (Autumn) and has since gone on to be an important producer for North Hills, accounting for the likes of MGSW/MG1SP Awardee (Jungle Pocket {Jpn}), MSW Amour Briller (Smart Strike) and Lani (Tapit), winner of the G2 UAE Derby and later placed in the GI Belmont S. B-North Hills Co Ltd (KY)

11th-TOK, Keio Hai Nisai S.-G2, ¥72m ($480k), 2yo, 1400mT
Just hours before the commonly owned Jasper Krone (Frosted) takes his place in the GI Breeders' Cup Sprint, JASPER NOIR (c, 2, Frosted–Funny Bay, by Medaglia d'Oro) makes his black-type debut here. A $35,000 KEENOV weanling turned $280,000 OBSMAR breezer, the chestnut, who is out of a half-sister to MGSW Stanford (Malibu Moon), exits an easy front-running maiden-breaking victory over 1200 meters at Niigata Oct. 15 (video, SC 1). B-Nina Theodora Camperlengo (KY)

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Half-Sister To GISW Paris Lights Debuts at Kyoto

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 Kyoto and Niigata Racecourses. The weekend feature takes place at Tokyo on Sunday, when Equinox (Jpn) (Kitasan Black {Jpn}) returns to action in defense of his title in the G1 Tenno Sho (Autumn) against a top field. Read Heather Anderson's preview here:

Saturday, October 28, 2023
4th-KYO, ¥13,720,000 ($92k), Newcomers, 2yo, 1400m
PARIS PLAGES (f, 2, Uncle Mo–Paris Bikini, by Bernardini), a half-sister to 2020 GI Coaching Club American Oaks winner Paris Lights (Curlin), was acquired in utero by Katsumi Yoshida for $1.95 million at the Fasig-Tipton November Sale and Paris Bikini produced this filly Feb. 17, 2021 before being exported to Japan in foal to American Pharoah. Paris Bikini is a daughter of SP Lacadena (Nureyev), herself the dam of GSW & MGISP America (A.P. Indy), who was bought back for $3.1 million in foal to Uncle Mo at FTKNOV in 2019. America is the dam of MGSW/GISP 'TDN Rising Star' First Captain (Curlin). Third dam Butterfly Blue (Ire) (Sadler's Wells) was a half-sister to Broodmare of the Year Better Than Honour (Deputy Minister). B-Northern Racing (KY)

AMERICAN MARCH (c, 2, Cajun Breeze–Goldminer's Dream, by Distorted Humor) becomes his sire's first offspring to race in Japan, having been purchased by Yoshizawa Stable for $100,000 at this year's OBS March Sale (under-tack preview). The Florida-bred is out of an unraced daughter of SW Quite a Ruckus (Richter Scale) and his third dam was responsible for GSW and GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf runner-up Excaper (Exchange Rate). Joao Moreira has the riding assignment. B-Tom McCrocklin (FL)

Sunday, October 29, 2023
2nd-NII, ¥10,480,000 ($70k), Maiden, 2yo, 1200m
GRAN ORCA (c, 2, Liam's Map–Layla, by Union Rags) looks to improve on his Sept. 24 debut in the slop at Nakayama, where he found only the well-meant Historiai (Liam's Map) too strong in the finish (see below, SC 7). Produced by a winning full-sister to GISW Express Train, the joint most-expensive of 58 of his sire's progeny to sell in 2022 (75 ring). Gran Orca's third dam was 1992 GI Alabama S. heroine November Snow (Storm Cat). B-Dixiana Farms LLC (KY)

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Malibu Moon Colt Gets Started 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 Sunday running at Kyoto and Tokyo Racecourses. The weekend feature takes place at the former venue, which hosts the final leg of the colts' Triple Crown, the G1 Kikuka Sho (Japanese St Leger). Click here for our preview:

Sunday, October 22, 2023
4th-TOK, ¥13,720,000 ($92k), Newcomers, 2yo, 1400m
AARU (c, 2, Malibu Moon–Ginza, by Kitten's Joy), a $53,000 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky October yearling and $50,000 OBS April juvenile, is out of a daughter of the unraced Unfold the Rose (Catienus), whose daughter Stephanie's Kitten (Kitten's Joy) won the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf in 2011 and four years later took out the GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf before selling for $550,000 at the Fasig-Tipton November Sale. Unfold the Rose is also the dam of MGSW dirt marathoner Heywoods Beach (Speightstown). The colt's third dam was Bail Out Becky (Red Ransom), winner of the 1995 GI Del Mar Oaks for the Ramseys and Bill Mott. B-RGP Ocala Holdings LLC (FL)

10th-KYO, ¥35,040,000 ($233k), Allowance, 3yo/up, 1600mT
T O GRANVILLE (c, 3, Lea–All in Fun, by Tapit) has made a spectacular start to his career, with three wins from as many starts, all at this distance, including a 2-win allowance success at Niigata when last seen Aug. 27 (see below, SC 15). Purchased for $125,000 in utero by Winchester Farm at Keeneland November in 2019, the chestnut is out of a stakes-placed full-sister to the dual graded-stakes placed juvenile Tight Ten and his third dam is dual Grade I winner Fleet Renee (Seattle Slew). Takeshi Yokoyama, who rides favored Sol Oriens (Jpn) (Kitasan Black {Jpn}) in the race immediately after this, takes over at the controls. B-Mishima Stud Ltd (KY)

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