Tag: jra

Titleholder Earns Ticket to Breeders’ Cup with Takarazuka Kinen Win

The fan's pick Titleholder (Jpn) (Duramente {Jpn}) lived up to his star billing with a facile two-length victory in Sunday's G1 Takarazuka Kinen at Hanshin, a 'Win and You're In' event to the GI Breeders' Cup Turf later this fall. With the top 10 runners in the 2200-meter event selected by fan voting, the 4-year-old was installed the 3-1 second choice behind Efforia (Jpn) (Epiphaneia {Jpn}).

Titleholder vied for the early lead with Panthalassa (Jpn) (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}) before settling in second. Inching closer to the pacesetter in the latter stages, the colt reached the weakening leader turning for home and strode clear late to score by a comfortable two-length margin. Hishi Iguazu (Jpn) (Heart's Cry {Jpn}) closed to take second, while 2020 Fillies' Triple Crown heroine Daring Tact (Jpn) (Epiphaneia {Jpn}) offered a nice closing kick to grab third. Favored Efforia was sixth. The final time of 2:09.7 equaled the track record for the distance.

“This was my fourth race with Titleholder and I knew how the colt could run in good rhythm,” commented winning rider Kazuo Yokohama. “The pace was fast, but I wasn't concerned because he still had enough power left at the straight. He's still in the process of maturing and I think he'll get better going forward.”

Victorious in last season's G1 Kikuka Sho (Japanese St Leger) at Hanshin, the dark bay also took Nakayama's G2 Deep Impact  Kinen and finished runner-up in the G1 Satsuki Sho (Japanese 2000 Guineas) during the 2021 season. He kicked off this term with a victory in the G2 Nikkei Sho at Nakayama in March before returning to his favored surface at Hanshin to triumph in the May 1 G1 Tenno Sho (Spring).

Titleholder becomes the first horse to capture both the Tenno Sho and Takarazuka Kinen in the same year since Deep Impact (Jpn) in 2006.

According to trainer Toru Kurita, “I've been told by the owner that the colt will go to 'the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe if he wins' so we're planning to send him straight to France with Kazuo.”

Pedigree Notes:
Takarazuka Kinen winner Titleholder went one better than his sire, dual Group 1 winning Duramente, who finished runner-up in the 2016 renewal of the race. The Japanese Derby and 2000 Guineas scorer is also responsible for this season's G1 Japanese Oaks heroine Stars on Earth (Jpn). With only two named foals to her credit, 13-year-old Mowen (GB) (Motivator {GB}) is also responsible for the minor winner Melody Lane (Jpn) (Orfevre {Jpn}), who finished 13th behind her more exalted sibling in Sunday's Takarazuka Kinen.

 

Sunday, Hanshin, Japan
TAKARAZUKA KINEN-G1, ¥385,400,000, Hanshin, 6-26, 3yo/up, 2200mT, 2:09.70 (NCR), fm.
1–TITLEHOLDER (JPN), 128, c, 4, by Duramente (Jpn)
1st Dam: Mowen (GB), by Motivator (GB)
2nd Dam: Top Table (GB), by Shirley Heights (GB)
3rd Dam: Lora's Guest (Ire), by Be My Guest
(¥20,000,000 Wlg '18 JRHAJUL). O-Hiroshi Yamada; B-Okada Stud; T-Toru Kurita; J-Kazuo Yokoyama; ¥203,780,000. Lifetime Record: 12-6-2-0, ¥793,111,000. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Hishi Iguazu (Jpn), 128, h, 6, Heart's Cry (Jpn)–La Liz (Arg), by Bernstein. (¥97,000,000 Wlg '16 JRHAJUL). O-Masahide Abe; B-Northern Farm; T-Noriyuki Hori; J-Damian Lane. ¥81,080,000.
3–Daring Tact (Jpn), 123, m, 5, Epiphaneia (Jpn)–Daring Bird (Jpn), by King Kamehameha (Jpn). (¥12,000,000 Ylg '18 JRHAJUL). O-Normandy Thoroughbred Racing; B-Hasegawa Farm; T-Haruki Sugiyama; J-Kohei Matsuyama. ¥50,504,000.
Margins: 2, 2, NO. Odds: 3.20, 8.50, 6.30.
Also Ran: Deep Bond (Jpn), Meiner Fanrong (Jpn), Efforia (Jpn), Win Marilyn (Jpn), Panthalassa (Jpn), Stay Foolish (Jpn), Gibeon (Jpn), Potager (Jpn), Gloria Mundi (Jpn), Melody Lane (Jpn), Arrivo (Jpn), Iron Barows (Jpn), African Gold (Jpn), King of Koji (Jpn). Scratched: Authority (Jpn). Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Click for the JRA chart and video.

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Irish And Japanese Racing To Mark Platinum Jubilee

To mark The Queen's Platinum Jubilee, Leopardstown's King George V Cup has been reinstated and will be the feature race at the meeting of Thursday, June 2, which coincides the start of a four-day Jubilee bank holiday weekend in Britain. 

The British Embassy in Ireland has worked in partnership with Leopardstown Racecourse, the British Irish Chamber of Commerce and Kmend to revive the race which was initially run in 1911 following the presentation of a specially commissioned trophy by King George V at Leopardstown during his visit to Ireland. The race was first reinstated as a 1m4f listed contest for 3-year-olds in 2013, replacing the Nijinsky S.

Paul Johnston, the British Ambassador to Ireland, said, “The King George V Cup epitomises the deep and enduring UK-Ireland connections in horse racing and equestrianism. The shared passion for horses and racing between Ireland and the UK has been a feature of many Royal visits to Ireland over the years – from King George V's attendance at Leopardstown in 1911, through Her Majesty The Queen's visit to the National Stud in 2011 and HRH the Duchess of Cornwall's visit to Henry de Bromhead's stables and meeting with Rachael Blackmore this year. It's wonderful to see the King George V Cup being run again in Leopardstown for the first time since the pandemic, and particularly fitting on the day that the UK begins celebrating Her Majesty's Platinum Jubilee.” 

 In Japan, the Jubilee is also being commemorated via a number of racing events. The Japan Racing Association (JRA) has announced that the G3 Epsom Cup, run on June 12, and the G1 Queen Elizabeth II Cup on Nov. 13 will each carry Platinum Jubilee in their title. On the day of each race the JRA will also be hosting activities relating to the United Kingdom, including a Derby-themed talk show. 

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2022 IFAR Speakers and Agenda Announced

The speakers and agenda were announced for the sixth annual International Forum for the Aftercare of Racehorses (IFAR) on Thursday. “Many Paths-One Goal” is the conference theme and IFAR will be divided into two virtual webinars on Apr. 5 and 19. Each webinar will begin at 12 p.m. BST (11 a.m. GMT), and lasting for approximately two hours. IFAR is partnering with the Japan Racing Association (Japanese Consultative Committee on Aftercare of Racehorses) to host this year's event. IFAR is free to view, but registration is required. Please click here to register.

The lineup of speakers features experts addressing key topics including equine traceability, equine therapy, and veterinary science. A key highlight will include a Young Professionals Panel, where Australian racing presenter Caroline Searcy will explore the attitudes and views of emerging industry leaders regarding current and future aftercare strategies. The speakers are as follows:

The Apr. 5 IFAR session will be moderated by Rishi Persad (UK)

Speakers:

  • Annamarie Phelps (UK) (Keynote): Chair, British Horseracing Authority
  • Di Arbuthnot: Chair, IFAR
  • Jeff Berk (US): Equine Medical Associates PSC; Past President, American Association of Equine Practitioners
  • Meredith Flash (Aus): Lead Researcher, Australian Thoroughbred Wellbeing Project
  • Jock Hutchison (UK): President and Co-Founder, Horseback UK
  • Angela Schuster (Aus): Managing Director, Schuster Consulting Group

 

The Apr. 19 IFAR session will be moderated by Caroline Searcy.

Speakers:

  • Michael Drapac (Aus): Owner/Breeder
  • Adrian Farrington (HK): Executive Manager, Veterinary Clinical Services, Hong Kong Jockey Club
  • Kirsten Green (US): Executive Director, Retired Racehorse Project
  • Jennifer Hughes (Aus): General Manager, Equine Welfare, Racing Victoria

Young Professionals Panel

  • George Broughton (UK): Trainee, Godolphin Flying Start
  • Harry Derham (UK): Assistant Trainer
  • Caoimhe Doherty (Ire): Co-founder, Treo Eile; Stud Manager, Forenaghts Stud
  • Natasha Rose (HK): Equestrian Affairs Project Manager / Retired Racehorse Unit Manager, Hong Kong Jockey Club
  • Elinor Wolf (US): Trainee, Godolphin Flying Start

“We are delighted with the group of speakers we have compiled for this year's IFAR conference,” said Di Arbuthnot, Chair of IFAR. “Between the formal presentations and allocated time for Q&A with our audience, the two sessions are sure to spark engaging conversations about Thoroughbred aftercare.”

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‘Pharoah’ Doubles Up in February S.

Café Pharoah (American Pharoah) returned to the winner's circle for the first time since landing the 2021 G1 February S. in the 2022 version, and became the second horse to win two editions after Copany Rickey (Jpn) (Gold Allure {Jpn}) in 2014/15. A “Win And You're In” for the GI Breeders' Cup Classic in November, the 1600-metre race saw the Noryuki Hori-trained runner draw off by 2 ½ lengths from T M South Dan (Jpn) (South Vigorous), with the popular white filly Sodashi (Jpn) (Kurofune) ran third, another half-length back.

In touch with the first flight as Sunrise Hope (Jpn) (Majestic Warrior) cleared the field, the 4-1 shot perched in between horses in fifth. The bay edged closer to the vanguard once Yuichi Fukunaga relaxed his hold as T M South Dan took over pacesetting duties from Sunrise Hope and hit the half-mile pole in :46.80. Sunrise Hope began a gradual retreat and Sodashi had dead aim on T M South Dan. Surging three deep, Café Pharoah began to let down strongly as Sodashi tired at the quarter pole, and took over the lead from T M South Dan with 200 metres to travel. He maintained the advantage all the way to the line, covering the 1600 metres in a snappy 1:33.80 in the mud, tying the track record.

“Mr. Hori and I went over the tactics before the race and everything went as planned,” said pilot Yuichi Fukunaga, who was returning from an injury sustained during the Longines Hong Kong International Races. “Cafe Pharoah's start wasn't that sharp but he recovered well and we were able to sit in a good position, in third, where he didn't have to bear too much sand in his face, which was what I was hoping for. After that I just tried to keep him focused especially after taking over the lead in the final stages. I'm grateful to the connections who offered me this ride even before I had fully recovered from the fall in Hong Kong and am happy that I was able to do a good job.”

Knocked down for $475,000 to Narvick International, agent, after breezing a quarter in :21.1 at the OBS March Sale in 2019, the 5-year-old entire won his first three starts at two and three, with stakes victories in the Listed Hyacinth S. and G3 Unicorn S. Later that year, he added the G3 Sirius S. and, after a sixth-place run in the G1 Champions Cup in December fo 2020, put it all together in the 2021 February S. The Paul Pompa, Jr.-bred bay was off the board in his next three starts, among them the Champions Cup at Chukyo on Dec. 5 when last seen.

 

Pedigree Notes
One of three Grade/Group 1 winners for his American Triple Crown-winning sire, Café Pharoah is also the first of the trio to win twice at the highest level. Of the Coolmore Ashford resident's 24 stakes winners, 13 have been grade/group winners.

Since his February S. win last year, Café Pharoah's year-older half-sister Regal Glory (Animal Kingdom) became a Grade I winner herself with an 2 1/2-length win in the GI Matriarch S. at Del Mar in the colours of Peter Brant's White Birch Farm. Also a winner of four other graded stakes including Saratoga's GII Lake Placid S. over her career, she had sold for $975,000 out of the Paul Pompa, Jr. Dispersal at Keeneland January in 2021, while their dam, Mary's Follies had been knocked down to BBA Ireland on a bid of $500,000 at the same sale. The first foal out of the dam was the GIII Dania Beach S. and GIII Transylvania S. hero Night Prowler (Giant's Causeway). Mary's Follies's 4-year-old colt by Uncle Mo died, while she also has a 3-year-old colt by Candy Ride (Arg) and a juvenile colt by Connect. She aborted after being bred to Curlin in 2020, and re-visited Coolmore Ashford's American Pharoah last spring.

 

Sunday, Tokyo, Japan
FEBRUARY S.-G1, ¥232,980,000, Tokyo, 2-20, 4yo/up, 1600m, 1:33.80, my.
1–CAFE PHAROAH, 126, h, 5, by American Pharoah
                1st Dam: Mary's Follies (MGSW-US, $338,889),
                                by More Than Ready
                2nd Dam: Catch the Queen, by Miswaki
                3rd Dam: Wave to the Queen, by Wavering Monarch
($475,000 2yo '19 OBSMAR). O-Koichi Nishikawa; B-Paul P.
Pompa (KY); T-Noryuki Hori; J-Yuichi Fukunaga. ¥123,486,000.
Lifetime Record: 11-6-0-0. *1/2 to Night Prowler (Giant's
Causeway), MGSW-US, $475,682; and Regal Glory (Animal
Kingdom), GISW-US, $1,529,884. Werk Nick Rating: A++. Click
   for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–T M South Dan (Jpn), 126, h, 5, South Vigorous–Moving Out
(Jpn), by Langfuhr. 1ST GROUP 1 BLACK TYPE. (¥17,280,000
Ylg '18 JBBAAUG). O-Masatsugu Takezono; B-Grand Farm
(Jpn); ¥48,996,000.
3–Sodashi (Jpn), 121, f, 4, Kurofune–Buchiko (Jpn), by King
Kamehameha (Jpn). O-Makoto Kaneko Holdings; B-Northern Farm (Jpn); ¥30,498,000.
Margins: 2HF, HF, NK. Odds: 4.10, 7.90, 7.20.
Also Ran: Soliste Thunder (Jpn), Time Flyer (Jpn), Red le Zele (Jpn), Arctos (Jpn), Sunrise Nova (Jpn), Air Spinel (Jpn), Mutually (Jpn), Inti (Jpn), Sunrise Hope (Jpn), Suave Aramis (Jpn), Teorema (Jpn), Daiwa Cagney (Jpn), K T Brave (Jpn).
Click for the JRA chart & video or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.

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