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)

The post Cave Rock Full-Brother Debuting at Tokyo appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

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)

 

The post Half-Sister To GISW Paris Lights Debuts at Kyoto appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Superb Lemaire Steer Lands Durezza In Kikuka Sho Winner’s Enclosure

Sent off the fourth betting favourite at a little more than 6-1, the progressive Durezza (Jpn) (Duramente {Jpn}) was given a cerebral ride by Christophe Lemaire in Sunday's G1 Kikuka Sho (Japanese St. Leger) at Kyoto and raced away in the final 200 metres to defeat the winners of the first two legs of the Triple Crown–G1 Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby) hero Tastiera (Jpn) (Satono Crown {Jpn}) and market leader Sol Oriens (Jpn) (Kitasan Black {Jpn}), victorious in the G1 Satsuki Sho (Japanese 2000 Guineas) in the spring.

Only once beaten and winner of four starts on the trot in the lower grades, Durezza was away fairly from barrier 17 and was clicked up by Lemaire to take up the running after 400 metres, sliding over to the inside running rail as the Kikuka Sho field raced past the stands first time round. Positions were largely unchanged rounding the second of the three bends, but the complexion of the race changed somewhat when 300-1 chance Pax Ottomanica (Jpn) (Victoire Pisa {Jpn}) overtook Durezza with 1400 metres to travel, but Lemaire remained unfazed and unhurried, allowing his mount to lob along, and when Libyan Knight (Jpn) (Kizuna {Jpn}) went for a similarly early run, Durezza was relegated to third spot. Traveling strongly on the back of Libyan Knight nearing the straight, Durezza was produced by Lemaire off heels, took over 300 metres out and kicked on smartly for the victory. Tastiera, having his first run since the Derby, emerged from the pack to finish a non-threatening second for a Carrot Farm 1-2, while Sol Oriens was wide throughout and made belated progress to be third.

“He made a flying start and was keen to go, so I decided to let him take the lead,” said Lemaire, winning his 46th Group 1 on the JRA a week ahead of the G1 Tenno Sho (Autumn), where he rides defending champion Equinox (Jpn) (Kitasan Black {Jpn}). “He responded well between the third and last corner which made me confident that he was going to close strongly. When he accelerated in the stretch, I knew we were going to win. To see him beat such a strong field today over the 3000-metre distance means we can look forward to him doing well among Group 1 company over 2000 and 2400 meters also.”

 

 

Pedigree Notes:

For the gone-too-soon Duramente–also the sire of Filly Triple Crown heroine Liberty Island (Jpn)–Durezza is a 17th stakes winner, 12th group winner and a sixth Group 1 winner from four crops of racing age. His sons and daughters have accounted for no fewer than seven Triple Crown races, including 2021 Kikuka Sho victor Titleholder (Jpn).

Like Liberty Island, Durezza was produced by an Australian-bred mare. Bred by Raffles Dancers (NZ) Pty Ltd, More Than Sacred was campaigned in New Zealand, where she won the G1 New Zealand Oaks over 2400 metres and was a fast-finishing third to Who Shot Thebarman (NZ) (Yamanin Vital {NZ}) in the G1 Auckland Cup going 3200 metres. More Than Sacred, acquired privately and relocated to Japan in 2015, produced six foals in the country, including the as-yet unraced 2-year-old filly Divinest (Jpn) (Real Steel {Jpn}) and a yearling filly by King Kamehameha (Jpn)'s Tokyo Yushun-winning son Rey de Oro (Jpn).

More Than Sacred, a full-sister to Raffles Dancers's multiple Malaysian stakes winner Sacred Empire (NZ) and from the family of GI Breeders' Cup Turf hero Northern Spur (Ire) (Sadler's Wells), cost ¥9.35 million (about $63,141) and was one of 13 mares purchased by Yuesheng Zhang's Yulong Investments out of the Northern Farm Mixed Sale in October 2022. Exported to Ireland, the mare produced a colt by Bricks and Mortar (Giant's Causeway) this past May 8 and was most recently bred to Frankel (GB) on Southern Hemisphere time.

 

Sunday, Kyoto, Japan
KIKUKA SHO (JAPANESE ST LEGER)-G1, ¥418,620,000, Kyoto, 10-22, 3yo, c/f, 3000mT, 3:03.10, gd/fm.
1–DUREZZA (JPN), 126, c, 3, by Duramente (Jpn)
1st Dam: More Than Sacred (Aus) (G1SW-NZ, $351,755), by More Than Ready
2nd Dam: Danalaga (Aus), by Danehill
3rd Dam: Tamarino (Ire), by Caerleon
1ST GROUP 1 WIN. 1ST GROUP WIN. 1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN. O-Carrot Farm Co Ltd; B-Northern Farm; T-Tomohito Ozeki; J-Christophe Lemaire; ¥227,034,000. Lifetime Record: 6-5-0-1, ¥282,271,000. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Click for the free Equineline.com catalog-style pedigree.
2–Tastiera (Jpn), 126, c, 3, Satono Crown (Jpn)–Partitura (Jpn), by Manhattan Cafe (Jpn). O-Carrot Farm Co Ltd; B-Northern Farm; T-Noriyuki Hori; J-Joao Moreira; ¥87,724,000.
3–Sol Oriens (Jpn), 126, c, 3, Kitasan Black (Jpn)–Skia (Fr), by Motivator (GB). O-Shadai Race Horse; B-Shadai Farm;T-Takahisa Tezuka; J-Takeshi Yokoyama; ¥53,862,000.
Margins: 3HF, 1HF, 3/4. Odds: 6.30, 3.70, 1.70.
Also Ran: Libyan Glass (Jpn), Savona (Jpn), Hearts Concerto (Jpn), Meiner Laulea (Jpn), Night in London (Jpn), Phantom Thief (Jpn), Satono Glanz (Jpn), Shonan Bashitto (Jpn), Season Rich (Jpn), Win Odin (Jpn, Top Knife (Jpn), Nocking Point (Jpn), Danon Tornado (Jpn), Pax Ottomanica (Jpn). Click for the JRA chart.

 

The post Superb Lemaire Steer Lands Durezza In Kikuka Sho Winner’s Enclosure appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

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)

The post Malibu Moon Colt Gets Started at Tokyo appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Verified by MonsterInsights