Lord Kanaloa (Jpn) | Horse Racing Free Tips

Lord Kanaloa’s Bellagio Opera Ekes Out Osaka Hai Win

Looking for his first Group 1 tally following a productive second-place effort in the Feb. 11 G2 Kyoto Kinen, Bellagio Opera (Jpn) (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}) got up in time to land Sunday's G1 Osaka Hai at Hanshin.

A winner in last season's 1800-meter Spring S., he was a well beaten 10th in the G1 Satsuki Sho (Japanese 2000 Guineas) prior to finishing fourth in the G1 Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby) over 2400 meters. He concluded his 3-year-old season with a victory in Hanshin's G3 Challenge Cup in December.

Breaking sharply from the outer stall this time, Bellagio Opera rushed into contention and settled just behind Stunning Rose (Jpn) (King Kamehameha {Jpn}) who led the way. Keeping that front-running rival in his sights through the final two turns, the second betting choice took over before the 200-meter pole and managed to fend off a game Rousham Park by a nose with fast-closing Rouge Eveil (Jpn) (Just a Way {Jpn}) getting up for third. Race favorite Tastiera (Jpn) (Satono Crown {Jpn}) hugged the rails in fourth and shifted slightly to the outside after entering the lane to make bid, but the colt was one paced and gradually fell back in the last 200 meters to finish 11th.

Jockey-turned-trainer Hiroyuki Uemura, who opened his yard in 2019, celebrated his first JRA Group 1 and fifth graded title while jockey Kazuo Yokoyama registered his third Group 1 title.

“I was so disappointed when we lost the Derby that I really wanted to win a Group 1 with this horse. So, I'm really, really happy. Bellagio Opera has very good maneuverability, and I knew that he was in good condition, so I decided to race him toward the front. He's really strong when it comes to a close rally. I'm glad he held off his rivals,” commented jockey Kazuo Yokoyama.

Pedigree Notes:
The 10th Group 1 winner for Lord Kanaloa, Bellagio Opera is out of Air Routine, a sister to Group 3 winner Air Anthem (Jpn) (Symboli Kris S). and multiple group placed Satono Helios (Jpn) (Epiphaneia {Jpn}). This represents the family of Champion 3-year-old and Japanese Classic winner Air Shakur (Jpn).

Sunday, Hanshin, Japan
OSAKA HAI-G1, ¥384,800,000, Hanshin, 3-31, 4yo/up, 2000mT, 1:58.20, fm.
1–BELLAGIO OPERA (JPN), 128, c, 4, Lord Kanaloa (Jpn)
1st Dam: Air Routine (Jpn), by Harbinger (GB)
2nd Dam: Air Magdalene (Jpn), by Sunday Silence
3rd Dam: Air Deja Vu (Jpn), by Northern Taste
1ST GROUP 1 WIN. O-Shorai Hayashida; B-Shadai Farm;
T-Hiroyuki Uemura; J-Kazuo Yokoyama; £203,360,000.
Lifetime Record: 8-5-1-0. . Werk Nick Rating: A++
Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree
2–Rousham Park (Jpn), 128, h, 5, by Harbinger (GB)–Reinette
Groove (Jpn), by King Kamehameha (Jpn). O-Sunday Racing;
B-Northern Farm; ¥80,960,000.
3–Rouge Eveil (Jpn), 123, m, 5, Just a Way (Jpn)–Nothing But
Dreams (GB), Frankel (GB). O-Tokyo Horse Racing; B-Shadai
Farm; ¥50,480,000.
Margins: NO, NK, 2; Odds: 2.60, 2.40, 31.80.
Also Ran: Stella Veloce (Jpn), Geoglyph (Jpn), Pradaria (Jpn), Sol Oriens (Jpn), Stunning Rose (Jpn), Catedral (Jpn), Epiphany (Jpn), Tastiera (Jpn), Hayayakko (Jpn), Harper (Jpn), Mikki Gorgeous (Jpn), Killer Ability (Jpn), Licancabur (Jpn)
Click for the JRA chart & video. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.

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Lord Kanaloa’s Brede Weg On Top In Queen Elizabeth Cup

It was a stakes double for Lord Kanaloa (Jpn) on Sunday, as Ho O Emmy's (Jpn) won the G3 Fukushima Kinen, and Brede Weg (Jpn) became his latest Group 1 winner with a victory in the Queen Elizabeth Cup in Kyoto. She is the first 3-year-old filly to win the race since Mozu Katchan (Jpn) (Harbingers {GB}) in 2017, and also became the QEC victress with the fewest starts with five.

Despite the presence of last year's winner Geraldina (Jpn) (Maurice {Jpn}), the Sunday Racing 3-year-old garnered favouritism at 7-5 in her first start beyond 2000 metres. Hopping at the start, Brede Wag perched next to the fence as Art House (Jpn) (Screen Hero {Jpn}) carved out fractions of :49 for the first 800 metres and 1:37.50 for the 1600 metres while pressed by Roselite (Jpn) (Kizuna {Jpn}).

Like the winner, Geraldina was not cleanly away from the stalls, but unlike Brede Weg's small hop, she attempted to kickstart her career over jumps, catching a fair bit of air. As a result, the intended frontrunner was instead briefly last and Ryan Moore had his hands full as she was three deep into the first turn. By the 600-metre mark she was just behind Brede Weg's, but several paths deeper into the course.

Brede Weg came off the fence for her run entering the straight, but treaded water for a bit before shifting gears. By the 200-metre mark she had dead aim on Art House, with Harper (Jpn) (Heart's Cry {Jpn}) also rallying strongly on her outside. Rouge Eveil (Jpn) (Just A Way {Jpn}) also flashed home strongly up the inside as the wire neared. At the line it was Brede Weg by three-quarters of a length over Rouge Eveil, who was a neck to the good of Harper. Geraldina's run flattened late and she ran on to be fifth, a half-length behind Lilac (Jpn) (Orfevre {Jpn}).

“I was a bit worried about the soft ground but it was no problem for her,” said pilot Christophe Lemaire. “We couldn't break well but were able to travel in good position behind Harper. She was calm, responded well throughout the race and

pulled away strongly with her explosive kick.”

Second on debut last August, she graduated by six lengths at Tokyo in February and added another victory, this time over 2000 metres, at that venue in June. Brede Weg was runner-up in the G2 Rose S. at Hanshin in September.

Pedigree Notes

Brede Weg is the 46th stakes winner and 32nd group winner for her sire, who stands at Shadai Stallion Station. She is also his ninth top-level scorer and one of four Group 1 winners by the son of King Kamehameha (Jpn) out of mares by Sunday Silence or one of his sons.

Inner Urge missed to Lord Kanaloa for 2021, but currently has a Saturnalia (Jpn) yearling filly and foaled a colt by Harbinger this term. Inner Urge is also a full-sister to the Japanese Champion 3-Year-Old Filly Mikki Queen (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}), who won both the G1 Yushun Himba and G1 Shuka Sho.

The winner's second dam is the well-traveled Musical Way (Fr) (Gold Away {Ire}), who won a brace of French group races and was also placed in two editions of the G1 Premio Lydia Tesio as well as the 2007 G1 Hong Kong Cup. Musical Way brought 300,000gns from Katsumi Yoshida out of the Tattersalls December Mares Sale in 2008.

Sunday, Kyoto, Japan
QUEEN ELIZABETH CUP-G1, ¥253,400,000, Kyoto, 11-12, 3yo/up, f, 2200mT, 2:12.60, fm.
1–BREDE WEG (JPN), 119, f, 3, by Lord Kanaloa (Jpn)
                1st Dam: Inner Urge (Jpn), by Deep Impact (Jpn)
                2nd Dam: Musical Way (Fr), by Gold Away (Ire)
                3rd Dam: Mulika (Fr), by Procida
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN. 1ST GROUP WIN. 1ST GROUP 1 WIN.
O-Sunday Racing; B-Northern Farm (Jpn); T-Keisuke Miyata;
J-Christophe Lemaire; ¥133,780,000. Lifetime Record: 5-3-2-0,
¥170,798,000. Werk Nick Rating: A+++. *Triple Plus*. Click
   for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Click for the
   free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Rouge Eveil (Jpn), 123, f, 4, Just a Way (Jpn)–Nothing But
Dreams (GB), by Frankel (GB). 1ST GROUP 1 BLACK TYPE.
O-Tokyo Horse Racing; B-Shadai Farm (Jpn); ¥43,310,000.
3–Harper (Jpn), 119, f, 3, Heart's Cry (Jpn)–Seresta (Arg), by
Jump Start. (¥86,000,000 Wlg '20 JRHAJUL). O-M's Racing;
B-Northern Farm (Jpn); ¥43,310,000.
Margins: 3/4, NK, HF. Odds: 1.40, 12.30, 5.70.
Also Ran: Lilac (Jpn), Geraldina (Jpn), Saliera (Jpn), Divina (Jpn), Izu Jo no Kiseki (Jpn), Shinryokuka (Jpn), Kukuna (Jpn), Big Ribbon (Jpn), Roseite (Jpn), Art House (Jpn), Gold Eclipse (Jpn), Magria Elena (Jpn). Click for the JRA chart & video.

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Champion Almond Eye Elected To Japanese Hall Of Fame

Dual Japanese Horse of the Year Almond Eye (Jpn) (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}) has been elected to the Japanese Horse Racing Hall of Fame, the Japan Racing Association (JRA) announced.

The former Silk Racing Co., Ltd.'s colourbearer is the 35th member of the exclusive club after garnering 200 votes (96.6%) of the 207 available. Fellow Japanese Triple Crown Winner Contrail (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) gained 155 votes, one short of the minimum requirement for entry.

Trainer Sakae Kunieda said, “It is a great honor to have Almond Eye selected for the award. From her debut in 2017 until her retirement at the Japan Cup in 2020, she won the Triple Crown for fillies and nine Group 1 races and was also the representative Horse of the Year twice.

“Almond Eye is outstanding both physically and mentally and has always lived up to our high expectations and kept dreaming about what kind of performance she will show in the next race.

“I have nothing but gratitude for the owners who entrusted me with such a famous horse… and the fans who supported me together. Being involved with Almond Eye as a horse trainer has been a great asset for me and the stable staff, and I will continue to devote myself to it.”

Bred by Northern Racing, the bay electrified the racing world with seven straight victories after breaking her maiden at second asking as a juvenile. In her third start and 3-year-old bow, she won the G3 Shinzan Kinen, her last appearance below Group 1 level. After sweeping the Japanese Fillies' Triple Crown (Oka Sho, Yushun Himba, Shuka Sho) in the spring and autumn of 2018, Almond Eye claimed her first Japan Cup and earned her first Horse of the Year title. Sent to Meydan for the Dubai Turf at four, she won again and was third in the Yasuda Kinen back in her native land before taking the Tenno Sho (Autumn). Uncharacteristically off the board in the G1 Arima Kinen at the end of her 4-year-old season, she won the Victoria Mile, ran second in the Yasuda Kinen, and won both the Tenno Sho (Autumn) and Japan Cup at five, good for her second Horse of the Year laurels. Almond Eye was retired with a mark of 15-11-2-1 and over $17.6 million in earnings.

The daughter of Fusaichi Pandora (Jpn) (Sunday Silence) has colts by Epiphaneia (Jpn) and Maurice (Jpn) born in 2022 and 2023, respectively.

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Son Of Happily Appears At Navan

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-pedigreed horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Wednesday's Observations features the first foal out of a dual Group 1 winner.

5.35 Navan, Mdn, €12,000, 3yo/up, c/g, 8fT
BALLSBRIDGE (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}) is the first foal out of the G1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere and G1 Moyglare Stud S. heroine Happily (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), the sister to Gleneagles (Ire), Marvellous (Ire) and Joan Of Arc (Ire) from the Giant's Causeway dynasty. One of two Ballydoyle newcomers set for this test, the bay who was described by his trainer as a “little bit laidback” on Monday unsurprisingly sports blinkers and is the pick of Ryan Moore over Drumroll (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}), a full-brother to Saxon Warrior (Jpn). Among the other first-time starters is Moyglare Stud's Time Tells All (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), a half-brother to last year's Irish 1000 Guineas-winning sensation Homeless Songs (Ire) (Frankel {GB}).

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