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Japan: Six Undefeated Colts Among 18 Contenders For Asahi Hai Futurity

It's the turn of the colts this coming Sunday, when Hanshin Racecourse once again stages a Grade 1, with the Asahi Hai Futurity Stakes run over a mile on the outer turf course at the Kansai track. It'll be the 73rd running of the race for 2-year-olds, with the exclusion of geldings, and the colts carry an allotted weight of 55kg.

This year sees 19 nominations for a maximum 18 runner field, and just to show the competition involved, six of the nominated horses are unbeaten in their short careers so far.

The winner's purse this year is JPY 70 million (about US$610,000). The race is timed to start at 15:40 Japan time, and will be Race 11 on the Sunday card at Hanshin.

Here's a look at some of the horses bidding for a win in the race:

Serifos: Trainer Mitsumasa Nakauchida won the race last year with Grenadier Guards, and while leading the trainers' table this year, he sends out this unbeaten colt by Daiwa Major here, who has won both the Grade 3 Niigata Nisai Stakes and the Grade 2 Daily Hai Nisai Stakes, as well as one other race in the three times he's been to the races. Visiting jockey Cristian Demuro has been booked for the ride, and the horse looks sure to be one of the favorites, as he tries to keep his unbeaten record intact. Serifos runs in the colors of the G1 Racing Co. Ltd.

Geoglyph: There's no doubting the potential of the chestnut colt by Drefong, who came home a four-length winner in the Grade 3 Sapporo Nisai Stakes over 1,800 meters (1 1/8 miles) at Sapporo in September. He won his only other race on his debut at Tokyo in June, also winning over 1,800 meters.

Assistant trainer Yu Ota said: “He ran well in the Sapporo Nisai Stakes, even though he was a bit too relaxed. Returning from the farm recently, he looks sharp, and the jockey reports the horse to be in good shape in training. With two wins over 1,800 meters, there shouldn't be any problem over a mile.”

Geoglyph looks set to be ridden by Christophe Lemaire, who has ridden the colt in both his starts to date.

Danon Scorpion: Another unbeaten colt, the son of Lord Kanaloa is coming off a win in the Hagi Stakes over 1,800 meters at Hanshin in October, and won his other race on his debut in June, also at Hanshin, over the course and distance of the Asahi Hai Futurity Stakes. Step by step, he looks good for a shot at a Grade 1, and in a recent piece of work at Ritto on the woodchip course under race jockey Kohei Matsuyama, he posted a six furlong time of 81.9 seconds, with a final furlong time of 11.7 seconds, his third time to clock under 12 seconds in recent trackwork. The horse was bred at K.I. Farm and is trained by Takayuki Yasuda.

Dobune: The colt by Deep Impact was purchased for quite a sum at the 2021 Chiba Thoroughbred Sale, and has got his career off to a good start, winning both his races since September, the latest being the Kikyo Stakes over 1,400 meters at Chukyo in October, after winning a 1,500-meter race on his debut at Sapporo. He's trained by Koshiro Take, and the trainer recently said: “He's an intelligent horse and knows a lot already, as well as being quite relaxed. He can certainly take on a Grade 1 with the ability he shows, although he will need to run to his best.” Jockey Hayato Yoshida looks set for the ride on Dobune.

Do Deuce: Trainer Yasuo Tomomichi and jockey Yutaka Take team up here with the Heart's Cry colt, who is out of the American bred mare Dust and Diamonds, who in turn is from a strong line of other American bred horses. Do Deuce won on his debut at Kokura in September, and since then has won his only other race, the Listed Ivy Stakes over 1,800 meters at Tokyo in October. He's developing the right way, and has been working well, if only lightly, on the woodchip course at Ritto, as he also aims to stay unbeaten in the big race on Sunday.

“He's a horse with a lot of power and has good racing sense. He showed what a good finish he has when winning the Ivy Stakes last time,” said the trainer recently.

Otaru Ever: A confirmed frontrunner in what he's shown so far, the striking dark bay colt by Leontes cuts quite a dash when he's out in front, racing in the green and white checked colors of owner Ikuko Sumitani. He finished third in the Grade 3 Niigata Nisai Stakes, behind Serifos, over 1,600 meters in August, and he led all the way to win the Shumeigiku Sho over 1,400 meters last time at Hanshin in November. He's already repaying some of the JPY 45 million he cost at the 2020 Select Sale, and he's an interesting entry here.

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Deep Impact Yearlings In The Spotlight

The foal session of the JRHA Select Sale is normally the headline-grabber, but the presence of four yearlings from the final crop of the late, great Deep Impact (Jpn) during Monday's opening session could just steal the show during the two-day sale in Hokkaido.

Deep Impact, the Triple Crown winner and breed-shaping sire, died on July 29, 2019, having missed much of the preceding covering season with the spinal issues that ultimately took his life. His small final crop was expected to contain around 20 foals, four of which will go under the hammer this week and will, in fact, bookend Monday's yearling session. They are lot 1, a colt out of GII Gulfstream Park Oaks and GII Black-Eyed Susan S. winner Go Maggie Go (Ghostzapper); lot 52, a filly out of GI Beverly D. S. winner Watsdachances (Ire) (Diamond Green {Fr}); 130, a filly out of the four-time winner Jewel Maker (Jpn) (Empire Maker); and lot 248, a colt out of champion and three-time Group 1 winner Sweep Tosho (Jpn) (End Sweep), who has produced seven winners from seven runners.

At the first renewal of Japan's market-leading sale following Deep Impact's death last summer, buyers were keen to get their hands on some of his last progeny and indeed he was responsible for the top six yearlings by price and twice during the session his progeny set a new record for high price for a yearling at the sale, topped by a half-brother to GI Kentucky Oaks winner Cathryn Sophia (Street Boss) who fetched ¥510-million (£3.77m/€4.19m/$4.75m) from Tetsuhide Kunimoto.

Deep Impact has continued to posthumously justify those buyers' confidence in the 12 months since the 2020 Select Sale; he earned his eighth consecutive champion sire title in 2020, his leading light being Contrail (Jpn), who was his third straight G1 Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby) winner-and sixth overall–and emulated his sire by winning the Japanese Triple Crown. For good measure, Shahryar (Jpn) continued the Deep Impact Tokyo Yushun procession this year.

Deep Impact likewise bolstered a remarkable record in Europe last July with Fancy Blue (Ire), winner of the G1 Prix de Diane and G1 Nassau S., and he notched a fourth European Classic winner in four years-and fifth overall–last month when Snowfall (Jpn) ran away with the G1 Cazoo Oaks by a record 16 lengths. Others to fly his flag over the past year include G1 Mile Championship, G1 Sprinters S. and G1 Victoria Mile winner Gran Alegria (Jpn); G1 Queen Elizabeth II Cup scorer Loves Only You (Jpn); G1 Osaka Hai victress Lei Papale (Jpn); G1 Yasuda Kinen winner Danon Kingly (Jpn) and Fierce Impact (Jpn), who became the latest Australian Group 1 winner for his sire in the Makybe Diva S. Last year was, in fact, Deep Impact's best-ever year by stakes winners and calendar-year earnings, with 35 black-type winners notched (for 46 total stakes wins) and $78,145,659 in the bank.

The JRHA Select Sale will, of course, not be all about Deep Impact; leading local sires like Epiphaneia (Jpn), Heart's Cry (Jpn) and Lord Kanaloa (Jpn) are well represented. With the death of Deep Impact and King Kamehameha in 2019 and the more recent retirement of Heart's Cry, Japanese stud masters have made a significant investment in stallion prospects the past few years and those represented by members of their first-crop weanlings or yearlings here include American Horse of the Year Bricks and Mortar; G1 Japan Cup winner Cheval Grand (Jpn); champion 3-year-old Satono Diamond (Jpn); multiple Grade/Group 1-winning sprinter Mind Your Biscuits; Deep Impact's G1 2000 Guineas winner Saxon Warrior (Jpn); and the Japanese-bred, American Grade I winner Yoshida (Jpn), who himself graduated from this sale. The catalogue also includes some of the first Japanese-bred progeny of GI Kentucky Derby winner California Chrome, and second- and third-crop progeny of American champion sprinter Drefong, who has his first runners this year.

Other highlights from Monday's yearling section of the catalogue include a Heart's Cry colt who is the first foal out of G1 Golden Slipper She Will Reign (Aus) (Manhattan Rain {Aus}) (lot 19); a colt by Satono Diamond out of G2 Oaks d'Italia winner Cherry Collect (Ire) (Oratorio {Ire}), a stakes producer and half-sister to G1 Yorkshire Oaks victress Sea Of Class (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) (lot 65); a Daiwa Major (Jpn) colt out of GI Alcibiades S. winner and stakes producer Wickedly Perfect (Congrats) (lot 74); a Lord Kanaloa colt who is the first foal out of G1 Queen Elizabeth II S. winner Queens Ring (Jpn) (Manhattan Cafe {Jpn}) (lot 96); a Lord Kanaloa colt out of American champion female sprinter Finest City (City Zip) (lot 100); a colt from the first crop of American Triple Crown winner Justify who is the second foal out of GI First Lady S. scorer Zipessa (City Zip) (lot 113); a Heart's Cry colt who is the second foal out of triple Grade I winner Curalina (Curlin) (lot 132); a Heart's Cry son of French Classic winner Elusive Wave (Ire) (Elusive City), a stakes producer whose progeny have topped this sale twice (lot 141); and a colt by Just A Way (Jpn) out of Australian Classic winner Absolutely (Aus) (Redoute's Choice {Aus}) (lot 193).

Highlights of the foal section include a filly by Kizuna (Jpn) out of dual Group 1 winner Covert Love (Ire) (Azamour {Ire}) (lot 307); a colt by Duramente (Jpn) out of dual Grade I winner Vasilika (Skipshot) (lot 316); a Frankel (GB) colt out of GI Las Virgenes S. winner Callback (Street Sense) (lot 329); a Heart's Cry filly out of American champion 2-year-old She's A Tiger (Tale of the Cat), whose Heart's Cry colt was last year the second-top lot at the foal sale when bringing ¥270-million ($2,451,091/£1,763,058/€2,063,729) (lot 342); a colt by Maurice (Jpn) out of dual Grade I winner Photo Call (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) (lot 388); and a Lord Kanaloa colt out of Australian champion Yankee Rose (Aus) (All American {Aus}) (lot 398).

The yearling session of the JRHA Select Sale begins at 10 a.m. local time on Monday, with the foal session following at the same time on Tuesday.

The post Deep Impact Yearlings In The Spotlight appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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Like Father, Like Son: Danon Smash Takes Hong Kong Sprint For Japan

Danon Smash followed in the footsteps of his sire Lord Kanaloa with a thrilling victory for Japan on Sunday in the G1 Longines Hong Kong Sprint (1200 meters) at Sha Tin, their third in the HK$22 million contest's 21-year history.

“It is a very pleasing moment that Lord Kanaloa and Danon Smash, sire and son could achieve their Hong Kong wins – it's a happy moment,” said a representative for trainer Takayuki Yasuda.

Lord Kanaloa landed Sha Tin's premier dash twice in 2012 and 2013, and was also trained by Yasuda, and Danon Smash joined the honor roll with a gritty success under Ryan Moore, who one race prior, secured the G1 Hong Kong Vase (2400m) aboard Mogul.

“We got lucky – he stepped very well and we managed to slot into a lovely spot, I was always happy and when the pace steadied around the bend, I was able to just move out and keep moving forward and he got there in plenty of time,” Moore said.

The Lord Kanaloa 5-year-old broke cleanly from the widest gate of 14 to sit midfield under Moore, who peeled out at the 300 meter mark to grind his way to a half-length victory in a time of 1:08.45, staving off the fast-finishing Jolly Banner in second, while Rattan rattled into third.

“He was very tough and very honest – he was a pleasure to ride and he'd shown very good form at times in Japan's best sprints and at seven furlongs as well he's won some of the best races at Group 2 level and he deserved to win his Group 1,” Moore said.

The speedy bay has finished third and second in the last two editions of the G1 Sprinters Stakes (1200m) at Nakayama, and is a four-time G3 winner and two-time G2 victor.

“I'm delighted and just thankful for being asked to ride him and I also need to thank the owners Danox and Mr. Yasuda certainly knows how to prepare a sprinter for a Hong Kong Sprint,” the British ace said.

The 114-rater landed the 10th win of his career today, and followed last start's runner-up effort to Gran Alegria with a triumph today, his first at the top-level after eight attempts.

“I gave him a gentle breeze on Wednesday morning – it wasn't anything strenuous, there was no real comments to say, no one was worried by anything about the horse but no one was overly bullish about the horse,” Moore said.

Today's pair of wins are Moore's seventh at the Hong Kong International Races, the most any international-based rider in history.

“I think when he got the draw we were all possibly a bit worried and we needed to see what happens and thankfully everything worked his way and we just had a bit of luck and everything worked out nicely,” Moore said.

Classique Legend battled on for 11th, while favorite Hot King Prawn was overhauled and faded to finish seventh as the dominant 2.1 market elect.

While Hong Kong's current sprinting ranks were on show in the HK$22 million contest, the future was on show four races later as Winning Dreamer extended his unbeaten record to a perfect six with victory in the aptly named Class 2 Lord Kanaloa Handicap (1200m).

The speedster charged to a comfortable one-length victory, while Sky Field could only manage sixth.

“I'm thinking the first of January, there is a 1400 meter race at G3 level to see if we can know more whether he can step up to 1600 meters,” trainer Frankie Lor said.

The G3 Chinese Club Challenge Cup Handicap (1400m) on January 1, 2021, will see Winning Dreamer put his Hong Kong Classic Mile credentials on the line, or, if the son of Deep Field will keep to the sprint distances.

The post Like Father, Like Son: Danon Smash Takes Hong Kong Sprint For Japan appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Japan Cup: Almond Eye Bows Out With Victory In Battle Of Triple Crown Winners

Almond Eye reprised her triumph in the Japan Cup from a 2018 Horse of the Year campaign by defeating the undefeated duo of Triple Crown winner Contrail and filly Triple Crown winner Daring Tact in Sunday's 40^th edition of the Grade 1 international classic at a mostly empty Tokyo Race Course in Tokyo, Japan.

Ridden by Christophe Lemaire, the 5-year-old mare by Lord Kanaloa (a grandson of the former Lane's End stallion Kingmambo) charged to the lead in the final furlong, overtaking front-runner Kiseki – who had opened up as much as a 20-length advantage – and easily holding off Contrail by 1 ¼ lengths. Daring Silk was a neck back in third in the field of 15 that included just one international competitor, Way to Paris, who finished 10^th after delaying the start by refusing to be loaded into the starting gate.

For Almond Eye, it was the perfect way to end a career that included a record eight Grade 1 victories in Japan (plus one in Dubai) and career earnings of 1,915,263,900 (approximately $18.4 million). She won 11 of 15 starts overall with two seconds and one third. Among her victories were the three filly Triple Crown races in 2018, making this the first race in Japan featuring three Triple Crown winners.

Almond Eye ran the 2,400 meters (1 ½ miles) on a firm but visibly chewed up turf course in 2:23.0, more than two seconds slower than the course record of 2:20.6 she established in 2018.

Bred in Japan by Katsumi Yoshida's Northern Racing, Almond Eye races for the Silk Racing Co. Ltd. racing club and is trained by Sakae Kunieda. She was produced from the stakes-winning Sunday Silence mare Fusaichi Pandora, whose grandam, Sex Appeal (by Buckpasser), produced two European champions, El Gran Senor and Try My Best. Sex Appeal was produced from Best in Show (by Traffic Judge), a broodmare of the year whose other foals included Kentucky Oaks winner Blush With Pride. The latter's foals included Better Than Honour, dam of two Belmont Stakes winners and a broodmare of the year herself.

Yoshida indicated Almond Eye will be bred in 2021, possibly to Epiphaneia, the 2014 Japan Cup winner standing at the Yoshida family's Shadai Stallion Station. Epiphaneia is a son of Symboli Kris S, a grandson of Roberto. He was produced from Cesario, a daughter of the Sunday Silence stallion Special Week who came to the U.S. to win the Grade 1 American Oaks Invitational at Hollywood Park in 2005.

“Since this was her final start, it was very special for me and I'm thrilled we were able to win,” said Lemaire. “After winning the Victoria Mile in the spring, we had three weeks to get her prepared for the Yasuda Kinen in which she was second. She had an extra week this time and was tuned up beautifully. She was relaxed in the gate, broke smoothly and was able to sit in a good position. The turf condition near the rails was much better than last week so I don't think the inner draw was a problem. The pace was just right for her and she responded well in the stretch. The others closing in on us didn't worry me at all. Almond Eye is a perfect mare and doesn't have any weak points. Her career as a race horse ended today but I look forward to riding her children.”

Trainer Kunieda added: “She looked good since arriving at the racecourse—she has definitely matured mentally. We were worried about the rough going near the rails, but Christophe did a good job in finding a good path. The pace was ideal for Almond Eye and her response was totally different from that in the Tenno Sho (Autumn). Since expectations of an eighth G1 title were enormous in her last Tenno Sho start, we did feel pressure but today, all we wanted was for her to come back safe and sound. The victory is such a bonus, we couldn't be happier. She has given us so much excitement and joy and it has been fulfilling to be a part of her career. It would be great if I could be involved in training her colt or filly someday.”

Because of the coronavirus pandemic, the Japan Racing Association limited attendance to just over 4,500 in the cavernous racecourse that typically attracts over 100,000 fans for major Grade 1 races like the Japan Cup. Wagering on the Japan Cup was approximately $262 million, with $357 million bet on the day's program.

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