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Two-Time Japanese Champion, Fan-Favourite Sodashi Retired

Kaneko Makoto Holding Co Ltd's Sodashi (Jpn) (Kurofune–Buchiko {Jpn}, by King Kamehameha {Jpn}), whose snow-white colouring combined with considerable racetrack ability made her a fan favourite in every corner of the globe, has been retired, according to multiple reports.

The homebred, whose year-younger full-sister Mama Cocha (Jpn) won Sunday's G1 Sprinters S. at Nakayama, was an immediate hit while carrying the Deep Impact (Jpn) colours. Undefeated in four tries at two, including a victory in the G1 Hanshin Juvenile Fillies to secure her first championship, Sodashi made the one-mile G1 Oka Sho (Japanese 1000 Guineas) her fifth straight success before finishing eighth in the G1 Yushun Himba over a stamina-stretching 2400 metres. Sodashi defeated the globetrotting Loves Only You (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) in the G2 Sapporo Kinen en route to being named the tops of her generation in 2021.

Third in the G1 February S. on the dirt in February 2022, Sodashi returned to the grass and easily handled her peers in the G1 Victoria Mile last May before closing out her 4-year-old season with a third against the boys in the G1 Mile Championship S. In two starts this term, Sodashi missed by a head in defence of her title in the Victoria Mile and was a latest seventh in the G1 Yasuda Kinen. On both occasions, she was defeated by Songline (Jpn) (Kizuna {Jpn}), who is slated to travel to America for the GI Breeders' Cup Mile Nov. 4.

Sodashi retires with a record of 7-2-1 from 14 starts and earnings of $5,346,186.

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JRA Raiders Take On NAR Star Mick Fire In Japan Dirt Derby

Both the the Japan Racing Association and National Association for Racing circuits were well represented on the international stage this winter and spring, with JRA representative Derma Sotogake (Jpn) (Mind Your Biscuits) winning the G2 UAE Derby ahead of a meritorious sixth in the GI Kentucky Derby, while the NAR-based Mandarin Hero (Jpn) (Shanghai Bobby) covered himself in glory by nearly winning the GI Runhappy Santa Anita Derby before gaining a run at Churchill Downs. While those two continue to rest up, Wednesday's $721,752 Japan Dirt Derby at Ohi Racecourse about 10 miles south of Tokyo's Imperial Palace is very much an us-versus-them contest, as seven horses from the JRA take on a quartet from the NAR.

The 'senior circuit' has provided four of the last five winners of the Derby and 10 out of the last 12, and the progressive Yuttitham (Jpn) (Justify) stands ready to add to those stats under the Wednesday night lights. The striking chestnut son of US Grade I winner Zipessa (City Zip) was purchased by Makoto Kaneko for the equivalent of $1.8 million at the 2021 JHRA Select Yearling Sale and has won three of his four starts to date, including a 2 1/2-length allowance success going Tokyo's one-turn mile first off a five-month absence May 14 (see below, SC 6). His lone loss to date came at the hooves of UAE Derby fourth Perriere (Jpn) (Henny Hughes), who bounced back to take out the G3 Unicorn S. last month. Leading JRA rider Yuga Kawada retains the call.

3c YUTTITHAM (Justify x Zipessa ) fast work on Ritto chip ahead of the Jpn1 2000m Japan Dirt Derby next Wed.

He is 3 for 4 on the track, was 2nd on debut

10.8 last 1F, outstanding

He's the most aggressive colt in Tariner Sugai's yard and it showspic.twitter.com/uweuEpyila

— Graham Pavey (@LongBallToNoOne) July 6, 2023

Like Yuttitham, Mitono O (Jpn) (Logotype {Jpn}) has tasted defeat just one time to date and rides a three-race winning streak into the Derby. The chestnut won the Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby series with a victory in the Fukuryu S. (conditions) Mar. 25, but connections elected to bypass the trip to the States, and the colt exits a romping six-length success from Kirinji (Jpn) (Kizuna {Jpn}) in listed company over an extended nine furlongs at Sonoda May 3 (see below, SC 6).

The locally based Mick Fire (Jpn) (Sinister Minister) is undefeated and untested in five career appearances, all at Oi Racecourse. Three-from-three least term, he most recently defeated Hero Call (Jpn) (Hokko Tarumae {Jpn}) by a half-dozen lengths in the Tokyo Derby over this course and distance June 7 (video, SC 12). The latter had beaten Mandarin Hero in a February allowance at Oi.

Following this year's renewal, the Japan Dirt Derby will be the final leg of the NAR Dirt Triple Crown and will be similarly structured to the JRA Triple Crown on turf. The Haneda Hai will take place in April or May followed by the Tokyo Derby in June. The Dirt Derby will conclude the series in October. Mick Fire won this year's Haneda Hai prior to his Tokyo Derby score. Any horse to sweep the series will receive an ¥80 million bonus.

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Japanese Derby Winner Wagnerian Dead

Makoto Kaneko's Wagnerian (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}-Miss Encore {Jpn}, by King Kamehameha {Jpn}), the winner of the 2018 G1 Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby), has died age seven of organ failure, according to published reports.

The winner of the G3 Tokyo Sports Hai Nisai S. at two at the end of a three-race, unbeaten 2-year-old campaign, Wagnerian won the Tokyo Yushun at third asking at three. He added the G2 Kobe Shimbun Hai before the season was out, and though that would prove to be his last win, Wagnerian was third in the following spring's G1 Osaka Hai S. and the 2019 G1 Japan Cup. He was last seen trailing in last in this year's Japan Cup.

Wagnerian raced as a homebred for Kaneko, who also raced his sire, Deep Impact, and his damsire, King Kamehameha.

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White Filly Sodashi Back To The Winner’s Circle In Japan

The all-white Sodashi defeated elders for the first time in her career on Sunday, capturing Japan's Grade 2 Sapporo Kinen by three-quarters of a length over the favorite, Arc hopeful Loves Only You, reports racingpost.com.

The 3-year-old daughter Kurofune made headlines as the first white Thoroughbred to succeed at racing's top level when she won the G1 Hanshin Juvenile Fillies in December, but disappointed with her first loss earlier this year when eighth in the Japanese Oaks in May. Sunday's Sapporo Kinen was her first start since, and the Naosuke Sugai-trained filly responded well off the three-month layoff.

It was the 100th graded stakes win for owner Makoto Kaneko, also the owner of the late legendary sire Deep Impact.

Winning jockey Hayato Yoshida told racingpost.com: “I am relieved. She had the outside stall so I thought the start was important. She maintained her rhythm in the race and her response was very fine, it was like she was saying, 'I can move any time on your command.'

“The ground was right for her, and I had confidence we could quicken and get the front-runners from the home turn.”