Japan Expected To Send Six Breeders’ Cup Contenders To Del Mar

A total of six contenders from Japan are expected for this year's Breeders' Cup World Championships at Del Mar, reports the Thoroughbred Daily News. Four are from the barn of trainer Hideyuki Mori, while the other two are conditioned by Yoshito Yahagi.

The Mori contingent includes:

  • Jasper Great (Juvenile) – This 2-year-old son of Arrogate won on debut over 1 1/8 miles at Hanshin on Oct. 9.
  • Jasper Prince (Dirt Mile) – A 6-year-old son of Violence who contested the pace in last year's Sprint at Keeneland, and won the listed Enif Stakes at Chukyo on Sept. 11.
  • Pingxiang (Dirt Mile) – The 4-year-old son of Speightstown traveled to the U.S. last year but did not draw into the Sprint. He has won several allowance races this year.
  • Matera Sky (Sprint) – A 7-year-old son of Speightstown who ran eighth in the Sprint at Santa Anita in 2019, and has run second in the G1 Golden Shaheen and two editions of the Saudi Sprint.

Yahagi's contenders are:

  • Loves Only You (Filly & Mare Turf) – A 5-year-old daughter of Deep Impact, this mare owns victories in the the 2019 G1 Japanese Oaks and this year's G1 FWD QE II Stakes.
  • Marche Lorraine (Distaff) – A 5-year-old daughter of Orfevre, winner of the Empress Hai.

Read more at the Thoroughbred Daily News.

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Japanese Trainer Mori Sending Quartet To Breeders’ Cup

Trainer Hideyuki Mori will send four Japanese-based American-bred horses under his care to the Breeders' Cup, according to the Daily Sports newspaper, including 2-year-old colt Jasper Great (Arrogate), who became the first Japanese winner for his late sire (by Unbridled's Song) with a victory over the past weekend.

Mori has become an active buyer at American bloodstock sales and acquired Jasper Great for $200,000 at last year's Fasig-Tipton Selected Yearling Showcase. The half-brother to GISW Power Broker (Pulpit) and SW Fierce Boots (Tiznow) was sent off at debut odds of 6-1 in an 1800-meter newcomers' event at Hanshin Oct. 9 and made all the running en route to a 10-length victory. He goes in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile.

WATCH: Jasper Great airs on debut

 

Owner Kazuo Kato, who campaigns the 'Jasper' horses, is also set to be represented by 6-year-old Jasper Prince (Violence), a $60,000 Keeneland September yearling turned $100,000 OBS March breezer who would be making his second appearance at the Breeders' Cup. The bay argued the early pace in last year's GI Breeders' Cup Sprint at Keeneland before giving way at longshot odds. Jasper Prince most recently resumed from a May layoff to defend his title in the seven-furlong Listed Enif S. at Chukyo Sept. 11 and is a candidate for the GI Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile.

Pingxiang (Speightstown), a $100,000 KEESEP graduate, was pre-entered for, but failed to draw into the field for last year's Sprint. The 4-year-old, winner of allowance events over seven furlongs at Tokyo in April and at Hanshin in July, could join Jasper Prince in the Dirt Mile.

Matera Sky (Speightstown) is ticketed for the Sprint, a race in which he finished eighth behind Mitole (Eskendereya) at Santa Anita in 2019. A $140,000 KEENOV weanling and $350,000 KEESEP yearling, the veteran would be making his seventh overseas start at Del Mar and has proven his mettle when pitched in against international competition. Runner-up to X Y Jet (Kantharos) after setting the pace in the 2019 G1 Dubai Golden Shaheen, the chestnut has finished second in both runnings of the valuable Saudi Sprint, going down by a neck to New York Central (Tapit) after appearing home free in the inaugural renewal in 2020 before being run down by Japanese-based Copano Kicking (Spring At Last) this past February.

Also expected to make the trip from Japan are Loves Only You (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}), the 2019 G1 Yushun Himba (Japanese Oaks) and this year's G1 FWD QE II S. winner, for the Filly & Mare Turf; and Marche Lorraine (Jpn) (Orfevre {Jpn}) for the Distaff. Both are trained by Yoshito Yahagi.

According to reports, the horses will enter the export quarantine Oct. 21 and are scheduled to depart Tokyo's Narita Airport Oct. 29.

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Copano Kicking Rallies To Upset Riyadh Dirt Sprint

by Alan Carasso

One of three Japanese raiders, Copano Kicking (Spring At Last) came with a stinging final-furlong rally in Saturday's Saudi Arabian Airlines Riyadh Dirt Sprint and was up on the wire to defeat Matera Sky (Speightstown), who dropped a similarly gut-wrenching decision to New York Central (Tapit) in the inaugural running of the event in 2020. The locally based Faz Zae (KSA) (Mizzen Mast) finished best of the rest.

The fleet-footed Matera Sky jumped straight into the bridle from gate one and led along the inside, as recent Listed Dubawi S. hero Switzerland (Speightstown) settled on his back, with Copano Kicking worse than centerfield and out into the track after breaking from a high draw. Matera Sky still led narrowly as they neared the straight, but Switzerland was bearing down and looking every bit a winning chance. Matera Sky was clinging on gamely at the 400-metre mark and beat off Switzerland, as Copano Kicking was steered off heels and into the clear, with plenty of ground to make up. As he did in 2020, Matera Sky carried what appeared to be an unassailable advantage into the final sixteenth of a mile, but William Buick kept after Copano Kicking and shoved him across the line first. Faz Zae got his nose down ahead of Switzerland for third.

A three-time winner at group level in Japan, Copano Kicking was looking for his first victory since successfully defending his title in the G3 Capella S. in late 2019 and was a latest sixth–with Matera Sky second–in the vaulable JBC Sprint at Ohi Racecourse Nov. 3. Connections indicated that they are likely to press on to the G1 Dubai Golden Shaheen at Meydan Mar. 27.

Bought back on a bid of $19,000 as a Keeneland September yearling in 2016, Copano Kicking was accepted into the 2017 Fasig-Tipton Florida Sale, where he was purchased for $100,000. He was consigned by James and Torie Gladwell's Top Line Sales, who also prepared New York Central for the 2016 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga sale. Celadon is the dam of an unnamed 3-year-old colt by Phoenix Tower. Click here for additional background on Copano Kicking.

 

WATCH: Copano Kicking leads home a Japanese 1-2 in the Riyadh Dirt Sprint

 

Saturday, King Abdulaziz, Saudi Arabia
SAUDI ARABIAN AIRLINES RIYADH DIRT SPRINT (Cond.), $1,500,000, King Abdulaziz, 2-20, 3yo/up, 1200m, 1:10.66, ft.
1–COPANO KICKING, 126, g, 6, Spring At Last–Celadon, by Gold Halo (Jpn). ($19,000 RNA Ylg '16 KEESEP; $100,000 2yo '17 FTFMAR). O-Sachiyaki Kobayashi; B-Reiley McDonald (KY); T-Akira Murayama; J-William Buick; $900,000. Lifetime Record: MGSW-Jpn, 21-10-4-3, $3,543,367.
2–Matera Sky, 126, h, 7, Speightstown–Mostaqeleh, by Rahy. ($140,000 Wlg '14 KEENOV; $350,000 Ylg '15 KEESEP). O-Tsuyoshi Ono; B-Lynch Bages Ltd (KY); T-Hideyuki Mori; J-Keita Tosaki; $300,000.
3–Faz Zae (KSA), 126, h, 6, Mizzen Mast–Summer Forest, by Forestry. O-Prince Faisal Bin Khalid Bin Abdulaziz; B-Flhan Bin Faisal Almindeel Sons; T-Abdullah Mushriff; J-Wigberto Ramos; $150,000.
Margins: HD, 3HF, NO.
Also Ran: Switzerland, Maypole (GB), Justin (Jpn), Oxted (GB), Raaed (Ire), Brad the Brief (GB), Harry's Bar (GB), New York Central, Roman River (GB), Raucous (GB). Click for the Racing Post chart.

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Copano Kicking Edges Hard-Luck Matera Sky As Japan 1-2 In Riyadh Dirt Sprint

Japanese horses claimed a one-two in Saturday's US $1.5 million Riyadh Dirt Sprint sponsored by Saudi Arabian Airlines as Copano Kicking (USA) overhauled the luckless Matera Sky (USA).

Matera Sky had looked the likely winner for much of the way last year before being collared by the home-trained New York Central and was travelling ominously well at the front under Keita Tosaki.

However, Copano Kicking and William Buick, who was towards the rear of the field and still had lengths to find with 200m to go, found the necessary gears late on to deprive the runner-up by a quarter of a length.

The 6-year-old gelding by Sprint At Last, bred in Kentucky by Reiley McDonald, is a multiple Graded winner in Japan and Buick had come in for the ride after he had partnered another winner for owner Sachiaki Kobayashi when on a short-term contract in the country.

Quotes:

Akira Murayama, trainer, Copano Kicking, 1st: “He is a very talented horse but he's not easy to train, he's temperamental, very edgy and overexcited and he didn't do too much work this week before the race.

“I called the owner before the winner's ceremony, he was very happy, he spoke to William and asked him to ride his horses again in Japan when he comes back. He will go to Dubai, hopefully for the Golden Shaheen. I thought it was going to be a tough race and I'm pleased that we beat last year's winner.”

William Buick, jockey, Copano Kicking: “He was slowly away but I was soon on the tails of the leaders coming into the bend and he picked up really well.”

Keita Tosaki, jockey, Matera Sky, 2nd: “I think Matera Sky ran his race. I thought he won and made revenge as last year's runner up.  But he toughed it out.”

Wigberto 'Wiggy' Ramos, jockey, Faz Zae, 3rd: “I'm very happy. That's the way he runs. He starts with the horses then he hangs back, then at the 400m he comes again. Today he was closer than before so I gave him a little break at the 600m and then I kicked. It's been a great meeting for me – I had a winner yesterday and today and I was very happy with this horse.”

Rest of jockey quotes:

Mickael Barzalona, Switzerland, 4th: “I had him in a good position. He travelled well. When he came next to (Matera Sky), I thought we would be close. He just got a little bit tired in the end. He ran a good race and the owner should be happy with that. It would've been better if we would've been third.”

Alexis Moreno, Maypole, 5th: “The race was too speedy. I tried to do my best but you know they bring champions over. My horse ran well.”

Ryusei Sakai, Justin, 6th: “He missed the break and did not have his run.”

Cieren Fallon, Oxted, 7th: “It was obviously an unknown on the dirt. He is by Mayson and has a lovely knee action and he ran well on the soft ground at Ascot so we thought we would give it a go.

“Today he really struggled. He came off the bridle after the first two furlongs, which is very unlike him. He is a horse that travels well, very strong. We came here on the unknown and we chanced it and it didn't pay off. But he will have a great season on the turf back home in England. You never know, the Breeders' Cup on the turf at the end of the year could be on the cards but we are definitely not going to take our chances on the dirt any time soon.”

Mohammed Aldaham, Raaed, 8th: “Too fast. Nice horses, all the horses are good. All of them are Group 1 horses.”

Hollie Doyle, Brad The Brief, 9th: “He jumped and travelled really well, and I was surprised how much pace he showed. The only problem was he hit a flat spot three out (600m) and got a bit disunited, and once they've done that it's hard to recover on the dirt. But he tried, that's the main thing.”

Gavin Ryan, Harry's Bar, 10th: “There was quite a lot of kickback. My horse could never get competitive. There was a strong pace and I was never really in the race.”

Luis Morales, Raucous, 13th: “At least I broke well. The race was so fast. They can run.”

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