Regaleira Faces Males In Satsuki Sho

The G1 Satsuki Sho (Japanese 2000 Guineas) will be held at Nakayama over 2000 metres on Sunday, and this year's edition features Group 1 winner Regaleira (Jpn) (Suave Richard {Jpn}), a winner of the Hopeful S. versus the colts over this course and distance in December.

The filly, who bears the Sunday Racing colours and will tote four pounds less than her male rivals, leaves from stall 10 under Hiroshi Kitamura. A winner against newcomers at Hakodate last July, she lost her perfect record when third in the Listed Ivy S. when attempting to closing into slow early fractions. However, she was much farther back and rallied into a fast pace for her Hopeful win, defeating several of these including the blue-blooded Group 3 winner and €2.1-million Arqana August sale-topper Shin Emperor (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}) in second and subsequent listed winner Sunrise Zipangu (Jpn) (Kizuna {Jpn}) in third.

Trainer Tetsuya Kimura said, “She's come along as expected, without any problems. She's better in her left foreleg now. Once again, she has a new challenge ahead of her here.”

Shin Emperor, a full-brother to G1 Prix de l'Arc de Tromphe winner Sottsass (Fr), ran second after a stalking trip in his 3-year-old bow, the G2 Hochi Hai Yayoi Sho Deep Impact Kinen to Cosmo Kuranda (Jpn) (Al Ain {Jpn}) with Sirius Colt (Jpn) (Makfi {GB}) third at the beginning of March. Ryusei Sakai has been booked to ride and the duo will leave from stall 14.

Trainer Yoshito Yahagi said, “He's worked well, with a final furlong time of around 12 seconds. I hope he can run to the level expected of him.”

The other Group 1 winner in the field is Japanese Champion 2-Year-Old Colt Jantar Mantar (Jpn) (Palace Malice), winner of the Asahi Hai Futurity S. ahead of Ecoro Walz (Jpn) (Black Tide {Jpn}). Also successful in the G2 Daily Hai Nisai S., the colt is a poster child for his recently relocated sire. He was second to the undefeated two-for-two Justin Milano (Jpn) (Kizuna {Jpn}) in the Feb. 11 G3 Kyodo News Hai.

Trainer Tomokazu Takano said, “He's cantered on the uphill training track and seems easier to ride now. He's developing more as well. I believe in him, and the ability he has, so I want him to show his best in this next race.”

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Gun Runner Son of Stellar Agent Looks To Star at Hanshin

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 Fukushima, Nakayama and Hanshin Racecourses. The colts' Classics kick off Sunday at Nakayama in the G1 Satsuki Sho (Japanese 2000 Guineas), with champion Jantar Mantar (Jpn) (Palace Malice) squaring off against Sottsass's sales-topping full-brother Shin Emperor (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}) from the barn of Yoshito Yahagi:

Saturday, April 13, 2024
1st-FKS, ¥10,480,000 ($68k), Maiden, 3yo, 1150m
ECORO KAISER (c, 3, American Pharoah–High Heeled Girl, by Malibu Moon), a $180,000 purchase at the 2022 Keeneland September Sale, was hammered down to Emmanuel de Seroux's Narvick International for $300,000 after breezing an eighth of a mile in :10 flat ahead of last year's OBS April Sale. The colt's dam, a $75,000 acquisition by Stonehaven Steadings at Keeneland November in 2016, is a daughter of two-time stakes winner and multiple Grade I-placed High Heeled Hope (Salt Lake), also the dam of Grade III winner Lady T N T (Justin Phillip). The mare's current 2-year-old, a filly by Nyquist, made $750,000 at this year's OBS March sale after hammering for $250,000 at KEESEP last fall. B-Stonehaven Steadings (KY)

2nd-NKY, ¥10,480,000 ($68k), Maiden, 3yo, 1800m
TOKUSHI GENERAL (JPN) (c, 3, Omaha Beach–Lucky Number, by Smart Strike), knocked down for $110,000 with this colt in utero at the 2020 Keeneland November Sale, is out of an unraced half-sister to GISW Got Lucky (A.P. Indy), the dam of SW & GSP Slip Mahoney (Arrogate) and GSP Overtook (Curlin). The Grade III-winning third dam, a full-sister to champion Rhythm, produced MGSW/GISP Daydreaming (A.P. Indy), GISW Girolamo (A.P. Indy), MGSW/GISP Acclerator (A.P. Indy) and the dam of GI Kentucky Derby winner Super Saver (Maria's Mon) and GSWs Cyrus Alexander (Medaglia d'Oro) and Brethren (Distorted Humor). B-Yuki Dendo

3rd-HSN, ¥10,480,000 ($68k), Maiden, 3yo, 2000m
XEBEC (JPN) (c, 3, Gun Runner–Stellar Agent, by More Than Ready) is the first foal from his dam, a longshot third in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies' Turf in 2018 and sold carrying this colt for $400,000 at KEENOV in 2020. A daughter of the stakes-placed Lawn Party (Medaglia d'Oro), Stellar Agent is a half-sister to SW Anaconda (Pioneerof the Nile) and the deeper female family includes champions Flanders (Seeking the Gold) and her daughter Surfside (Seattle Slew). Ryusei Sakai rides for Yahagi. B-Mishima Bokujo

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One-Two For Daiwa Major In New Zealand Trophy

Pensioned Shadai Stallion Station resident Daiwa Major (Jpn) sired the first two home in the G2 New Zealand Trophy S. over 1600 metres at Nakayama on Saturday, with Ecoro Bloom (Jpn) edging filly Bond Girl (Jpn) by three-quarters of a length. Both the first and second were bred by Northern Farm.

Sent off at 37-10, Ecoro Bloom soon cruised up to sit in third behind Yukino Royal (Jpn) (Dee Majesty {Jpn}) and Clean Air (Jpn) (Real Impact {Jpn}) before drifting back a bit to the fence while saving ground. Full of run with 600 metres left, he ranged up to within a length of the leaders, but was forced to alter course in early stretch as a hole closed. A gap opened a few strides later and Takeshi Yokoyama directed the colt through, before the duo kicked past a stubborn Yukino Royal, who lost the battle for second with Bond Girl by a head.

Third on debut over soft ground going this trip at Tokyo in October, the chestnut claimed a similar affair at that course over a firm surface in November. Making his 2024 bow, Ecoro Bloom was a close second in the G3 Nikkan Sports Sho Shinzan Kinen at Kyoto on Jan. 8.

Pedigree Notes

The winner is the 47th stakes winner for his sire, who was pensioned after breeding a handful of mares in 2023.

American threads run through the dams of both Ecoro Bloom and Bond Girl, as the former's dam, Sugar Shock, a winner of the 2014 GIII Fantasy S., was picked up for $360,000 out of the Fasig-Tipton November Sale in 2015 by Katsumi Yoshida. Stakes winner Coasted (Tizway), the 2016 GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf runner-up and the dam of Saturday's runner-up, was sent to Japan after making $1.3 million at that same sale two years later, also on the bid of Yoshida.

At stud, Sugar Shock delivered the winning Admire Metis (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) as her first foal. Four more winners followed, including G3 Kisaragi NKH Sho hero Lagom (Jpn) (Orfevre {Jpn}) and Saturday's victor. After foaling the New Zealand Trophy hero, she produced a 2-year-old filly to the cover of dual Saturnalia (Jpn), a yearling full-brother to Lagom and she visited Kizuna (Jpn) last spring.

 

Saturday, Nakayama, Japan
NEW ZEALAND TROPHY-G2, ¥105,100,000, Nakayama, 4-6, 3yo, c/f, 1600mT, 1:34.40, gd.
1–ECORO BLOOM (JPN), 126, c, 3, Daiwa Major (Jpn)
                1st Dam: Sugar Shock (GSW-US, $475,619), by Candy Ride (Arg)
                2nd Dam: Enthusiastically, by Distorted Humor
                3rd Dam:  Unbridled Hope, by Unbridled
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN. 1ST GROUP WIN. (¥84,000,000 Ylg '22
JRHAJUL). O-Masatoshi Haramura; B-Northern Farm (Jpn);
T-Yukihiro Kato; J-Takeshi Yokoyama; ¥55,120,000. Lifetime
Record: 4-2-1-1, ¥78,606,000. *1/2 to Lagom (Jpn) (Orfevre
{Jpn}), GSW-Jpn, $1,287,497. Click for the
   free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Werk Nick
   Rating: C+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Bond Girl (Jpn), 121, f, 3, Daiwa Major(Jpn)–Coasted, by
Tizway. (¥210,000,000 Ylg '22 JRHAJUL). O-Susumu Fujita;
B-Northern Farm (Jpn); ¥22,320,000.
3–Yukino Royal (Jpn), 126, c, 3, Dee Majesty (Jpn)–Yukino
Queen (Jpn), by Taiki Shuttle. 1ST BLACK TYPE. 1ST GROUP
   BLACK TYPE. O-Motoyuki Inoue; B-Hattori Farm (Jpn);
¥14,160,000.
Margins: 3/4, HD, HF. Odds: 3.70, 2.20, 36.50.
Also Ran: Kazu Mikulase (Jpn), Dreaming Up (Jpn), Clean Air (Jpn), Aim For Ace (Jpn), Awesome Stroke (Jpn), Enya Love Faith (Jpn), Spark Richard (Jpn), Rouge Suerte (Jpn), Shines On You (Jpn), Satomino Kirari (Jpn), David Tesoro (Jpn), Bright Man (Jpn), Captaincy (Jpn). Click for the JRA chart & video.

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Duramente Filly Earns Flowers At Nakayama

 The late Duramente (Jpn) continues to pad his stallion resume, and his Mi Anhelo (Jpn) claimed the spoils in the 1800-metre G3 Flower Cup at Nakayama on Saturday.

Sent off as the 5-2 second choice behind Cantiamo (Jpn) (Epiphaneia {Jpn}), the Silk Racing colourbearer found an ideal tracking position while glued to the fence, as Elf Struck (Jpn) (California Chrome) showed the way under mild pressure. Content to rate in midfield, Mi Anhelo began to wind up with 600 metres remaining while still saving every inch of real estate on the fence. Cued in upper stretch, she swung off the inside and burst past Elf Struck to take over inside the furlong pole. Strong to the line, she had built up enough cushion to repel the late charge of Hohelied (Jpn) (Rulership {Jpn}), with Cantiamo a neck back in third with the first six home tightly bunched.

Mi Anhelo donned cap and gown over this course and distance when unveiled in September, and closed to take fifth as the favourite in a blanket finish in the Nanohana Sho on Jan. 13, her 3-year-old bow.

Pedigree Notes

The much-lamented Duramente, posthumous champion sire in his native land in 2023, has his final crop of 3-year-olds this year. Mi Anhelo is his first stakes winner from that group, while he has 18 stakes winners worldwide (14 group) so far lifetime. Six of his progeny have landed Group 1 races, and Japanese Triple Tiara heroine Liberty Island (Jpn) is a leading fancy for the upcoming G1 Dubai Sheema Classic later this month.

The winner is a half to Frankel (GB) 'TDN Rising Star' Mi Suerte (Jpn) who won the G3 Fantasy S. in Japan. Originally a $1.7-million Keeneland November weanling, Mi Sueno won both the GIII Sorrento S. and GI Debutante S. as a juvenile. Since being purchased for $1.9 million out of the Fasig-Tipton November Sale in 2013 by Katsumi Yoshida, Mi Sueno has produced eight foals in Japan, with six winners to show for it. Her latest runner-to-be is Shonan Xanadu (Jpn) (Kizuna {Jpn}), who just turned two, while she also has a Real Steel (Jpn) yearling colt and was covered by American Horse of the Year Bricks And Mortar last spring.

Second dam Madcap Escapade (Hennessy) claimed the GI Ashland S., four other graded races and ran third in the 2004 GI Kentucky Oaks. She, in turn, is a half-sister to GI Ballerina Breeders' Cup S. victress Dubai Escapade (Awesome Again).

 

Saturday, Nakayama, Japan
FLOWER CUP-G3, ¥72,610,000, Nakayama, 3-16, 3yo, f, 1800mT, 1:48.00, fm.
1–MI ANHELO (JPN), 121, f, 3, Duramente (Jpn)
                1st Dam: Mi Sueno (GISW-US, $288,400), by Pulpit
                2nd Dam: Madcap Escapade, by Hennessy
                3rd Dam: Sassy Pants, by Saratoga Six
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN. 1ST GROUP WIN. O-Silk Racing;
B-Northern Farm (Jpn); T-Toru Hayashi; J-Akihide Tsumura;
¥38,427,000. Lifetime Record: 3-2-0-0, ¥46,697,000. *1/2 to
Mi Suerte (Jpn) (Frankel {GB}), GSW-Jpn, $447,954. Click for
   the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Werk Nick
   Rating: B. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Hohelied (Jpn), 121, f, 3, Rulership (Jpn)–Golden Harp (Jpn),
by Stay Gold (Jpn). 1ST BLACK TYPE. 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE.
O-Haruya Yoshida; B-Shiraoi Farm (Jpn); ¥15,162,000.
3–Cantiamo (Jpn), 121, f, 3, Epiphaneia (Jpn)–Libiamo (Jpn), by
Admire Vega (Jpn). 1ST BLACK TYPE. 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE.
O-Silk Racing; B-Northern Farm (Jpn); ¥9,381,000.
Margins: 3/4, NK, NK. Odds: 2.70, 23.80, 2.30.
Also Ran: Rabbiteye (Jpn), Elf Struck (Jpn), Canicule (Jpn), Teleos Sarah (Jpn), Marcottage (Jpn), For The Boys (Jpn), Stick By Me (Jpn), Teleos Lulu (Jpn), Hiraboku Minnie (Jpn).
Click for the JRA chart & video.

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