Gendarme Set For Arresting Performance in Sprinters’

A diverse field of 16 short-track specialists converges on Nakayama Racecourse Sunday as Japanese Group 1 racing emerges from a three-month hiatus in the 1200-metre Sprinters' S.

Koji Maeda's Gendarme (Kitten's Joy) was a Group 2 winner over a mile and Group 1-placed going 10 furlongs at two, but has gone through a renaissance of sorts since being cut back to distances between six and seven panels about this time last year. A listed winner at Niigata at seven-eighths last October, the homebred son of 2002 Sprinters' heroine Believe (Jpn) (Sunday Silence) was third to Resistencia (Jpn) (Daiwa Major {Jpn}) in the G3 Hankyu Hai (1400m) this past February before landing the Listed Shunrai S. in his first try over 1200 metres in April. Seventh and running on in the  G2 Kitakyushu Kinen Aug. 22, he bombed the start of the G2 Centaur S. Sept. 12, setting himself a near-impossible task, but finished his final 600 metres in a race-quickest :32.6. They should fly early and Gendarme can be a late threat.

Danon Smash (Jpn) (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}), third in this event in 2019 and runner-up last term, tries to complete Japan's Group 1 sprint double, having just defeated Resistencia in the Takamatsunomiya Kinen in March. Prior to that effort, the son of Spinning Wildcat (Hard Spun) caused a 21-1 upset of the G1 Longines Hong Kong Sprint, but he was a flat sixth to the progressive Wellington (Aus) (All Too Hard {Aus}) when most recently returned to Sha Tin for the G1 Chairman's Sprint Prize Apr. 25.

Though Resistencia made the running in the Hankyu Hai and was part of the pace in the Centaur S., she has shown the ability to take a trail and come with a late run, as she did in the Takamatsunomiya Kinen. Hold-up tactics might be the flavour of the day, with the likes of the speedy 2019 runner-up Mozu Superflare (Speightstown) and Bien Fait (Jpn) (Kizuna {Jpn}) guaranteed to set a breakneck tempo.

Pixie Knight (Jpn) (Maurice {Jpn}) was a Group 3 winner over a mile earlier this year, but has run well at this trip in his last two appearances, finishing runner-up to First Force (Jpn) (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}) in the July 4 G3 CBC Sho and to Resistencia last time. He typically settles midfield and will be run off his feet early, but can get first run on those coming from farther behind.

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Notable US-Bred & -Sired Runners in Japan: Oct. 2 & 3, 2021

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 Chukyo and Nakayama Racecourses. A trio of American-bred runners takes their place in a field of 18 for Sunday's Sprinters' S. at the latter venue as Group 1 racing returns to Japan for the first time since late June:

Saturday, October 2, 2021
9th-NKY, ¥30,400,000 ($271k), Allowance, 2yo, 2000mT
BEYOND THE FATHER (JPN) (c, 2, Curlin–Galileo's Song {Ire}, by Galileo {Ire}) is the first foal from his multiple Grade III-placed dam, a $1-million purchase by Shimokobe Farm with this colt in utero at Keeneland November in 2018. Galileo's Song is a half-sister to Magnificent Song (Unbridled's Song), who came from 11th and last to validate favoritism in the 2006 GI Garden City Breeders' Cup S. on the grass at Belmont Park. Beyond the Father debuted with a five-length victory on the dirt at Niigata Aug. 7 (see below, gate 7), but tries the turf this time around. Mirco Demuro has a return call. B-Shimokobe Farm

 

 

Sunday, October 3, 2021
2nd-NKY, ¥9,680,000 ($86k), Maiden, 2yo, 1600mT
SEA VIXEN (f, 2, Into Mischief–Sly Warrior, by First Samurai) has burned money as the favorite in her first two trips to the races, each over the metric seven furlongs, finishing a debut third at Sapporo Aug. 22 before improving one spot at that track Sept. 5. A $130,000 KEESEP yearling turned $500,000 OBS March breezer, the bay is out of a half-sister to MSP Pull Dancer (Pulpit), the dam of the versatile MGSW & MGISP Good Samaritan (Harlan's Holiday) and GSW Brave Nation (Pioneerof the Nile). The filly's third dam Emmaus (Silver Deputy), a half-sister to Caress (Storm Cat) and Bernstein (Storm Cat) et. al., produced Horse of the Year Wise Dan's sire Wiseman's Ferry (Hennessy). Breeze Easy acquired the filly's dam for $50,000 in foal to Kitten's Joy at Fasig-Tipton November in 2017. B-Breeze Easy LLC (KY)

4th-CKO, ¥13,400,000 ($120k), Newcomers, 2yo, 1800m
ARME MATE (c, 2, Frosted–G Note, by Medaglia d'Oro) breezed an eighth of a mile in :10 flat at this year's OBS April Sale and was hammered down for $210,000. The New York-bred is out of a daughter of these breeders' GSW Seeking the Ante (Seeking the Gold), whose MSW daughter Mineralogist (Mineshaft) bred SW Can You Diggit (Tiznow). The Bromans acquired the colt's multiple Grade I-winning third dam Antespend (Spend A Buck) for $900,000 at Keeneland April in 1997 and from her, bred Friends Lake (A.P. Indy), winner of the 2004 GI Florida Derby. B-Chester & Mary Broman (NY)

STRIKE RICH (JPN) (c, 2, American Pharoah–Opulence, by Giant's Causeway), a half-brother to Japanese winner Fort Wadsworth (Verrazano), is the first Japanese-foaled produce for his dam, an unraced daughter of Eclipse Award and GI Belmont S. winner Rags To Riches (A.P. Indy). Third dam Better Than Honour (Deputy Minister), the $14-million mare, also produced Rags To Riches's Belmont-winning half-brother Jazil (Seeking the Gold); GSW/G1SP Casino Drive (Mineshaft); SW Man of Iron (Giant's Causeway); and the dam of GISW Streaming (Smart Strike) and SWs Treasuring (Smart Strike) and Cascading (A.P. Indy). B-Mishima Bokujo

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Notable US-Bred Runners in Japan: Sept. 25, 2021

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 Chukyo and Nakayama Racecourses:

1st-CKO, ¥9,680,000 ($87k), Maiden, 2yo, 1400m
DUGAT (c, 2, Practical Joke–Untraveled, by Canadian Frontier) faces straight maidens for the first time at career start number three, having finished a good third in allowance company on debut in heavy ground at Kokura Aug. 14 ahead of a solid fourth in the G3 Kokura Nisai S. Sept. 5. The $190K OBS March breezer from the family of MGSW juvenile Salty Perfume (Salt Lake) tries the dirt for the first time with legend Yutaka Take at the controls and should be winning. B-Erv Woolsey & Ralph Kinder (KY)

9th-NKY, ¥30,700,000 ($277k), Allowance, 2yo, 1200mT
JASPER KRONE (c, 2, Frosted–Fancy Kitten, by Kitten's Joy) opened his account at first asking with a front-running 1 3/4-length success going this distance at Niigata Aug. 21 (see below, gate 14). The chestnut is the first produce from his stakes-placed dam, a $10K purchase by Machmer Hall at the Fasig-Tipton February Sale in 2018. Jasper Krone,a $25K Keeneland September yearling turned $90K OBSMAR grad, hails from the female family of the talented Jump Start (A.P. Indy) from the same sire line. Mirco Demuro has a return call. B-Machmer Hall & Godolphin (KY)

 

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Efforia Looks To Remain Undefeated in Satsuki Sho

Efforia (Jpn) (Epiphaneia {Jpn}) will look to take his career mark to a perfect four-from-four and will attempt to give the Carrot Farm syndicate a second victory in three years in the G1 Satsuki Sho (Japanese 2000 Guineas) over the metric 10 furlongs Sunday afternoon at Nakayama Racecourse.

Descending from the family of G1 Japan Cup hero Admire Mooon (Jpn) (End Sweep) and champion Hishi Amazon (Theatrical {Ire}), Efforia made a successful debut over a right-handed 2000-metre trip at Sapporo last August and made it two straight with a Tokyo allowance in November. He has one prep run under his belt this season, a handy defeat of Victipharus (Jpn) (Heart's Cry {Jpn}) in the G3 Kyodo News Hai (1800m) at headquarters Feb. 14 and is primed for his first Group 1 test.

“As a 2-year-old, physically and mentally he was a little weak, and his hindquarters weren't so strong, so it took him a bit of time to recover from races,” said trainer Yuichi Shikato. “Over time though, he's developed well and has become a lot stronger. He's been working uphill recently and has trained as I would have liked.”

Saturnalia (Jpn) (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}) won the 2019 Satsuki Sho in Carrot Farm's green-and-white colours and Admire Hader (Jpn) can give Lord Kanaloa his second winner in three years. Once-beaten from four starts to date, the Junko Kondo runner was a bit out of his comfort zone when closer to the pace than he prefers in a 2000-metre Hanshin allowance in December, but nevertheless held sway to best Deep Monster (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) by a cosy half-length. He was a bit farther off the speed in the Listed Wakaba S. (2000m) last time Mar. 20 and showed sharp acceleration to defeat Chevalier Rose (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) by a decisive three-length margin. Admire Hader is the choice of Christophe Lemaire.

Danon the Kid (Jpn) (Just a Way {Jpn}) clinched the 2-year-old championship with a workmanlike success in the G1 Hopeful S. over this course and distance on Boxing Day, but there were no visible excuses when only third to front-running Titleholder (Jpn) (Duramente {Jpn}) in the G2 Hochi Hai Yayoi Sho (2000m) at this venue Mar. 7.

Yoho Lake (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) has proved he can run with these, but is a big price in ante-post markets at 30-1. Third and running-on in the Hopeful S., he was flushed extremely wide into the lane in the G3 Kisaragi Sho at Chukyo Feb. 7 and fell just a neck short of Lagom (Jpn) (Orfevre {Jpn}), who re-opposes here at about a third of the price of Yoho Lake.

Five of the sires represented in the Satsuki Sho are themselves winners of the race–Deep Impact (2005), Victoire Pisa (Jpn) (2010), Orfevre (2011), Gold Ship (Jpn) (2012) and Duramente (2015). Deep Impact is responsible for three of the last five winners: Dee Majesty (Jpn), 2016; Al Ain (Jpn), 2017; and Triple Crown hero Contrail (Jpn) last season.

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