Tag: Nakayama

Gran Alegria Tries for Third Group 1 in Sprinters

One of two Group 1 sprints on the Japan Racing Association calendar, the 1,200-meter G1 Sprinters S. draws a full field of 16 for Sunday’s 54th renewal. Heading the morning line at 2-1 is dual Group 1- winning Gran Alegria (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}), out of Tapitsfly (Tapit), a two-time Grade I winner on the turf in the United States.

Victorious in last season’s G1 Japanese 1000 Guineas and G2 Hanshin Cup, the filly finished runner-up in the 1,200-meter G1 Takamatsunomiya Kinen over soft ground at Chukyo in March before returning to best champion Almond Eye (Jpn) (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}) in the G1 Yasuda Kinen over 1,600 meters at Tokyo Racecourse June 7.

“She ran a strong race in the Takamatsunomiya Kinen, which was her first time at the trip,” explained assistant trainer Masaru Oehara. “In the Yasuda Kinen, she put in a good late spurt from the fourth corner, so in both races she ran very well. She’s had a summer break and has come back to the stable looking bigger and stronger.”

Gran Alegria, who will be making her first start at Nakayama, will be accompanied by Christophe Lemaire, who has a 25% strike rate at the oval.

Attempting to record his first win at the Group 1 level, Danon Smash (Jpn) (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}) has shown consistency this season, winning on three occasions and finishing in the top three in five starts. Additionally, six of his nine career wins have come over the Sprinters’ distance of 1,200 meters.

Third in this test last year, he kicked off 2020 with a win over this course in the 1,200-meter G3 Yukan Fuji Sho Ocean S. Mar. 7 before a flat 10th in the Takamatsunomiya later that month. Back in the winner’s circle following Tokyo’s G2 Keio Hai Spring Cup May 16, the 5-year-old was eighth in the Yasuda Kinen before rebounding to score in the Sept. 13 Sankei Sho Centaur S. over 1,200 meters at Chukyo.

“He drew an outside gate last time [in the Centaur S.], but by the third corner had got himself into a good position and went on to win well,” said trainer Takayuki Yasuda, who has won the race three times. “I feel he’ll come on quite a bit for that run.”

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Notable US-Bred Runners in Japan: Oct. 3, 2020

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, the latter of which plays host to Sunday’s G1 Sprinters’ S., the first of 13 fall Group 1s in Japan and featuring US-breds Mozu Superflare (Speightstown) and Mr Melody (Scat Daddy):

Saturday, October 3, 2020
4th-CKO, ¥13,400,000 ($127k), Newcomers, 2yo, 1800m
PARADISUM (c, 2, Medaglia d’Oro–Taste of Heaven {Aus}, by Encosta de Lago {Aus}) is the third foal from his dam, a full-sister to G1SW sire Manhattan Rain (Aus) and SW/G1SP stallion Echoes of Heaven (Aus); as well as a half-sister to the legendary Redoute’s Choice (Aus) (Danehill), G1SW Platinum Scissors (Aus) (Danehill) and GSW Sliding Cube (Aus) (Rock of Gibraltar {Ire}), the dam of ‘TDN Rising Star’ and successful young stallion Rubick (Aus) (Encosta de Lago {Aus}). The female family also includes Group 1 winners Shoals (Aus) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}), Hurricane Sky (Aus) (Star Watch {Aus}) and Umatilla (NZ) (Miswaki). Noted Australian bloodstock agent James Harron signed the ticket on then 3-year-old Taste of Heaven at A$1.5m (US$1.389m) during the Teeley Assets Reduction at the 2014 Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale. Paradisum was bought back on a bid of $235K at Keeneland November in 2018 before hammering for $400K at last year’s KEESEP sale. The Jan. 31 foal is inbred 4×4 to Fairy Bridge, the dam of the full-brothers Sadler’s Wells and Fairy King. B-Elevage II LLC (KY)

 

8th-NKY, ¥14,300,000 ($136k), Allowance, 3yo/up 1200m
SUI (f, 3, Candy Ride {Arg}–Eltimaas, by Ghostzapper) was tried over 1800m and 1400m in her first two career starts with limited success, but proved easily best when scoring by four front-running lengths over this course and trip Mar. 22. The half-sister to champion sprinter and Japanese-based sire Drefong (Gio Ponti) was a $300K KEESEP acquisition and was successfully resold for $675K at last year’s OBS March Sale. Eltimaas, a half-sister to champion Action This Day (Kris S.), was purchased by Machmer Hall for $77K in foal to Mizzen Mast at KEENOV in 2013. B-Machmer Hall, Carrie & Craig Brogden (KY)

 

 

11th-CKO, Sirius S.-G3, ¥68m ($644k), 3yo/up, 1900m
CAFE PHAROAH (c, 3, American Pharoah–Mary’s Follies, by More Than Ready) assumed the mantle as Japan’s top 3-year-old dirt horse earlier this year with victories in the Listed Hyacinth S. in February and in the G3 Unicorn S. (see below, gate 16) in June, both at Tokyo, and with it locked up the Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby. But he stubbed his toe when a well-beaten seventh to Danon Pharaoh (Jpn) (American Pharoah) in the Listed Japan Dirt Derby in July and resumes against his elders here. A $475K graduate of last year’s OBSMAR sale, Cafe Pharoah is a half-brother to ‘TDN Rising Star’ Regal Glory (Animal Kingdom), who recently padded her resume with a win in the GIII Kentucky Downs Ladies’ Turf S. Cafe Pharoah gets the services of Christophe Lemaire. B-Paul P Pompa Jr (KY)

 

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Notable US-Bred Runners in Japan: Sept. 20 & 21, 2020

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–a trio of fillies–for this holiday weekend running at Chukyo and Nakayama Racecourses:

Sunday, September 20, 2020
12th-NKY, ¥14,360,000 ($137k), Allowance, 3yo/up, 1200mT
DETROIT TESORO (f, 3, Speightstown–Bella Traviata, by Indian Charlie) comprised a record of three thirds and a second from four previous tries on the turf before punching through when last seen at Niigata May 24. The dark bay, produced by of a stakes-placed half-sister to MSW & MGSP Afleet Deceit (Northern Afleet), was bought back for $180K out of the 2018 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga sale, was RNAd for $127K at FTKOCT a handful of weeks later and was acquired by owner Kenji Ryotokuji for $375K at last year’s Fasig-Tipton Gulfstream sale. Her Distorted Humor half-brother fetched $100K Thursday at Keeneland September. B-Blackstone Farm LLC (PA)

Monday, September 21, 2020
3rd-CKO, ¥9,680,000 ($92k), Maiden, 2yo, 2000mT
VOIX D’ANGE (f, 2, Curlin–Love and Pride, by A.P. Indy) may have struggled with a rain-affected turf when a midfield seventh on Tokyo debut going a mile June 28, but the $675,000 KEESEP graduate improved to be second to the record-setting Wonderful Town (Jpn) (Rulership {Jpn}) on a sounder surface over nine furlongs at Niigata July 25. Grade I winner Love and Pride, who was acquired by Three Chimneys for $4.9 million in foal to Distorted Humor at FTKNOV in 2013, is the dam of the SW Princesinha Julia (Pioneerof the Nile) and a now-yearling Gun Runner filly that made $750K to top the weanling offerings at FTKNOV last fall. Love and Pride is closely related to top sire Bernardini. B-Three Chimneys Farm LLC (KY)

4th-CKO, ¥13,400,000 ($128k), Newcomers, 2yo, 1200m
LADY MERCY (f, 2, American Pharoah–Two Oceans, by Cape Town) is the second foal to the races for her dam, a daughter of MSW & GSP Ocean Cat, and carries the latter’s sire Storm Cat 4×3 the same as American Pharoah’s recent G2 Park Hill S. winner Pista and SW & GSP Ocean Atlantique. This sire’s dual U.S. graded winner Sweet Melania has Storm Cat 4×4. The homebred descends from the female family of Japanese Horses of the Year Narita Brian (Jpn) (Brian’s Time) and Biwa Hayahide (Jpn) (Sharrood) and successful young stallion Kizuna (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}). B-Toshihiro Matsumoto (KY)

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Notable US-Bred Runners in Japan: Sept. 13, 2020

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:

 Sunday, September 13, 2020
5th-NKY, ¥13,400,000 ($126k), Newcomers, 2yo, 1600mT
AMERICAN PEACE (c, 2 Tapit–La Cloche, by Ghostzapper), a $325K Keeneland September acquisition, is the latest produce from his Grade III-winning dam, a $2.4m Fasig-Tipton purchase by this breeder who is responsible for American Peace’s full-sister Bellevais, also a Grade III winner on turf. Second dam Memories of Silver (Silver Hawk) was a two-time winner at the highest level, and her MGISW daughter Winter Memories (El Prado {Ire}) is the dam of the MSW & MGSP ‘TDN Rising Star’ Winter Sunset (Tapit). This is also the family of fellow GSW ‘Rising Star’ Hawkish (Artie Schiller). The colt’s Tiznow half-brother is consigned as hip 1035 at KEESEP next week. B-Don Alberto Corporation (KY)

 

 

MELIODAS (c, 2, Uncle Mo–Fifty Foot Woman, by Giant’s Causeway) was also knocked down for $325K at KEESEP last fall and is out of a full-sister to GSW Excited, the dam of SW & MGSP Thrilled (Uncle Mo); and SW Wait Til Dawn. The May foal’s stakes-winning second dam Path of Thunder (Thunder Gulch) was a full-sister to GI Breeders’ Cup Distaff upsetter Spain and a half to MGSW Puerto Banus (Supremo) and GSW Fantastic Spain (Fantastic Fellow). A Curlin half-sister to Meliodas is set to sell as hip 162 during Sunday’s opening session at KEESEP. B-Fred W Hertrich III & John D Fielding (KY)

11th-CKO, Centaur S.-G2, ¥112.8m ($1.06m), 3yo/up, 1200mT
MR MELODY (h, 5, Scat Daddy–Trusty Lady, by Deputy Minister) returns to his best game in this prep for the Oct. 4. G1 Sprinters’ S. Winner of the G1 Takamatsunomiya Kinen (1200m) in 2019 (see below, gate 3), the bay was sixth in the JBC Classic on dirt last November and has just one start since, an unplaced effort in the G1 Yasuda Kinen over Tokyo’s metric mile June 7. A half-brother to GSP Trendy Lady (Unbridled’s Song), Mr Melody was RNAd for $75K as a KEENOV weanling, fetched $100K as a KEESEP yearling the following fall and was purchased by his current connections for $400K out of the 2017 OBS April Sale. B-Bell Tower Thoroughbreds (KY)

 

 

SHIVAJI (h, 5, First Samurai–Indian Bay, by Indian Charlie) won four of 13 starts on dirt to begin his career and though he has registered just one victory–a most improbable one at that– from five turf tries (video, gate 8), he has run with credit, including a close fifth to the fleet Mozu Superflare (Speightstown) in this year’s Takamatsunomiya Kinen. Produced by a daughter of GSW Buy the Barrel (E Dubai), Shivaji was a $90K KEESEP grad turned $540K OBSAPR breezer. His full-sister is cataloged as hip 1818 at this year’s KEESEP sale. B-Hinkle Farms (KY)

 

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