Nakayama | Horse Racing Free Tips

Godolphin KEENOV Purchases Set To Shine in Japan

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 Nakayama and Hanshin Racecourses, the latter of which plays host to the season's first Japanese Classic, the G1 Oka Sho (Japanese 1000 Guineas) for the 3-year-old fillies:

Saturday, April 8, 2023
4th-NKY, ¥10,480,000 ($79k), Maiden, 3yo, 1200m
WORLDS COLLIDE (c, 3, War Front–Elizabeth Browning {Ire}, by Galileo {Ire}) is the first foal out of a winner of the G2 Kilboy Estate S. whose full-brother Johannes Vermeer (Ire) took the G1 Criterium International S. in France. Elizabeth Browning, who topped the 2017 Tattersalls Autumn Horses In Training Sale on a bid of 700,000gns from Alex Elliott, agent, is also a sister to the listed-winning Sapa Inca (Ire), G1 National S. runner-up Wembley (Ire) and Group 2-placed Petite Mustique (Ire). Worlds Collide was the most expensive of seven purchases by Paca Paca Farm at the 2020 Keeneland November Sale, hammering for $400,000. The second-priciest of those acquisitions, the $250,000 Freewheeling (War Front) offered less than 25 hips later, broke his maiden at second asking in Japan last weekend. B-Lynch Bages Ltd & MacQuarie Bloodstock (KY)

Sunday, April 9, 2023
2nd-HSN, ¥10,480,000 ($79k), Maiden, 3yo, 1200m
DIXIE GUNNER (c, 3, Gun Runner–Dixie Crisp, by Dixieland Band) made a pair of starts over 1400 meters last term, finishing second and third, respectively, and cuts back slightly for this seasonal comebacker. Purchased for $150,000 at KEENOV in 2020, the bay is a half-brother to SW & GSP Southern Freedom (Pure Prize), SW Reconstruction (Broken Vow) and GSP Epic Dreamer (Orb). Yuga Kawada has the call for trainer Mitsumasa Nakauchida, who will team with Oka Sho favorite Liberty Island (Jpn) later in the program. B-J D Stuart, P C Bance, AR Enterprises & G Todaro (KY)

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Tapiture Half-Sister To Mo Forza Debuting at Hanshin

Saturday, April 1, 2023
1st-HSN, ¥10,480,000 ($79k), Maiden, 3yo, 1400m
TAKE A STAB (JPN) (f, 3, Justify–It Was Magic, by War Front) is the first foal out of a daughter of 2011 G1 Irish 1000 Guineas heroine Misty For Me (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), the dam of three-time Group 1 winners Roly Poly (War Front) and U S Navy Flag (War Front) and of Grade III winner Cover Song (Fastnet Rock {Aus}), whose daughter Contemporary Art (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) was a Gulfstream allowance winner Mar. 26. This is also the family of European champion Fasliyev and Group 1 winner Ballydoyle (Ire). B-K I Farm

2nd-HSN, ¥10,480,000 ($79k), Maiden, 3yo, 1800m
YOUR DESTINY (f, 3, Oscar Performance–Rendezvous Point, by Kingmambo) is closely related to mutiple Grade III turf winner Kitten's Point (Kitten's Joy) and cost Paca Paca Farm $140,000 on behalf of Godolphin at the 2020 Keeneland November Sale. Also a half-sister to Kafuji Taurus (Declaration of War), a winner of nine of his 10 career starts and his last seven at Ohi Racecourse near Tokyo, the Mar. 23 foal is out of a half-sister to MGSW sprinter Five Star Day (Carson City). B-Crosshaven Bloodstock (KY)

6th-NKY, ¥10,480,000 ($79k), Maiden, 3yo, 1800m
NAGI (c, 3, Street Sense–Caramel Snap, by Smart Strike), a half-brother GSW & GISP Caramel Swirl (Union Rags), was produced by a daughter of GSW Fast Cookie (Deputy Minister), whose notable produce include three-time Grade I-winning Darley sire Frosted (Tapit) and Grade III winner Indulgent (Bernardini). The latter is the dam of May Fane (Uncle Mo), who is scheduled to make her first trip to the races Saturday at Gulfstream for Bill Mott (see Saturday Insights). MGSW & GISP third dam Fleet Lady (Avenue of Flags) is responsible for champion and Darley sire Midshipman (Unbridled's Song). B-Godolphin (KY)

Sunday, April 2, 2023
2nd-HSN, ¥10,480,000 ($79k), Maiden, 3yo, 1400m
ROUGE ATHENA (f, 3, Tapiture–Inflamed, by Unusual Heat) is a half-sister to 2019 GI Hollywood Derby hero Mo Forza (Uncle Mo) and was her supplemented dam was purchased by Shadai Farm for $525,000 with this foal in utero about a month later at the 2020 Keeneland January Sale. Inflamed, a full-sister to GSW Burns, foaled this filly May 1, 2020, was bred to Uncle Mo on a late cover and was exported to Japan. She is also the dam of a 2-year-old colt by the star Coolmore stallion. B-Teruya Yoshida (KY)

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Japanese Champ Titleholder Rolls In 5-Year-Old Bow

Imperious during the early part of his 2022 season, Titleholder (Jpn) (Duramente {Jpn}) stormed home to take the G2 Nikkei Sho by eight lengths at Nakayama on Saturday. The Hiroshi Yamada-owned and Toru Kurita-trained entire was the 7-5 favourite.

In charge practically from the bell, the Okada Stud-bred had things mostly his own way throughout the 2500-metre contest. Lightly pressed by Diastima (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) on the backstretch, he continued to click off reasonable fractions while unruffled and soon increased his lead approaching the final turn. Engaging the afterburners, Titleholder opened up on the field in fine style and was an easy-as-you-please victor. Boccherini (Jpn) King Kamehameha {Jpn}) bested Diastima for second by three-parts of a length, with that foe another three-quarters of a length in front of Lilac (Jpn) (Orfevre {Jpn}) in fourth.

A winner at first asking as a juvenile and second in the 2020 G3 Tokyo Sports Hai Nisai S., the flashy bay would take the G2 Hochi Hai Yayoi Sho Deep Impact Kinen at three, and also run second in the G1 Japanese 2000 Guineas before taking the G1 Japanese St. Leger several starts later. As a 4-year-old, he won the G2 Nikkei Sho, G1 Tenno Sho (Spring) and G1 Takarazuka Kinen in succession, those efforts earning him 2022 Champion Older Horse honours in Japan. Tried in the G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, he was unplaced racing on soft ground for the first time, and was well behind subsequent Japanese Horse of the Year Equinox (Jpn) (Kitasan Black {Jpn}) in the G1 Arima Kinen back in Japan in December. The Nikkei Sho was his first run back.

Pedigree Notes

One of four Group 1 winners for his late sire, the 5-year-old is also part of a 10-strong batch of stakes winners. Other top-tier winners for Duramente included Stars On Earth (Jpn), Liberty Island (Jpn), and Dura Erede (Jpn). The last-named ran second in the G2 UAE Derby to countrymate Derma Sotogake (Jpn) (Mind Your Biscuits) later in the day.

The third foal and second winner for his dam, a five-time winner, Titleholder is the last to race to date from Mowen (GB) (Motivator {GB}), who was covered by Benbatl (GB) last spring. Under the fourth dam is 1982 G1 1000 Guineas and G1 Sussex S. heroine On The House (Fr) (Be My Guest).

Saturday, Nakayama, Japan
NIKKEI SHO-G2, ¥128,920,000, Nakayama, 3-25, 4yo/up, 2500mT, 2:36.80, vsf.
1–TITLEHOLDER (JPN), 130, h, 5, Duramente (Jpn)
                1st Dam: Mowen (GB), by Motivator (GB)
                2nd Dam: Top Table (GB), by Shirley Heights (GB)
                3rd Dam: Lora's Guest (Ire), by Be My Guest
(¥20,000,000 Wlg '18 JRHAJUL). O-Hiroshi Yamada; B-Okada
Stud (Jpn); T-Toru Kurita; J-Kazuo Yokoyama; ¥67,854,000.
Lifetime Record: Ch. Older Horse-Jpn, MG1SW-Jpn, 15-7-2-0.
Werk Nick Rating:A+++. *Triple Plus*. Click for the
   eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Click for the
   free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Boccherini (Jpn), 128, h, 7, King Kamehameha (Jpn)–Popcorn
Jazz (Jpn), by Dance in the Dark (Jpn). O-Makoto Kaneko
Holdings; B-Northern Farm (Jpn); ¥27,244,000.
3–Diastima (Jpn), 126, h, 6, Deep Impact (Jpn)–Sweet Reason,
by Street Sense. O-Sunday Racing; B-Northern Farm (Jpn);
¥17,122,000.
Margins: 8, 3/4, 3/4. Odds: 1.40, 16.10, 33.30.
Also Ran: Lilac (Jpn), Machaon d'Or (Jpn), Heat On Beat (Jpn), King Of Dragon (Jpn), Meiner Fanrong (Jpn), Ask Victor More (Jpn), Cantor (Jpn), Aristoteles (Jpn), Kotobuki Thetis (Jpn). Click for the JRA chart and video.

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Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby Concludes at Nakayama

Sent off the 3-2 favorite, Mitono O (Jpn) (Logotype {Jpn}) led every step of the way en route to a 2 1/2-length victory in Saturday's nine-furlong Fukuryu S. (allowance) at rain-soaked Nakayama Racecourse. The win was worth 40 points on the Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby and secures connections a berth in the Run for the Roses should they choose to accept.

Soon in front for jockey Takuya Kowata, the blaze-faced chestnut went along comfortably on the lead, cruising through an opening 800-meter split of :49 flat and six furlongs in 1:13.1. Always traveling like a winner, Mitono O cut the corner into the stretch, pinched an unassailable advantage and proved easily best as Mokku Mokku (Jpn) (Danon Legend {Jpn}) closed off well down the center while no threat to the winner. Hero Call (Jpn) (Hokko Tarumae {Jpn}) was third (see below, SC 7).

A maiden winner at first asking going this distance at Chukyo in August, Mitono O was runner-up to future Listed Hyacinth S. hero and G2 UAE Derby entrant Perriere (Jpn) (Henny Hughes) in a seven-furlong allowance at Tokyo Nov. 12. He was a course-and-distance allowance winner when last seen Jan. 7.

A son of multiple Canadian Grade III winner Seductively (Thunder Gulch), who was purchased by Shadai Farm for $535,000 in foal to Bernardini at Keeneland November in 2008, Mitono O was an ¥18,700,000 graduate of the 2021 Hokkaido Selection Yearling Sale. His win Saturday took his earnings to north of ¥36 million.

Should the Derby invite not be accepted by the first-place finisher, the bid will be offered to the second-, third- and fourth-placegetters. Perriere currently sits on 30 points, while fellow UAE Derby entrant Derma Sotogake (Jpn) (Mind Your Biscuits) has 20 points courtesy of his victory in the Listed Zen-Nippon Nisai Yushun in December. The UAE Derby is a Derby qualifier separate and apart from the Japanese series and offers the winner 100 points.

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