Tag: Persian Knight

Classic Winners Collide In Tenno Sho

By Alan Carasso

With the possible exceptions of Loves Only You (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}), currently training in America towards the GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf, and the G1 Japan Cup-bound Shahryar (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}), this year's G1 Tokyo Yushun hero, Sunday's G1 Tenno Sho (Autumn) at Tokyo has attracted the creme of the crop in Japan, including Classic winners from each of the last three seasons.

Contrail (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) commences a two-race farewell tour back where he celebrated one of his finest hours in the 2020 Tokyo Yushun. The son of US-bred Rhodochrosite (Unbridled's Song) successfully completed his Triple Crown bid in last year's G1 Kikuka Sho–if only just–then was just not quite good enough in the Japan Cup, finishing a close second to former Horse of the Year Almond Eye (Jpn) (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}). Contrail has just the one start this season, where he squared off with a handful of Sunday's rivals in the G1 Osaka Hai in early April. Worse than midfield, he kept on fairly in the straight to be third to then-unbeaten Lei Papale (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}), but would have been inconvenienced by a rain-affected course.

“I had wanted to scratch,” admitted trainer Yoshito Yahagi. Once declared, horses may not be scratched after accepting. “He came out of the race poorly as well. I think he's back to his best. This week, he had a light workout just to fine-tune his breathing. His movement was excellent and the work brought out his suppleness. He's bigger than he was in the spring and I think the way he moves has improved as well.”

All things equal, Contrail will make his final career appearance in the Japan Cup Nov. 28.

The easy surface can also be held responsible for the performance of Gran Alegria (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) in the Osaka Hai, as she was unable to reproduce her typically blinding turn of foot and settled for fourth. The daughter of Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies' Turf victress Tapitsfly (Tapit), who scooped the G1 Japanese 1000 Guineas over 1600 metres in 2019, makes her first appearance since a troubled runner-up effort to Danon Kingly (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) in the 1600-metre G1 Yasuda Kinen in June. Connections are hoping that quicker underfoot conditions will help her see out Sunday's trip.

“I've had Tenno Sho (Autumn) winners before and they all had good stamina,” said trainer Kazuo Fujisawa, who indicated that the mare had undergone a minor throat operation over the summer. “This is the first strong miler I'm fielding in the race. She has speed, but I'd like to see if she has the speed to conquer the Tokyo 2000 metres.”

Gran Alegria is the final Tenno Sho starter for her trainer, who turned 70 last month and is on the brink of retirement.

The Fujisawa-trained Symboli Kris S (Kris S.) was the last 3-year-old to defeat his elders in this event back in 2002, and G1 Satsuki Sho winner Efforia (Jpn) (Epiphaneia {Jpn}) will try to snap that streak this year. The Carrot Farm colourbearer was running his record to four-from-four in the Guineas, where he had recent Kikuka Sho victor Titleholder (Jpn) (Duramente {Jpn}) three lengths adrift in second. He weaved his way through traffic when last seen in the Derby at this venue May 30 and came to win the race, only to drop a heartbreaking decision to the aforementioned Shahryar.

Fringe players include Hishi Iguazu (Jpn) (Heart's Cry {Jpn}), winner of two straight at group level, but first-up since February; the progressive Potager (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}), never outside the top three in 11 career starts; and the hard-trying, but camera-shy Persian Knight (Jpn) (Harbinger {GB}).

The post Classic Winners Collide In Tenno Sho appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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Triple Crown Winner Returns In Loaded Osaka Hai

A field of 13–including a half-dozen by the legendary Deep Impact (Jpn)–will face the starter for a cracking renewal of the G1 Osaka Hai (2000m) Sunday at Hanshin Racecourse, led by the late stallion's 2020 Triple Crown hero Contrail (Jpn).

Raced by Shinji Maeda and bred by the family's North Hills Co. Ltd., the son of Rhodochrosite (Unbridled's Song) built on an undefeated 2-year-old season with four on the bounce last term, defeating Salios (Jpn) (Heart's Cry {Jpn}) in the G1 Satsuki Sho (Japanese 2000 Guineas) (2000m) in April and more soundly in the G1 Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby) (2400m) the following month. The hasslefree winner of the G2 Kobe Shimbun Hai fresh up in September, he completed a sweep of the Triple Crown in the G1 Kikuka Sho (Japanese St Leger)–albeit narrowly–over a 3000-metre trip that surely stretched him and tasted defeat for the first time when a clear runner-up to Almond Eye (Jpn) (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}) in November's G1 Japan Cup (2400m).

“His workload has been good and things have gone as expected with him,” assistant trainer Shigeki Miyauchi commented. “There has been nothing to worry about, and the race distance of 2,000 metres will be just right for him. I'm sure if he gets to run his true race, he'll get a good result.”

Salios, runner-up to Contrail for champion 2-year-old honours in 2019, bounced back from his Derby defeat to easily win the G2 Mainichi Okan in October and was last seen running fifth in the G1 Mile Championship at Kyoto in November.

The winner of the latter event was Gran Alegria (Jpn), a Deep Impact daughter of American multiple Grade I winner Tapitsfly (Tapit), who was adding that event to her barnstorming tally in the G1 Sprinters' S. the month prior. An easy choice for champion sprinter/miler, she stretches out to 10 furlongs for the first time and Christophe Lemaire will try to make best use of her stinging turn of foot in the final stages.

“She's an easy horse to ride, can settle well in a race, and I know what I have to do with her,” the French ex-pat said. “Even though it's her first time at 2,000 meters, I'm sure she'll put in a big run. Speed is also needed over the inner turf course.”

Lei Papale (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) is perfect and untested from her five career starts and gets the litmus test Sunday. The Carrot Farm runner made her most recent appearance over this track and distance, accounting for the re-opposing Bravas (Jpn) (King Kamehameha {Jpn}) in the G3 Challenge Cup in December.

Persian Knight (Jpn) (Harbinger {GB}) is winless in over three years, but was runner-up in this event in 2018, is drawn well and can outrun longshot odds if he gets his preferred quick conditions underfoot.

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