Tag: Potager

Stars on Earth Resumes In Osaka Hai

A good many of Japan's best middle-distance gallopers not named Equinox (Jpn) (Kitasan Black {Jpn}) are among a 16-strong field that was drawn Friday for the G1 Osaka Hai at Hanshin Racecourse. And while the reigning Horse of the Year and towering G1 Longines Dubai Sheema Classic winner is recovering from his trip to the Middle East, a few of those that have form through him from last season seem poised to do a fair bit of damage over the metric 10 furlongs Sunday afternoon.

Last year's champion 3-year-old filly Stars on Earth (Jpn) (Duramente {Jpn}) has yet to square off with Equinox, but will attract her fair share of support off a preparation that included victories in the G1 Oka Sho (Japanese 1000 Guineas) at the mile and the G1 Yushun Himba over 2400-metres before enduring a luckless passage in the G1 Shuka Sho in October, therefore missing out on the Filly Triple Crown. She has reportedly filled out during her time away, and Equinox's rider Christophe Lemaire is bullish on her chances this weekend.

“She's felt good in training, and I've been pleased with her responses and footwork,” the Frenchman said. “She's a lot bigger now, and as a 4-year-old more like an adult. I look forward to riding her this year.”

 

 

 

The fairer sex have won two of the three most recent renewals of the Osaka Hai, and the regally bred Geraldina (Jpn) (Maurice {Jpn}) is another who can add to the tally in her return to the races. A product of two horses of the year, the daughter of the outstanding Gentildonna (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) belied odds of 7-1 to best subsequent G1 Longines Hong Kong Mile heroine Win Marilyn (Jpn) (Screen Hero {Jpn}) in this track's G1 Queen Elizabeth II Cup (2200m) in November and scarcely disgraced herself when a running-on third to Equinox in the G1 Arima Kinen (2500m) when last seen on Christmas Day.

“The distance of 2000 metres doesn't rush her into things, and hopefully she'll get into the flow of the race and run well,” said trainer Takashi Saito. “I'm looking forward to what she might be able to do this year.”

The flashy Jack d'Or (Jpn) (Maurice {Jpn}), fifth to Potager (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) in this race last term, downed future G1 Saudi Cup hero Panthalassa (Jpn) (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}) in the G2 Sapporo Kinen last August, then wasn't beaten far when fourth behind Equinox and Panthalassa in the G1 Tenno Sho (Autumn) last October. Down the field when well-bet in the G1 Longines Hong Kong Cup, he makes his seasonal debut here.

Hishi Iguazu (Jpn) (Heart's Cry {Jpn}) was fourth in this last April and made just one more appearance, a runner-up effort to the high-class Titleholder (Jpn) (Duramente {Jpn}) in the G1 Takarazuka Kinen in June. The lightly raced 7-year-old turned in the perfect prep for this when scoring by 3/4 of a length over the reopposing Lagulf (Jpn) (Maurice {Jpn}) in the G2 Nakayama Kinen (1800m) Feb. 26.

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All-Star Cast For Takarazuka Kinen

Hanshin Racecourse is the site of Sunday's fan-voted G1 Takarazuka Kinen over the metric 11-furlong trip, with the winner earning a fees-paid berth in the GI Longines Breeders' Cup Turf at Keeneland Race Course the first weekend of November. And with scarcely an exception, 18 of Japan's best middle-distance horses–with formlines from all over the world–are set to face the starter.

A logical case can be made for perhaps as many as nine runners Sunday afternoon, including reigning Horse of the Year Efforia (Jpn) (Epiphaneia {Jpn}), who looks to bounce back from a lacklustre ninth as the $1.50 (1-2) favourite when making his 4-year-old debut in the G1 Osaka Hai at this venue back in April. In finishing four lengths adrift of the upset-minded Potager (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}), the Carrot Farm colourbearer was suffering the second defeat of his career, the first coming when pipped by this year's G1 Longines Dubai Sheema Classic hero Shahryar (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) in the 2021 G1 Tokyo Yushun. Blinkers go on and his latest fast work–with the new equipment–made something of a statement.

“His preparation has gone well, and he's probably in better shape than he was for his last race,” said trainer Yuichi Shikato. “He has been more switched on wearing blinkers in training, and running in between two other horses. It was too bad about his last race, so I want to see the real Efforia this time, and hope that he can show what a talented horse he is and give his best showing in the race.”

 

 

 

Leaving votegetter Titleholder (Jpn) (Duramente {Jpn}) (by a shade less than 3000 votes over Efforia) made all when winning last year's G1 Kikuka Sho (Japanese St Leger) by five lengths and, since finishing fifth to Efforia in the G1 Arima Kinen in December, led throughout to win the G2 Nikkei Sho (2500m) in March and the 3200-metre G1 Tenno Sho (Spring) May 1, where he had the talented G2 Qatar Prix Foy hero Deep Bond (Jpn) (Kizuna {Jpn}) some seven lengths behind in second. Titleholder's pint-sized older half-sister Melody Lane (Jpn) (Orfevre {Jpn}) is one of three females in Sunday's test.

 

 

 

Two graduates of this year's Dubai World Cup program could make things tough up front for Titleholder. Authority (Jpn) (Orfevre {Jpn}) was one of four winners for Christophe Lemaire on Saudi Cup night when leading them a merry chase in the G3 Neom Turf Cup over an extended 10 furlongs and set the pace in the Sheema before being overhauled late by Shahryar and the fast-finishing Yibir (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}). Panthalassa (Jpn) (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}) took his rivals past every pole to annex the G2 Nakayama Kinen (1800m) by 2 1/2 lengths Feb. 27 and most recently shared the spoils with Lord North (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) in the G1 Dubai Turf. The 5-year-old is a bit of a question mark at Hanshin and over this distance.

Stay Foolish (Jpn) (Stay Gold {Jpn}) is another with imposing Middle East form, having accounted for Sonnyboyliston (Ire) (Power {GB}) in the G3 Longines Red Sea Cup in Riyadh in February before repeating the dose–albeit from slightly off the speed–in the G2 Dubai Gold Cup at Meydan Mar. 26.

Also not without a chance are the consistent Hishi Iguazu (Jpn) (Heart's Cry {Jpn}), second to Loves Only You (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) in December's G1 Longines Hong Kong Cup and a running-on fourth in the Osaka Hai; and 2020 Filly Triple Crown heroine Daring Tact (Jpn) (Epiphaneia {Jpn}), who was a respectable sixth to multiple champion Sodashi (Jpn) (Kurofune) first off a 15-month absence in last month's G1 Victoria Mile.

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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}).

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