Tokyo | Horse Racing Free Tips

Peptide Nile Earns Breeders’ Cup Berth With February Surprise

With the cream of the Japanese dirt crop readying for next weekend's G1 Saudi Cup, Sunday's G1 February S. presented a golden opportunity for gallopers perhaps just a cut below the very best to shine, with a trip to the GI Breeders' Cup Classic on the line. When the dust had settled, the majority of the market leaders faltered and it was the unheralded Peptide Nile (Jpn) (King Kamehameha {Jpn}) that proved the chief beneficiary at boxcar odds.

Away cleanly from stall nine, Peptide Nile raced prominently through the early stages as the hulking Don Frankie (Jpn) (Daiwa Major {Jpn})–a son of dual Grade I-winning juvenile filly Weemissfrankie (Sunriver)–led from 29-10 second favorite Wilson Tesoro (Jpn) (Kitasan Black {Jpn}). Tracking four wide on the turn while traveling well within himself, Peptide Nile was held together into the long straight and went up to challenge Don Frankie for the lead about five off the inside with a bit more than 200 metres to travel. Wilson Tesoro was still plugging away between the two of them, but Peptide Nile proved not for catching from there and scored comfortably in the finish. Gaia Force (Jpn) (Kitasan Black {Jpn}) ran home gamely for second in his first go on the dirt, while Sekifu (Jpn) (Henny Hughes) came from well back to win a photo for third. Wilson Tesoro faded to eighth, while the unexposed Omega Guiness (Jpn) (Logotype {Jpn}) beat just two home as the 21-10 chalk.

“The pace was tough, but he ran a great race,” said jockey Yusuke Fujioka, winning his second Group 1 on the JRA. “We were able to sit in a better position than expected, but I didn't imagine he would take over the lead that early and that easily. The wire seemed very far today. His last start didn't turn out as hoped, but as long as he's able to run in good rhythm as he did today, I'm sure we can look forward to solid performances in the future.”

Pedigree Notes:

A member of the third-last crop of the outstanding King Kamehameha, Peptide Nile is one of 100 of his black-type winners and became the 68th to strike at group level. He is a 15th elite-level winner for King Kamehameha and fourth of those on the dirt, joining Hokko Tarumae (Jpn), Chuwa Wizard (Jpn) and Jun Light Bolt (Jpn).

Queen Olive has a 3-year-old filly by King Kamehameha's G1 Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby)-winning son Rey de Oro (Jpn) and a yearling colt by top dirt sire Sinister Minister. She is due to Drefong this term.

Sunday, Tokyo, Japan
FEBRUARY S.-G1, ¥233,160,000, Tokyo, 2-18, 4yo/up, 1600m, 1:35.70, ft.
1–PEPTIDE NILE (JPN), 128, h, 6, by King Kamehameha (Jpn)
1st Dam: Queen Olive (Jpn), by Manhattan Cafe (Jpn)
2nd Dam: Olive Branch (Jpn), by Machiavellian
3rd Dam: Sopranino, by Theatrical (Ire)
1ST GROUP WIN, 1ST GROUP 1 WIN. O-Kazuhiko Numakawa; B-Kineusu Farm; T-Hidenori Take; J-Yusuke Fujioka; ¥123,612,000. Lifetime Record: 20-8-1-1, ¥262,596,000. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Gaia Force (Jpn), 128, h, 5, Kitasan Black (Jpn)–Natale (Jpn), by Kurofune. 1ST GROUP 1 BLACK-TYPE. (¥30,000,000 Wlg '19 JRHAJUL). O-KR Japan; B-Oiwake Farm; T-Haruki Saugiyama; J-Yoshihito Nagaoka; ¥49,032,000.
3–Sekifu (Jpn), 128, h, 5, Henny Hughes–Siyabona, by Kingmambo. 1ST GROUP 1 BLACK-TYPE. O-Akira Nakatsuji; B-Bamboo Farm; T-Koshiro Take; J-Yutaka Take; ¥30,516,000.
Margins: 1 1/4, NK, NO. Odds: 37.00, 12.00, 47.20.
Also Ran: Tagano Beauty (Jpn), King's Sword (Jpn), Red le Zele (Jpn), Mick Fire (Jpn), Wilson Tesoro (Jpn), Don Frankie (Jpn), Alpha Mom (Jpn), Igniter (Jpn), Dura Erede (Jpn), Speedy Kick (Jpn), Omega Guiness (Jpn), Karate (Jpn), Champagne Color (Jpn). Click for the JRA chart.

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Ramjet Rambles Home In Hyacinth S.

Koji Maeda, whose homebred Lani (Tapit) finished ninth to Nyquist in the 2016 GI Kentucky Derby, could have another Classics contender on his hand after Ramjet (Jpn) (Majestic Warrior) turned on the afterburners in the final 300 meters to post a convincing victory in Sunday's Listed Hyacinth S. at Tokyo Racecourse. Having earned 30 Derby points as a result, the dark bay now leads the Japanese series with one race remaining.

Clearly last away from the stalls, Ramjet had only one rival behind as he came under a ride at halfway, and he had just two beaten turning into the long Tokyo straight. Put to a wide drive by Kosei Miura, he began to bridge the considerable gap while hanging on his left lead, but once switching over at midstretch, kicked it into another gear and won going away. Favored Unquenchable (Jpn) (Discreet Cat) sat handy to the pace while wide, but could not resist the winner's late rally and just held on for second over Habire (Jpn) (Henny Hughes).

Maeda acquired Ramjet's second dam for $320,000 at the 2007 Keeneland September Sale and campaigned her to 11 wins for better than $4 million in earnings in Japan. No fewer than eight of those came in listed company, including three victories in the Sparkling Lady Cup, and a runner-up effort in Group 3 company. Nefertiti, one of five winners from six to race out of La Verita, is also the dam of a yearling colt by dual-surface Group 1 winner Mozu Ascot (Frankel {GB}) and was most recently bred to Scat Daddy's Group 1-winning son Mr Melody.

Maeda has had further success with Unbridled's Song fillies sourced in the U.S. He purchased Rhodochrosite for $385,000 at KEESEP in 2011 and she would go on to become the dam of North Hills' Triple Crown winner and Horse of the Year Contrail (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}).

Sunday, Tokyo, Japan
HYACINTH S.-Listed, ¥36,560,000 ($242,343), Tokyo, 2-18, 3yo, 1600m, 1:36.3, ft.
1–RAMJET (JPN), 126, c, 3, by Majestic Warrior
1st Dam: Nefertiti (Jpn), by Gold Allure (Jpn)
2nd Dam: La Verita, by Unbridled's Song
3rd Dam: Go Classic, by Gone West
1ST STAKES WIN. O-Koji Maeda; B-North Hills Co Ltd; T-Shoso Sazaki; J-Kosei Miura; ¥19,252,000. Lifetime Record: 5-3-0-1, ¥40,131,000.
2–Unquenchable (Jpn), 126, c, 3, Discreet Cat–Smoldering (Jpn), by Pyro. 1ST BLACK-TYPE. O/B-Godolphin; T-Mizuki Takayanagi; J-Christophe Lemaire; ¥7,672,000.
3–Habire (Jpn), 126, c, 3, Henny Hughes–Tomo Tomo River (Jpn), by Black Tide (Jpn). 1ST BLACK-TYPE. (¥16,500,000 Ylg '22 HOKSUM). O-Shinichi Koga; B-Akiba Bokujo; T-Ryo Takei; J-Akira Sugawara; ¥4,836,000.
Margins: 3, NO, 1HF. Odds: 12.90, 1.30, 33.70.

Ramjet (#1) wins the Listed Hyacinth S. at Tokyo

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Godolphin Homebred Looks To Keep Hyacinth S. All In the Family

A field of 11–ten males and a single American-bred filly–head to the post for Sunday's $243,343 Listed Hyacinth S. going a one-turn 1600 meters at Tokyo Racecourse. The race serves as the third of four legs on the Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby and will award the winner 30 points towards a berth in the field at Churchill Downs on the first Saturday in May.

Sheikh Mohammed's worldwide Godolphin operation won the 2022 Hyacinth with their homebred Combustion (Jpn) (Discreet Cat) and is represented Sunday afternoon by that colt's full-brother Unquenchable (Jpn). The chestnut defeated Logi Adelaide (Jpn) (Drefong) to win his maiden at second asking over this course and distance Oct. 27 and checked in a good third behind Amante Bianco (Jpn) (Henny Hughes) in the first leg of the local series, the Cattleya Sho (allowance) last November, picking up three Derby points. Unquenchable, a latest second to the talented American-bred Sonic Star (Into Mischief) over track and trip Jan. 27, is favored at just north of 2-1 and has the services of Christophe Lemaire from gate 11.

Logi Adelaide proceeded to run second in his next start Nov. 4, but put it all together when romping home by seven lengths as the 2-5 chalk Nov. 26.

Ballon d'Or (Jpn) (New Year's Day) is the only member of Sunday's field to already have earned black-type via his close third-place finish behind Ammothyella (Jpn) (Bricks and Mortar) and Ecoro Gaia (Speightstown) in the Listed Bluebird Cup at Funabashi Racecourse Jan. 17. The bay was purchased for over $650,000 as a foal at the 2021 JRHA Select Sale.

Sunday's winner will leap-frog to the top of the standings on the Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby, with just the Mar. 23 Fukuryu S. (allowance) at Nakayama remaining. The current leader, Forever Young (Jpn) (Real Steel {Jpn}), runs in next Saturday's G3 Saudi Derby, while second-placed Amante Bianco was second in the Feb. 14 Kumotori Sho, an allowance race at Ohi Racecourse that was outside the Derby series.

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Twirling Candy’s $900k Pikari Steps Up To Listed Company in Japan

In this continuing series, Alan Carasso takes 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 Kyoto and Tokyo Racecourses. Group 1 racing returns to Japan this weekend with Sunday's running of the G1 February S., whose defending champion Lemon Pop (Lemon Drop Kid) swerves the race in favor of next weekend's G1 Saudi Cup. The co-featured Listed Hyacinth S. is the third of the four races on the Japan Road to the Triple Crown and includes the expensive US-bred 3-year-old filly Pikari (Twirling Candy):

Saturday, February 17, 2024
1st-TOK, ¥10,480,000 ($70k), Maiden, 3yo, f, 1400m
COLLEVILLE (JPN) (f, 3, Omaha Beach–Tiz a Chick, by Tiznow), who was purchased for $200,000 in utero by J S Company at the 2020 Keeneland November Sale, is out of an own sister to 2009 GII Demoiselle S. heroine Tizahit, who has since gone on to produce GI Ballerina S. winner Come Dancing (Malibu Moon), GSP So Darn Hot (Ghostzapper) and the dam of SW & MGSP Skipalute (Midnight Lute). This is also the female family of Tiznow's champion 2-year-old filly Folklore, multiple Eclipse Award winner Essential Quality (Tapit) and Japanese Triple Crown winner and Horse of the Year Contrail (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}). B-Kazuyoshi Yamagami

4th-KYO, ¥11,850,000 ($79k), Newcomers, 3yo, 1800m
KENJO (c, 3, Gun Runner–Be Fair, by Exchange Rate) is a half-brother to 2022 GI Del Mar Debutante S. winner And Tell Me Nolies (Arrogate) whose Grade III-winning and GI Apple Blossom H.-placed dam was purchased for $35,000 with this colt in utero at the 2021 OBS January Sale. An April foal, Kenjo also made an appearance at OBS, selling for $200,000 at last year's April Sale, having made $150,000 as a weanling at Keeneland November in 2021. Be Fair is a half-sister to GISW Macho Again (Macho Uno). B-Lara Run LLC (KY)

4th-TOK, ¥11,850,000 ($79k), Newcomers, 3yo, 1600m
WIDE ETOILE (f, 3, Justify–Overheard, by Macho Uno) is the latest to the races for her dam, a two-time graded winner on the grass for the late Josephine Abercrombie's Pin Oak Stud and trainer Malcolm Pierce. A daughter of SW Whisper To Me (Thunder Gulch) and from the extended family of the Grade I-winning juvenile filly Confessional (Holy Bull), Overheard was purchased by Arch Bloodstock for $300,000 in foal to McKinzie out of the Pin Oak sale at Fasig-Tipton and produced a colt in 2022 who has since been sent to Russia. Overheard passed away in 2022. B-The Justify Syndicate & Pin Oak Stud LLC (KY)

Sunday, February 18, 2024
9th-TOK, Hyacinth S.-Listed, ¥36,200,000 ($241k), 3yo, 1600m
PIKARI (f, 3, Twirling Candy–Laudation, by Congrats) fetched $265,000 from Redwings Enterprises at the 2022 Keeneland September Sale before blossoming into a $900,000 OBS March breezer that was purchased by trainer Hideyuki Mori for owner Susumu Fujita. Placed once from three starts on the grass to begin her career, she switched to the dirt for the first time in her most recent appearance and managed to break her maiden going six furlongs (see below, SC 9). She tries a one-turn mile in this spot. Pikari's dam is a daughter of GSW Rite Moment (Vicar), herself responsible for the Group 3-winning 'TDN Rising Star' Mimi Kakushi (City of Light) and dual stakes winner Moment Is Right (Medaglia d'Oro). Woods Edge Farm acquired Laudation for $150,000 with this filly in utero at KEENOV in 2020. B-Woods Edge Farm LLC (KY)

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