Tag: Tokyo Racecourse

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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Aguri Becomes First Japanese Winner for Caravaggio

Sent off the $2.30 (13-10) favorite to make the necessary improvement off a debut third at Hanshin in late June, Aguri (Jpn) (Caravaggio) became the first Japanese winner and 22nd winner overall for leading freshman sire (by Scat Daddy) with a facile victory in a one-mile maiden over the turf at Tokyo Racecourse Saturday afternoon.

Drawn the middle of the gate in a field of 13, the gray colt took up a forward position beneath jockey Yuga Kawada, settling just off the pacesetter behind modest early sectionals. Maintaining that stalking role into the final 600 meters, Aguri was held together while traveling on the bridle into the final furlong, was shaken up mildly and strode home a very comfortable three-length winner (see below). He covered his final three furlongs in :35 flat and stopped the clock in a solid 1:35.3.

Aguri is the first foal out of the privately acquired One Time Waltz (War Front), a winning daughter of champion Together (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), a Group 3 winner and four times placed at Group 1 level in Europe and winner in America of the 2011 GI Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup at Keeneland. Old Time Waltz foaled Aguri Mar. 4, 2019, and the colt took his place at the 2020 JRHA Select Sale on the island of Hokkaido, hammering to owner Masahiro Miki for ¥105 million ($982,202). Old Time Waltz is also the dam of a yearling colt by Daiwa Major (Jpn) that fetched ¥64 million ($596,511) at last year's JRHA Select Foal sale and a weanling colt by Suave Richard (Jpn) that was hammered down for ¥58 million ($525,582) at this year's foal sale.

Caravaggio, who has now sired winners in five different countries, has already been represented by four black-type winners, two at group level, including G1 Juddmonte Cheveley Park S. heroine Tenebrism as well as MGSW/G1SP Agartha (Ire). Caravaggio's GSW half-sister My Jen (Fusaichi Pegasus) resides in Japan and is the dam of five winners from seven to the races, including GSP Satono Gold (Jpn) (Gold Ship {Jpn}) and the 2-year-old colt Purpur Ray (Jpn) (Isla Bonita {Jpn}), a two-time winner from three runs who broke his maiden at second asking at Niigata in a record time of 1:33.3.

Having stood at Coolmore Ireland from 2018, Caravaggio was relocated to Coolmore America for this season, where he commanded a fee of $25,000.

WATCH: Aguri becomes the first Japanese winner for leading first-crop sire Caravaggio

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Cafe Pharoah Takes ‘Win And You’re In’ February Stakes In Japan

In 2015, American Pharoah took the racing world by storm when he captured the Triple Crown and Breeders' Cup Classic (G1). On Sunday at Tokyo Racecourse in Japan, Koichi Nishikawa's Cafe Pharoah, a Kentucky-bred son of American Pharoah, earned the first automatic berth into this year's $6 million Longines Breeders' Cup Classic through the Breeders' Cup Challenge Series with a three-quarter length victory over Air Spinel (JPN) in the one-mile $1.84 million February Stakes (G1) on dirt.

The Breeders' Cup Challenge is an international series of stakes races whose winners receive automatic starting positions and fees paid into a corresponding race of the 2021 Breeders' Cup World Championships, which is scheduled to be held on Nov. 5-6 at Del Mar racetrack in Del Mar, California.

As a part of the benefits of the Challenge Series, the Breeders' Cup will pay the entry fees for Cafe Pharoah to start in the 1 ¼-mile Longines Breeders' Cup Classic. Breeders' Cup also will provide a $40,000 travel allowance for all starters based outside of North America to compete in the World Championships.

Trained by Noriyuki Hori and ridden by Christophe Lemaire, the 4-year-old Cafe Pharoah, the 3-1 favorite, completed the mile in 1:34.40. In defeating 15 rivals for his first career Group 1 victory, Cafe Pharoah improved his overall mark to five wins in seven starts. Out of the More Than Ready mare, Mary's Follies, Cafe Pharoah was bred by the late Paul Pompa Jr.

Absent of fans and cheers, the 38th running of the February Stakes, the first Group 1 event of the Japanese racing season, was on its way on the backstretch with Air Almas (JPN), Helios (JPN) and Wide Pharaoh (JPN) fighting for the lead. As Helios slipped back in the early stages, Cafe Pharoah, breaking from stall three, stalked the two frontrunners while saving ground before smoothly angling out right beside them to enter the lane in third. From there on, Cafe Pharoah unleashed a powerful stretch drive, securing the lead by the furlong marker and held off the fast-closing 35-1 Air Spinel.

“His condition was super, and I had confidence already at the paddock,” said Lemaire, who also won last year's February Stakes on Mozu Ascot (JPN). “We decided to use cheek pieces [headgear strips similar to blinkers] hoping for a more aggressive performance. His start was good, we were positioned well and he responded beautifully. The colt has such high potential. I had no doubt that he could land a G1 win if he gave his best. I'm happy that it all worked out today.”

Air Spinel was settled on the rail in mid-division and struggled to find room in early stretch. Once he angled out, finding a clear path 300 meters out, he finished fast, overtaking the tiring pacesetter in the final sixteenth and threatening the winner. Wonder Lider (JPN), sent off at 19-1, took an economic route behind the winner up to the last turn and displayed a powerful stretch drive furiously chasing the runner-up to the line while holding off a strong challenge by 6-1 third choice Red le Zele (JPN) for third. Air Almas finished fifth, followed by Inti (JPN), the 2019 February Stakes winner, in sixth.

In 2020, Cafe Pharoah won twice at the race distance over the Tokyo track, taking the two Kentucky Derby (G1) qualifying races, the listed Hyacinth Stakes and the Unicorn Stakes (G3). He suffered his first defeat as the favorite in the Japan Dirt Derby on July 8 at Ohi, finishing seventh. He rebounded on Oct. 3 to win the 1 3/16-mile Sirius Stakes (G3) at Chukyo. In his final start last year, Cafe Pharoah stepped into Group 1 company for the first time, in the 1 1/8-mile Champions Cup at Chukyo on Dec. 6, finishing sixth.

The post Cafe Pharoah Takes ‘Win And You’re In’ February Stakes In Japan appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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‘Pharoah’ Gets His Group 1 in February S.

Café Pharoah delivered a first win at the highest level on dirt for his sire, U.S. Horse of the Year and Triple Crown winner American Pharoah, in the G1 February S. going a mile over the Tokyo dirt on Sunday. His three-quarter length victory guaranteed him a spot in the starting gate in the GI Longines Breeders' Cup Classic this fall.

Favoured at 2-1, the 4-year-old entire settled in a tracking fifth, as Wide Pharoah (Jpn) (Henny Hughes) and Air Almas (Majestic Warrior) slugged it out on the front end. He emerged a clearcut third as noses pointed for home, and swung out to make his challenge 400 metres from the wire.

Conservatively handled to that point by jockey Christophe Lemaire, a trio of right-handed taps kept the Koichi Nishikawa colourbearer's mind on business with a furlong to travel as he passed Air Almas, and he held safe the late rush of 27-1 shot Air Spinel (Jpn) (King Kamehameha {Jpn}) to win with ears pricked. Wonder Lider (Jpn) (Statue of Liberty) closed from midfield to take third, another 1 3/4 lengths behind. Second favourite Arctos (Jpn) (Admire Aura {Jpn}) never threatened and checked in ninth.

“His condition was super, and I had confidence already at the paddock,” said Lemaire. “We decided to use cheek pieces hoping for a more aggressive performance. His start was good, we were positioned well and he responded beautifully. The colt has such high potential. I had no doubt that he could land a Group 1 win if he gave his best. I'm happy that it all worked out today.”

A winner going 1800 metres at Nakayama in December of 2019, his only race at two, Café Pharoah added the Listed Hyacinth S. last February and June's G3 Unicorn S., both at Tokyo. Only seventh in sloppy going in the Listed Japan Dirt Derby at Oi on July 8, the bay rebounded with another victory in the G3 Sirius S. facing elders last fall. He ran sixth in the G1 Champions Cup in his final start of 2020.

Pedigree Notes
Bred by the late Paul Pompa, Jr. in Kentucky, the winner is the second at the highest level out of American Pharoah's first crop after GI Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup victress Harvey's Lil Goil. The Ashford Stud resident has already celebrated a Group 1 winner from his second crop with G1 Criterium International scorer Van Gogh. The trio are among 14 black-type winners for the Coolmore sire, while five other progeny have placed at the highest level so far.

Selected out of the OBS March Sale for $475,000 after breezing a quarter mile in :21.1, Café Pharoah is one of three group/graded winners for his two-time graded scoring dam and the second male after Giant's Causeway's Night Prowler. The colt is also the first Group 1 winner for Mary's Follies, who was trained by the late John Forbes before Pompa acquired her. The mare's 2018 Uncle Mo colt died, while she has colts of 2019 and 2020 by Candy Ride (Arg) and Connect, respectively. A granddaughter of four-time stakes winner Wave to the Queen (Wavering Monarch), she aborted to Curlin for this spring.

In early January, Mary's Follies (lot 725) was knocked down for $500,000 to BBA Ireland as part of the Pompa Dispersal during the Keeneland January Horses of All Ages Sale. Her daughter, MGSW and 'TDN Rising Star' Regal Glory (Animal Kingdom) (lot 403) sold earlier in the day for a co-sale topping $925,000 to Peter Brant's White Birch Farm, which races both Stateside and in Europe and won the G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe with Sottsass (Fr) (Siyouni {Ire}) in October.

Sunday, Tokyo, Japan
FEBRUARY S.-G1, ¥194,800,000 (US$1,847,689/£1,318,449/€1,524,588), Tokyo, 2-21, 4yo/up, 1600m, 1:34.40, gd.
1–CAFE PHAROAH, 126, c, 4, by American Pharoah
                1st Dam: Mary's Follies (MGSW-US, $338,889),
                                by More Than Ready
                2nd Dam: Catch the Queen, by Miswaki
                3rd Dam: Wave to the Queen, by Wavering Monarch
1ST GROUP 1 WIN. ($475,000 2yo '19 OBSMAR). O-Koichi
Nishikawa; B- Paul P.Pompa (KY); T-Noryuki Hori; J-Christophe
Lemaire. ¥103,360,000. Lifetime Record: 7-5-0-0. *1/2 to
Night Prowler (Giant's Causeway), MGSW-US, $535,682; and
Regal Glory (Animal Kingdom), MGSW-US, $773,884. Click for
   the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Werk Nick Rating: A++.
2–Air Spinel (Jpn), 126, h, 8, King Kamehameha (Jpn)–Air
Messiah (Jpn), by Sunday Silence. O-Lucky Field Inc.; B-Shadai
Farm (Jpn); ¥40,960,000.
3–Wonder Lider (Jpn), 126, h, 8, Statue of Liberty–Astrea Peace
(Jpn), by Mayano Top Gun (Jpn). O-Yoshinari Yamamoto;
B-Oshima Farm (Jpn); ¥25,480,000.
Margins: 3/4, 1 3/4, HF. Odds: 2.30, 27.00, 18.30.
Also Ran: Red le Zele (Jpn), Air Almas, Inti (Jpn), Mutually (Jpn), Soliste Thunder (Jpn), Arctos (Jpn), Yamanin Imprime (Jpn), Sunrise Nova (Jpn), Smart Dandy (Jpn), Auvergne (Jpn), Wide Pharaoh (Jpn), Success Energy (Jpn), Helios (Jpn).
Click for the JRA chart & video or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.

The post ‘Pharoah’ Gets His Group 1 in February S. appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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