Tag: Tokyo

Japan Road to the Derby Kicks Off at Tokyo

The first of four legs of the Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby, the $220,717 Cattleya S. (allowance), was staged Saturday afternoon over Tokyo's one-turn mile and for the second year in a row, a son of successful young stallion and former U.S. Eclipse Award winner Drefong drew first blood in the series.

Drawn one from the outside in afield of 10, Continuar (Jpn) broke alertly, but was ultimately beaten for speed and settled in the second flight of horses while racing three off the inside and with cover down the back straight. Waited with on the turn, the 29-10 second choice was produced wide into the stretch by the visiting Damian Lane, was asked to quicken inside the final furlong and kicked on nicely to best third favorite Mirror of Mind (Jpn) (Mind Your Biscuits) by a half-length (see below). Last year's Cattleya S. was won by Consigliere (Jpn), who went on to be third to Pinehurst (Twirling Candy) in the G3 Saudi Derby.

Purchased for ¥70 million ($635,432) at last year's JRHA Select Sales, Continuar overcame a double-digit draw to land his Oct. 8 debut over nine furlongs at Hanshin Oct. 8 and nearly made it two straight, missing narrowly in his first start against winners back at Hanshin 20 days ago. He is trained by Yoshito Yahagi, who conditioned Loves Only You (Jpn) and Marche Lorraine (Jpn) to famous wins at the Breeders' Cup in 2021.

“I think I want to take him to Saudi, then Dubai and then maybe Kentucky,” Yahagi said.

Continuar is out of a daughte rof MSW & G1SP Fusaichi Pandora (Jpn) (Sunday Silence), best known as the dam of two-time Japanese Horse of the Year and dual G1 Japan Cup heroine Almond Eye (Jpn) (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}). This is also the female family of champion El Gran Senor.

Continuar was awarded 10 points for his victory, while Mirror of Mind earned 4 points. The next race in the series is the Zen-Nippon Nisai Yushun at Kawasaki Dec. 14.

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Home Team Face Sneaky Euro Challenge in Japan Cup

In the first 11 runnings of the G1 Longines Japan Cup, foreign raiders were successful no fewer than nine times, with winners from America, Australia, France, Ireland and New Zealand. But not since Alkaased (Kingmambo) defeated Heart's Cry (Jpn) (Sunday Silence) in 2005 for Frankie Dettori and Luca Cumani has any overseas-based galloper managed to land a winning blow. The locals will be favoured to take that current streak to 17 when a full field loads the gate at Tokyo Sunday afternoon, but Europe has strength in numbers–and class–to make things at least a little bit interesting.

Shahryar (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}), winner of the 2021 G1 Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby) over Sunday's course and 2400-metre trip, completed a 1-3 finish for his late sire behind fellow Derby winner Contrail (Jpn) last year and will have his fair share of backers. Winner of this year's G1 Longines Dubai Sheema Classic without the benefit of a tightener, the Sunday Racing runner failed to handle the challenges that Ascot brings when fourth of five in the G1 Prince of Wales's S. in June. The dark bay prepped for this with a fifth in the Oct. 30 G1 Tenno Sho (Autumn), in which G1 Dubai Turf dead-heater Panthalassa (Jpn) (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}) led by double digits into the final 600 metres, only to be run down by the G1 Arima Kinen-bound Equinox (Jpn) (Kitasan Black {Jpn}). Shahryar ran home in :33.6 that day and should strip fitter over a more suitable distance Sunday.

“He's come out of the race very well so we were able to have him back in training right away,” said assistant trainer Nobuyuki Tashiro. “His fast work was last week on Nov. 17 on the grass track. His weight hasn't changed much but, having raced, he's sharpened him up. He's leaner, with good muscle tone, and everything is going smoothly.”

 

 

Danon Beluga (Jpn) (Heart's Cry {Jpn}) is the lone Japanese-bred three-year-old in the field and–with just five starts under his belt–is one of the least experienced. He makes up for that with abundant talent, as he bested future G1 Satsuki Sho (Japanese 2000 Guineas) hero Geoglyph (Jpn) (Drefong) in Group 3 company in February before finishing fourth in the Guineas and in the Derby. He closed off even more sharply than Shahryar in the Tenno Sho (:32.8) and he, too, can improve second-up.

Vela Azul (Jpn) (Eishin Flash {Jpn}) is very much the 'now' horse and a different proposition altogether since switching to the turf this year. A two-time winner from 16 tries on the dirt, he is three-for-five on the grass, including a fast-finishing defeat of Boccherini (Jpn) (King Kamehameha {Jpn}) in the 2400-metre G2 Kyoto Daishoten at Hanshin Oct. 10. The visiting Ryan Moore hops aboard.

Weltreisende (Jpn) (Dream Journey {Jpn}) accounted for recent G1 Queen Elizabeth II Cup heroine Geraldina (Jpn) (Maurice {Jpn}) in Group 2 company in June, but disappointed when sixth behind that rival in the G2 All Comers S. Sept. 25. Damian Lane, in the irons for the five-year-old's last win, has the call.

Can Team Europe Turn The Tide?

As he has been in almost every racing jurisdiction, Frankel (GB) has proved an unqualified success in Japan, with 33 winners including dual-surface Group 1 winner Mozu Ascot, two-time champion Soul Stirring (Jpn) and top-level scorer Grenadier Guards (Jpn). A Japan Cup victory from Onesto (Ire) could somehow manage to elevate the stallion's profile further still.

The chestnut announced his arrival really and truly with a last-to-first tally over Simca Mille (Ire) (Tamayuz) in the G1 Grand Prix de Paris on Bastille Day and was exceptionally brave when just beaten by Luxembourg (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) in the G1 Irish Champion S. Sept. 10. The chestnut clearly hated the boggy underfoot conditions at ParisLongchamp in the G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe Oct. 2 and his 10th-place effort to Alpinista (GB) (Frankel {GB}) was achieved on heart alone. Christophe Lemaire takes the unusual decision to side with the foreigner over a local ride.

“The trip to Japan went very smoothly–it was a 24-hour trip from our stables at Chantilly to the quarantine stables here at Tokyo Racecourse,” trainer Fabrice Chappet said. “The staff is happy with the wonderful facility and the climate is great for the horse too.”

 

 

 

Simca Mille did his part to frank the Grand Prix de Paris form when finishing well to land the G2 Prix Niel on Arc Trials day Sept. 11, but swerved the Arc itself in favour of this spot. Gregory Benoist retains the ride.

Grand Glory (Ire) (Olympic Glory {Ire}) covered herself in glory when staying on into fifth in last year's race and added this year's G3 Prix Allex France. She ran on from the tail to be a highly creditable fifth in the Arc and was recently snapped up by Shadai as a future member of their powerful broodmare band.

Tunnes (Ger) (Guilani {Ger}) is the ultimate wildcard in Sunday's test. Beaten just once in six career starts, the half-brother to Arc winner Torquator Tasso (Ger) (Adlerflug {Ger}) streaked home to win the G1 Grosser Preis von Bayern by 10 lengths Nov. 6. Most of his German form is over easy ground and he will have to cope with a much quicker surface this weekend. Lando (Ger) won the 1995 Japan Cup for Germany.

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Expensive Into Mischief Breezer Kicks Off at HQ

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. With plenty of interest from an American-bred perspective this weekend, here are the runners for Saturday's programs at Tokyo and Hanshin Racecourses. A pair of juveniles will be features in this space in Sunday's TDN:

4th-TOK, ¥13,400,000 ($96k), Newcomers, 2yo, 1400m
GREAT SAND SEA (c, 2, Into Mischief–Game for More, by More Than Ready), purchased for $385,000 at Keeneland September with an eye on the juvenile sales, was the recipient of a nice pedigree update a short time thereafter when his year-younger half-brother Giant Game (Giant's Causeway) finished third in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile. The Apr. 6 foal, also a half-brother to the versatile MGSW & GISP Isotherm (Lonhro {Aus}) and to GISP Gio Game (Gio Ponti), did his part to enhance his value by working a furlong in :10 flat ahead of this year's OBS April Sale and was hammered down for $825,000. Yuga Kawada takes the ride. B-H Allen Poindexter (KY)

5th-HSN, ¥13,400,000 ($96k), Newcomers, 2yo, 1200mT
SMOKIN' BILLY (c, 2, Free Drop Billy–Buy for Less, by Bodemeister) made just $8,500 as a weanling at Keeneland November in 2020, but improved into a $40,000 Fasig-Tipton October yearling and fetched a strong $230,000 at OBS April after he breezed in :10 flat. That price ranks as the highest of 17 juveniles (19 ring) reported as sold from the first crop of his sire (by Union Rags). Smokin' Billy is the first foal from a winning daughter of SW Ayla Bella (Touch Gold). B-Mullikin Thoroughbreds (KY)

6th-HSN, ¥13,400,000 ($96k), Newcomers, 2yo, 1400m
JOVIAN (c, 2, Justify–Runway Doll, by Majestic Warrior) debuts in the yellow-and-red silks of Kazumi Yoshida, with the visiting Cristian Demuro set to take the reins aboard the $250,000 OBS March breezer (:9 4/5). A half-brother to an Uncle Mo colt that sold to Donegal Racing for $200,000 at the Fasig-Tipton July sale, the bay is out of a half-sister to SW Song Warrior (Songandaprayer), who was acquired by this breeder for $380,000 in foal to American Pharoh at KEENOV in 2018. B-DS Stable LLC (KY)

ESSENTIAL ONE (f, 2, Bernardini–Indelible, by Tiznow) was acquired in utero for $130,000 at the 2019 Keeneland November Sale about 12 months before her dam's 'TDN Rising Star' half-brother Essential Quality (Tapit) closed a championship season with a victory in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile. On the heels of that success, Indelible was put through the 2020 Fasig-Tipton November Sale, where she realized a final bid of $1.6 million from Japan's Nobutaka Tada. This is the family of champion Folklore (Tiznow), whose daughter Rhodochrosite (Unbridled's Song) is the dam of Japanese Triple Crown hero Contrail (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}). B-Ocala Stud, J Michael O'Farrell Jr & William J Terrill (FL)

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Discreet Cat Colt Remains Undefeated At Tokyo

Fresh off a winning debut over this trip at Chukyo versus newcomers on Sept. 24, Obamburumai (Jpn) (Discreet Cat) stunned the G2 Keio Hai Nisai S. field at Tokyo on Saturday, winning by a length at odds of 50-1.

Noticeably lathered on his shoulders in the preliminaries, the bay stalked from third along the backstretch as From Dusk (Bolt d'Oro) was pressed by Speed Of Light (Jpn) (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}). Saving every inch of ground against the rail on the bend, he was asked for his bid inside the final quarter-mile. Steered to the outside of the embattled pacesetters, the son of Pink Gerbera (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) shifted gears and motored away to score with a degree of comfort at the wire. From Dusk was a nose better than Speed Of Light in the placings.

 

Pedigree Notes

Darley stallion Discreet Cat now has 38 stakes winners to his credit, 15 of them at group level following Obamburumai's score. Originally based at Darley's American arm near Lexington, the 2006 GI Cigar Mile hero was transferred to Darley's Japanese division in 2017 where he has been based ever since. Leading the charge for his progeny is the dual GI Carter H. hero Dads Caps, while his GI Del Mar Oaks heroine Discreet Marq has since produced listed winner Thoughts Of June (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). GI Beholder Mile S. heroine Secret Spice and GI Chandelier S. victress Secret Compass round out his Group 1 winners Stateside, with Taksim (Brz) landing a top-flight race in Brazil.

Although winless in 11 starts, Pink Gerbera did place second in a one-mile maiden for 3-year-olds at Hanshin. Her first foal, the Ceres Hunt (Jpn) gelding Fuyu Shogun (Jpn), is a winner, and with Obamburumai's victory, she has a flawless produce record. Her yearling is a filly by Maurice (Jpn) and Pink Gerbera also has a weanling filly by Rulership (Jpn).

Second dam Le Sucre (Jpn) (Sakura Bakushin O {Jpn}) foaled the stakes winner and dual G1 Prix de la Foret third Entscheiden (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}), as well as two other multiple Japanese group winners in Bien Fait (Jpn) (Kizuna {Jpn}) and Blanc Bonheur (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}). The last-named was third in the G1 Hanshin S. GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile and GI Florida Derby victor turned influential sire and broodmare sire Unbridled's Song (Unbridled) is under the fourth dam, Trolley Song (Caro {Ire}).

 

Saturday, Tokyo, Japan
KEIO HAI NISAI S.-G2, ¥72,910,000, Tokyo, 11-5, 2yo, 1400mT, 1:20.90, fm.
1–OBAMBURUMAI (JPN), 121, c, 2, Discreet Cat
                1st Dam: Pink Gerbera (Jpn), by Deep Impact (Jpn)
                2nd Dam: Le Sucre (Jpn), by Sakura Bakushin O (Jpn)
                3rd Dam: Asian Meteor, by Unbridled
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN. 1ST GROUP WIN. O-Koji Oka; B-Sunday
Hills; T-Keiji Yoshimura; J-Takeshi Yokoyama; ¥38,637,000.
Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0. Click for the
   free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Werk Nick
   Rating: C. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–From Dusk, 121, c, 2, Bolt d'Oro–Foolish Cause, by Giant's
Causeway. 1ST BLACK TYPE. 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE.
($200,000 Ylg '21 KEESEP; $900,000 2yo '22 OBSMAR).
O-Susumu Fujita; B-Springhouse Farm (KY); ¥15,182,000.
3–Speed of Light (Jpn), 119, f, 2, Lord Kanaloa (Jpn)–Silent
Sonic (Jpn), by Deep Impact (Jpn). 1ST BLACK TYPE. 1ST
   GROUP BLACK TYPE. O-Hidaka Breeders Union; B-Sakurai
Farm (Jpn); ¥9,591,000.
Margins: 1, NO, NK. Odds: 50.00, 55.50, 15.60.
Also Ran: Pace Setting (GB), Yakushima (GB), Boukephalas (Jpn), Miss Yokohama (Jpn), Energy Chime (Jpn), Noble Run (Jpn), Antano Ballad (Jpn), Marble Macaron (Jpn), Miscela Dorata (Jpn), Ask Dream More (Jpn), London Plan (Jpn), Rosso Rampante (Jpn), Saimon Olive (Jpn), Schon Prima (Jpn), Daydream Beach (Jpn). Click for the JRA chart and video.

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