World Connector | Horse Racing Free Tips

Drefong Colt Lands First Blow on Japan Road to the Derby

The first crop of foals sired by Eclipse Award-winning sprinter Drefong (Gio Ponti) have performed so well since 2-year-old racing in Japan began in early June that he has seen his covering fee bumped from ¥3 million (about $26,400) to ¥7 million (about $61,700) for the 2022 breeding season. Consigliere (Jpn) has done his part to help cement his sire's footing on the competitive Japanese breeding landscape and ran his record to two wins from as many starts with a neck defeat of Cafe Karma (Jpn) (Henny Hughes) in Saturday's Cattleya S. (allowance) at Tokyo Racecourse, the first of four races on the Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby.

Having graduated by 9 1/2 lengths going 1800 meters at Niigata in his lone previous appearance Aug. 22, the bay was favored at 7-10 and jumped fairly for Christophe Lemaire, then settled in a position slightly better than midfield as OBS March topper Clos de Mesnil (Practical Joke) speared through to make the running. Allowed to creep a bit closer on the turn, the Kazumi Yoshida colorbearer loomed up four wide at the top of the long Tokyo straight, was held together into the final furlong and a half and held sway late as 21-1 Cafe Karma dove at him to make a race of it (see below, SC 10). Geraldo Barows (Jpn) (Sinister Minister) was a further neck away in third, while second choice World Connector (Connect) was a meritorious fourth.

Consigliere, one of 22 first-crop winners for Drefong, is a half-brother to the Japanese SW & GSP Esmeraldina (Harlan's Holiday) and his dam Tasha's Star (Spanish Steps) is a half-sister to MGSW & GISP Tasha's Miracle (Harlan's Holiday). Tasha's Star did not produce a foal in 2020 and is the dam of a weanling filly by Shadai's two-time G1 Takamatsunomiya Kinen (1200mT) hero Kinshasa no Kiseki (Aus).

A total of 17 Kentucky Derby points (10-4-2-1) were awarded Saturday. The series continues in the Zen-Nippon Nisai Yushun at Kawasaki on the NAR circuit Dec. 15.

WATCH: Consigliere holds on in the Cattleya S.

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World Connector Must Overcome High Draw In Cattleya S.

The 2022 Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby kicks off Saturday with the running of the Cattleya S. (allowance) at Tokyo Racecourse. Thirteen colts and two fillies line up for the 1600-meter test which begins with a run-up on the grass before linking up with the dirt track.

World Connector (Connect) has made both of his career starts to date at Tokyo, settling for a debut second as the 8-5 favorite going this course and trip Oct. 9 before dead-heating for the maiden win in a one-mile event on the turf track Oct. 31 (video, SC 2). A $250,000 Keeneland September yearling turned $410,000 Fasig-Tipton Gulfstream juvenile (see below), the half-brother to SW & GISP Savings Account (Medaglia d'Oro) has to contend with the outside post in the bulky field. Ryan Moore, in to ride Broome (Ire) (Australia {GB}) in Sunday's G1 Longines Japan Cup, has been recruited by trainer Kazuo Fujisawa. World Connector trades as the 4-1 second favorite ante-post.

Eclipse Award-winning sprinter Drefong (Gio Ponti) has gotten off to a flying start at stud in Japan, with progeny earnings to date of a leading ¥258 million (US$2.28 million) and having been represented by 21 individual winners. One of those is Consigliere (Jpn), a 9 1/2-length graduate over nine furlongs at Niigata on his lone racetrack appearance Aug. 22 (video, SC 2). The bay is a half-brother to the Japanese SW & GSP Esmeraldina (Harlan's Holiday) and his dam Tasha's Star (Spanish Steps) is a half-sister to MGSW & GISP Tasha's Miracle (Harlan's Holiday). Consigliere was the 8-5 selection as of this writing.

Cafe Karma (Jpn) (Henny Hughes), a first-out second going nine furlongs at Nakayama Sept. 25, cut back to this track and distance and donned cap and gown by 3/4 of a length Oct. 24.

The connections of Clos de Mesnil (Practical Joke) opt for this spot over a sex-restricted allowance on the grass this weekend. This year's OBS March sales-topper on a bid of $750,000 (under-tack preview) overcame a bit of an eventful trip to break her maiden by a head at first asking over 1200 meters Nov. 7 at Hanshin (see below, SC 7) and is bred to appreciate the extra quarter mile of the Cattleya S.

A total of 17 Kentucky Derby points (10-4-2-1) are on the line Saturday. The series continues with the Zen-Nippon Nisai Yushun (1600m) at Kawasaki Dec. 15, the Listed Hyacinth S. (1600m) back at Tokyo Feb. 7 and the 1800-meter Fukuryu S. (allowance) at Nakayama Apr. 2.

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Notable US-Bred Runners in Japan: Sunday, Oct. 31, 2021

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. As promised, a second installment this weekend featuring the horses of interest for this weekend running at Niigata and Tokyo Racecourses. Click for a preview of Sunday's G1 Tenno Sho, featuring the produce of American-sourced mares Rhodochrosite (Unbridled's Song), Tapitsfly (Tapit) and Ginger Punch (Awesome Again), among others:

Sunday, October 31, 2021
2nd-TOK, ¥9,680,000 ($85k), Maiden, 2yo, 1600mT
WORLD CONNECTOR (c, 2, Connect–Wild Hoots, by Unbridled's Song) was made the 8-5 favorite for a 1600-meter newcomers' event over the local dirt track on debut Oct. 9, but sat a three-wide trip from a high draw and settled for a clear second (see below, SC 16). The half-brother to SW & GISP Savings Account (Medaglia d'Oro), whose dam is a full-sister to GISW Buddha, switches to the turf for this second go and has the services of Christophe Lemaire. The most expensive of 29 of his first-crop sire (by Curlin)'s weanlings to sell in 2019 when hammering for $250K at Keeneland November, World Connector was bought back for $285K at Fasig-Tipton Saratoga last summer, but fetched $410K at this year's FTFMAR sale. B-Dell Ridge Farm LLC (KY)

3rd-NII, ¥14,360,000 ($126k), Allowance, 3yo/up, 1800m
COSMIC MIND (c, 3, Into Mischief–Mystical Star, by Ghostzapper) turned in a remarkable performance on Nakayama debut Jan. 17, overcoming a world of trouble to score narrowly. Though off the board in three subsequent starts, he wasn't beaten far and makes his first start since April in this spot. A $280K KEESEP acquisition, the late April foal is out of a versatile dam who was a Grade II winner and Grade I-placed on the grass and runner-up in an all-weather renewal of the GI Juddmonte Spinster S. in 2012. B-Candy Meadows LLC (KY)

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Notable US-Bred Runners in Japan: Oct. 9, 2021

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. Here are the horses of interest for this weekend running at Hanshin and Tokyo Racecourses. While no Group 1 racing is scheduled for the weekend, 'TDN Rising Star' Command Line (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}–Condo Commando) makes a much-anticipate second trip to the races in Saturday's G2 Saudi Arabia Royal Cup (1800mT) at headquarters:

Saturday, October 9, 2021
4th-TOK, ¥13,400,000 ($120k), Newcomers, 2yo, 1600m
WORLD CONNECTOR (c, 2, Connect–Wild Hoots, by Unbridled's Song) was the most expensive of 29 of his sire (by Curlin)'s first-crop weanlings (38 ring) to sell in 2019, hammering for $250K at Keeneland November and was a $285K buyback at last year's Fasig-Tipton Selected Sale. The March foal would go on to fetch $410K at FTFMAR after breezing a furlong in :10 1/5 (see below). A half-brother to SW & GISP Savings Account (Medaglia d'Oro)), the gray is out of a SW & GSP full-sister to GISW Buddha and out of a half to the dam of MSW Road Ready (More Than Ready) and 2008 GI Darley Alcibiades S. runner-up Be Smart (Smarty Jones). Wild Hoots was the top-selling short yearling at KEEJAN in 2005 when Dell Ridge signed the winning ticket at $900K. B-Dell Ridge Farm LLC (KY)

6th-HSN, ¥13,400,000 ($120k), Newcomers, 2yo, 1800m
CHARITABLE THOUGHT (c, 2, Nyquist–Relaxing Green, by Formal Gold), a $335K purchase as a weanling by Harry Sweeney's Paca Paca Farm at FTKNOV in 2019, looks to become the 10th winner from as many to race from his dam, whose produce include GISW Marley's Freedom (Blame), SW Noble Charlotte (Include) and the dam of SW Noble Commander (Forestry). The Godolphin colorbearer is out of a half-sister to GSW Mythical Gem (Jade Hunter) and SW/MGSP Apple Charlotte (Smart Strike), the dam of MGSP Lottie (Arch). This is also the female family of GISW Noble Bird (Birdstone). B-Jack Swain III (KY)

JASPER GREAT (c, 2, Arrogate–Shop Again, by Wild Again), a $200K acquisition by trainer Hideyuki Mori at FTKSEL last September, is a half-brother to Grade I-winning juvenile Power Broker (Pulpit); SW Fierce Boots (Tiznow), the dam of GSP Portos (Tapit); and SP Smart Shopping (Smart Strike), whose yearling daughter by Uncle Mo made $435K at FTSAUG this summer. The stakes-winning Shop Again is a half-sister to GISW Miss Shop (Deputy Minister), the dam of MGSW Tin Type Gal (Tapit); GSW & MGISP Trappe Shot (Tapit); and SW & GSP Bought In Dixie (Dixieland Band). B-Jamm Ltd (KY)

7th-TOK, ¥14,360,000 ($129k), Allowance, 3yo/up, 2100m
YUINO ZAPPER (c, 3, Ghostzapper–Baruta {Brz}, by Crimson Tide {Ire}), a $180K KEESEP graduate, was sixth in a single appearance at two and filled the same spot on his sophomore debut before breaking his maiden over this track and distance when last seen May 1. His dam, twice Group 1-placed in Brazil, won the 2015 GIII Sen. Ken Maddy S. down the hill at Santa Anita and was runner-up to the late 'TDN Rising Star' Taris (Flatter) in that year's GIII Rancho Bernardo H. on the dirt. These breeders are to be represented by both defending champ Ivar (Brz) (Agnes Gold {Jpn}) and last-out TVG S. winner In Love (Brz) (Agnes Gold {Jpn}) in Saturday's GI Keeneland Turf Mile. B-Bonne Chance Farm & Stud RDI (KY)

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