Well-Related Justify Colt Faces Winners at Hanshin

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 Saturday running at Nakayama and Hanshin Racecourses. Classics season gets under way Sunday at the latter venue with the running of the G1 Oka Sho (Japanese 1000 Guineas):

Saturday, April 6, 2024
5th-HSN, ¥14,880,000 ($98k), Allowance, 3yo, 1800m
DANON K TWO (JPN) (c, 3, Justify–Enticed {Ire}, by Galileo {Ire}) belied debut odds of 15-1 to graduate by 1 1/4 lengths at Kyoto back in January (video, SC 10) and has been bet into single digits ante-post for this first go against winners. The bay is the recipient of a recent pedigree update, as his dam is a full-sister to G2 Dubai Gold Cup winner Tower of London (Ire) as well as G1 St Leger and G1 Irish Derby hero Capri (Ire), GSW & MG1SP Passion (Ire), GSW Cypress Creek (Ire) and the dam of last year's G1 Fillies' Mile winner Commissioning (GB) (Kingman {GB}). B-Mishima Bokujo

5th-NKY, ¥10,480,000 ($69k), Maiden, 3yo, 2000mT
SALVIANO (c, 3, Yoshida {Jpn}–Livorno, by Bernardini) is the second foal from a daughter of 2004 GII Davona Dale S. winner Miss Coronado (Coronado's Quest), whose other produce include SW & GISP Arethusa (A.P. Indy), SP Divine Mercy (Bernardini) and the dam of GSP Fleetridge (Ghostzapper). The Grade III-winning third dam Miss Caerleona (Fr) (Caerleon) was responsible for Karen's Caper (War Chant), a Group 3 winner and Group 1-placed in England and a multiple Grade III winner and runner-up in the GI QE II Challenge Cup in this country. Salviano's expatriated sire is standing his first season at stud at Darley Japan. B-Godolphin (KY)