Striding Thoroughbreds in Japan

Orfevre confirms best horse

2011-12-25T17:28:00.000+09:00

Orfevre confirmed himself as the best horse in the country when he won the Arima Kinen at Nakayama on Sunday. The Stay Gold colt won the grade one 2,500-meter race in 2 minutes 36.00 seconds on firm ground.
Eishin Flash, a 3/4-length behind the winner, finished second with To the Glory finishing another neck back in third.

The reduced field of 13 horses went to post at 3:25 p.m. JST as scheduled.

Kenichi Ikezoe held Orfevre far off the pace early on, while Earnestly made all the running.

Orfevre made a move before the entering the final bend and followed up with a devastating acceleration. He just took the race up in the final 200 meters for the winning post.

Out of the Mejiro McQueen mare Oriental Art, Orfevre has raced under the color of Sunday Racing Co. Ltd. and the train of Y. Ikee with a record of 11-7-2-1. His career earnings boosted to 818+ million jp yen. Shadai Corporation Inc. was the breeder of the 3-year-old chestnut colt.

2011 Arima Kinen

2011-12-23T17:28:00.002+09:00

Sunday, December 25, 2011 sees the Arima Kinen(known as the Grand Prix race) with a strong field of 14 horses at Nakayama Racecourse. The Arima is the biggest finale race of the season.

Buena Vista, the most popular horse, will make a final run in the Arima Kinen where she finished second in the last two years. The Japan Cup heroine will break from post 1.

Victoire Pisa finished a disappointing 13th in the Japan Cup. The Dubai World Cup winner attempts to bounce back from the undesired result.

Orfevre dominated the 3yo classic races and became the 7th Triple Crown winner in JRA history. He faces the older grade one company for the first time.

Tosen Jordan, winner of the Tenno Sho Autumn who finished second in the Japan Cup behind Beuna Vista, could make a big run.

The 56th Arima Kinen, Grade One
Sunday, December 25, 2011
Nakayama Race-11
3yo+ 2,500-meter turf right-handed
Post time: 3:25 p.m. JST

1/Buena Vista/5m/55/Yasunari Iwata
2/Victoire Pisa/4c/57/Mirco Demuro
3/Hiruno d'Amour/4c/57/Shinji Fujita
4/Pelusa/4c/57/Katsumi Ando
5/Eishin Flash/4c/57/Christophe Lemaire
6/King Top Gun/8h/57/Yoshitomi Shibata
7/To the Glory/4c/57/Yuichi Fukunaga
8/Rose Kingdom/4c/57/Hiroki Goto
9/Orfevre/3c/55/Kenichi Ikezoe
10/Tosen Jordan/5h/57/Craig Williams
11/Jaguar Mail/7h/57/Hirofumi Shii
12/Earnestly/6h/57/Tetsuzo Sato
13/Red Davis/3g/55/Yutaka Take
14/Rulership/4c/57/Ioritz Mendizabal

Alfredo remains undefeated

2011-12-18T17:34:00.001+09:00

Alfredo remained undefeated when he landed the Asahi Hai Futurity Stakes at Nakayama on Sunday. He won the grade one 1,600-meter event in 1 minute 33.40 seconds on firm ground.

A 2-length behind the winner, Meiner Robusto took second with Leo Active finishing another 1 1/2-length back in third. Takei Halo finished another neck further back in fourth.

Alfredo, ridden by Craig Williams, chased the pace along the rail before taking command in the last 200 meters.

Alfredo gained a 1/2-length victory in his debut race at Nakayama in late-September and followed up with victory in the non-graded Kinmokusei Tokubetsu at Niigata in late-October. The T. Tezuka-trained bay colt has now won 3 in as many starts under the color of Carrot Farm. His career earnings boosted to more than 88 million jp yen.

Alfredo, bred by Northern Farm, is a 2-year-old colt by Symboli Kris S out of the Sunday Silence mare Princess Camellia.

2011 Asahi Hai Futurity S

2011-12-16T17:46:00.001+09:00

A total of 16 colts will contest the Asahi Hai Futurity Stakes, the JRA biggest race for 2-year-olds, at Nakayama on Sunday.

Clarente and Dahlonega, who finished first and second, respectively, in the grade two Daily Hai Nisai Stakes at Kyoto in mid-October, could be the major players. Other strong contenders includes Leo Active, winner of the grade two Keio Hai Nisai Stakes, and Alfredo, an undefeated colt in two starts who faces the grade company for the first time.

The post time of the Asahi Hai Futurity Stakes will be at 3:25 p.m. JST on Sunday.

The 63rd Asahi Hai Futurity Stakes, Grade One
Sunday, December 18, 2011
Nakayama Race-11
2yo 1,600-meter turf right-handed
weight: 55kgs for colts; fillies allowed 2 kgs

1/Sudden Storm(by Storming Home)/Masaki Katsuura
2/Laurel Bullet(by Samurai Heart)/Kenichi Ikezoe
3/Alfredo(by Symboli Kris S)/Craig Williams
4/Meiner Robusto(by Zenno El Cid)/Masayoshi Ebina
5/Neo Vainqueur(by French Deputy)/Suguru Hamanaka
6/Snowdon(by Admire Moon)/Yuichi Kitamura
7/Clarente(by Dance in the Dark)/Futoshi Komaki
8/Shonan Lambsey(by Dance in the Dark)/Yasunari Iwata
9/Ninja(by Grass Wonder)/Yusuke Fujioka
10/Jono Bacchus(by Agnes Tachyon)/Keita Tosaki
11/Makoto Reversal(by Tayasu Tsuyoshi)/Ioritz Mendizabal
12/Tokei Halo(by Gold Halo)/Hiroki Goto
13/Hakusan Moon(by Admire Moon)/Katsuharu Tanaka
14/Hishi Wild(by Gold Allure)/Christophe Lemaire
15/Leo Active(by Admire Moon)/Norihiro Yokoyama
16/Dahlonega(by Daiwa Major)/Tetsuzo Sato

Joie de Vivre sensational late run in Hanshin Juvenile F

2011-12-11T17:39:00.001+09:00

Joie de Vivre made superb headway in the last 200 meters to win the grade one Hanshin Juvenile Fillies on Sunday at Hanshin Racecourse. Yuichi Fukunage steered the winner and completed the 1,600-meter trip in 1 minute 34.90 seconds on firm ground.

I'm Yours, a 2 1/2-length behind the winner, got second with Sound of Heart finishing another nose away in third.

With 200 meters to go, Joie de Vivre displayed sensational acceleration on only her second start.

Joie de Vivre, a half sister of Buena Vista, is a 2-year-old filly of Deep Impact and the Caerleon mare Biwa Heidi.

Field of 2011 Hanshin Juvenile Fillies

2011-12-09T17:55:00.001+09:00

A total of 18 fillies are entered for the 2011 Hanshin Juvenile Fillies(g1) on Sunday at Hanshin Racecourse. It looks like a wide-open contest.

The 63rd Hanshin Juvenile Fillies, Grade One
Sunday, December 11, 2011
Hanshin Race-11
2yo f 1,600-meter turf right-handed
Weight: 54 kgs

1/Anchuras(by Deep Impact)/Yuga Kawada
2/Eishin Kincsem(by Fuji Kiseki)/Ryuji Wada
3/Arafune(by Kurofune)/Hayato Yoshida
4/Meine Bonheur(by Roses in May)/Manabu Sakai
5/Fine Choice(by Admire Moon)/Yasunari Iwata
6/Sweet Suzuran(by Symboli Kris S)/Shinji Kawashima
7/Lady Magnate(by Fasliyev)/Yuji Iida
8/Ichiokuno Hoshi(by Zenno Rob Roy)/Mirco Demuro
9/Naomino Yume(by Jungle Pocket)/Yuichi Kitamura
10/Anastasia Blue(by Falbrav)/Kota Fujioka
11/I'm Yours(by Falbrav)/Ioritz Mendizabal
12/La Scintillante(by Agnes Tachyon)/Yusuke Fujioka
13/Joie de Vivre(by Deep Impact)/Yuichi Fukunaga
14/Prenotato(by Jungle Pocket)/Tetsuzo Sato
15/Tosen Benizakura(by Daiwa Major)/Shinji Fujita
16/Epice Arome(by Daiwa Major)/Suguru Hamanaka
17/Garnet Charm(by Falbrav)/Hiroshi Kitamura
18/Sound of Heart(by Agnes Tachyon)/Yutaka Take

Transcend back-to-back victory in JC Dirt

2011-12-04T17:58:00.002+09:00

Transcend gained a back-to-back victory in the Japan Cup Dirt when he won the grade one 1,800-meter in 1 minute 50.60 seconds on fast Hanshin track. A 2-length behind he winner, Wonder Acute finished second with Espoir City finishing another nose back in third.

Race favorite Transcend was aggressively ridden by Shinji Fujita, who took him into a front position before the first corner. From there, they never got behind.
Espoir City ran right behind Transcend and was deprived of second by Wonder Acute at the line.

It was the 4th grade one victory for Transcend, whose career earnings boosted to 780+million jp yen with a career record of 19-10-5-0. T. Yasuda and K. Maeda trains and owns him respectively. North Hills Management was the breeder of Transcend, a 5-year-old bay horse by Wild Rush out of the Tony Bin mare Cinema Scope.

2011 Japan Cup Dirt

2011-12-02T16:48:00.001+09:00

Transcend, winner of the Japan Cup Dirt last year, got second in the Dubai World Cup earlier this season and followed up with victory in the NRA Nanbu Hai. His latest run was the JBC Classic in which he finished second behind Smart Falcon in early November. Transcend with his regular rider Shinji Fujita up will break from post 16.

Espoir City, winner of the Japan Cup Dirt two seasons ago, gained an outstanding victory in the grade three Miyako Stakes last month before finishing fourth behind Transcend in the Nanbu Hai. Regular rider Tetsuzo Sato will pilot him.

Transcend and Espoir City have the same type of running style and they like to go into front.

The 12th Japan Cup Dirt, Grade One
Sunday, December 4, 2011
Hanshin Race-11
3yo+ 1,800-meter dirt right-handed

1/Makani Bisty/4c/57/Yusuke Fujioka
2/Solitary King/4c/57/Ioritz Mendizabal
3/Eishin Dash/5h/57/Futoshi Komaki
4/La Verita(USA)/5m/55/Yutaka Take
5/Testa Matta(USA)/5h/57/Hirofumi Shii
6/Espoir City/6h/57/Tetsuzo Sato
7/Daisho Jet/8h/57/Yuichi Shibayama
8/Birdie Birdie/4c/57/Brett Prebble
9/Wonder Acute/5h/57/Ryuji Wada
10/Chryso/5h/57/Christophe Lemaire
11/Miracle Legend/4f/55/Yasunari Iwata
12/Nihonpiro Ours/4c/57/Manabu Sakai
13/Danon Come On/5h/57/Yuichi Fukunaga
14/Yamanin Kingly/6h/57/Mirco Demuro
15/Tosho Freak/4c/57/Kenichi Ikezoe
16/Transcend/5h/57/Shinji Fujita

Buena Vista wins Japan Cup by a neck

2011-11-27T17:32:00.002+09:00

Buena Vista got her revenge on last year's disqualificaion when Yasunari Iwata drove her home to win the Japan Cup this afternoon at Tokyo.

The 5-year-old mare won it by a neck from Tosen Jordan. Third was, another 1 3/4-length behind, Jaguar Mail with Trailblazer another 1/2-length away fourth. Another 3/4-length further behind, Win Variation got fifth. Danedream(GER) and Shareta(IRE) finished sixth and seventh, respectively, in an international field of 16.

The very final stage saw a thrilling battle between Buena Vista and Tosen Jordan. A better runner of the two was Buena Vista, who crossed the line in 2 minutes 24.20 seconds for the 2,400-meter winning time.

Buena Vista has now recorded the sixth grade one victory and totally ninth wins in 22 career starts with more than 1.4 billion jp yen in career earnings. Bred by Northern Racing, she is trained by H. Matsuda and owed by Sunday Racing Co. Ltd.

Buena Vista is a day bay mare by Special Week out of the Caerleon mare Biwa Heidi.

Danedream Early Favorite for 2011 Japan Cup

2011-11-26T18:00:00.002+09:00

As of Saturday, the favorite for the 2011 Japan Cup went to Danedream(GER), who has been installed at the odds of 3.2. The Arc de Triomphe winner will break from post 13.

The 3.7 second favorite went to Buena Vista, who breaks from post 2. Pelusa was the 9.0 third favorite followed by Victoire Pisa 11.0 and Tosen Jordan 11.4.

The post time of the Japan Cup will be at 3:20 p.m. JST on Sunday, November 27, 2011.

2011 Japan Cup

2011-11-25T18:16:00.003+09:00

A total of 16 runners have been entered for the 2011 Japan Cup, held on Sunday, November 27 at Tokyo Racecourse.

Buena Vista attempts to revenge a disqualification after finishing first in last year's Japan Cup. Her form could be topped in this second start off taking a long vacation.
Tosen Jordan and Eishin Flash, who ran in the Tenno Sho Autumn last outing, could produce a good fight in the final stage.
Victoire Pisa is capable of winning the world-famous Japanese race, but he has not run since the Dubai World Cup which he won for Japan.
It will be no big surprise that Danedream gets to the winning post.

The 31st Japan Cup, Grade One
international 3yo+ 2,400-meter turf left-handed

1/Jaguar Mail/7h/57/Hirofumi Shii
2/Buena Vista/5m/55/Yasunari Iwata
3/Rose Kingdom/4c/57/Ioritz Mendizabal
4/Oken Bruce Lee/6h/57/Masayoshi Ebina
5/Trailblazer/4c/57/Yutaka Take
6/To the Glory/4c/57/Yuichi Fukunaga
7/Pelusa/4c/57/Norihiro Yokoyama
8/Victoire Pisa/4c/57/Mirco Demuro
9/Sarah Lynx(IRE)/4f/55/Christophe Soumillon
10/King Top Gun/8h/57/Keita Tosaki
11/Mission Approved(USA)/7h/57/Jose Espinoza
12/Win Variation/3c/55/Katsumi Ando
13/Danedream(GER)/3f/53/Andrasch Starke
14/Shareta(IRE)/3f/53/Christophe Lemaire
15/Eishin Flash/4c/57/Kenichi Ikezoe
16/Tosen Jordan/5h/57/Craig Williams

Eishin Apollon takes Mile Championship

2011-11-20T17:29:00.002+09:00

Kenichi Ikezoe-piloted Eishin Apollon(USA) took the Mile Championship this afternoon at Kyoto in 1 minute 33.90 seconds on good ground. Fifth Petal was, a neck behind, second with Sahpresa(USA) finishing another 1 1/2-length back in third. Race favorite Real Impact finished fifth. Immortal Verse(IRE) got seventh.

Eishin Apollon finished strongly having taken a good position in the early stage. Before getting to the winning post, he had to deny the challenge of Fifth Petal.

It was the fourth victory in 14 starts for Eishin Apollon, whose career earnings boosted to 289+ million jp yen for owner T. Hirai and trainer M. Matsunaga. Silk and Scarlet Syndicate was the breeder of Eishin Apollon, a 4-year-old bay colt by Giant's Causeway out of the Sadler's Wells mare Silk and Scarlet.

2011 Mile Championship Field

2011-11-18T17:53:00.002+09:00

Real Impact is a talented 3-year-old colt who won the grade one Yasuda Kinen by beating the older g1 company earlier this season. He breaks from post 8.
Eishin Apollon(USA) may have good momentum off victory in the grade three Fuji Stakes. This colt will break from post 5.

The European entries are Immortal Verse(IRE) and Sahpresa(USA).
Immortal Verse, European g1 winner, is capable of getting up to the line first if she handles the firm Kyoto ground.
Multiple g1 winner Sahpresa will have his third Mile Championship run(fourth in 2010 and third in 2009) having come off victory in the Sun Chariot Stakes.

The 28th Mile Championship, Grade One
Sunday, November 20, 2011
Kyoto Race-11
3yo+ 1,600-meter turf right-handed

pp/HorseName/AgeSex/Weight(inKGS)/Rider
1/Fifth Petal/5h//57/Norihiro Yokoyama
2/Danon Yoyo/5h/57/Yuichi Kitamura
3/Silport/6h/57/Hideaki Miyuki
4/Live Concert(IRE)/7g/57/Yuga Kawada
5/Eishin Apollon(USA)/4c/57/Kenichi Ikezoe
6/A Shin Forward(USA)/6h/57/Yasunari Iwata
7/Immortal Verse(IRE)/3f/54/Christophe Soumillon
8/Real Impact/3c/56/Yuichi Fukunaga
9/Marcellina/3f/54/Katsumi Ando
10/Smile Jack/6h/57/Kosei Miura
11/Grand Prix Boss/3c/56/Mirco Demuro
12/Mikki Dream/4c/57/Ryuji Wada
13/Sahpresa(USA)/6m/57/Christophe Lemaire
14/Rainbow Pegasus/6h/57/Ioritz Mendizabal
15/Blitzen/5h/57/Yoshitomi Shibata
16/Clever Tosho/5h/57/Yutaka Take
17/Ridill/4c/57/Futoshi Komaki
18/Kyowa Jeanne/3f/54/Yuji Iida

Snow Fairy back-to-back win in QE II Cup

2011-11-13T17:44:00.002+09:00

Snow Fairy(IRE) posted a back-to-back victory in the grade one Queen Elizabeth II Commemorative Cup this afternoon when she won the 2,200-meter race in 2 minutes 11.60 seconds under the hands of Ryan Moore.

Aventura, a neck behind the winner, was second with Apapane another length back third. Whale Capture finished fourth followed by Rainbow Dahlia fifth in the field of 18 fillies and mares.

Shimmei Fuji weakened around 200 meters out, and Whale Capture, Apapane and Aventura fought for the lead. One of the three looked like a sure winner, but all of sudden Snow Fairy was on the seen. She just split between Whale Capture and Apapane right before she put her neck in front at the line.

Snow Fairy Early Favorite for QE II Cup

2011-11-12T18:26:00.002+09:00

As of Saturday, Snow Fairy(IRE) has been installed as the 3.6 favorite for the 2011 Queen Elizabeth II Commemorative Cup on Sunday at Kyoto. The 4-year-old filly, trained in England by E. Dunlop, tries to defend the QE II Cup title.

Aventura, winner of the Shuka Sho, was the 5.4 second favorite. Reve d'Essor, undefeated filly in four starts, was the 6.0 third favorite followed by multiple g1 winner Apapane 9.0 fourth favorite.

The post time of the QE II Cup will be at 3:40 p.m. JST on Sunday, November 13, 2011.

Mission Approved arrives in Japan
Mission Approved(USA) arrived in Japan on November 11. He is scheduled to run in the Japan Cup at Tokyo on November 27, 2011.

Snow Fairy returns to Kyoto for another QE II Cup title

2011-11-11T17:46:00.002+09:00

Snow Fairy(IRE) returns to Kyoto Racecourse to bid for another victory of the Queen Elizabeth II Commemorative Cup. The defending champ of the QE II Cup has yet to win this season, but she finished third in the Arc de Triomphe on her last outing.

Dancing Rain(IRE), winner of the English Oaks, is capable of making a big time run if she handles the Kyoto turf ground.

The main contenders among the local entries are likely to Aventura, Apapane, Animate Bio and Reve d'Essor.

The 36th Queen Elizabeth II Commemorative Cup, Grade One
Sunday, November 13, 2011
Kyoto Race-11
International 3yo+ 2,200-meter turf right-handed

pp/HorseName/AgeSex/Weight(inKGS)/Rider
1/Aventura/3f/54/Yasunari Iwata
2/Italian Red/5m/56/Suguru Hamanaka
3/Whale Capture/3f/54/Kenichi Ikezoe
4/Apapane/4f/56/Masayoshi Ebina
5/Walkure/7m/56/Ryuji Wada
6/Saint Emilion/4f/56/Mirco Demuro
7/Animate Bio/4f/56/Hironobu Tanabe
8/Reve d'Essor/3f/54/Yuichi Fukunaga
9/Rainbow Dahlia/4f/56/Yuga Kawada
10/Fumino Imagine/5m/56/Keisuke Dazai
11/Broad Street/5m/56/Shinji Fujita
12/Shimmei Fuji/4f/56/Yuichi Kitamura
13/All That Jazz/3f/54/Futoshi Komaki
14/Dancing Rain(IRE)/3f/54/John Murtagh
15/Erin Court/3f/54/Hiroki Goto
16/Gullveig/3f/54/Hirofumi Shii
17/Lady Alba Rosa/4f/56/Yutaka Take
18/Snow Fairy(IRE)/4f/56/Ryan Moore

Two Foreigners Arrive In Japan

2011-11-06T09:43:00.003+09:00

Immortal Verse(IRE) and Sahpresa(USA) arrived in Japan on November 5 to run in the grade one Milechampionship on November 20 at Kyoto.

It will be the third Milechampionship run for Sahpresa, who finished third and fourth in the last two years.

Red Desire retired
Red Desire has been retired from racing with 4 wins in 14 career starts and 360+ million jp yen in career earnings. She won the Shuka Sho in 2009 and the Al Maktoum Challenge Round 3 in 2010. The 5-year-old mare will breed at Shadai Farm in Hokkaido next breeding season.

QE II Cup Information

2011-11-02T17:46:00.002+09:00

Snow Fairy(IRE) and Dancing Rain(IRE) arrived in Japan on Monday, October 31. The two fillies are scheduled to run in the Queen Elizabeth II Commemorative Cup on November 13 at Kyoto. Snow Fairy attempts to defend the QE II Cup title.

Nakayama Festa Retired
Nakayama Festa has been retired from racing with five wins in 15 career starts and 419+ million jp yen in career earnings. The 5-year-old horse will go to stud at Breeders Stallion Station in Hokkaido.

Tosen Jordan wins Tenno Sho Autumn in record time

2011-10-30T17:52:00.002+09:00

Tosen Jordan went to an outstanding victory in the Tenno Sho Autumn under the hands of Italian jockey Nicola Pinna this afternoon at Tokyo and in the amazing time of 1 minute 56.10 seconds, 1.10 seconds faster than the Tokyo 2,000-meter turf course record set by Vodka in November 2, 2008.

Second was, a 1/2-length behind, Dark Shadow with another 1/2-length away Pelusa third. Race favorite Buena Vista finished another 3/4-length further behind in fourth.

As expected, Silport made the running, setting the opening 1,000-meter in 56.50 seconds. He opened up a huge lead before reaching the final bend.

Eishin Flash took the lead outside 200-meter from home, but that lead was short-lived. On the outside, To the Glory, Dark Shadow and Tosen Jordan had a reserved strong kick and they fought for the lead. On the further outside, Pelusa was in a hurry to challenge. Buena Vista made a good effort on the inside.
The great excitement developed when they rushed toward the line. At the end, Tosen Jordan had the strongest finishing kick, just quicking up into the front.

Tosen Jordan, by Jungle Pocket out of the Northern Taste mare Every Whisper, has now won nine in 16 career starts with 451+ million jp yen in career earnings. Northern Farm was the breeder of the 5-year-old bay horse.

Field of 2011 Tenno Sho Autumn

2011-10-28T17:49:00.002+09:00

A total of 18 horses will go to post for the 2011 Tenno Sho Autumn at 3:40 p.m. JST on Sunday, October 30 at Tokyo Racecourse.

The main contenders are likely to be:

Buena Vista, multiple g1 winner who had a couple of g1 second finishes earlier this season, aims at her second Tenno Sho Autumn title in two consecutive years;
Eishin Flash has not won since last year's Japanese Derby, but has consistently run this season on the highest level;
Rose Kigdom, a multiple g1 winner, comes into this classic g1 event off impressive victory in the Kyoto Daishoten;
Earnestly has enjoyed a fantastic 2011 campaign with the Takarazuka Kinen victory and won the All Comers on his latest running.

The 144th Tenno Sho Autumn, Grade One
Sunday, October 30, 2011
Tokyo Race-11
3yo+ 2,000-meter turf left-handed

pp/HorseName/AgeSex/Weight/Rider
1/Silport/6h/58/Masayoshi Ebina
2/Danon Yoyo/5h/58/Hiroki Goto
3/Axion/8h/58/Yoshitomi Shibata
4/Eishin Flash/4c/58/Christophe Lemaire
5/Buena Vista/5m/56/Yasunari Iwata
6/Big Week/4c/58/Yuga Kawada
7/Dark Shadow/4c/58/Francis Berry
8/Pelusa/4c/58/Norihiro Yokoyama
9/Jaguar Mail/7h/58/Hirofumi Shii
10/Meisho Beluga/6m/56/Kenichi Ikezoe
11/Rose Kingdom/4c/58/Ioritz Mendizabal
12/Tosen Jordan/5h/58/Nicola Pinna
13/Mikki Dream/4c/58/Ryuji Wada
14/Shadow Gate/9h/58/Katsuharu Tanaka
15/Shingen/8h/58/Hironobu Tanabe
16/Narita Crystal/5h/58/Yutaka Take
17/To the Glory/4c/58/Yuichi Fukunaga
18/Earnestly/6h/58/Tetsuzo Sato

2011 Japan Cup Information

2011-10-27T18:10:00.002+09:00

As of Thursday, October 27, the following four foreign horses have been accepted for invitation of the 2011 Japan Cup held on November 27 at Tokyo.

Shareta(IRE)
Sarah Lynx(IRE)
Danedream(GER)
Mission Approved(USA)
[in random order]

Dancing Rain(IRE) and Snow Fairy(IRE) may run in the Queen Elizabeth II Commemorative Cup at Kyoto on November 13. The two fillies remain in the final nomination stage of that grade one race.

A total of 18 horses have been entered for the grade one Tenno Sho Autumn to be run on Sunday, October 30 at Tokyo Racecourse.

Orfevre makes history

2011-10-23T17:35:00.002+09:00

Orfevre became the seventh Triple Crown winner on Sunday afternoon as he won the Kikuka Sho(Japanese St. Leger) in great fashion at Kyoto Racecourse. Ridden by Kenichi Ikezoe, the 1.4 favorite took the lead in the early stretch, and then he eased up by a 2 1/2-length from Win Variation for the historical victory. Tosen Ra was, another 1 3/4-length behind, third in the field of 18. The final time was 3 minutes 2.80 seconds for the 3,000-meter trip on firm ground.

It was a great and popular triumph for Orfevre, who was confirmed the best 3-year-old horse in the country. He raced in the color of Sunday Racing Co. and the saddle of Y.Ikee, 10 times, 6 of them which were the winning runs. His career earnings brought up to 615+ million jp million jp yen.

Shadai Corporation was the breeder of Orfevre, by Stay Gold out of Oriental Art, by Mejiro McQueen.

Orfevre tops field in Kikuka Sho

2011-10-21T17:43:00.002+09:00

Orfevre tops the field of 18 colts in the Kikuka Sho(Japanese St. Leger). The Stay Gold colt dominated the classic races in spring campaign, winning the Satsuki Sho(Japanese 2000 Guineas) and the Japanese Derby. On his recent run in the Kobe Shimbun Hai last month, he came with a 2 1/2-length victory. If he wins the grade one 3,000-meter race, he becomes the seventh colt to win the Triple Crown Races in JRA history.

The 72nd Kikuka Sho(Japanese St. Leger), Grade One
Sunday, October 23, 2011
Kyoto Race-11
3yo 3,000-meter turf right-handed
57kgs for colts, fillies allowed 2kgs
post time: 3:40 p.m. JST

1/Tosen Ra(by Deep Impact/Masayoshi Ebina
2/Luisa Theatre(by Heart's Cry)/Makoto Okabe
3/Susan Great(by King Kamehameha)/Ryuji Wada
4/Universal Bank(by Neo Universe)/Hironobu Tanabe
5/Fateful War(by Stay Gold)/Yoshitomi Shibata
6/Shigeru Rijicho(by Grass Wonder)/Shinji Fujita
7/Gotto Mustang(by Fuji Kiseki)/Kyosuke Kokubun
8/Belshazzar(by King Kamehameha)/Hiroki Goto
9/Danon Mill(by Jungle Pocket)/Suguru Hamanaka
10/Roccaverano(by Manhattan Cafe)/Yuga Kawada
11/Sadamu Patek(by Fuji Kiseki)/Yasunari Iwata
12/Harbor Commando(by Manhattan Cafe)/Takeshi Kimura
13/Win Variation(by Heart's Cry)/Katsumi Ando
14/Orfevre(by Stay Gold)/Kenichi Ikezoe
15/Sun Beam(by Neo Universe)/Shinichiro Akiyama
16/Danon McQueen(by Heart's Cry)/Futoshi Komaki
17/Frere Jacques(by Deep Impact)/Yuichi Fukunaga
18/Shonan Mighty(by Manhattan Cafe)/Yutaka Take

Aventura wins Shuka Sho

2011-10-16T17:58:00.002+09:00

The Shuka Sho was won this afternoon at Kyoto Racecourse by second favorite Aventura, who completed the 2,000-meter distance in 1 minute 58.20 seconds under the hands of Yasunari Iwata. Second was, a 1 1/4-length behind the winner, Kyowa Jeanne who was a 1 1/4-length better than race favorite Whale Capture.

It was a great performance by Aventura that has now won four in six starts(winning her last three) with more than 179 million jp yen in career earnings.

Coming on to the backstretch, Memorial Year had a clear lead. Far behind the leader, Aventura sailed a sole second, a head of the big pack of horses.

Right after turning into the homestretch, Aventura took the lead. Kyowa Jeanne and Whale Capture moved up into challenge, but their efforts were not good enough. Aventura ran on better than anyone.

Aventura is a 3-year-old filly by Jungle Pocket out of the Sunday Silence mare Admire Sunday. Owned by Carrot Farm and trained by K.Sumii, the bay filly was bred in Hokkaido by Northern Farm.

2011 Shuka Sho

2011-10-14T17:44:00.002+09:00

A total of 18 fillies will go to post for the grade one Shuka Sho, considered the last leg of the Triple Crown Races for 3-year-old fillies.

Having been sidelined more than 7 months due to leg injury, Aventura had a splendid campaign this summer with a couple of victories including the grade three Queen Stakes at Sapporo to make up for lost time. She drew post 4 in the grade one Shuka Sho.

Whale Capture, an impressive winner of the Rose Stakes, drew post 12. Erin Court, winner of the Japanese Oaks, will break from post 9. The Oka Sho(Japanese 1000 Guineas) winner Marcellina has post 18.

The post time of the 2000-meter Shuka Sho at Kyoto Racecourse will be at 3:40 p.m. on Sunday, October 16, 2011.

The 16th Shuka Sho, Grade One

All starters carry 55 kgs.

pp/Horse Name(Sire)/Rider
1/Kyowa Jeanne(by Heart's Cry)/Yuji Iida
2/Rivale(by King Halo)/Teruo Eda
3/Little Darling(by Deep Impact)/Shinichiro Akiyama
4/Aventura(by Jungle Pocket)/Yasunari Iwata
5/French Bow(by White Muzzle)/Ryuji Wada
6/Pure Brise(by Monsun)/Yoshitomi Shibata
7/Meine Sorciere(by Roses in May)/Daichi Shibata
8/Derma Durga(by Lincoln)/Yutaka Take
9/Erin Court(by Durandal)/Hiroki Goto
10/Speed Ripper(by Falbrav)/Hiroshi Kitamura
11/Zephyranthes(by King Halo)/Fumiaki Shibahara
12/Whale Capture(by Kurofune)/Kenichi Ikezoe
13/Acanthus(by Fuji Kiseki)/Norihiro Yokoyama
14/Memorial Year(by Gold Allure)/Suguru Hamanaka
15/Meine Isabel(by Telegnosis)/Masami Matsuoka
16/Calmato(by Symboli Kris S)/Katsumi Ando
17/Red Herencia(by Jungle Pocket)/Katsuharu Tanaka
18/Marcellina(by Deep Impact)/Yuichi Fukunaga

Curren Chan Wins Sprinters Stakes

2011-10-02T17:38:00.002+09:00

Curren Chan, ridden by Kenichi Ikezoe, won the Sprinters Stakes on Sunday afternoon by making a quick turn of foot down the Nakayama stretch. The 4-year-old filly won the grade one 1,200-meter in 1 minute 7.40 seconds on firm ground.

Second was, a 1 3/4-length behind the winner, Pas de Trois with another nose back A Shin Virgo third. Race favorite Rocket Man(AUS), another 1/2-length further away, finished fourth followed by Lucky Nine(IRE) fifth.

The field was reduced to 15 because of Be Be Guldan's scratch.

Curren Chan has enjoyed 2011 season with 5 victories in 6 starts. Coming into the Sprinters Stakes, she had the three grade stakes victories.

The Kurofune gray filly out of the Tony Bin mare Spring Ticket has now won 8 in 12 career starts with 297 million jp yen in career earnings.

Rocket Man Favorite For Sprinters S

2011-10-01T18:40:00.001+09:00

As of Saturday, Rocket Man(AUS) has been installed as the early favorite for the 2011 Sprinters Stakes at odds of 1.6.
Dasher Go Go was the second favorite at 5.3 followed by Curren Chan at 11.0.

The post time of the grade one Sprinters Stakes will be at 3:40 p.m. on Sunday.

Strong Foreign Entrants In Sprinters Stakes

2011-09-30T17:25:00.001+09:00

The three foreign entrants in the 16-horse field of the Sprinters Stakes look to be as strong as ever.

Rocket Man(AUS) of Singapore, coming into the grade one Sprinters off victory of the Singapore KrisFlyer International Sprint, has not lost in his last five runs. He can handle the firm ground.
Lucky Nine(IRE) and Green Birdie(NZ), who displayed a good form of run in the Centaur Stakes at Hanshin three week ago, may have another big run.

The top local entry will be Curren Chan. The 4-year-old filly, who has run very well this season with 4 wins in 5 starts, has a chance to get the first grade one title.

The 45th Sprinters Stakes, grade one
Sunday, October 2, 2011
Nakayama Race-11 3:40pm
3yo+ 1,200-meter turf right-handed

1/Lucky Nine(IRE)/4g/57/Brett Prebble
2/Keiai Aston/6h/57/Hiroki Goto
3/Pas de Trois/4c/57/Katsumi Ando
4/A Shin Rigil/4f/55/Hironobu Tanabe
5/Rocket Man(AUS)/6g/57/Felix Coetzee
6/San Carlo/5h/57/Yutaka Yoshida
7/Fifth Petal/5h/57/Norihiro Yokoyama
8/Dasher Go Go/4c/57/Yuga Kawada
9/Headliner/7g/57/Hideaki Miyuki
10/Curren Chan/4f/55/Kenichi Ikezoe
11/Tokai Mystery/5m/55/Yuichi Kitamura
12/Urbanity/7h/57/Hiroshi Kitamura
13/B B Guldan/7h/57/Tetsuzo Sato
14/A Shin Virgo/4f/55/Yuichi Fukunaga
15/Sandalphon/8h/57/Manabu Sakai
16/Green Birdie(NZ)/8g/57/Tye Angland

Orfevre gets off good start in Kobe

2011-09-26T18:17:00.001+09:00

On September 25 at Hanshin Racecourse, Orfevre got off to a good start toward the Kikuka Sho when he gained a 2 1/2-length victory in the grade two Kobe Shimbun Hai.

Orfevre dominated the 3-year-old classic races having won the Satsuki Sho and the Japanese Derby ealier this season. If he wins the Kikuka Sho, he will become the seventh Triple Crown winner.

Three Foreigners To Run in Sprinters S

2011-09-24T17:07:00.003+09:00

Rocket Man(AUS) of Singapore arrived Japan on September 18 to race the 2011 Sprinters Stakes at Nakayama October 2.
In addition to Rocket Man, Green Birdie(NZ) and Lucky Nine(IRE) will run in the grade one Sprinters S.

Three Japanese to Arc de Triomphe

2011-09-09T16:14:00.002+09:00

The three Japanese horses may run in the 2011 Prix de LArc de Triomphe at Longchamp.
Before the world famous race, Hiruno DAmour and Nakayama Festa prep in the Prix Foy at Longchamp, while Nakayama Knight will race in the Prix Niel as the prep race this weekend.

Note: Victoire Pisa returned to France to take on the Arc de Triomphe, but he came home back from France due to leg problem.

JRA 2011 Fall Season Kicks Off

2011-09-08T09:42:00.001+09:00

JRA 2011 Fall season will kick off September 10th at Nakayama and Hanshin Racecourses. On that day, Hanshin holds the grade three Asahi Challenge Cup.

Green Birdie(NZ) and Lucky Nine(IRE) arrived in Japan on September 1 to take on in the grade one Sprinters Stakes at Nakayama. Before the grade one sprinter race, the two Hong Kong-trained horses are scheduled to run in the Centaur Stakes at Hanshin on September 11.

Casino Drive retired from racing

2011-07-10T18:42:00.001+09:00

Casino Drive has been retired from racing. The 6-year-old horse retired with 4 wins in 11 starts. His final race was the May 29 Tsubasa Sho in which he finished 8th. The 2008 Peter Pan Stakes winner will stud at Shadai Stallion Center in Hokkaido.

Earnestly wins Takarazuka in record time

2011-06-26T18:02:00.002+09:00

Earnestly, under the hands of Tetsuzo Sato, went to a sensational victory this afternoon in the Takarazuka Kinen by a 1 1/2-length at Hanshin Race Course. He ran the Hanshin 2,200-meter turf course in a wonderful time of 2 minutes 10.10 seconds, which breaks the course record by 0.80 second.

Second was race favorite Buena Vista, and a nose further back, third was Eishin Flash. Fourth was, another half-length further behind, Rose Kingdom with Rulership fifth.

Earnestly chased after the leader Namura Crescent in second position and went into the front by getting past him on the final bend. From there, his strong stride was seen to the line. Buena Vista, Eishin Flash and Rose Kingdom were in a hurry to threaten Earnestly, but neither of them were in the shadow of him.

In the color of K.Maeda and the saddle of Sho Sasaki, Earnestly has recorded the first grade one glory and now won nine in 20 career starts with 514+ million jp yen in career earnings. North Hills Management in Hokkaido, Japan was the breeder of Earnestly, a 6-year-old bay horse by Grass Wonder out of the Tony Bin mare Lettre d'Amour.

2011 Takarazuka Kinen

2011-06-24T18:13:00.001+09:00

A total of 16 horses assemble for the 2011 Takarazuka Kinen at Hanshin on Sunday, June 26.

Buena Vista, coming off a narrow second in the Yasuda Kinen, will get a lot of support for favorite. The extended distance would be welcomed.

The main oppositions to Buena Vista are likely to be Rulership, winner of the May 28 grade two Kinko Sho and Eishin Flash, a runner-up in the grade one Tenno Sho Spring on May 1.

The 52nd Takarazuka Kinen, Grade One
Sunday, June 26, 2011
Hanshin Race Course, Race-11
3yo+ 2,200-meter turf right-handed
Post time: 3:40 p.m. JST

pp/Horse Name/AgeSex/Weight/Rider
1/Namura Crescent/6h/58/Ryuji Wada
2/Earnestly/6h/58/Tetsuzo Sato
3/Rulership/4c/58/Norihiro Yokoyama
4/Eishin Flash/4c/58/Katsumi Ando
5/Forgettable/5h/58/Yuga Kawada
6/Asakusa Kings/7h/58/Suguru Hamanaka
7/Heart Beat Song/4c/58/Shinichiro Akiyama
8/Buena Vista/5m/56/Yasunari Iwata
9/Rose Kingdom/4c/58/Craig Williams
10/Dream Journey/7h/58/Kenichi Ikezoe
11/Danon Yoyo/5h/58/Yuichi Kitamura
12/Shingen/8h/58/Shinji Fujita
13/Tosen Jordan/5h/58/Nicola Pinna
14/To the Glory/4c/58/Yuichi Fukunaga
15/Trailblazer/4c/58/Futoshi Komaki
16/Beat Black/4c/58/Yutaka Take

Field of 18 for 2011 Yasuda Kinen

2011-06-03T17:22:00.001+09:00

A field of 18 horses is set for the 2011 Yasuda Kinen at Tokyo on Sunday.

Apapane, winner of the grade one Victoria Mile, could be the one to keep an eye on. It is interesting to see how she runs in the male grade one company.

Hong Kong entries are Thumbs Up(NZ) and Beauty Flash(NZ).

Strong Return and Silport, who finished first and second respectively in the grade two Keio Hai Spring Cup, are likely to make the big time.

The 61st Yasuda Kinen, Grade One
Sunday, June 5, 2011
Tokyo Race-11
International 1600-meter turf left-handed
Post time: 3:40 p.m. JST

pp/HorseName/AgeSex/Weight(in kgs)/Rider
1/Strong Return/5h/58/Syu Ishibashi
2/Silport/6h/58/Futoshi Komaki
3/Smile Jack/6h/58/Kosei Miura
4/Clever Tosho/5h/58/Yutaka Take
5/San Carlo/5h/58/Norihiro Yokoyama
6/Thumbs Up(NZ)/7g/58/Brett Prebble
7/Silk Earnest/4c/58/Kenichi Ikezoe
8/Apapane/4f/56/Masayoshi Ebina
9/Beauty Flash(NZ)/6g/58/Weichong Marwing
10/Ridill/4c/58/Eiji Nakadate
11/Cosmo Sensor/4c/58/Masami Matsuoka
12/Live Concert(IRE)/7g/58/Shinji Fujita
13/Danon Yoyo/5h/58/Craig Williams
14/Real Impact/3c/54/Keita Tosaki
15/B B Guldan/7h/58/Tetsuzo Sato
16/Jo Cappuccino/5h/58/Yuichi Fukunaga
17/A Shin Forward(USA)/6h/58/Yasunari Iwata
18/Reach the Crown/5h/58/Hiroshi Kitamura

Orfevre storms home in Derby

2011-05-29T18:55:00.002+09:00

Orfevre stormed home on the muddy Tokyo course in the Tokyo Yushun(Japanese Derby) on Sunday to collect his second classic victory of the season. He won the Satsuki Sho(Japanese 2000 Guineas) last month.

Orfevre, ridden by Kenichi Ikezoe, quickened upon into the front at around 200 meters remaining on his way to winning the 2011 Derby in 2 minutes 30.50 seconds. Second was, a 1 3/4-length behind, Win Variation with Belshazzar finishing another 7 lengths away in third.

Owned by Sunday Racing Co. Ltd. and trained by Y.Ikee, Orfevre has now won four in 8 starts. His career earnings boosted to 411+ million jp yen.

Shadai Corporation Inc. was the breeder of Orfevre, a 3-year-old bay colt by Stay Gold out of Oriental Art by Mejiro McQueen.

Stage Set For 2011 Japanese Derby

2011-05-27T18:28:00.001+09:00

The stage is set for the Tokyo Yushun(known as the Japanese Derby) at Tokyo on Sunday. The 18 three-year-old colts will go for the most prominent race in the country.

Shocks are rare. Seven of the last 10 favorites have won. Second and third favorites have won each. The longest-priced winner in the last decade was Eishin Flash(7th favorite in 2010).

The Satsuki Sho(Japanese 2000 Guineas) and the NHK Mile Cup provide a good guidance. In the last 10 years, runners of the Satsuki Sho(Japanese 2000 Guineas) have won six times and placed second four times, while the NHK Mile Cup runners have recorded three firsts and a second.

Frankie Dettori, one of the most world-famous jockeys, will participate in the Japanese Derby for the first time, taking the mount on Debonair, owned by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid.

The 78th Japanese Derby, Grade One
Sunday, May 29, 2011
Tokyo Race-11
3yo 2,400-meter turf left-handed
Weight: 57kgs for colts; fillies allowed 2kgs
Post time: 3:40 p.m. JST

1/Win Variation(by Heart's Cry)/Katsumi Ando
2/Sadamu Patek(by Fuji Kiseki)/Yasunari Iwata
3/All as One(by Neo Universe)/Shinji Fujita
4/Libertas(by Deep Impact)/Hirofumi Shii
5/Orfevre(by Stay Gold)/Kenichi Ikezoe
6/Cresco Grand(by Tanino Gimlet)/Suguru Hamanaka
7/Belshazzar(by King Kamehameha)/Hiroki Goto
8/Fateful War(by Stay Gold)/Katsuharu Tanaka
9/Cotillion(by Deep Impact)/Futoshi Komaki
10/Nakayama Knight(by Stay Gold)/Yoshitomi Shibata
11/Debonair(by Agnes Tachyon)/Lanfranco Dettori
12/A Shin Jackal(by Fuji Kiseki)/Yuga Kawada
13/Roccaverano(by Manhattan Cafe)/Yutaka Take
14/Shonan Parfait(by Agnes Tachyon)/Kosei Miura
15/Tosen Ra(by Deep Impact)/Masayoshi Ebina
16/Tosen Reve(by Deep Impact)/Craig Williams
17/Universal Bank(by Neo Universe)/Yuichi Fukunaga
18/Northern River(by Agnes Tachyon)/Nicola Pinna

Erin Court wins Japanese Oaks

2011-05-22T17:59:00.001+09:00

Erin Court won the Yushun Himba(known as the Japanese Oaks) as seventh favorite this afternoon in the rainy Tokyo Racecourse.

The race ended in a thrilling three-way battle between Pure Brise, Erin Court and Whale Capture on the very final stage. Erin Court's stride was the best of the three. The final time of the 2,400-meter turf trip was 2 minutes 25.70 seconds.

The winning rider Hiroki Goto said after the race. "The win filled me with emotion. I was very busy with having my filly run straight."

Erin Court beat eighth favorite Pure Brise by a neck with second favorite Whale Capture finishing another nose away in third. Race favorite Marcellina finished another 2 1/2-length further back in fourth.

Under the saddle of K. Sasada and the own of T. Yoshida, Erin Court has now won four in 9 starts with more than 164 million jp yen in career earnings.

rin Court broke the maiden on her third start last September and followed up with three defeats. The darkbay filly came into the Oaks off two-straight victories.

Bred in Chitose, Hokkaido, Erin Court is a 3-year-old filly by Durandal out of the Bluebird mare Erin Bird.

2011 Japanese Oaks

2011-05-20T17:43:00.002+09:00

A total of 18 three-year-old fillies will go for the 2011 Yushun Himba(Japanese Oaks) on Sunday at Tokyo.

Marcellina and Whale Capture, who finished first and second in the Oka Sho(Japanese 1000 Guineas) respectively, are likely to be the major players.

The 72nd Yushun Himba(Japanese Oaks), Grade One
Sunday, May 22, 2011
Tokyo Race-11
3yo f 2,400-meter turf left-handed
weight: 55kgs
post time: 3:40 p.m. JST

pp/HorseName(sire)/Rider
1/Hubble Bubble(by Deep Impact)/Craig Williams
2/Medetashi(by Deep Impact)/Suguru Hamanaka
3/Bouncy Tune(by Stay Gold)/Kosei Miura
4/Erin Court(by Durandal)/Hiroki Goto
5/Calmato(by Symboli Kris S)/Yutaka Yoshida
6/Silent Sonic(by Deep Impact)/Katsuharu Tanaka
7/Rice Terrace(by Song of Wind)/Kyosuke Maruta
8/Meine Sorciere(by Roses in May)/Daichi Shibata
9/Marcellina(by Deep Impact)/Katsumi Ando
10/Derma Durga(by Lincoln)/Nicola Pinna
11/Acanthus(by Fuji Kiseki)/Hiroshi Kitamura
12/Whale Capture(by Kurofune)/Kenichi Ikezoe
13/Sicilian Breeze(by Zenno Rob Roy)/Yusuke Fujioka
14/Speed Ripper(by Falbrav)/Masayoshi Ebina
15/Happy Glass(by Deep Impact)/Daisaku Matsuda
16/Gullveig(by Deep Impact)/Hirofumi Shii
17/Meine Isabel(by Telegnosis)/Masami Matsuoka
18/Pure Brise(by Monsun)/Yoshitomi Shibata

-------------------------------------------

Danon Chantilly has been retired from racing. The 2010 NHK Mile Cup winner suffered tendon injury after finishing fourth in the Sankei Osaka Hai on April 3rd. That second injury made him retire. The 4-year-old colt will stand at Shadai Stallion Station.

Grand Prix Boss, winner of the 2011 NHK Mile Cup, is scheduled to leave Japan for England on May 27 to run in the June 4 St. James Palace Stakes at Ascot.

Victoria Mile won by Apapane

2011-05-15T17:39:00.000+09:00

The Victoria Mile was won this afternoon at Tokyo after an exciting finish by second favorite Apapane, who defeated favorite Buena Vista by a neck with Lady Alba Rosa another neck away third. Masayoshi Ebina was aboard the winner filly to complete the 1,600-meter turf distance in 1 minute 31.90 seconds on firm ground.

The race ended in a great finish between the first three. Lady Alba Rosa held a slight lead on the inside until Apapane got past her near the finishing line. Buena Vista came to challenge on the outside.

Apapane has now won seven in 12 starts with more than 526 million jp yen in career earnings. Bred by Kaneko Makoto Holdings Co., Apapane is a 4-year-old filly by King Kamehameha out of the Salt Lake mare Salty Bid.

Buena Vista Tops Field Of Victoria Mile

2011-05-14T12:16:00.001+09:00

Buena Vista coming off a disappointing 8th in the Dubai World Cup last March tops the field of the 2011 Victoria Mile to be run on Sunday at Tokyo Racecourse. In this g1 mile event, the multiple g1 winner will make her 2011 debut on the home circuit.

The main opponents to Buena Vista are likely to be Apapane who dominated the 3yo filly classics last season and Lady Alba Rosa, winner of the grade three Nakayama Himba Stakes.

The 6th Victoria Mile, Grade One
Sunday, May 15, 2011
Tokyo Race-11
4yo+ f&m 1,600-meter turf left-handed
Post time: 3:40 p.m. JST

1/Wild Raspberry/4f/55/Kenichi Ikezoe
2/Animate Bio/4f/55/Hiroki Goto
3/Grand Prix Angel/5m/55/Craig Williams
4/Lady Alba Rosa/4f/55/Yuichi Fukunaga
5/En Ciel Bleu/4f/55/Katsuharu Tanaka
6/Oken Sakura/4f/55/Hiroshi Kitamura
7/Broad Street/5m/55/Shinji Fujita
8/Kauai Lane/5m/55/Norihiro Yokoyama
9/Shoryu Moon/4f/55/Suguru Hamanaka
10/Cosmo Nemo Shin/4f/55/Masami Matsuoka
11/A Shin Returns/4f/55/Kosei Miura
12/Spring Thunder/4f/55/Hirofumi Shii
13/Buena Vista/5m/55/Yasunari Iwata
14/Dear Arethusa/4f/55/Yutaka Yoshida
15/Apricot Fizz/4f/55/Yutaka Take
16/Apapane/4f/55/Masayoshi Ebina
17/Bravo Daisy/6m/55/Yuichi Kitamura

Grand Prix Boss takes NHK Mile Cup

2011-05-08T17:44:00.001+09:00

Race favorite Grand Prix Boss came home a winner of the 2011 NHK Mile Cup this afternoon at Tokyo. Given a perfect ride by Australian jockey Craig Williams, Grand Prix Boss won the grade one 1,600 meters in 1 minute 32.20 seconds by a 1 1/2-length from second favorite Cotillion. Third was, another 3/4-length behind, Real Impact with Eishin Osman fourth.

At around 200 meters from home, Grand Prix Boss just split horses on the middle, pulling away from the rest on his way to the winning post.

This was Grand Prix Boss' second g1 victory and his fourth win in 7 starts with 235+ million jp yen in career earnings. Bred by Northern Racing, Grand Prix Boss by Sakura Bakushin out of the Sunday Silence mare Rosy Mist races for trainer Y. Yahagi and owner Grand Prix Co. Ltd.

Field of 2011 NHK Mile Cup

2011-05-06T21:26:00.001+09:00

A total of 18 horses have been entered for the 2011 NHK Mile Cup at Tokyo.

Grand Prix Boss, winner of the grade one Asahi Hai Futurity Stakes in 2010, drew post 13. Real Impact, second in the Asahi Hai FS, drew post 1. Henny Hound who gained victory in the grade three Falcon Stakes, drew post 9. Cotillion who finished second in the Mainichi Hai drew post 17.

The post time of the grade one 1,600-meter race will be at 3:40 p.m. on Sunday, May 8, 2011.

1/Real Impact(by Deep Impact)/3c/57/Hiroyuki Uchida
2/Rikisan Max(by King Halo)/3c/57/Fumiaki Shibahara
3/Eishin Osman(by Rock of Gibraltar)/3c/57/Hiroki Goto
4/A Shin Jackal(by Fuji Kiseki)/3c/57/Yasunari Iwata
5/Meiner Lacrima(by Chief Bearhart)/3c/57/Masami Matsuoka
6/Dance Fantasia(by Falbrav)/3f/55/Hiroshi Kitamura
7/Clianthus(by Redoute's Choice)/3f/55/Yutaka Take
8/Pray(by Rock of Gibraltar)/3c/57/Daichi Shibata
9/Henny Hound(USA)(by Henny Hughes)/3c/57/Nicola Pinna
10/Forever Mark(by Falbrav)/3f/55/Yutaka Yoshida
11/T M Otaka(by White Muzzle)/3c/57/Kazuya Oba
12/Kyoei Basara(GB)(by Aussie Rules)/3c/57/Shinichiro Kobayashi
13/Grand Prix Boss(by Sakura Bakushin O)/3c/57/Craig Williams
14/Ivy League(by Lincoln)/3c/57/Yuichi Fukunaga
15/Robin Foot(by Zenno El Cid)/3c/57/Hayato Yoshida
16/Admire Sagace(by Fuji Kiseki)/3c/57/Yuga Kawada
17/Cotillion(by Deep Impact)/3c/57/Futoshi Komaki
18/Omega Brain(by King Kamehameha)/3c/57/Norihiro Yokoyama

-------------------------------------------

7 horses including Victoire Pisa and Nakayama Festa have been nominated for the 2011 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.

Hiruno d'Amour triumphs Tenno Sho Spring

2011-05-01T17:50:00.002+09:00

Hiruno d'Amour triumphed the Tenno Sho Spring at Kyoto on Sunday afternoon. Shinji Fujita guided the 4-year-old colt to the winning post in 3 minutes 20.60 seconds over 3,200-meters on good turf.

Before the 1/2-length victory, Hiruno d'Amour had to deny challenging Eishin Flash in the deep stretch.

Namura Crescent finished a 1 1/2-length behind Eishin Flash in third with another 1 1/4-length back Makani Bisty fourth.

Race favorite To the Glory finished a disappointing 13th.

By Manhattan Cafe out of the Lammtarra mare Share Elegance, Hiruno d'Amour has now won 4 in 14 starts with 355+ million jp yen in career earnings.
Bred by Hashimoto Bokujo in Hokkaido, Hiruno d'Amour races for owner M.Hirukawa and trainer M. Kon.

Field of Tenno Sho Spring 2011

2011-04-29T17:49:00.002+09:00

The field of the 2011 Tenno Sho Spring has been drawn. A total of 18 horses have been entered for the traditional grade one race at Kyoto Race Course.

The 143rd Tenno Sho Spring, Grade One
Sunday, May 1, 2011
Kyoto Race-11
4yo+ 3,200-meter turf right-handed

1/Beat Black/4c/58/Yasunari Iwata
2/Hiruno d'Amour/4c/58/Shinji Fujita
3/Namura Crescent/6h/58/Ryuji Wada
4/Rose Kingdom/4c/58/Yutaka Take
5/Gentoo(FR)/7g/58/Dominique Boeuf
6/Pelusa/4c/58/Norihiro Yokoyama
7/Makani Bisty/4c/58/Futoshi Komaki
8/Meiner Kitz/8h/58/Masami Matsuoka
9/To the Glory/4c/58/Hirofumi Shii
10/Tosen Crown/7h/58/Teruo Eda
11/Gestalt/4c/58/Yusuke Fujioka
12/Cosmo Helenos/4c/58/Yuta Nakatani
13/Jamil/5h/58/Craig Williams
14/Tokai Trick/9h/58/Yuga Kawada
15/Eishin Flash/4c/58/Hiroyuki Uchida
16/Oken Bruce Lee/6h/58/Suguru Hamanaka
17/Forgettable/5h/58/Genki Maruyama
18/Cosmo Meadow(IRE)/4c/58/Yuji Tannai

Top Ratings
To the Glory, winner of the Nikkei Sho and the Kyoto Kinen this season, has been assigned the top weight at 120 pounds(long distance).

Rose Kingdom, the 2010 Japan Cup winner who got third in the Nikkei Sho, was assigned at 117(long distance).
Pelusa, coming off second in the Nikkei Sho, was assigned at 116(long distance). Eishin Flash, winner of the 2010 Japanese Derby, was also assigned at 116(intermediate distance).
Gentoo(FR), the only foreign entry who was shipped from France, was assigned at 116(extended distance).

Hiruno d'Amour(winner of the Sankei Osaka Hai) and Namura Crescent(winner of the Hanshin Daishoten) shared at 113.

Orfevre has an overwhelming victory in Satsuki

2011-04-24T17:34:00.002+09:00

Orfevre had an overwhelming victory in the Satsuki Sho(Japanese 2000 Guineas) on Sunday at Tokyo Racecourse. He won it by a 3-length from favorite Sadamu Patek with Danon Ballade finishing another 1 1/4-length further back in third.

Under the hand of Kenichi Ikezoe, Orfevre broke away from the rest at around 200 meters from home on his way to completing the 2,000-meter classic race in 2 minutes .60 second.

Trained by Y. Ikee and owned by Sunday Racing Co. Ltd., Orfevre has now boosted his career earnings to 224+ million jp yen with record of 7-3-2-1. Shadai Corporation was the breeder of the chestnut colt.

Orfevre is a 3-year-old colt by Stay Gold out of the Mejiro McQueen mare Oriental Art.

Field of 2011 Satsuki Sho

2011-04-22T18:09:00.001+09:00

The field of the 2010 Satsuki Sho(Japanese 2000 Guineas) has been drawn.

A total of 18 colts have been entered for the first jewel of the 3-year-old triple crown races.

The Yayoi Sho winner Sadamu Patek drew post 4. Nakayama Knight, winner of the Kyodo News Service Hai, drew post 5. Orfevre coming off victory in the Spring Stakes had post 12.

Because of abandonment of the Nakayama April meeting, Tokyo Racecourse hosts the Satsuki Sho for the first time in 23 years. The post time of the grade one 2,000-meter event will be at 3:40 p.m. on Sunday, April 24, 2011.

The field of the 71st Satsuki Sho is as follows:

1/Stella Rossa(by Heart's Cry)/Yuga Kawada
2/Danon Ballade(by Deep Impact)/Yutaka Take
3/Northern River(by Agnes Tachyon)/Hirofumi Shii
4/Sadamu Patek(by Fuji Kiseki)/Yasunari Iwata
5/Nakayama Knight(by Stay Gold)/Yoshitomi Shibata
6/Danon Mill(by Jungle Pocket)/Hiroyuki Uchida
7/Roccaverano(by Manhattan Cafe)/Yutaka Yoshida
8/Big Romance(by Grass Wonder)/Hiroshi Kitamura
9/Kahuna(by King Kamehameha)/Genki Maruyama
10/Eishin Osman(by Rock of Gibraltar)/Hiroki Goto
11/Belshazzar(by King Kamehameha)/Katsumi Ando
12/Orfevre(by Stay Gold)/Kenichi Ikezoe
13/Libertas(by Deep Impact)/Norihiro Yokoyama
14/Fateful War(by Stay Gold)/Katsuharu Tanaka
15/Debonair(by Agnes Tachyon)/Tetsuzo Sato
16/Tosen Ra(by Deep Impact)/Masayoshi Ebina
17/Pray(by Rock of Gibraltar)/Masami Matsuoka
18/All as One(by Neo Universe)/Shinji Fujita

--------------------------------------------

Victoire Pisa is out of the QE II Cup at Sha Tin. He will not run in the grade one Hong Kong race due to light lameness.

Whale Capture favorite for Oka Sho

2011-04-09T18:07:00.000+09:00

As of Saturday, Whale Capture, winner of the grade three Queen Cup, has been installed as the 3.0 favorite for the wide-open Oka Sho(Japanese 1000 Guineas) at Hanshin on Sunday, April 10, 2011.
Having won the Elfin Stakes, Marcellina was the 3.7 second favorite. Dance Fantasia was the 5.6 third favorite with Trend Hunter 8.9.

The post time of the Oka Sho will be at 3:40 p.m. JST on Sunday.

Field set for 2011 Oka Sho

2011-04-08T17:44:00.002+09:00

A total of 18 fillies will go for the 2011 Oka Sho(Japanese 1000 Guineas) on Sunday, April 10 at Hanshin.

In the absence of Reve d'Essor who suffered leg injury, the grade one classic race for 3-year-old fillies is a wide-open contest.

The 71st Oka Sho, grade one
Sunday, April 10, 2011
Hanshin Race-11
3yo f 1,600-meter turf right-handed

1/Forever Mark(by Falbrav)/Yutaka Yoshida
2/Derma Durga(by Lincoln)/Hiroyuki Uchida
3/Cafe Himiko(USA)(by Bandini)/Yoshitomi Shibata
4/Dance Fantasia(by Falbrav)/Norihiro Yokoyama
5/Marumo Sarah(by Kurofune)/Ken Tanaka
6/Hubble Bubble(by Deep Impact)/Shinji Fujita
7/A Shin Harbor(USA)(by Cozzene)/Yutaka Take
8/Marcellina(by Deep Impact)/Katsumi Ando
9/Latte Art(by Sakura Bakushin O)/Masami Matsuoka
10/Speed Ripper(by Falbrav)/Masayoshi Ebina
11/Sakura Belle(by Sakura President)/Hayato Yoshida
12/Wood Ship(by Kurofune)/Yusuke Fujioka
13/Rice Terrace(by Song of Wind)/Hirofumi Shii
14/Medetashi(by Deep Impact)/Suguru Hamanaka
15/French Cactus(by Taiki Shuttle)/Hiroshi Kitamura
16/Whale Capture(by Kurofune)/Kenichi Ikezoe
17/Trend Hunter(by Manhattan Cafe)/Yasunari Iwata
18/Meine Schokolade(by Roses in May)/Ryuji Wada
All starters carry 55kgs.

---------------------------------------------------------

Victoire Pisa arrived at Hong Kong on April 1. His next action will be the QE II Cup at Sha Tin on May 1.

Kinshasa no Kiseki sudden retirement

2011-03-28T15:37:00.002+09:00

One day after the sensational victory in the Takamatsunomiya Kinen, Kinshasa no Kiseki(AUS) will be retired from racing, JRA announced.

Kinshasa no Kiseki is a 8-year-old son of Fuji Kiseki and the Pleasant Colony mare Keltshaan) and raced for owner K. Yoshida and trainer N. Hori.

His glorious racing career ended with 12 wins in 31 starts and 785+ million jp yen in earnings. He will go to stud at Shadai Stallion Station in Hokkaido.

Kinshasa no Kiseki gains back-to-back victory in Takamatsunomiya

2011-03-27T18:01:00.002+09:00

Kinshasa no Kiseki(AUS) gained back-to-back victory in the Takamatsunomiya Kinen when he won the 1,200-meter race on Sunday afternoon at Hashin. A 1 1/4-length behind the winner, San Carlo finished second with Urbanity finishing another head back in third.

Ridden by Umberto Rispoli, Kinshasa no Kiseki took a good position behind the leading pack, and he got past Dasher Go Go outside 100 meters from home to take the lead on his way to winning his second Takamatsunomiya victory in 1 minute 7.90 seconds.

Field of 2011 Takamatsunomiya Kinen

2011-03-25T18:13:00.002+09:00

The field of 16 horses is set for the 2011 Takamatsunomiya Kinen on Sunday, March 27. Hanshin Racecourse hosts the grade one 1,200-meter race due to refurbishment of Chukyo Racecourse.

Kinshasa no Kiseki(AUS), winner of the Takamatsunomiya last year, drew post 4. The Silk Road Stakes winner Jo Cappuccino and the Hankyu Hai winner San Carlo drew post 5 and 8 respectively.

1/Red Spada/5h/57/Norihiro Yokoyama
2/Shonan Alba/6h/57/Masayoshi Ebina
3/Sandalphon/8h/57/Yutaka Take
4/Kinshasa no Kiseki(AUS)/8h/57/Umberto Rispoli
5/Jo Cappuccino/5h/57/Kota Fujioka
6/Urbanity/7h/57/Hirofumi Shii
7/Spring Song/6h/57/Kenichi Ikezoe
8/San Carlo/5h/57/Yutaka Yoshida
9/Headliner/7g/57/Hideaki Miyuki
10/Summer Wind/6h/57/Yuichi Fukunaga
11/Symboli Gran(IRE)/9h/57/Hiroshi Kitamura
12/B B Guldan/7h/57/Tetsuzo Sato
13/Dasher Go Go/4c/57/Yuga Kawada
14/A Shin Forward(USA)/6h/57/Yasunari Iwata
15/One Carat/5m/55/Yusuke Fujioka
16/Western Venus/8m/55/Yoshitomi Shibata

-------------------------------------------------

Because of abandonment of the April meeting at Nakayama, the 2011 Satsuki Sho (Japanese 2000 Guinease) will be held at Tokyo Racecourse.

JRA races abandoned due to earthquake

2011-03-18T19:38:00.002+09:00

JRA races were not held on March 12 and 13 due to the big earthquake.

Hanshin will have the three-day meeting from March 19 thru 21.

The Nakamaya March meeting has been abandoned due to the earthquake.
The grade races which were fixed at the Nakayama March meeting may be run at Hanshin Race Course.

Transcend takes Februray S

2011-02-20T17:53:00.001+09:00

Transcend, ridden by Shinji Fujita and trained by T.Yasuda, won the February Stakes on Sunday afternoon at Tokyo Race Course.
The 5-year-old Wild Rush horse was never out of the front position during the 1,600-meter trip to get the winning post in 1 minute 36.40 seconds on dirt surface.

Furioso deprived Birdie Birdie of second place, finishing a 1 1/2-length behind the winner. A neck separated between Furioso and Birdie Birdie.

Transcend out of the Tony Bin mare Cinema Scope raced for owner K.Maeda with 8 wins in 15 career starts. His career earnings brought to 407+ million jp yen. North Hills Management was the breeder of the bay horse.

Transcend early favorite for February S

2011-02-19T18:03:00.002+09:00

As of Saturday, Transcend has been installed as the 3.4 favorite for the 2011 February Stakes to be run on Sunday at Tokyo Racecourse. The 5-year-old horse comes into the grade one dirt event off an impressive victory in the Japan Cup Dirt. The Negishi Stakes winner Sei Crimson was the 5.2 second favorite. The third favorite went to Furioso at 6.1. Danon Come On was the fourth favorite at 7.6 followed by Birdie Birde 9.2.

Field Of 2011 Grade One February Stakes

2011-02-18T17:39:00.001+09:00

The field of the 2011 February Stakes has been drawn. A total of 16 horses assemble for the grade one 1600-meter dirt event at Tokyo on February 20.

Transcend, coming off victory in the grade one Japan Cup Dirt last December, drew post 12. Furioso, the NAR champion who came off the g1 Kawasaki Kinen victory, drew post 13. Sei Crimson, winner of the Negishi Stakes, drew post 14.

The post time of the February Stakes will be at 3:40 p.m.

The 28th running of the February Stakes, grade one
4yo+ international 1,600-meter dirt left-handed

1/Oro Meister/6h/57/Yutaka Yoshida
2/Cosmo Phantom(USA)/4c/57/Masami Matsuoka
3/Daisho Jet/8h/57/Yuichi Shibayama
4/Live Concert(IRE)/7g/57/Yuichi Fukunaga
5/Birdie Birdie/4c/57/Kenichi Ikezoe
6/Courir Passion/6h/57/Akihide Tsumura
7/Danon Come On/5h/57/Umberto Rispoli
8/Victory Tetsuni(USA)/7h/57/Kosei Miura
9/Power Struggle/5h/57/Hiroki Goto
10/Daishin Orange/6h/57/Yuga Kawada
11/Meisho Tametomo/6h/57/Yutaka Take
12/Transcend/5h/57/Shinji Fujita
13/Furioso/7h/57/Mirco Demuro
14/Sei Crimson/5h/57/Hideaki Miyuki
15/Silk Mobius/5h/57/Yasunari Iwata
16/Machikanenihombare/6h/57/Anthony Crastus

Transcend is among 22 nominations of February Stakes

2011-02-16T18:26:00.001+09:00

Transcend is among the 22 nominations of the 2011 February Stakes, the JRA first grade one race of the year, run at Tokyo on February 20.

Transcend, winner of the Japan Cup Dirt in 2010, likes to make a good warm-up run before taking on the Godlphin Mile at Dubai next month.

Three Horses To 2011 Dubai World Cup Races

2011-02-05T17:32:00.002+09:00

Japan will send three horses to the 2011 Dubai World Cup races as follows:

Buena Vista and Victoire Pisa for the Dubai World Cup(g1)
Rulership for the Dubai Sheema Classic(g1)

Buena Vista and Rulership will go straight to the Dubai races without preps, while Victoire Pisa may run in the Nakayama Kinen before the Dubai race. The three horses are scheduled to make a trip to Dubai on March 9.

Victoire Pisa wins Arima in photo finish

2010-12-26T17:46:00.002+09:00

Victoire Pisa won the 2010 Arima Kinen in exciting photo finish on Sunday. The Neo Universe colt won it by a nose from favorite Buena Vista. To the Glory finished another neck back in third with Pelusa another 3/4-length further away fourth.

Going into the final 200 meters, Victoire Pisa with Mirco Demura up took the lead with To the Victory right on his tail. Pelusa followed in third. In a moment later, on the far outside, Buena Vista with quick feet made up ground quickly to challenge.

Victoire Pisa and Buena Vista looked like they got into the line at the same level.

The winner went to Victoire Pisa by providing the photo inspection. In the 2,500-meter race on firm ground, the final time was 2 minutes 32.60 seconds.

Victoire Pisa, a 3-year-old colt out of the Machiavellian mare Whitewater Affair, trained by K.Sumii and owned by Y.Ichikawa, has now won six in 11 career starts with 532+ million jp yen in career earnings. Shadai Farm was the breeder of the dark bay colt.

Field of 2010 Arima Kinen

2010-12-24T18:15:00.002+09:00

A strong field of 15 horses is set for the 2010 Arima Kinen.

4-year-olds have won seven times in the last 10 Arima Kinen. Two 3-year-olds have won during the same period.

Occasional surprise. Five of the last 10 favorites have won and two second favorites have made it to the winner's circle in the last 10 years.

Rose Kingdom, the recent Japan Cup winner, was scratched due to colic.

The Arima Kinen(also known as the Grand Prix) is the biggest season-ending race.

The 55th running of the Arima Kinen, grade one
Sunday, December 26, 2010
Nakayama Race-10
3yo+ international 2,500-meter turf right-handed

Horse#(pp)/Horse Name/AgeSex/Weight(in kgs)/Rider
1/Victoire Pisa/3c/55/Mirco Demuro
2/Never Bouchon/7h/57/Hiroki Goto
3/Forgettable/4c/57/Yasunari Iwata
4/Tosen Jordan/4c/57/Kosei Miura
5/Rulership/3c/55/Christophe Lemaire
6/Rose Kingdom(scratch)
7/Buena Vista/4f/55/Christophe Soumillon
8/Meisho Beluga/5m/55/Masayoshi Ebina
9/Danon Chantilly/3c/55/Francis Berry
10/Eishin Flash/3c/55/Hiroyuki Uchida
11/To the Glory/3c/55/Craig Williams
12/Dream Journey/6h/57/Kenichi Ikezoe
13/Oken Bruce Lee/5h/57/Norihiro Yokoyama
14/Pelusa/3c/55/Katsumi Ando
15/Red Desire/4f/55/Hirofumi Shii
16/Jamil/4c/57/Yuichi Fukunaga

Grand Prix Boss Wins Asahi Hai

2010-12-19T17:08:00.001+09:00

Grand Prix Boss won the Asahi Hai Futurity Stakes to lock up the JRA Best 2-year-old Colt award.

Under the hands of Mirco Demuro, Grand Prix Boss completed the grade one 1,600-meter race in 1 minute 33.90 seconds. Second was, a 3/4-length behind, Real Impact with Livertas another head back third. Race favorite Sadamu Patek finished another neck further back in fourth.

Grand Prix Boss, a 2-year-old son of Sakura Bakshin O and the Sunday Silence mare Rosy Mist, boosted his career earnings to 116+ million jp yen with the record of 4-3-0-0.

Field of Asahi Hai Futurity S

2010-12-17T16:21:00.002+09:00

The field of the 2010 Asahi Hai Futurity Stakes has been drawn. The 16 two-year-old colts will go for the grade one 1,600-meter event.
The main contenders could be Sadamu Patek, Admire Sagace, Libertas and Grand Prix Boss.

The 62nd running of the Asahi Hai Futurity Stakes, grade one
Sunday, December 19, 2010
Nakayama Race-11
2yo 1,600-meter turf right-handed
Weight: 55 kgs
Post time: 3:25pm JST

1/Osumi Easy(by Heart's Cry)/Kunihiko Watanabe
2/Libertas(by Deep Impact)/Yuichi Fukunaga
3/Meiner Lacrima(by Chief Bearhart)/Masami Matsuoka
4/Brown Wild(by Wild Rush)/Suguru Hamanaka
5/Real Impact(by Deep Impact)/Francis Berry
6/Tagano Lock On(by Rock of Gibraltar)/Hironobu Tanabe
7/Tokino Genji(by Precise End)/Mitsuaki Ando
8/Lift the Wings(by Heart's Cry)/Christophe Lemaire
9/Robin Foot(by Zenno El Cid)/Hiroki Goto
10/Sadamu Patek(by Fuji Kiseki)/Christophe Soumillon
11/Grand Prix Boss(by Sakura Bakushin O)/Mirco Demuro
12/Shigeru Sosai(USA)(by Tale of the Cat)/Hideaki Miyuki
13/A Shin Blanc(by Swept Overboard)/Masayoshi Ebina
14/Magical Pocket(by Jungle Pocket)/Katsumi Ando
15/Admire Sagace(by Fuji Kiseki)/Futoshi Komaki
16/Tatsu Mi Ryu(by Chief Bearhart)/Teruo Eda

Reve d'Essor confirms best filly in Juvenile Fillies

2010-12-12T18:33:00.001+09:00

Reve d'Essor confirmed herself as the best juvenile filly in the country when she gained a half length victory in the grade one Hanshin Juvenile Fillies on Sunday at Hanshin Race Course. Whale Capture was second with Rice Terrace third.

Reve d'Essor, the heavy favorite in the field of 18 fillies, produced a superb turn of foot in the stretch before reaching the line in 1 minute 35.70 seconds. Her winning streak extended to three without loss.

Reve d'Essor, a gray filly by Agnes Tachyon out of the Highest Honor mare Reve d'Oscar, has raced under the saddle of trainer H.Matsuda and the color of Sunday Racing Co. Ltd. With the 66+ million jp yen first prize of the Juvenile Fillies, her career earnings brought to 111+ million jp yen.

Reve d'Essor tops field of Hanshin Juvenile Fillies

2010-12-10T18:35:00.001+09:00

Reve d'Essor tops the field of 18 two-year-old fillies for the 2010 Hanshin Juvenile Fillies on Sunday at Hanshin Race Course. The Agnes Tachyon filly won the Daily Hai Nisai Stakes(g2) in coming-from-behind fashion on her last outing.

The main oppositions to Reve d'Essor could be: Aventura(a full sister of Toll Poppy), runner-up in the Sapporo Nisai Stakes; Marumo Sarah, winner of the Fantasy Stakes and two-time winner Dance Fantasia out of grade one winner Dance in the Mood.

The last 4 winners of this race have won the 3-yeaar-old classic race in the following year.

The Hanshin Juvenile Fillies, Grade One
Hanshin Race-11
December 12, 2010
2-year-old fillies, 1,600-meter turf right-handed
Weight: 54 kgs
Post time: 3:40pm JST

1/Aventura(by Jungle Pocket)/Ryuji Wada
2/Hapy Shin(by Rule of Law)/Manabu Sakai
3/Totuzennohappiness(by Neo Universe)/Tetsuzo Sato
4/Whale Capture(by Kurofune)/Kenichi Ikezoe
5/Forever Mark(by Falbrav)/Yutaka Yoshida
6/Meine Isabel(by Telegnosis)/Masami Matsuoka
7/Little Darling(by Deep Impact)/Hiroki Goto
8/Pure Opal(by Rock of Gibraltar)/Hiroyuki Uchida
9/Marumo Sarah(by Kurofune)/Ken Tanaka
10/Tagano Love Kiseki(by Fuji Kiseki)/Makoto Okabe
11/Reve d'Essor(by Agnes Tachyon)/Yuichi Fukunaga
12/Tsurumaru Onepiece(by King Kamehameha)/Katsumi Ando
13/Osumi Mica(by Deep Impact)/Fumiaki Shibahara
14/Dance Fantasia(by Falbrav)/Yutaka Take
15/Clianthus(by Redoute's Choice)/Kunihiko Watanabe
16/Groovy Queen(by King Kamehameha)/Yusuke Fujioka
17/Maria Bisty(by Heart's Cry)/Shinichiro Kobayashi
18/Rice Terrace(by Song of Wind)/Mirco Demuro

Wire-to-wire victory for Transcend in Japan Cup Dirt

2010-12-05T17:55:00.001+09:00

Transcend seized the lead from the start and went all the way to the finish in winning the 2010 Japan Cup Dirt at Hanshin Race Course on Sunday. Before the neck victory, Shinji Fujita-ridden Transcend had to deny challenge of Glorious Noah, who showed a strong late charge. A 1 1/4-length behind Glorious Noah, Admire Subaru was third with Birdie Birdie another nose back fourth. Over the 1,800-meter distance on dirt surface, the winner clocked in 1 minute 48.90 seconds.

Transcend, a 4-year-old son of Wild Rush and the Tony Bin mare Cinema Scope, has now won seven of his 14 races with more than 310 million jp yen in career earnings. North Hills Management was the breeder of the bay colt.

Field Of 2010 Japan Cup Dirt

2010-12-03T17:37:00.002+09:00

The field of the 2010 Japan Cup Dirt, one of the two JRA dirt grade one events, has been drawn. The 16 horses will go for the grade one 1800-meter event.

Transcend, winner of the grade three Miyako Stakes, drew post 3. Vermilion, the mutiple grade winner who has won the Kawasaki Kinen at NAR Kawasaki track earlier this season, drew post 10. Glorious Noah, winner of the Musashino Stakes, will break from post 14. The Nanbu Hai winner Oro Meister will break from post 16.

The 11th running of the Japan Cup Dirt, grade one
Sunday, December 5, 2010
Hanshin Race-11 3:40pm JST
3yo+ international 1,800-meter dirt right-handed

1/Silk Mobius/4c/57/Hiroyasu Tanaka
2/King's Emblem/5h/57/Yuichi Fukunaga
3/Transcend/4c/57/Shinji Fujita
4/Maruka Shenck/7h/57/Hayato Yoshida
5/La Verita(USA)/4f/55/Yasunari Iwata
6/Daisho Jet/7h/57/Yuichi Shibayama
7/Aliseo/3c//56/Christophe Lemaire
8/Birdie Birdie/3c/56/Kenichi Ikezoe
9/Tosen Bright/9h/57/Masaki Katsuura
10/Vermilion/8h/57/Yutaka Take
11/Courir Passion/5h/57/Akihide Tsumura
12/Admire Subaru/7h/57/Futoshi Komaki
13/Daishin Orange/5h/57/Yuga Kawada
14/Glorious Noah/4c/57/Shinichiro Kobayashi
15/Makani Bisty/3c/56/Mirco Demuro
16/Oro Meister/5h/57/Yutaka Yoshida

Rose Kingdom wins Japan Cup as Buena Vista is demoted

2010-11-28T17:48:00.002+09:00

Rose Kingdom, beaten a few length by Buena Vista, finished, a nose before Victoire Pisa, second in the 2010 Japan Cup, but was awarded the JC victory after decision of the stewards' inquiry, which claimed that Buena Vista had interfered with Rose Kingdom in the deep stetch. That inquiry lasted more than 30 minutes.

Complete finsihing order:
Rose Kingdom
Buena Vista
Victoire Pisa
Jaguar Mail
Pelusa
Meisho Beluga
Oken Bruce Lee
Eishin Flash
Cirrus des Aigles(FR)
Joshua Tree(IRE)
Dandino(GB)
Shingen
Mores Wells(GB)
Nakayama Festa
Timos(GER)
Voila Ici(IRE)
Marinous(FR)
Fifty Proof(CAN)

With the Japan Cup victory, Rose Kingdom picked up his 5th win in 9 starts under Yutaka Take and his career earnings brought to 568+ million jp yen. The 3-year-old dark bay colt is a son of King Kamahameha and the Sunday Silence mare Rosebud.

Two Horses for HK International Races

2010-11-27T18:31:00.003+09:00

Japan will send two horses to the Cathay Pacific International Races.

A Shin Forward(USA) will take on the HK Mile, while Jaguar Mail may run in the HK Vase.

A Shin Forward is schduled to leave Japan for Hong Kong on December 1st.

Buena Vista favorite for Japan Cup 2010

2010-11-27T17:57:00.001+09:00

After closing Saturday betting round, Buena Vista has been installed as the favorite for the 2010 Japan Cup at odds of 2.3. The 4-year-old filly aims at her sixth grade one victory after winning the Tenno Sho Autumn last month.
Nakayama Festa, runner-up in the Arc de Triomphe, was the second favorite at 7.4. Pelusa, who finished second in the Tenno Sho Autumn behind Buena Vista, was the 8.2 third favorite followed by the Japanese Derby runner-up Rose Kingdom 8.9.

The 18 horses will go to post for the Japan Cup at 3:20 p.m. JST on Sunday, November 28, 2010.

Stage Set For 2010 Japan Cup

2010-11-26T17:43:00.001+09:00

The stage is set for the 2010 Japan Cup, run on Sunday, November 28 at Tokyo Race Course.
It is quite some lineup and may be as strong as ever in the local entries, which include Buena Vista, Nakayama Festa, Eishin Flash and Jaguar Mail.

The post time for the most world-famous Japanese race will be at 3:20pm JST on Sunday.

The 30th running of the Japan Cup, grade one
Sunday, November 28, 2010
3yo+ international 2,400-meter turf left-handed
Total purse: 481.4 million jp yen
First prize: 253.78 million jp yen

Program#(PP)/HorseName/AgeSex/Weight(kgs)/Jockey
1/Voila Ici(IRE)/5h/57/Mirco Demuro
2/Victoire Pisa/3c/55/Maxime Guyon
3/Dandino(GB)/3c/55/Paul Mulrennan
4/Shingen/7h/57/Shinji Fujita
5/Mores Wells(GB)/6h/57/Sebastien Maillot
6/Rose Kingdom/3c/55/Yutaka Take
7/Pelusa/3c/55/Katsumi Ando
8/Jaguar Mail/6h/57/Ryan Moore
9/Timos(GER)/5h/57/Olivier Peslier
10/Eishin Flash/3c/55/Hiroyuki Uchida
11/Nakayama Festa/4c/57/Masayoshi Ebina
12/Joshua Tree(IRE)/3c/55/Colm O'Donoghue
13/Meisho Beluga/5m/55/Kenichi Ikezoe
14/Oken Bruce Lee/5h/57/Christophe Lemaire
15/Fifty Proof(CAN)/4g/57/Justin Stein
16/Buena Vista/4f/55/Christophe Soumillon
17/Marinous(FR)/4c/57/Davy Bonilla
18/Cirrus des Aigles(FR)/4g/57/Franck Blondel

Outsider wins Milechampionship in record time

2010-11-21T17:38:00.001+09:00

The 52.4 outsider A Shin Forward(USA) won the 2010 Milechampionship in the course record time of 1 minute 31.80 seconds.
A Shin Forward won by a neck from favorite Danon Yoyo with Gorski, a nose further behind, third. Another nose behind, Sahpresa(USA) was fourth in the field of 18 runners.

The race ended up with a thrilling finish of the first four. A Shin Forward held off challenges of the other three after grabbing the lead in the early stretch.

Bred in USA by Edition Farm, A Shin Forward is a 5-year-old horse by Forest Wildcat out of Wake Up Kiss, by Cure the Blues.

Field set for 2010 Milechampionship

2010-11-19T17:43:00.002+09:00

18 horses will go for the grade one Milechampionship at Kyoto on Sunday.

Sahpresa(USA), the sole foreign entry who finished second in this event last year, has won on his last two starts. Christophe Lemaire takes the mount to break from post 16.
Danon Yoyo comes into this grade one race off four straight victories at 1,600-meter races. The 4-year-old colt faces the grade one company for the first time and gives it a shot.
Kinshasa no Kiseki(AUS), having won the grade one Takamatsunomiya Kinen earlier this season, teams up with Ryan Moore to bid for the mile premier race.

The 27th running of the Milechampionship, grade one
Sunday, November 21, 2010
Kyoto Race-11
post time: 3:40pm JST
3yo+ international 1,600-meter turf right-handed

1/Fine Grain/7h/57/Suguru Hamanaka
2/Smile Jack/5h/57/Kosei Miura
3/Live Concert(IRE)/6g/57/Ryuji Wada
4/Oken Sakura/3f/54/Yutaka Take
5/T M Aurora/4f/55/Kyosuke Kokubun
6/Jo Cappuccino/4c/57/Kota Fujioka
7/Showa Modern/6h/57/Hiroki Goto
8/Danon Yoyo/4c/57/Christophe Soumillon
9/To the Glory/3c/56/Mirco Demuro
10/Meiner Falke/5h/57/Masami Matsuoka
11/Wild Raspberry/3f/54/Kenichi Ikezoe
12/Absolute/6h/57/Katsuharu Tanaka
13/A Shin Forward(USA)/5h/57/Yasunari Iwata
14/Garbo/3c/56/Akihide Tsumura
15/Gorski/3c/56/Yuichi Fukunaga
16/Sahpresa(USA)/5m/55/Christophe Lemaire
17/Kinshasa no Kiseki(AUS)/7h/57/Ryan Moore
18/Kyoei Storm/5h/57/Masayoshi Ebina

Nominations of 2010 Japan Cup

2010-11-18T18:11:00.002+09:00

The 20 horses remain on the final nomination stage of the 2010 Japan Cup, held on Sunday, November 28 at Tokyo Race Course.

The local nominations(11):
Victoire Pisa
Eishin Flash
Oken Bruce Lee
Jaguar Mail
Shingen
Nakayama Festa
Never Bouchon
Buena Vista
Pelusa
Meisho Beluga
Rose Kingdom
[in random order]

The foreign invitees(9):
Dandino(GB) [arrived in Japan on November 17]
Snow Fairy(IRE) [has been in Japan since last month]
Joshua Tree(IRE) [arrived in Japan on November 17]
Cirrus des Aigles(FR) [arrived in Japan on November 17]
Marinous(FR) [arrived in Japan on November 17]
Mores Wells(GB) [arrived in Japan on November 17]
Timos(GER)
Voilaici(IRE)
Fifty Proof(CAN)
[in random order]

Snow Fairy(IRE) romps QE II Cup

2010-11-14T17:32:00.001+09:00

Snow Fairy romped the Queen Elizabeth II Commemorative Cup at Kyoto Race Course on Sunday. She won it by a decisive 4-length from Meisho Beluga. Third was, another 1 3/4-length behind, favorite Apapane with Little Amapola fourth.

Snow Fairy with Ryan Moore up quickened up into the front down the stretch after taking a good position for the 2,200-meter race at the Kyoto main course. Her quick feet were sensational and the rest stood up. The final time was 2 minutes 12.50 seconds. "She's done very easily. She had the best performance.", Moore said on the TV interview.

Snow Fairy returned 850 jp yen for win as fourth favorite.

Snow Fairy became the first QE II Cup winner as a foreign horse in JRA history. The Intikhab filly out of Woodland Dream, by Charnwood Forest, is one of the foreign invitees for the 2010 Japan Cup and may run in the Japanese world-famous race two weeks later.

Apapane early favorite for QE II Cup

2010-11-13T17:55:00.001+09:00

As of Saturday, Apapane has been installed as the 2.2 favorite for the Queen Elizabeth II Commemorative Cup. Meisho Beluga was the 3.8 second favorite followed by Animate Bio 8.9 and Snow Fairy 9.5.

The field of the 2010 QE II Cup was reduced to 17 due to Provinage's scratch.

Field Of 2010 QE II Cup

2010-11-12T18:04:00.002+09:00

Apapane, who gained three g1 victories this season, faces the older female runners for the first time when she runs in Sunday's Queen Elizabeth II Commemorative Cup at Kyoto Race Course. The multiple g1 winner will break from post 5.

Meisho Beluga, coming off an impressive victory in the Kyoto Daishoten where she beat the decent male runners, will break from post 9.

The foreign entries are Snow Fairy(IRE) and Ave(GB). Snow Fairy, winner of the Epsom Oaks and the Irish Oaks, drew post 6. Ave, winner of the Flower Bowl Invitational Stakes, drew post 16. The two have a good chance to win the QE II Cup.

The 35th running of the Queen Elizabeth II Commemorative Cup, grade one
Sunday, November 14, 2010
Kyoto Race Course, 11th Race
3yo+ f&m international 2,200-meter turf right-handed
post time: 3:40pm JST

Horse#(pp)/HorseName/AgeSex/Weight(kgs)/Rider
1/Columbus Circle/4f/56/Yutaka Take
2/Seraphic Romp/6m/56/Hokuto Miyazaki
3/Reginetta/5m/56/Hideaki Miyuki
4/T M Precure/7m/56/Kyosuke Kokubun
5/Apapane/3f/54/Masayoshi Ebina
6/Snow Fairy(IRE)/3f/54/Ryan Moore
7/Saint Emilion/3f/54/Mirco Demuro
8/Brightia Pulse/5m/56/Kota Fujioka
9/Meisho Beluga/5m/56/Kenichi Ikezoe
10/Hikaru Amaranthus/4f/56/Christophe Lemaire
11/Provinage/5m/56/Tetsuzo Sato
12/Animate Bio/3f/54/Hiroki Goto
13/Sanrei Jasper/8m/56/Yoshiyasu Nanba
14/Earth Symbol/5m/56/Katsuharu Tanaka
15/Mood Indigo/5m/56/Yuga Kawada
16/Ave(GB)/4f/56/Javier Castellano
17/Little Amapola/5m/56/Yuichi Fukunaga
18/Sing Like Bird/5m/56/Ryota Sameshima

Two Invaders For QE II Cup

2010-11-05T17:57:00.001+09:00

The two invaders, Snow Fairy(IRE) from England and Ave(GB) from Canada, arrived in Japan to race the Queen Elizabeth II Commemorative Cup, run at Kyoto Race Course on November 14. Both fillies are now at the JRA facility in Chiba for quarantine purpose.

Snow Fairy won the English Oaks at Epsom and the Irish Oaks at Curragh. Ave won the Flower Bowl Invitational Stakes at Belmont Park on her previous start last month.

Buena Vista romps Tenno Sho Autumn

2010-10-31T17:37:00.002+09:00

Christophe Soumillon had a perfect ride on Buena Vista to guide her to a decisive 2-length victory in the grade one Tenno Sho Autumn on Sunday. Pelusa took second with Earnestly finishing another 1 1/2-length back in third. Never Bouchon and Shingen finished fourth and fifth respectively. The final time for the 2,000-meter trip was 1 minute 58.20 seconds on good ground.

Buena Vista and her partner Soumillon broked the pack outside 200 meters from home. When they did so, nobody was able to match the pace. Pelusa, who broke badly at start again, came from far behind to get second place.

Buena Vista, a 4-year-old Special Week filly out of the Caerleon mare Biwa Heidi, has now won 8 of her 15 races. The first prize 135+ million jp yen of the Tenno Sho Autumn brought her career earnings to 940+ million jp yen.

Field of 2010 Tenno Sho Autumn

2010-10-29T17:47:00.001+09:00

The field of the Tenno Sho Autumn has been drawn.

Buena Vista, one of the top-rated fillies who aims her fifth g1 title, drew post 2. French jockey Christophe Soumillon will take the mount for the first time. She will be likely to be the heavy favorite for the traditional grade one event.

Jaguar Mail, winner of the Tenno Sho Spring, drew post 3. The Sapporo Kinen winner Earestly and the Mainichi Okan winner Aliseo will break from post 12 and 18 respectively.

The 142nd running of the Tenno Sho Autumn, grade one
October 31, 2010
Tokyo 11th Race 3:40pm
3yo+ international 2,000-meter turf left-handed

Horse#(pp)/HorseName/AgeSex/Weight/Rider
1/Showa Modern/6h/58/Yoshitomi Shibata
2/Buena Vista/4f/56/Christophe Soumillon
3/Jaguar Mail/6h/58/Douglas Whyte
4/Eishin Apollon(USA)/3c/56/Masayoshi Ebina
5/Oken Sakura/3f/54/Hiroshi Kitamura
6/Smile Jack/5h/58/Kosei Miura
7/Pelusa/3c/56/Katsumi Ando
8/Silport/5h/58/Manabu Sakai
9/Tosho Scirocco/7h/58/Yutaka Yoshida
10/Shingen/7h/58/Shinji Fujita
11/Axion/7h/58/Yutaka Take
12/Earnestly/5h/58/Tetsuzo Sato
13/Yamanin Kingly/5h/58/Hayato Yoshida
14/Never Bouchon/7h/58/Hiroki Goto
15/Super Hornet/7h/58/Yusuke Fujioka
16/Captain Thule/5h/58/Futoshi Komaki
17/Cosmo Phantom(USA)/3c/56/Masami Matsuoka
18/Aliseo/3c/56/Yuichi Fukunaga

Outsider wins 2010 Kikuka Sho

2010-10-24T17:07:00.002+09:00

The 23.20 outsider Big Week won the 3,000-meter Kikuka Sho on Sunday at Kyoto Race Course. He won it in 3 minutes 6.10 seconds by a 1 1/4-length from favorite Rose Kingdom. Third was, another neck behind, Beat Black in the field of 18 three-year-old colts.

Big Week, ridden by Yuga Kawada, had a good position throughout the marathon race before taking command down the final stretch. Rose Kingdom came with a strong late run to get the runner-up.

Big Week, trained at Ritto by H. Nagahama, broke a maiden last July and made a big leap in the next three months to get the grade one title.

Owned and bred by Y. Tanimizu, Big Week is a 3-year-old colt by Bago out of the Sunday Silence mare J'adore.

Espoir City to run BC Classic

Espoir City arrived at Churchill Downs on October 19. He is scheduled to run in the Breeders Cup Classic.
The multiple g1 winner Espoir City snapped his sixth straight win on his lastest run when he finisheds second in the Manbu Hai on October 11.

Rose Kingdom tops field of 2010 Kikuka Sho

2010-10-22T17:59:00.001+09:00

Rose Kingdom tops the field of 18 three-year-old colts for the Kikuka Sho(Japanese St Leger), run on Sunday, October 24 at Kyoto Race Course. He comes into this race off an impressive victory in the Kobe Shimbun Hai. Yutaka Take will ride him, breaking from post 10.

The St. Lite Kinen winner Quark Star and Tokai Melody who is in the midst of three straight wins will break from post 3 and 15 respectively.

Eishin Flash, winner of the Japanese Derby, does not run this race because of leg problem.

The post time of the grade one marathon event will be at 3:40 p.m. JST on Sunday.

The 71st running of the Kikuka Sho, grade one
3,000-meter Kyoto turf right-handed course
weight: 57kgs

1/Hiruno d'Amour(by Manhattan Cafe)/Shinji Fujita
2/Reve d'Orient(by Special Week)/Yuichi Fukunaga
3/Quark Star(by Agnes Tachyon)/Yusuke Fujioka
4/Neo Vendome(by Neo Universe)/Koshiro Take
5/Silk Earnest(by Grass Wonder)/Kohei Matsuyama
6/Big Week(by Bago)/Yuga Kawada
7/Mikino Banjo(by Grass Wonder)/Keisuke Dazai
8/Trailblazer(by Zenno Rob Roy)/Ryuji Wada
9/Silk Olde(by Manhattan Cafe)/Hirofumi Shii
10/Rose Kingdom(by King Kamehameha)/Yutaka Take
11/Lilienthal(IRE)(by Montjeu)/Katsumi Ando
12/Beat Black(by Miscast)/Hideaki Miyuki
13/Gestalt(by Manhattan Cafe)/Kenichi Ikezoe
14/Cosmo Laputa(by Roses in May)/Akihide Tsumura
15/Tokai Melody(by Chief Bearhart)/Hayato Yoshida
16/Kamidanomi(by Falbrav)/Futoshi Komaki
17/Aroma Cafe(by Manhattan Cafe)/Yoshitomi Shibata
18/San Diego City(by Manhattan Cafe)/Suguru Hamanaka

Filly Triple Crown Winner For Apapane

2010-10-17T17:36:00.001+09:00

Apapane became the Triple Crown winner for 3-year-old fillies when she won the Shuka Sho at Kyoto on Sunday. It was the third filly Triple Crown following .

The 18 three-year-old fillies went to post for the 2,000-meter Shuka Sho. Apapane made a great start but settled down in the middle of the field. She was running smoothly and jockey Masayoshi Ebina gave her a go-sign on the final bend. Apapane's great stride took her into the front down the stretch.

At the line, Apapane was a 3/4-length better than second-placed Animate Bio, who finished fast to beat Apricot Fizz by a 1/2-length. The final time was 1 minute 58.40 seconds on firm ground.

This was Apapane's sixth victory in nine starts and the first prize of 92+ million jp yen brought her career earnings to 400+ million jp yen.

Apapane is a bay filly by King Kamahameha out of the Salt Lake mare Salty Bid.

Field Of 2010 Shuka Sho

2010-10-15T17:11:00.001+09:00

Dual grade one winner Apapane seeks the third grade one victory of the season when she faces the 17 rivals in the Shuka Sho at Kyoto Race Course. If she wins Sunday, she becomes the third filly to win the Triple Crown Races for 3-year-old fillies.

Note that in combination with the Oka Sho(Japanese 1000 Guineas) and the Japanese Oaks, the Shuka Sho is the final leg of the Triple Cown Races for 3-year-old fillies.

The main contenders to Apapane could be: Saint Emillion, who shared the dead-heat first place with Apapane in the Japanese Oaks; Animate Bio, winner of the Rose Stakes; Apricot Fizz, winner of the Queen Stakes.

The 15th running of the Shuka Sho(grade one)
3-year-old fillies
2,000-meter at right-handed Kyoto turf course
Weight: 55 kgs.
Post time: 3:40 p.m. JST on Sunday, October 17, 2010

Horse No(pp)/Horse Name(sire)/Rider
1 Lady Alba Rosa(by King Kamehameha)/Hideaki Miyuki
2 Best Cruise(by Kurofune)/Kosei Miura
3 Shoryu Moon(by King Kamehameha)/Hirofumi Shii
4 Apricot Fizz(by Jungle Pocket)/Yutaka Take
5 Saint Emilion(by Zenno Rob Roy)/Yusuke Fujioka
6 Cosmo Nemo Shin(by Zenno Rob Roy)/Ryuji Wada
7 Rainbow Dahlia(by Brian's Time)/Shinichiro Akiyama
8 Oken Sakura(by Bago)/Hiroyuki Uchida
9 Agnes Waltz(by Zenno Rob Roy)/Yoshitomi Shibata
10 Animate Bio(by Zenno Rob Roy)/Hiroki Goto
11 A Shin Returns(by King Kamehameha)/Yuichi Fukunaga
12 Antifris(by Tap Dance City)/Masami Matsuoka
13 Dear Arethusa(by Tosen Dance)/Katsumi Ando
14 Tagano Elisabeth(by Special Week)/Futoshi Komaki
15 Apapane(by King Kamehameha)/Masayoshi Ebina
16 Crack Seed(by King Kamehameha)/Yutaka Yoshida
17 Wild Raspberry(by Falbrav)/Kenichi Ikezoe
18 Princess Memory(by Swept Overboard)/Suguru Hamanaka

Ultra Fantasy wins Sprinters S for Hong Kong

2010-10-03T16:55:00.002+09:00

Ultra Fantasy(AUS) became the second Sprinters Stakes winner as a Hong Kong-trained horse when he won the grade one 1,200-meter event on Sunday at Nakayama Race Course.

Ultra Fantasy(AUS) had a bullet start and was never behind to get the winning post in 1 minute 7.40 seconds. Hoi Wing Lai was aboard the winning horse.

A nose behind, Dasher Go Go finished second, but he was disqualified for interference with San Carlo in the stretch and was demoted to fourth place.

Kinshasa no Kiseki and San Carlo were promoted to second and third respectively.

Race favorite Green Birdie(NZ) was seventh place in the field of 16 runners.

Field of Sprinters Stakes 2010

2010-10-01T17:50:00.002+09:00

One Carat goes after her first career g1 victory in Sunday's Sprinters Stakes at Nakayama Race Course.
A Falbrav filly out of the Pistolet Bleu mare Baldwina, One Carat had her fabulous 2010 summer campaign with a couple of g3 victories. Yusuke Fujioka will ride the 4-year-old filly.

The field of the grade one Sprinters Stakes include:
Green Birdie(NZ), winner of the KrisFlyer International Sprint in Singapore and runner-up in the Centaur Stakes(g3) on September 12; Kinshasa no Kiseki, winner of the 2010 Takamatsunomiya Kinen; Dasher Go Go, coming off victory in the Centaur Stakes.

H(pp)/Horse Name/AgeSex/Weight(in kgs)/Rider
1/Sandalphon/7h/57/Manabu Sakai
2/Dasher Go Go/3c/55/Yuga Kawada
3/San Carlo/4c/57/Yutaka Yoshida
4/I'll Love Again/8h/57/Akihide Tsumura
5/B B Guldan/6h/57/Katsumi Ando
6/Green Birdie(NZ)/7g/57/Mark Du Plessis
7/Ultra Fantasy(AUS)/8g/57/Hoi Wing Lai
8/One Carat/4f/55/Yusuke Fujioka
9/Laurel Guerreiro/6h/57/Shinji Fujita
10/Fine Grain/7h/57/Masaki Katsuura
11/Premium Box/7h/57/Hideaki Miyuki
12/Headliner/6g/57/Hiroyuki Uchida
13/Maruka Phoenix/6h/57/Masami Matsuoka
14/Kinshasa no Kiseki(AUS)/7h/57/Hirofumi Shii
15/J K C'est la Vie/6g/57/Teruo Eda
16/Western Venus/7m/55/Yoshitomi Shibata

2010 Sprinters Stakes Nominations

2010-09-28T17:19:00.000+09:00

A total of 25 horses remain on the final nomination stage of the 2010 Sprinters Stakes. The nominations include the two Hong Kong-based horses, Green Birdie(NZ) and Ultra Fantasy(AUS). The grade one 1,200-meter race is to be run on October 3 at Nakayama Race Course.

Tokai Trick to run in Melbourn C

2010-09-21T16:50:00.001+09:00

Tokai Trick will run in the 2010 Melbourn Cup for Japan. The 8-year-old horse arrived at Werribee, Australia on September 20. The October 17 Caufield Cup will be his prep race.

----------------------------------------------

Red Desire, who arrived at Aqueduct on September 16, is scheduled to run in the Flower Bowl Invitational Stakes at Belmont for her next action. Kent Desormeaux will ride her in the race.

JRA Fall Season Kicks Off

2010-09-10T17:17:00.001+09:00

2010 JRA Fall season will kick off at Hanshin and Nakayama Racecourses on Saturday, September 11th.

The main event at Hanshin will be the grade three Asahi Challenge Cup. Nakayama features the non-graded Shion Stakes, one of the preps for the grade one Shuka Sho, for 3-year-old fillies.

Red Desire to run BC Filly and Mare Turf

2010-08-10T16:33:00.001+09:00

Red Desire, one of the top fillies in the country, will go for the BC Filly and Mare Turf at Churchill Downs on November 5th. Her prep race will be the Flower Bowl Invitational Stakes at Belmont on October 2nd.

Victoire Pisa to race Arc de Triomphe

2010-08-10T16:30:00.001+09:00

Victoire Pisa, winner of the Satsuki Sho(Japanese 2000 Guineas), will make a trip to France on August 18 to take on the Arc de Triomphe. The colt is scheduled to run in the September12 Prix Niel before the world famous race.

In the meanwhile, Nakayama Festa left Japan for France to run in the French races. Masayoshi Ebina will ride him in the October 3 Arc de Triomphe.

Nakayama Festa to run in Arc de Triomphe

2010-07-07T17:23:00.002+09:00

Nakayama Festa, winner of the Takarazuka Kinen, may run in the Arc de Triomphe, held on October 3 at Longchamp. With the travel companion of Nakayama Swept, Nakayama Festa will leave Japan for France early next month, his trainer Ninomiya revealed. Before the world famous race, he is scheduled to run in the Prix Foy on September 12.

Ninomiya saddled El Condor Pasa who gained a couple of French group victories and finished second in the Arc de Triomphe in 1999.

Nakayama Festa powers home in Takarazuka

2010-06-27T17:13:00.001+09:00

Nakayama Festa powered home to win the Takarazuka Kinen on Sunday. The 4-year-old colt won the grade one event by a half length from favorite Buena Vista. Third was, another half length behind, Earnestly with Dream Journey fourth and Never Bouchon fifth in the reduced filed of 17.

In the last 100 meters from home, Nakayama Festa overtook Buena Vista and Earnestly on his way to the winning post. Yoshitomi Shibata was aboard the winner, clocking 2 minutes 13 seconds for the 2,200-meter distance on Hanshin Racecourse.

Nakayama Festa, a son of Stay Gold and the Tight Spot mare Dear Wink, has now won 5 of his 10 races for owner S.Izumi and trainer Y.Ninomiya. A 135+ million jp yen of the Takarazuka first prize brought his career earnings to 293+ million jp yen. Arai Bokujo was the breeder of the bay colt.

2010 grade one Takarazuka Kinen

2010-06-24T18:04:00.001+09:00

June 27, 2010 sees the grade one Takarazuka Kinen for which a maximum field of 18 horses have been entered.

Multiple g1 winner Buena Vista is likely to be the favorite and will break from post 8. The 2009 Japanese Derby winner Logi Universe and the Tenno Sho Spring winner Jaguar Mail drew post 9 and 10 respectively. Last year's hero Dream Journey will break from post 18.

The 51st running of the Takarazuka Kinen, grade one
Sunday, June 27, 2010
Hanshin Race-10 3:40pm JST
3yo+ 2,200-meter turf right-handed

1/I Ko Piko/4c/58/Yasunari Iwata
2/Earnestly/5h/58/Tetsuzo Sato
3/Never Bouchon/7h/58/Hiroki Goto
4/Smart Gear/5h/58/Ryuji Wada
5/Namura Crescent/5h/58/Futoshi Komaki
6/Seiun Wonder/4c/58/Yuichi Fukunaga
7/Meiner Answer/6h/58/Yuga Kawada
8/Buena Vista/4f/56/Norihiro Yokoyama
9/Logi Universe/4c/58/Katsumi Ando
10/Jaguar Mail/5h/58/Craig Williams
11/Top Coming/4c/58/Suguru Hamanaka
12/Meisho Beluga/5m/56/Hideyuki Miyuki
13/Forgettable/4c/58/Masayoshi Ebina
14/Makihata Cyborg/8g/58/Keisuke Dazai
15/Copano Jingu/5h/58/Yusuke Fujioka
16/Axion/7h/58/Shinji Fujita
17/Nakayama Festa/4c/58/Yoshitomi Shibata
18/Dream Journey/6h/58/Kenichi Ikee

Showa Modern takes Yasuda Kinen

2010-06-06T17:49:00.001+09:00

Showa Modern extended his winning streak to three when he took the grade one Yasuda Kinen on Sunday. The 6-year-old horse won it under the hands of Hiroki Goto in 1 minute 31.70 seconds by a 1/2-length from Super Hornet. Another head behind, Smile Jack was third with Triumph March fourth and Sight Winner(NZ) fifth.

Showa Modern had struggled a bit on the grade level, but he turned over a new leaf this season with victory in the grade three Lord Derby Trophy in early April and victory in the grade one Yasuda Kinen. What a great success in a short period!

Showa Modern, by the 1999 Yasuda Kinen winner Air Jihad out of Yume Shibai, by Toni Bin, has now won nine of his 39 races with more than 348 milion jp yen in career earnings.

Field of 2010 Yasuda Kinen

2010-06-04T18:25:00.001+09:00

Reach the Crown, runner-up in the 2009 Japanese Derby, looks like a very good miler after switching to mile campaign this season. He proved that on his last outing in the Milers Cup and could have a good chance to win his first grade one race.

The main opponent to Reach the Crown could be Triumph March, who finished a neck behind Reach the Crown in the Milers Cup. The three Hong Kong entries may be dangerous.

The post time for the 2010 Yasuda Kinen will be at 3:40 p.m. JST on Sunday, June 6.

1/Reach the Crown/4c/58/Katsumi Ando
2/Smile Jack/5h/58/Kosei Miura
3/Absolute/6h/58/Katsuharu Tanaka
4/Fellowship(NZ)/8g/58/Zachary Purton
5/Sight Winner(NZ)/7g/58/Craig Williams
6/Faridat(USA)/5h/58/Masayoshi Ebina
7/Glorious Noah/4c/58/Shinichiro Kobayashi
8/Captain Thule/5h/58/Norihiro Yokoyama
9/Super Hornet/7h/58/Yusuke Fujioka
10/Beauty Flash(NZ)/5g/58/Felix Coetzee
11/Maruka Shenck/7h/58/Yuichi Shibayama
12/Live Concert(IRE)/6g/58/Ryuji Wada
13/Meiner Falke/5h/58/Masami Matsuoka
14/Maruka Phoenix/6h/58/Yuichi Fukunaga
15/Triumph March/4c/58/Hiroyuki Uchida
16/San Carlo/4c/58/Yutaka Yoshida
17/Showa Modern/6h/58/Hiroki Goto
18/A Shin Forward(USA)/5h/58/Yasunari Iwata

2010 Yasuda Kinen Nominations

2010-06-02T18:46:00.000+09:00

A total of 25 horses remain in the final nomination stage of the 2010 Yasuda Kinen which is to be run on Sunday, June 6 at Tokyo Racecourse over 1,600 meters on grass.
The nominations include three Hong Kong-trained horses, Beauty Flash(NZ), Fellowship(NZ) and Sight Winner(NZ).
The Hong Kong horses, Fairy King Prawn and Bulish Luck, have won the race since the door was opened to foreigners in 1993.
The three invaders have ranked higher than the local nominations in the recent rating.

Eishin Flash mild upset victory in Japanese Derby

2010-05-30T18:02:00.002+09:00

Eishin Flash, the 31.9 seventh favorite, had a mild upset victory in the 2010 Japanese Derby(Tokyo Yushun) on Sunday. Hiroyuki Uchida was aboard the winner, completing the 2400-meter trip in 2 minutes 26.90 seconds on firm ground.

The horses were bunched up when entering the stretch. The pace which Aliseo made was relatively slow, clocking 61.60 seconds for the opening 1000 meters.

At around 200 meters from home, Eishin Flash broke away from the big pack by squeezing between horses on the middle of the course, and he rushed into the line for the Derby winning post.

Before the neck victory, Eishin Flash had to deny Rose Kingdom's challenge. Another 1 3/4-length behind, Victoire Pisa(2.1 favorite) was third with Gestalt fourth and Rulership fifth. Pelusa(2.6 second favorite), who broke in the air at the start, finished sixth.

Eishin Flash, a son of King's Best out of Moonlady, by Platini, has raced for owner T.Hirai and trainer H.Fujiwara. The Derby victory was his fourth win in seven starts with 273+ million jp yen in career earnings. Shadai Farm was the breeder of the darkbay colt.

Pelusa favorite for Japanese Derby

2010-05-29T18:40:00.001+09:00

After closing Saturday betting round, Pelusa has been installed as the 2.4 favorite for the Japanese Derby. The undefeated Zenno Rob Roy colt had an impressive victory in the Aoba Sho in early May.
Victoire Pisa, winner of the Satsuki Sho(Japanese 2000 Guineas), was the 2.6 second favorite. Hiruno d'AAmour was the 8.7 third favorite. The rest of the field was at odds of 10.0 or over.

The 17 three-year-old colts will go to post at 3:40 p.m. on Sunday, May 30, 2010.

Danon Chantilly scratch from Derby

2010-05-29T13:56:00.001+09:00

Danon Chantilly scratched from the Japanese Derby field due to injury. Details about the injury have not been revealed. He came into the Japanese Derby off a sensational victory in the NHK Mile Cup.

Before Danon Chantilly's injury, Sunrise Prince and A Shin Whity, who finished fourth and sixth in the Mile Cup, were sidelined due to leg injury. We realize how tough the Mile Cup was.