Keiblog

Furioso dominates his JRA rivals in Teio Sho

Thu, 1 Jul 2010 09:18:16 +0900

He was the NAR Champion 2 year old in 2006, Champion 3 year old in 2007, Horse of the Year in 2007 and 2008, Champion Older Horse in 2008 and 2009... and after this amazing romp at Ohi last night he is definitely in the lead for both a 3rd Champion Older Horse title as well as the 2010 Horse of the Year honors if he keeps up his performances.

Furioso started out 2010 with bang as he led the whole way in the JPN1 Kawasaki Kinen with the JRA champ Vermillion just off his flank the whole time. At the top of the stretch the two horses were locked in a vicious duel, neither willing to give in. Vermillion won that day though, by a neck. Next was the Daio Lite Kinen (G2) which is a 2400m race that he had won twice before. He came in 5th this time, but winning a race 3 years in a row is pretty hard no matter how talented you are. His next start was in the JPN1 Kashiwa Kinen, a mile race that he had come in 5th in the year before. Espoir City, Japan’s dirt super star, had won this race last year as well as the Japan Cup Dirt. Furioso wasn’t the favorite, he was 5th on the bettors list. But he was the only horse who could give Espoir City a run for his money. True, Furioso was 2nd by a length and a half but the rest of the field was another 4 lengths back.

Now jump to last night’s romp, Furioso beat the winners of the 3 Japan Cup Dirts (JRA G1) and 3 February Stakes (JRA G1) which is quite a feat. Usually the JRA gets the pick of the litters each year at the sales. So for a local horse to defeat national horses, it is an impressive achievement. Furioso is special though because he is owned by Darley Japan, who also owned the JRA registered multiple G1 winner Admire Moon. So they probably had some advantage in obtaining quality stock for their local racing stable.

This race played out a little strange, first off instead of Furioso setting the pace as usual, Success Brocken took the lead spot. Success Brocken who led the whole way till the top of the stretch faded to 8th. Vermillion can come from anywhere to win and he was positioned to win all the way to the op of the stretch. It looked like he was about to explode as usual, but failed to fire and faded to 9th. Kane Hekili did a great job for his first time back in action since his injury in May 2009. He came in 2nd over a tough local horse, Bonneville Record.

Congratulations to the connections of Furioso on his second Teio Sho win and his third JPN1 win. This victory was also trainer Masayuki Kawashima’s 999th win.

33rd Teio Sho (JPN I)
June 30th, 2010 Ohi Racecourse
2000m (10f), Dirt, SW 57.0kg (F&M 55kg), 4yo+, Open Class
Purse: 119,000,000 yen or $1,340,000

Here is the order of finish for the 33rd running of the Teio Sho!

Post # - Horse - Age - Sire - Jockey - Trainer (JRA horses)
1 - Furioso - H6 - Brian’s Time - K. Tosaki - M. Kawashima
2 - Kane Hekili - H8 - Fuji Kiseki - N. Yokoyama - K. Sumii
3 - Bonneville Record - H8 - Assatis - F. Matoba - R. Shiyoji
4 - Admire Subaru - H7 - Admire Boss - M. Katsuura - H. Nakao
5 - Serene - H5 - Marvelous Sunday - T. Ishizaki - K. Sato
6 - Smart Falcon - H5 - Gold Allure - Y. Iwata - K. Kozaki
7 - Makoto Sparviero - H6 - Brian’s Time - K. Ando - I. Sameshima
8 - Success Brocken - H5 - Symboli Kris S - H. Uchida - H. Fujiwara
9 - Vermillion - H8 - El Condor Pasa - Y. Fukunaga - S. Ishizaka
10 - Tosen Archer - H6 - Barathea - H. Sakai - S. Kokubo
11 - Gran Chevalier - H5 - Tayasu Tsuyoshi - N. Mikamoto - M. Saika
12 - Silent Stamen - C4 - Regular Member - M. Kaneko - K. Adachi
13 - Sunrise Bacchus - H8 - Hennessy - D. Mashima - Y. Murakami
14 - Tohoku Bijin - F4 - Smart Boy - K. Motohashi - T. Yamanaka
15 - Sperare - H8 - Afleet - M. Tanaka - S. Komaki

Teio Sho Preview- Japan’s Top Dirt Horses

Tue, 29 Jun 2010 20:19:31 +0900

For those of you who are slightly familiar with Japanese racing, you know about many of the JRA GI races over the year. But how much do you know about the local government run race tracks all over Japan? Probably not much since they don’t get very much international coverage. But for Japan’s dirt racing scene, the local racing is essential.

There are only 2 GI dirt races run by the JRA at this point. Both are fairly new. The February Stakes is 26 years old and the Japan Cup Dirt is only 10 years old. Then the GII and GIII dirt races are few and far between. So what do you do with a good dirt horse in Japan? You send them to the local government tracks.

These tracks are run by prefectural racing associations. Just like in the US where the Kentucky Racing Commission rules over the KY tracks, the Chiba Prefecture Racing Association run the Funabashi Racetrack and the Kanegawa Prefecture Racing Association runs the Kawasaki Racetrack. The NAR, National Association of Racing, organizes all of the 20 local government run tracks in the country.

In the local circuit, there isn’t as much money, the horses race more and live at the track, the jockeys wear their own colors, and they race during the week. Several tracks have night racing from spring to fall while others have day racing. It feels a lot more like the racing we are used to back in the States. This is also where the horses that can’t run on the grass go.

There are many JPN I races in the local circuit for a dirt horse and tomorrow is one of the biggest dirt races for older horses. It is the 33rd Teio Sho, or Emperor’s Cup. There are a lot of high class JRA horses in the mix as well as some very talented local government horses that will make this a very exciting race.

The Teio Sho is held at Ohi Racetrack, also known as Tokyo City Keiba (TCK), in the Shinagawa area of Tokyo. Ohi is one of the most popular track of the 4 local governmant tracks in and around Tokyo. It hosts the very popular Twinkle races from March to November. It is also Santa Anita’s sister track. You have heard of the Tokyo City Cup? Well this is that race’s name sake. Ohi hold the Santa Anita Trophy every summer too.

33rd Teio Sho (JPN I)
June 30th, 2010 Ohi Racecourse
2000m (10f), Dirt, SW 57.0kg (F&M 55kg), 4yo+, Open Class
Purse: 119,000,000 yen or $1,340,000

Here is the line up & commentary for the 33rd running of the Teio Sho!

Post # - Horse - Age - Sire - Jockey - Trainer (JRA horses)
1 - Success Brocken - H5 - Symboli Kris S - H. Uchida - H. Fujiwara
This guy is a hit or miss kind of a horse. Either he fires on all cylinders or he falters and misses. He has won two JPNI races at Ohi racecourse including the Japan Dirt Derby and the Tokyo Daishoten. He even on the GI February Stakes in 2009 over Espoir City, Vermillion, Kane Hekili, and Casino Drive, so he has the skills to beat the big boys. He seems to like Ohi, will he have some racing luck tomorrow?

2 - Sperare - H8 - Afleet - M. Tanaka - S. Komaki
Has won his last two conditions allowances in local tracks out west.

3 - Vermillion - H8 - El Condor Pasa - Y. Fukunaga - S. Ishizaka
Before there was Espoir City, there was Vermillion. As the winner of 9 GI or JPN I races, few horses in Japan can hold a candle to this hard knocking 8 year old veteran. He has raced 32 times and was 4th in the Dubai World Cup back in 2007. Since 2007 he has only run in GI or JPNI races, and winning 9 of 17 starts. Now he is coming off a 6 month lay off but that has never been an issue for him before. He seems to always come back fresh from time off and has always won after several months off. He is also the defending Teio Sho champion. Will he make his GI collection an even 10?

4 - Furioso - H6 - Brian’s Time - K. Tosaki - M. Kawashima
He was the NAR Horse of the Year in 2007 and 2008, Champion 2 year old in 2006, Champion 3 year old in 2007, Champion Older Horse in 2008 and 2009. And based on his performance in last month’s Kashiwa Kinen, where he raced his heart out against the beyond amazing Espoir City, I think he is gunning for the 2010 Champion Older Horse title as well. He is a front runner usually so that makes it hard to win those tough graded races. But he almost always puts in a fight.

5 - Bonneville Record - H8 - Assatis - F. Matoba - R. Shiyoji
Was 2nd last month in the 2600m Ohi Kinen (SII), also 6th in the Kashiwa Kinen (JPNI), 1600m.

6 - Sunrise Bacchus - H8 - Hennessy - D. Mashima - Y. Murakami
Was 6th in the Ohi Kinen (SII) and 9th in the Kashiwa Kinen (JPNI).

7 - Serene - H5 - Marvelous Sunday - T. Ishizaki - K. Sato
Won the 2600m Ohi Kinen(SII) last month but was 6th in the Kashiwa Kinen (JPNI) before that.

8 - Tosen Archer - H6 - Barathea - H. Sakai - S. Kokubo
Won the 1600m Grand Milers (SIII) at Kawasaki earlier this month.

9 - Tohoku Bijin - F4 - Smart Boy - K. Motohashi - T. Yamanaka
Has come in 4th twice and 3rd once in her last 3 starts. Was 10th in the Kashiwa Kinen (JPNI).

10 - Smart Falcon - H5 - Gold Allure - Y. Iwata - K. Kozaki
Gold Allure is proving to be a top notch dirt sire, with his other son Espoir City currently winning every grade I race there is on the dirt. This son is looking to make it to the big time as well. With a string of JPN II and JPN III titles to his name already, Smart Falcon has been 2nd in two JPN I races. He dominated his last two races so he could be the next big thing and is the favorite the day before the Teio Sho.

11 - Silent Stamen - C4 - Regular Member - M. Kaneko - K. Adachi
Was 13th in the Ohi Kinen (SII) and 8th in the Grand Milers (SIII).

12 - Gran Chevalier - H5 - Tayasu Tsuyoshi - N. Mikamoto - M. Saika
Won some high level allowance races before placing 11th in the JPNIII Kurofune Sho. Dipped back down in class and came in 4th in a ungraded stakes.

13 - Makoto Sparviero - H6 - Brian’s Time - K. Ando - I. Sameshima
Was 4th in the Tokai Stakes (GII) at Kyoto at the end of last month, after coming in 5th in the Kashiwa Kinen (JPNI). Before that he had on the GIII March Stakes at Nakayama.

14 - Kane Hekili - H8 - Fuji Kiseki - N. Yokoyama - K. Sumii
It has been over a year since the champion son of Fuji Kiseki has been in a race. After last year’s Kashiwa Kinen (won by Espoir City) the champion injured a tendon in a front leg and was sent to the farm to recover. What makes this fella so amazing is that he has already recovered from a similar injury in 2007 and has come back in top form. He has won JPN I or GI races at 3, 4, 6 and 7 year old. He was out of training for his entire 5 year old season. It took him a race to get back to top form after his last injury, but that wont stop him from being one of the favorites in tomorrow’s Teio Sho. He was 2nd in this race in 2006 before injuring himself the first time.

15 - Admire Subaru - H7 - Admire Boss - M. Katsuura - H. Nakao
Was 3rd in the Kashiwa Kinen (JPNI) and 2nd in the Nagoya Daishoten (JPNIII). Could make for an interesting bet. He should be priced nicely.

Nakayama Festa upsets in the Takarazuka

Mon, 28 Jun 2010 14:48:26 +0900

He looked like he was going to have a stellar 3 year old season after breaking his maiden and winning the GII Tokyo Sports Hai at 2, but Nakayama Festa fell flat in all 3 of his ‘classic’ GI attempts last year. Coming in 8th in the Satsuki Sho (Japanese 2000 Guineas) then 4th in the Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby), and 12th in the Kikuka Sho (Japanese St. Leger). He ended the year with a disappointing 13th in the GIII Chunichi Shimbun Hai at Chukyo Racecourse in December which made his 2009 campaign 6 starts, 1 win, 1 second, and 4 out off the board finishes.

He took about 5 months off and came roaring back into action like the last year had never happened with a romping victory in the ungraded, open class, Metropolitan Stakes on April 24th. He won by an easy two lengths over Top Coming without being ridden all that hard by jockey Yoshitomi Shibata. Flash forward to June 27th and see him out run defending Takarazuka champ Dream Journey, fly right by champ Buena Vista, and beat Earnestly (who had beaten him last year).

As they were loading the horses into the gate, Nakayama Festa reared up and dumped Shibata, yet he still had the energy to win. It was a miserably hot day there. It felt more like a sauna than the outdoors. I am impressed that none of the horses had a heat stroke! At the break, Dream Journey bore out badly, it looks like something might have spooked him because one jump after the dates opened he took a few jumps to the far outside before sprinting to make up for lost time. I think that little incident cost him a better placing or a legitimate chance at winning.

Namura Crecent set the pace after the break with Earnestly (eventually 3rd) hung back in second with Logi Universe and an unusually forwardly placed Buena Vista on the rail. As they turned for home Earnestly kicked into gear but Buena Vista sneaked through along the rail and the two of them battled it out down the stretch. As they came around the turn Dream Journey made his move as did Nakayama Festa. Buena Vista was holding off Earnestly successfully when Nakayama Festa blew past them to win my a little over 1/2 a length. Buena Vista didn’t have time to respond to the challenge. Dream Journey was flying behind them but could only make it up to 4th with Earnestly holding it on to 3rd.

With the heat the way it was, I found Earnestly’s performance amazing. I think in cooler weather we might see a lot more of this guy. Buena was kept WAY closer than I think she should have been. With the heat and everything, keeping her that close to the pace might have been a mistake. It left her open to other closers, who she usually duels with. She seems to be a filly that will fight for the win, but she didn’t see Nakayama Festa coming. Like I mentioned before Dream Journey got burned early, but he always puts in a performance. He is a pretty special horse to be able to perform so well for so many seasons.

That is the end of the first half of Japan’s racing calendar. The summer’s races will take place in Niigata and Fukushima in the northern parts of the main island of Japan. Then the two tracks in Hokkaido will hold their summer meets as well, Sapporo and Hakodate (newly opened this summer after a year of renovation).

Over the coming months I will try to showcase the non-JRA racing scene for you, as well as reports on the baby races and freshman and sophomore sires. This summer Deep Impact makes his debut as a sire, he has already had 2 starters. Special Gift who rallied to 3rd in her debut on the 19th at Hanshin and Hiraboku Impact who won her debut at Fukushima this weekend.

51th Takarazuka Kinen
June 28th, 2010 Hanshin Racecourse
2200m (11f), Turf, Int’l, SW 58.0kg (F&M 56kg), 3yo+, Open Class
Purse: 278,920,000 yen or $3,099,000

Here is the order of finish in the Takarazuka Kinen

Post # : Horse : Sire : Jockey : Trainer : Owner
1 - Nakayama Festa - C4 - Stay Gold - Y. Shibata - Y. Ninomiya - S. Izumi
2 - Buena Vista - C4 - Special Week - N. Yokoyama - H. Matsuda - Sunday Racing
3 - Earnestly - H5 - Grass Wonder - T. Sato - S. Sasaki - K. Maeda
4 - Dream Journey - H6 - Stay Gold - K. Ikee - Y. Ikee - Sunday Racing
5 - Never Bouchon - H7 - Marvelous Sunday - H. Goto - M. Ito - T. Hirosaki
6 - Meisho Beluga - M5 - French Deputy - H. Miyuki - K. Ikezoe - Y. Matsumoto
7 - Smart Gear - H5 - Marvelous Sunday - R. Wada - M. Sayama - T. Okawa
8 - Jaguar Mail - H6 - Jungle Pocket - C. Williams - N. Hori - K. Yoshida
9 - Namura Crescent - H5 - Yamanin Seraphim - F. Komaki - N. Fukushima - N. Namura
10 - Forgettable - C4 - Dance in the Dark - M. Ebina - Y. Ikee - K. Makoto Holdings
11 - I Ko Piko - C4 - Manhattan Cafe - Y. Iwata - M. Nishizono - Nishikioka B.
12 - Meiner Answer - H6 - Star of Cozzene - Y. Kawada - H. Miyamoto - K. TB Club Ruffian
13 - Logi Universe - C4 - Neo Universe - K. Ando - K. Hagiwara - M. Kumeta
14 - Top Coming - C4 - Gold Allure - S. Hamanaka - N. Sakai - Koro Co. Ltd
15 - Axion - H7 - Sunday Silence - S. Fujita - Y. Ninomiya - T. Nakata
16 - Seiun Wonder - C4 - Grass Wonder - Y. Fukunaga - M. Ryoke - T. Otani
17 - Makihata Cyborg - G8 - Mejiro Bright - K. Dazai - M. Shinkawa - Makimoto B.
SCR - Copano Jingu - H5 - Agnes Tachyon - Y. Fujioka - T. Miya - S. Kobayashi

Takarazuka Kinen - Clash of the Titans Take 2

Thu, 24 Jun 2010 16:30:59 +0900

You might think you are seeing double in the picture above but what you are looking at are two very dominant horses in the Japanese racing world. They are just owned by the same Owners Club.

The winner in this photo was Dream Journey. He was Japan’s champion 2 year old after winning the Asahi Hai Futurity Stakes (GI) in 2006. He is shown in the photo above capturing his 3rd GI title in last winter’s Arima Kinen. Other than the Futurity and the Arima, he also captured last year’s Takarazuka Kinen (GI) over such top competition as the rising star Sakura Mega Wonder, Deep Sky (2008’s Derby winner), Company (who went on to later win the Emperor’s Cup Fall (GI) and Mile Championship (GI)), Screen Hero (who won the 08 Japan Cup), and Meiner Kitz & Al Nasrain (who were first and second in the 08 Emperor’s Cup Spring). While Journey has only won a third of his races, he almost always gives it the ole college try. The 6 year old son of Stay Gold had a rough 2007 campaign and some trouble in 2008 but 2009 was a HUGE year for him, with the Takarazuka and Arima wins. So far in 2003 he has come in 3rd in two different GII races. In his last start, the GII Osaka Hai (2000m, 10f) he was forced to go SUPER wide at the of the stretch. And was then caught up with 3 other horses to battle for 2nd place but lost by a nose and was 3rd. So he still have the moves. If he gets the trip!

Next we have Buena Vista, Japan’s racing princess ready to replace Vodka as Queen of the Turf. In her 2010 debut she easily captured the Kyoto Kinen (GII) and then went off to just barely lose the Sheema Classic (GI) in Dubai by a hair. On her return to Japan, she scored a thrilling victory in the Victoria Mile, even though she was far from peak form. With over a month to rest and recoup back in her own stall, she should be raring to go.

The two of these Sunday Racing Co. Ltd. owned race horses have met two times thus far. In the Arima Kinen, Dream Journey ran right past Buena in the stretch, who ended up a close second. In the Kyoto Kinen, Dream Journey couldn’t come close to catching the stunning Buena Vista and had to settle for 3rd. Now they meet again in the Takarazuka Kinen. If they both run at the top of their game this could be quite a thrilling stretch duel!

For the two of them to get into this duel they will have to face some of the toughest competition you can imagine in Japan. There is 2009’s Derby winner Logi Universe looking to find his winning form again, 2008 Champion 2 year old Seiun Wonder who finally found the winners circle again earlier this month in the GIII Epsom Cup, Jaguar Mail who won this years marathon Emperor’s Cup Spring and was 2nd to Buena in the Kyoto Kinen, the regally bred Forgettable still in search of the elusive GI victory, Earnestly who won big at the end of May, and the 7 year old Never Bouchon who was 4th in the Queen Elizabeth II Cup in Hong Kong.

Remember, the Takarazuka Kinen is just like the Arima Kinen, in where the fans get to vote on who they want to see run in it. The top ten horses chosen by the fans get automatic berth into the starting gate if their connections agree to run. The other 8 starters are decided by earnings and performances in the past. To find out how the top 10 horses were check out my last entry HERE!

51th Takarazuka Kinen
June 28th, 2010 Hanshin Racecourse
2200m (11f), Turf, Int’l, SW 58.0kg (F&M 56kg), 3yo+, Open Class
Purse: 278,920,000 yen or $3,099,000

Here are the horses entered to run in the Takarazuka Kinen

Post # : Horse : Sire : Jockey : Trainer : Owner
1 - I Ko Piko - C4 - Manhattan Cafe - Y. Iwata - M. Nishizono - Nishikioka B.
Has won going both 1800m (9f) and 2400m (12f) but has not seen the winners circle or the board since September 2009 in the Kobe News Hai (GII)
2 - Earnestly - H5 - Grass Wonder - T. Sato - S. Sasaki - K. Maeda
This guy has performed very admirably his entire career. Being out of the money only 4 out of 15 starts. He has slowly worked his way up to the GI level and after 3 wins and a second in his past 4 starts, his connection feel confident their colt will be able to make a big impression here and possibly in the fall GIs as well.
3 - Never Bouchon - H7 - Marvelous Sunday - H. Goto - M. Ito - T. Hirosaki
He ran pretty well in Hong Kong in March (coming in 4th) and won the GII American Jockey Club Cup going 2200m (same as the TK) in January. He could be coming into his own now.
4 - Smart Gear - H5 - Marvelous Sunday - R. Wada - M. Sayama - T. Okawa
Was 3rd in last month’s Kingyo Sho (GII, 2000m) at Kyoto Race course

5 - Namura Crescent - H5 - Yamanin Seraphim - F. Komaki - N. Fukushima - N. Namura
This fella has not seen the winners circle in his past 4 starts. He was 4th in the Emperor’s Cup Spring to Jaguar mail but he was several lengths back.
6 - Seiun Wonder - C4 - Grass Wonder - Y. Fukunaga - M. Ryoke - T. Otani
It took the 2008 Champion 2 year old a while to find the winners circle again, but he did just that earlier this month in the 1800m GIII Epsom Cup. This race might be coming up a little too fast for him but it also could be what the colt needs to stay sharp and focused.
7 - Meiner Answer - H6 - Star of Cozzene - Y. Kawada - H. Miyamoto - K. TB Club Ruffian
This guy seems to like distance races winning 2600m (13f) and 2400m (12f) races in his past 4 starts. Maybe the 2200 will be too short for him, but since he has not raced in graded stakes company before, the idea of this guy winning seems pretty far fetched.
8 - Buena Vista - C4 - Special Week - N. Yokoyama - H. Matsuda - Sunday Racing
She will be missing her familiar rival Red Desire in this race do to bleeding after a workout, but she will have her hooves full with all of the other deep closers in the field.
9 - Logi Universe - C4 - Neo Universe - K. Ando - K. Hagiwara - M. Kumeta
The 2009 Derby winner was undefeated at the beginning of his career but ran into a few bumps in the first classic, the Satsuki Sho, before winning the Derby. He then took the rest of the year off and came back early this year for a less than stellar performance in the Nikkei Sho (GII). Will the Logi Universe we know and love be back? He lost his normal jock, Yokoyama to Buena Vista, and Katsumi Ando will be in the irons this Sunday.
10 - Jaguar Mail - H6 - Jungle Pocket - C. Williams - N. Hori - K. Yoshida
He and Williams snagged this Spring’s Emperor’s Cup Spring from Meiner Kitz at Kyoto in early May so this guy will be on the prowl for his 2nd GI win of both the year and of his career.
11 - Top Coming - C4 - Gold Allure - S. Hamanaka - N. Sakai - Koro Co. Ltd
He has come in 2nd and 3rd in two graded stakes over the course of his career but he has never beaten horses of this calibur. No offense to this colt but I don’t think he should be here.
12 - Meisho Beluga - M5 - French Deputy - H. Miyuki - K. Ikezoe - Y. Matsumoto
He came in 10th in the 3200m (16f) Emperor’s Cup Spring but was doing really good in the GII and GIII circuit. Maybe the distance in the last GI was too much. As the only MARE in the race she might be ready for his upgrade but when she is pitted against Buena Vista, I don’t think she will have much of a chance.
13 - Forgettable - C4 - Dance in the Dark - M. Ebina - Y. Ikee - K. Makoto Holdings
This colt has the pedigree of a king, Dance in the Dark and champion race mare Air Groove’s colt has worked hard over his career to try and get a GI win, but has not been lucky. He was 6th in the Emperor’s Cup Spring and 4th in the Arima Kinen. But he won the Diamond Stakes (GIII, 3400m, 17f) and Stayers Stakes (GII, 3600m, 18f) this guy loves him some furlongs. Maybe this horse will be too short for him to really shine. If he can pad his resume with a few GIs though, he will be able to retire in style.
14 - Makihata Cyborg - G8 - Mejiro Bright - K. Dazai - M. Shinkawa - Makimoto B.
He is a distance horse who has not seen the winners circle since 2007... enough said.

15 - Copano Jingu - H5 - Agnes Tachyon - Y. Fujioka - T. Miya - S. Kobayashi
He won the Meguro Kinen (GII, 2500m, 12.5f) on Derby day and won a high level allowance at Kyoto just two weeks before. He could be a rising star in the distance horse devision but he has won 1800m and 2000m races so who knows. SCRATCHED

16 - Axion - H7 - Sunday Silence - S. Fujita - Y. Ninomiya - T. Nakata
He was on a roll for 6 straight races (4 wins, 2 seconds) before bombing last month in the Kingyo Sho (GII, 2000m). One of the few Sunday Silence horses still out there is going to be trying to solidify a stud career and a GI win would do that.
17 - Nakayama Festa - C4 - Stay Gold - Y. Shibata - Y. Ninomiya - S. Izumi
He bombed out in the classics last year but Nakayama Festa isn’t done yet. He killed the field in an ungraded stakes race at Tokyo at the end of April for his 4 year old debut and will be looking to make up for the past in this race.
18 - Dream Journey - H6 - Stay Gold - K. Ikee - Y. Ikee - Sunday Racing
An interesting observation, Dream Journey seems to like racing right handed over left. With the exception of a 3rd place in a 2 year old stakes race back in 2006, he has always been out of the money when racing at left handed tracks like Tokyo. All of his best performances have been at right handed tracks.

Japan Racing News Update

Thu, 10 Jun 2010 20:41:55 +0900

There is only one GI race left before the summer racing season starts, the Takarazuka Kinen at Hanshin Racecourse. Much like the Arima Kinen in December, the Takarazuka allows fan to nominate horses for the race. The top 10 horses with the most fan votes get first draw into the race. The other 8 spots, as well as any spots that are opened if a fan choice decides not to run are given to horses that qualify to run in the GI event.

The Yasuda Kinen was the first race for 3 year olds to take on older horses, but this year everyone passed. The Takarazuka might be late enough that you might actually see some of the top 3 year olds meet up with the older horses. Also last year’s Derby winner Logi Universe will be making his 2nd attempt at a comeback in this race.

Here are the top 10 horses selected by the fans and their current racing status:
1 - Buena Vista : She will race in the Takarazuka

2 - Dream Journey : He will race in the Takarazuka

3 - Red Desire : She will race in the Takarazuka

4 - Logi Universe : His next start has not been announced but he is a likely starter in the Takarazuka Kinen.

5 - Oken Bruce Lee : He is being pointed to the Kyoto Daishoten in October

6 - Victorie Pisa : Won’t start in Takarazuka, next start undecided

7 - Apapane : Won’t start in the Takarazuka, she is being pointed towards the Rose Stakes at Hanshin in September before going on to try to win the last leg of the Filly Triple Crown in October.

8 - Meiner Kitz : Will take some time off on the farm before being pointed towards a campaign in Australia in the fall.

9 - Forgettable : He will race in the Takarazuka

10 - Jaguar Mail : He will race in the Takarazuka

In other news:

Reach the Crown was injured in the Yasuda Kinen, which would explain his lack luster performance. He will be out of training for about half a hear.

Derby winner, Eishin Flash’s plans have not been decided. He came out of the race fine and will be sent the Yamamoto Training Center to relax and be kept in shape till his next steps are decided. His connections are considering the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe or the third leg of the Japanese triple crown, the Kikuka Sho, both of which are in October.

Japan’s Champion dirt horse, Espoir City, is going to bypass the Teio Sho at the end of the month to take it easy and plan out his path to the Breeders Cup Classic in Louisville.

Top English Racehorse, Rule of Law, who came to Japan in 2006 to stand at Darley Japan, had his first win as a sire. The son of Kingmambo’s first crop is just not beginning to hit the turf this summer. King Rocky, out of a Forty Niner mare, won his debut on the dirt at Himeji Racecourse.

Hector Protector (Woodman), 1990 Champion French 2yo and French Guineas winner, died on May 14th.

Cosmo Bulk, a common runner in most of the GI races in recent years has been retired and will stand at Hokkaido’s Big Red Farm.

This is the last weekend that there will be JRA racing in the Tokyo area till September when Nakayama opens for it’s fall meet. The summer JRA meet consists of Niigata and Fukushima which are west and north of the Tokyo Area, as well as, Sapporo and Hakodate which are in the northern island of Hokkaido. After the Takarazuka Kinen, there will not be another GI race till the first weekend in October, the Sprinters Stakes.