Japan Horse Racing Tips-Umanity.jp

After Equinox (JPN, by Kitasan Black) capped off his remarkable career with a dominating victory in last year’s Japan Cup (G1, 2,400m), selected rivals from the same generation who have remained active into their five-year-old seasons have continued to show strength in big events. Do Deuce (JPN, H5, by Heart’s Cry) claimed his fourth G1 title on October 27 in the Tenno Sho (Autumn) (G1, 2,000m), which ran at a considerably slower pace than the past two years. Do Deuce was positioned far behind in 14th position in a field of 15, but under regular rider Yutaka Take, the son of Heart’s Cry angled wide and exerted a terrific turn of speed at the stretch. Together with Tastiera (JPN, C4, by Satono Crown), who also made bid in the stretch run, he pinned runaway leader Ho O Biscuits (JPN, C4, by Mind Your Biscuits) 100 meters out and then pulled away from Tastiera to win by 1-1/4 lengths, clocking his last 600 meters in 32.5 seconds.

Do Deuce has won a G1 title every year since the 2021 Asahi Hai Futurity Stakes (1,600m) as a two-year-old, including the 2022 Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby, 2,400m), the 2023 Arima Kinen (2,500m) and the Tenno Sho (Autumn) this year. His connections have already announced his retirement at the end of the year, but not before racing in Japan Cup on November 24 and/or the Arima Kinen on December 22 depending on his condition. The powerful five-year-old appears to be fine after his last victory, so his connections are eager to start him in the Japan Cup.

Another five-year-old headed for the Japan Cup is Blow the Horn (JPN, H5, by Epiphaneia). The son of Epiphaneia broke his maiden in his ninth start, gradually began showing signs of becoming a quality horse in his four-year-old season and landed his much awaited first grade-race victory this past January in the Nikkei Shinshun Hai (G2, 2,400m). In his G1 debut, the Tenno Sho (Spring) (G1, 3,200m), the bay made ground impressively from behind to close in on T O Royal with a runner-up effort. Blow the Horn then validated the performance by claiming his first G1 title in the Takarazuka Kinen (2,200m), where the five-year-old stormed past a field of All-Star G1 rivals along the widest path over giving ground rated yielding. But in his kick-off start of the fall on October 6, he disappointed to 11th as the race favorite in the Kyoto Daishoten (G2, 2,400m)—the same race in which he was pulled up mid-race last year—maybe due to carrying a 59kg penalty. Nevertheless, he is hoped to bounce back to form in the Japan Cup.

Among the three-year-old fillies that have shown a strong presence in recent years, Cervinia (JPN, by Harbinger) stands atop the field this year. Slow to mature from her two-year-old debut to her early three-year-old season, the Harbinger filly then won the 2023 Artemis Stakes (G3, 1,600m) but was withdrawn from the Hanshin Juvenile Fillies (G1, 1,600m) due to a minor problem in her hind leg. Also forced to skip her prep starts towards the three-year-old fillies Triple, she finished 13th in the Oka Sho (Japanese 1000 Guineas, G1, 1,600m). But her true form materialized in the second leg of the fillies’ triple, the Yushun Himba (Japanese Oaks, G1, 2,400m), under regular rider Christophe Lemaire, who was absent in the Oka Sho due to injury. In the race, the talented filly angled out wide from racing off the pace in mid-division to charge up the hill, then found another gear once reaching the top to tag Oka Sho champion Stellenbosch (JPN, F3, by Epiphaneia) and win by 1/2 length. Following a summer break, Cervinia headed straight to the Shuka Sho (G1, 2,000m), where she followed a rapid pace in mid-pack and split horses with an explosive turn of speed to fly away to victory by a comfortable margin. The filly is from the same stable as the now retired Equinox under trainer Tetsuya Kimura.

Among the three-year-old colts, Shin Emperor (FR, by Siyouni) returned from his overseas endeavor in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (G1, 2,400m) and will make his comeback in this year’s Japan Cup. After victories in his first two career starts, including the Kyoto Nisai Stakes (G3, 2,000m), the Siyouni colt was winless in his next four starts in Japan although he scored two seconds, a third and a fifth. In the Tokyo Yushun, held at the same venue and distance as the Japan Cup, the French-bred colt was unable to reach the front-runners and finished third, but in his prep race, the Irish Champion Stakes (G1, 2,000m), after struggling to secure a good position in the straight, he used a fine turn of speed to make ground and finish a close third, a length behind winner Economics (GB, C3, by Night of Thunder) and 3/4 length behind runner-up Auguste Rodin. In the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, Shin Emperor struggled over the soft surface and was defeated to 12th, but he is hoped to bounce back on firmer ground in Japan.

Other nominated and substitute horses include:

・Durezza (JPN, C4, by Duramente), winner of last year’s Kikuka Sho (Japanese St. Leger, G1, 3,000m), who was fifth in his first overseas stint, the International Stakes (G1, 2,050m), in August.
・Justin Palace (JPN, H5, by Deep Impact), 2023 Tenno Sho (Spring) (G1, 3,200m) champion, who is coming off a fourth, 0.3 second behind Do Deuce, in the Tenno Sho (Autumn).
・Karate (JPN, H8, by To the Glory), who has three graded titles, the last being the 2023 Niigata Daishoten (G3, 2,000m), but is winless since.
・Pradaria (JPN, H5, by Deep Impact), three-time G2 winner including this year’s Kyoto Kinen (2,200m), who failed in his last start to defend his 2023 Kyoto Daishoten title, finishing seventh.
・Sol Oriens (JPN, C4, by Kitasan Black), last year’s Satsuki Sho (Japanese 2000 Guineas, G1, 2,000m) champion and runner-up in the Takarazuka Kinen in June, who is coming off a 0.4-second seventh in the Tenno Sho (Autumn).
・Stars on Earth (JPN, M5, by Duramente), who won the Oka Sho and the Yushun Himba at three and was third by five lengths in the 2023 Japan Cup, was eighth in her last start, the Dubai Sheema Classic, out of the money for the first time, so is on a long break prior to the Japan Cup.
・Struve (JPN, G5, by King Kamehameha) scored three consecutive wins this year, including the Nikkei Sho (G2, 2,500m) in March and the Meguro Kinen (G2, 2,500m) in May, but was 11th in his G1 debut, the Takarazuka Kinen.

Three foreign runners have accepted invitations to the Japan Cup, including Auguste Rodin (IRE, C4), one of the final crops by legendary Deep Impact and a winner of six G1 titles—the Futurity Trophy Stakes (1,600m) in 2022, the Epsom Derby (2,410m), the Irish Derby (2,400m), the Irish Champion Stakes (2,000m) and the Breeders’ Cup Turf (2,400m) in 2023, and the Prince Of Wales’s Stakes (1,990m) in 2024. Coming off a second in the Irish Champion Stakes on September 14, the Aidan O’Brien-trained colt will strive to give his sire his fifth Japan Cup title in his career finale.

Fantastic Moon (GER, C4, by Sea The Moon) claimed his second G1 title in this year’s Grosser Preis von Baden (2,400m) after also winning the 2023 Deutsches Derby (2,400m). With a record of 6-1-0 out of eight starts on “good” or “good to soft” going, the son of Sea The Moon will aim to become the first German-based Japan Cup winner since Lando in 1995.



Goliath (GER, G4, by Adlerflug) from France won his first G1 title in the King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2,390m) in July as seventh pick and is coming off his third group-race victory in the Prix du Conseil de Paris (G2, 2,200m) on October 20. Raced mainly over 2,400-meter distances, the Adlerflug gelding will aim to become the first foreign-trained horse to win the Japan Cup since Alkaased in 2005. He will be accompanied by stablemate Le Nomade (IRE, G6, by Mastercraftsman), who will run in the Capital Stakes (Listed, 1,600m) a day before the Japan Cup.

Liberty Island (JPN, F4, by Duramente), who was picked above Do Deuce as race as favorite in the Tenno Sho (Autumn), disappointed to 13th. The Duramente filly captivated racing fans after becoming the seventh triple crown filly and a runner-up, albeit by four lengths, to World’s Best Racehorse Equinox in the 2023 Japan Cup. In Dubai Sheema Classic (G1, 2,410m), she gave a good third-place effort despite the race developing contrary to her liking. Upon her return to Japan, however, she was found to have a mild case of sesamoiditis in her right foreleg and had to take a seven-month break. Returning in the Tenno Sho, the filly raced in good position but failed to respond when asked and was heavily defeated, finishing out of the money for the first time in her career. Her connections, after careful deliberation, will avoid the Japan Cup in favor of the Hong Kong Cup (G1, 2,000m) on December 8, choosing a distance more suited to the filly and giving her more time since her last start.

Top stayer T O Royal (JPN, H6, by Leontes) registered three consecutive victories this spring—the Diamond Stakes (G3, 3,400m), the Hanshin Daishoten (G2, 3,000m) and the Tenno Sho (Spring). He passed up a comeback in the Kyoto Daishoten after a five-month break due to a minor injury, so he will miss a second Japan Cup challenge to ensure a full recovery before returning in the Arima Kinen.

Deep Bond (JPN, H7, by Kizuna), who has three seconds and a third in four Tenno Sho (Spring) starts and is coming off a runner-up effort in the Kyoto Daishoten, will also aim for the Arima Kinen instead of the Japan Cup to give the veteran runner ample rest between races.

Third favorite Stunning Rose claimed her first win since 2022 and second G1 victory in this year’s Queen Elizabeth II Cup in an impressive 2:11.1, updating the 23-year-old race record set by To the Victory. As a three-year-old, the filly captured the Shuka Sho (G1, 2,000m), the Flower Cup (G3, 1,800m) and the Shion Stakes (G3, 2,000m) titles as well as putting in a runner-up effort in the Yushun Himba (Japanese Oaks, G1, 2,400m). After being sidelined with peritendinitis in her left foreleg after finishing 12th in last year’s Victoria Mile (G1, 1,600m), she made her comeback in the Osaka Hai (G1, 2,000m) in March this season in which she was eighth. The King Kamehameha mare then went on to run in the Victoria Mile in May and the Queen Stakes (G3, 1,800m) in July, finishing ninth and sixth, respectively. The five-year-old mare presented her trainer Tomokazu Takano with his eighth JRA-G1 title, his latest was with Jantar Mantar in this year’s NHK Mile Cup, and jockey Cristian Demuro, who is riding under a short-term license and had won the title with Geraldina in 2022, his fifth.

The field broke in front of the stands with Conch Shell taking the early lead while Harper and Shinryokuka followed in close pursuit. A bit keen in the backstretch, Stunning Rose chased the frontrunners in fourth before making headway and swiftly took over the lead while turning the last corner. First to enter the straight, the King Kamehameha mare romped to the wire unthreatened for an impressive two-length victory.

“I’m very happy to have won a G1 race which I wanted to achieve here in Japan, especially after finishing second a few times. Today after the start, I chose to go behind the leader and the mare just showed a special turn of foot,” Christian Demuro said in a post-race interview.

Sent off lightly favored as twelfth choice, Ravel, winner of the G3 Artemis Stakes (1,600m) as a two-year- old, settled outside the favorite around eighth, circled wide into the stretch and although no match for the eventual winner, dug in well to overhaul Wholeness 100 meters out to score a two-length second.

Second pick of the 17-horse field, Wholeness saved ground in fifth, angled out for her stretch run and while denied the runner-up seat by the fast-closing Ravel, shook off her rivals in a fierce rally in the final strides to secure third place by a neck.

Heavy favorite and the only three-year-old runner, Regaleira broke well and settled in mid-pack but found herself in tight quarters in early stretch. The Hopeful Stakes winner bumped rivals trying to squeeze through aggressively and launched her bid late, finishing fifth.

Other Horses:
4th: (8) Shinryokuka—tracked leaders in 3rd on rails, showed tenacity, weakened in last 100m
6th: (2) Lilac—saved ground in 11th, angled out, quickened to time tied fastest over last three furlongs
7th: (13) Saliera—settled near rear in 14th, circled wide, showed tied fastest late kick but belatedly
8th: (15) Gold Eclipse—raced wide around 12th, improved position at stretch
9th: (17) Costa Bonita—ran wide around 6th behind winner, showed effort until 100m out
10th: (12) Scintillation—hugged rails around 8th, bumped at early stretch, lacked needed kick
11th: (9) Kiminonawa Maria—sat around 6th, showed little at stretch
12th: (10) Erika Vita—traveled around 12th, unable to reach contention
13th: (3) Rouge Lignage—trailed in rear, passed tired rivals
14th: (5) Moryana—raced near rear, showed brief effort at stretch, outrun in last 100m
15th: (6) Peace of the Life—trailed in rear, no factor throughout trip
16th: (4) Conch Shell—set pace, faded after 200m pole
17th: (14) Harper—chased leader in 2nd, bumped at early stretch, lost momentum

Forever Young and Shahyrar also finish in top three


From a record eight runners to the Breeders’ Cup at Santa Anita in 2023 to an astonishing 19 to Del Mar in ‘24, Japan’s team headed to the American racing festival with memories of 2021 and its two historic wins, keeping hopes high. Unfortunately, two days and 10 contested races later, there were, like last year, no new victories to celebrate.

Given the high bar, the challenges of an overseas excursion, and the infamously tight turns and short stretch of the left-handed Del Mar course, the fact that six horses made the top five and three of those figured in the money, allowed no room for embarrassment.

The 41st version of the Breeders’ Cup World Championships was held over two days (Friday, Nov. 1 and Saturday, Nov. 2) at California’s Del Mar Thoroughbred Club and racing fans in Japan were able to bet on four of the races - the BC Turf, BC Classic, BC Filly & Mare Turf, and the BC Mile - three of which not only included Japan-based runners, but brought the country’s best results from them. From the four featured events, the Japan Racing Association was able to reap a turnover just shy of 2.75 billion yen (down 4.1 percent from last year).

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This year, the best results for Japan came a race earlier than last year, but it was once again a second place, and once again Christophe Lemaire who brought it home, this time aboard Rousham Park in the BC Turf, the No. 7 race on Nov. 2. Despite a slow start, the Harbinger 5-year-old rallied to seriously threaten, but eventually finish but a neck behind 2022 BC Turf winner Rebel’s Romance, a Charlie Appleby-trained 6-year-old ridden by William Buick. Following Rousham Park a length and a half later in third place was Japan’s Shahryar, duplicating his third-place Turf result of last year.

Rousham Park’s trainer, the Miho-based Hiroyasu Tanaka said, "It was so frustrating. He traveled well over the first lap, but over the second lap I was hoping that the pace would pick up. The pace was too slow but he did quicken well in the final stage.”

Lemaire had high praise for the G2 winner Rousham Park, whose best in Grade 1 company at home is also a second, scored early this year in the Osaka Hai.

“He was a bit slow away,” said Lemaire, “but I didn’t get after him at all, and he raced with a cool head and took up a position toward the back.

“The pace was slow so he was a bit keen, but he made good headway up the outside. In the stretch he was moving extremely well and gained ground, but there just wasn’t enough time.

“His racing was superb. He was extremely competitive today amid a very strong lineup and I think he’ll be able to get good results at the top level in Japan.”

Of the Deep Impact-sired Shahryar, 2021 Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby) champ and winner of the Grade 1 Dubai Sheema Classic the following year, Cristian Demuro said he was more concerned about the turns than the slow pace. "The turns were tight and difficult for him. He lugged out around the bend at one point. But, he made third place again this year and I think he ran very well.”

Trainer Hideaki Fujiwara agreed, “The third and fourth turns were a problem. If things had gone a bit more smoothly there, the result may have been different.

“Still, he was able to close the gap in the finish and showed his strength.” Though Fujiwara said Demuro apologized to him for the result,” the Ritto-based trainer said, “I think (Demuro) did an excellent job. The horse is 6 years old now but his performance is still up to par. I don’t know where yet, but I’d like to give him one more race.”

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Next up was the BC Classic, a race that brought Japan’s one other finisher in the top three - Forever Young, a 3-year-old colt by 2016 Dubai Turf winner Real Steel. Forever Young earlier this year made news when he finished third in the Kentucky Derby, Japan’s best result yet and an indication it’s only a matter of time before a Japan-based contestant claims the iconic race. Though he has yet to score a Grade 1 competition, the third place at Churchill Downs and the third place at Del Mar were the only two times Forever Young has missed the winner’s circle in his eight starts so far.

Japan fielded three runners in the Classic - Forever Young, 2023 Dubai World Cup winner Ushba Tesoro and Derma Sotogake, who had finished second in the BC Classic last year.

Winning the race was the U.S.-based Sierra Leone, who battled his way up from the back to overtake favorite and eventual runnerup Fierceness. Derma Sotogake had led under Christophe Lemaire until 3 furlongs out but faded to finish only one off the back in the field of 14, while Ushba Tesoro, under Yuga Kawada, was unable to make headway, never was a threat, and finished in 10th place. Forever Young broke from the innermost gate, secured a prominent position and kept pace but, lost power from about 300 meters but managed to hold on for third place 2 3/4 lengths off the top.

His trainer Yoshito Yahagi, whose horses in 2021 brought Japan its first and only Breeders’ Cup victories, was upbeat. "He went all out so the result is unfortunate, but I do feel somehow refreshed, because he really gave it his best.

“He let it rip from the gate so his pace may have been a bit fast, but that’s all hindsight. He was able to pass Fierceness, and he and the winner were both strong.

“Since this horse was third in the Kentucky Derby, I was hoping he could win at the top level. But it didn’t happen. His sire was a late bloomer, so I think he can still do well later in his career.”

Rider Ryusei Sakai was also positive about Forever Young’s performance. Stable jockey to the globe-trotting Yahagi, Sakai is only 27, with 8 years of riding experience and a current ranking of No. 5 among JRA jockeys. His father and grandfather were both jockeys and the young Sakai has been notching big races at home for the past 3 years for a total of five G1s."It's really too bad we didn't win, but I do think he gave it his best,” Sakai said of Forever Young.

“I hadn’t been happy about the draw, but in hindsight I think it worked to our advantage. He didn’t have to deal with the kickback and we were able to make headway without having to cover more ground. He was much calmer than he’d been in the Kentucky Derby and, in fact, was very confident and in fantastic condition.

“The top two horses were strong. But this horse is still only 3 years old and so are they. I haven’t won in the United States and I would love it if Forever Young and I could both grow together, race together and win. “

Yuga Kawada, who flew back to Japan in time to clinch the Nov. 4 JBC Classic Cup at Saga aboard Wilson Tesoro (another horse owned by businessman Kenji Ryotokuji (Ryotokuji Kenji Holdings Co. Ltd.)), commented on Ushba Tesoro’s BC performance this year. "Overall, everything seemed to be fine leading up to the start. In the first half, things went as usual, but after turning out of the backstretch he just didn’t seem to be feeling it. He wasn’t moving well and he couldn’t respond as he usually does.”

Ushba Tesoro finished fifth in the BC Classic last year, but Kawada doesn’t write off the poor finish this year to age. “I don’t think there are any big physical changes. He has continued to race at the top level and even though he hasn’t won this year, he had fantastic runs in the spring, finishing second twice on the world stage at the top level (Dubai and Riyadh).

“So, if you consider that, he has done very, very well. His result today was unfortunate but he rose to the challenge once again.”

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In the BC Mile, the second to the last of the day’s races, two locals, More Than Looks and Johannes captured the top two spots, with the U.K.’s Notable Speech rounding out the show. Two Japan runners were able to make the board -- Ten Happy Rose in fourth place and Geoglyph in fifth. Ten Happy Rose, a 6-year-old mare by Epiphaneia, broke smartly from the No. 9 gate under Akihide Tsumura and shadowed the leader until the turn home, stepped into the lead but was no match for the closers. Geoglyph, breaking from the innermost gate, bided his time on the inside, and kept pace well until the final 100 meters, where he was overtaken, but dug in to finish fifth among the field’s 10 runners.

Happy Ten Rose’s trainer Daisuke Takayanagi said, "I had spoken with Tsumura earlier about how we should run her usual race (racing from midfield or further back) but the start was unexpectedly good. There was no reason to hold her back, so she went with the flow. She was moving well and I thought she just might do it and when she hit the top coming into the stretch I let out a shout. She really did well!”

Tsumura too, had said he’d started dreaming big as she took the lead in the straight. Nonetheless, her fourth-place finish was a win in its own way. “It proved that her win of the G1 (the Victoria Mile in May) was no fluke. It was a fantastic experience,” said Tsumura.

Tetsuya Kimura, trainer to Geoglyph felt more disappointment than the satisfaction of a job well done. "It was unfortunate that we weren’t able to meet everyone’s expectations, and it pains me to think how disappointed the fans must be,” the Miho-based Kimura said. ”The horse did his best to adapt to Hong Kong, Saudi Arabia, Dubai and now the U.S. And I, as his trainer will continue to do my best to bring out his best.”

Young Takeshi Yokoyama was too happy about the experience alone to worry about the finishing order. He envisions the experience will pave the way to an eventual BC win someday. "I'm most grateful to the trainer and owner for having given me this opportunity to ride. I apologize for not being able to get the desired results but for me personally it was a very good experience,” said the 25-year-old Yokoyama, whose father, brother and cousin are also active jockeys.

“I hope to use this experience as a springboard to good results overseas and one day be able to win in the Breeders’ Cup. Geoglyph did his best around the difficult tight Del Mar course.

“I had wanted to get a good start and race from a good position and we were able to do just that.”

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In other results earlier in the day, 4-year-old Alice Verite made fourth place in the 7-strong field of the dirt BC Distaff over 1,800 meters. Ridden by Kyle Frey, the Kizuna filly, a G3 winner at home, was competing in her first race abroad and her first Grade 1. One other Japanese runner, the unbeaten American-bred Awesome Result from the barn of Yasutoshi Ikee, had been set to race in the Distaff but had to be scratched due to lameness.

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All other Japan hopefuls to the 2024 Breeders’ Cup finished out of the top five. On Saturday, the BC Sprint saw a Japanese trio bringing up the rear, with Meta Max in 8th under Akira Sugawara, Don Frankie (Cristian Demuro in the saddle) in ninth place and Remake (Kawada up) in 11th last over the line.


And in the final race of the day, the BC Dirt Mile saw T O Saint Denis finish ninth under Ryusei Sakai in a field of 13.

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Friday’s juvenile races had seen six runners from Japan compete in four of the races. Ecoro Sieg, partnered with Christophe Lemaire, was 8th out of 12 runners in the Juvenile Turf Sprint over 1,000 meters.

Otomena Shacho (Kawada up) was seventh and American Bikini, with Ryan Moore up, finished ninth of nine in the Juvenile Fillies over 1,700 meters of dirt.

Ecoro Azel (Sugawara) finished in eighth place and Shin Believe, with Yutaka Take in the saddle, finished 10th of 10 in the BC Juvenile, also run over 1,700 meters on dirt.

Satono Carnaval, ridden by Rachel King, took on the Juvenile Turf over 1,600 meters on turf and finished ninth in a field of 12.

Ascoli Piceno and Corazon Beat failed to follow in the footsteps of Obamburumai in the James Squire Golden Eagle on Saturday (Nov. 2), both finishing in the bottom half of the 20-horse field at Rosehill Gardens.

The pair of 3-year-old fillies from the JRA could not work Obanburumai’s magic of a year ago as Hanshin Juvenile Fillies winner Ascoli Piceno crossed the wire 12th while Corazon Beat placed last in the 1,500-meter affair.

Lake Forest, ridden by Cieren Fallon, beat out Lazzat from the inside to prevail in the A$10 million race in 1 minute, 27.98 seconds on good 4 going.

The two Japanese challengers did not have the most favorable of draws, being forced to work from the outside. Ascoli Piceno, with Joao Moreira in the saddle, was posted in gate No. 17 and Corazon Beat No. 19, under jockey Tommy Berry.

The Yoichi Kuroiwa-trained Ascoli Piceno went off as the betting favorite but was bumped at the start and knocked back towards the rear, having to take the scenic route throughout the journey.

The daughter of multi-Grade 1 champion Daiwa Major, out of Ascoli, inched her way up down the home stretch but not enough to overtake the leaders who bolted for the finish by the rails.

Ascoli Piceno finished out of the money for the first time in her seven-start career, unable to pass the test of her overseas debut.

Corazon Beat had a much better jump out of the gates but like her compatriot, was pushed towards the outside, expending her energy. She charged into the final straight fifth from the front but quickly lost steam and had to bring up the rear.