Japan Horse Racing Tips-Umanity.jp

Hong Kong’s Romantic Warrior demonstrated a powerful performance as race favorite to take this year’s Yasuda Kinen title which extended his G1 winning streak to five and eighth victory overall at this level. His G1 resume so far includes three consecutive Queen Elizabeth II Cup (2,000m) victories between 2022 and 2024, back-to-back Hong Kong Cup (2,000m) titles in 2022 and 2023, the Cox Plate (2,040m) in 2023, the Hong Kong Gold Cup (2,000m) and his first G1 victory at a mile in the Yasuda Kinen. The son of Acclamation becomes the fourth foreign winner after Heart Lake (1995), Fairy King Prawn (2000) and Bullish Luck (2006). The Yasuda Kinen victory is the first win in Japan for both trainer Chap Shing Shum and jockey James McDonald.

The race broke off with Dobune taking the leading spot and Win Carnelian pressing the pace on his outside. Romantic Warrior, breaking from stall seven, was settled comfortably in sixth and two-wide. The multiple G1 champion struggled briefly for room in early stretch but once a clear path opened in front of him around 300 meters out, the son of Acclamation found his stride, taking command at the 200-meter pole and stormed home with incredible speed, holding off the fast-closing runner-up by half-a-length.

“It was a great moment (to win this race). I had been working on finding the right horse to bring here to race in Japan so it was really exciting and a happy moment. I have had connections with Japan both in business and also within the racing circle and I am grateful to have had the opportunity to race here this time. The racing track here is wide and very fair and beautiful. I had heard from my friends in Hong Kong about the big fan base in Japan but it was even more than I expected and I feel that they are very enthusiastic. I understand that the Japanese horses are very strong—last time in Hong Kong two Japanese horses nearly beat us and I’ve seen the Japanese horses racing in Dubai and in Australia so I know that they are of good quality. After this race, I think the horse should be quite tired, he’s had a big season so the option (to race in the Takarazuka Kinen) may not be a possibility this time,” commented owner Pak Fai Lau.

“I have a world-class jockey, James McDonald, he’s the champion jockey at the moment and I have every confidence in him. He loves Romantic Warrior and Romantic Warrior loves him—he does his best for him. I’ve been lucky to be given a lot of experience from Ivan Allan and travel with his horses to the Yasuda Kinen and the Japan Cup in the past. Romantic Warrior’s best distance is 2,000 meters but in Hong Kong, the straight is 400 meters where in Tokyo it’s 525 and the hill goes up at 350 meters and down and flat at 250, so you need a horse that can handle 1,800 meters at Tokyo. After discussing with the owner, we have decided that the horse should be given a rest so he won’t race anymore this season,” added trainer Chap Shing Shum.

“I’m just extremely proud, very honored to be traveling with such a good horse and to showcase him to such passionate racing fans. The whole team had done a very very good job. The race went perfectly as planned—we had a plan of being in the first half of the field—he enabled us to sit in a very comfortable position throughout. Before the start he was a bit fresh and above himself so I felt that he was definitely on the job and as always, he was there when I asked him for a supreme effort. Once he hit the front with 200 meters to run, it was going to have to be a good horse to go pass him because there’s not many who can go pass him when he’s in full flight with a furlong to go. He’s a proven champion, he’s won one of the toughest races in Australia in the Cox Plate, he’s won two Hong Kong Cups taking on strong opposition and now has come to Japan and won a mile race, a little bit shorter than his best distance. He always rises to the occasion and that’s the beauty of this horse, he’s got a heart of a lion and tremendous ability,” said jockey James McDonald.

Namur broke nicely and unrushed but not too far behind the mid-field group, shifted out and circled wide to secure a clear path on the outside into the straight and unleased a fine turn of speed, the fastest over the last three furlongs, to reach contention outside Soul Rush with a furlong to go and out-finished that foe by a nose for second, while 1/2 length short of the winner.

Soul Rush sat in mid-division keeping an eye on the eventual winner, a few lengths in front. Gradually picking up speed over the giving ground with about 300 meters to go, the son of Rulership closed in impressively but was unable to match the winner and nosed out at the wire by Namur, finishing third.

Sent off eighth pick, Hong Kong’s other contender Voyage Bubble also broke well and traveled on the heels of the eventual winner in around seventh. In good striking position, this year’s G1 Stewards’ Cup champion shifted to an outer path entering the lane and remained a factor but ran out of steam in the last 300 meters and faded to 17th.

“He had a good round—he was in a good spot just outside Romantic Warrior but he just didn’t fire in the straight. It’s twice now he’s gone left-handed, and he’s performed poorly both times so I think left-handed is not really suitable for him—we’ll get him back down right-handed. He’s handled soft ground in Hong Kong before. He traveled well and his actions were fine so I don’t think the track was an excuse for us. The barrier draw didn’t make a difference as well,” commented jockey Zachary Purton.

Other Horses:
4th: (2) Gaia Force—hugged rails in mid-field, boxed in entering straight, managed to escape following winner, good effort
5th: (17) Serifos—settled third from rear early, followed Namur to reach contention
6th: (4) Geoglyph—among front runners while saving ground, checked behind horses 200m out
7th: (12) Fierce Pride—prominent early and into straight, appeared to inherit lead but soon out-rallied
8th: (16) Elton Barows—in mid division along rails, slow to find clearing at straight while showing effort
9th: (13) Stella Veloce—moved up quickly soon after start to join front runners, weakened 200m out
10th: (8) Air Lolonois—traveled fourth from rear, rallied with Red Mon Reve to wire, finished willingly
11th: (3) Red Mon Reve—trailed in rear, showed effort in stretch but never reached contention
12th: (14) Corepetiteur—settled 2nd from rear, even paced at stretch
13th: (9) Parallel Vision—sat in mid-division, chased winner into stretch, lacked needed response
14th: (11) Win Carnelian—pressed pace in second, briefly took over lead in early stretch, gave way in last furlong
15th: (18) Danon Scorpion—lost ground taking widest route in mid-pack, nothing left in straight
16th: (1) Catedral—saved ground fifth from rear, shifted paths in stretch for late run, came up empty
18th: (6) Dobune—set pace into stretch, caught 300 meters out, used up from early efforts

The five weeks of top-level action at Tokyo Racecourse finally come to an end this coming Sunday (June 2), when the Grade 1 Yasuda Kinen will round out the feature races that have attracted so much attention these past few weeks, and have given racing fans a glimpse of what to expect in the latter half of the year.

This Sunday’s Grade 1 Yasuda Kinen promises to be something special too, with two of Hong Kong’s best horses traveling over for the race. Bidding to give Hong Kong its third win in the race, after wins by Fairy King Prawn (2000) and Bullish Luck (2006), Romantic Warrior and Voyage Bubble will do battle with the Japanese horses over the distance of a mile on the turf course at Tokyo.

The race was first run in 1951, and was named after the first president of the JRA, Izaemon Yasuda. It became a Grade 1 race in 1984, and an international Grade 1 in 1993, since when it has attracted over 50 horses from overseas. There are 18 nominations for this year’s Grade 1 Yasuda Kinen, which will have a maximum 18 runner field, and the race is open to 3-year-olds and up, with the latter set to carry 54kg, while 4-year-olds and above carry 58kg. Fillies and mares receive a 2kg allowance.

The last 10 years have seen just two first favorites win the race, with the last one to do so being Maurice in 2015. During the same time period, 4-year-olds have been the most successful with five wins, and the last 3-year-old to win was Real Impact in 2011. Record time for the race was set by Indy Champ in 2019, when he won in a time of 1 minute, 30.9 seconds. This year’s winner’s check is JPY180 million (just over USD1 million), and the winner also receives an automatic entry to the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Mile later this year.

A number of horses go into this Sunday’s race having run in the Grade 2 Yomiuri Milers Cup, run at Kyoto in April, and the Grade 1 Victoria Mile, run at Tokyo earlier this month.

The 74th running of the Grade 1 Yasuda Kinen will be Race 11 on this Sunday’s card at Tokyo, and post time is 15:40 locally. The final declarations and the barrier draw will be available later in the week.

Here’s a look at some of the Japanese horses set to take on the race:

Soul Rush: Expected to be one of the top picks among the Japanese runners, the 6-year-old by Rulership might not have tasted success at the very top level, but it’s not for the lack of trying. Finishing fourth in last December’s Grade 1 Hong Kong Mile, his one run this year in Japan saw him win the Grade 2 Yomiuri Milers Cup at Kyoto in April. Assistant trainer Yuki Iwasaki said: “He ran a strong race last time, even without having blinkers on, and it was good that he didn’t need to rely on the running rail. He came out of the race well, and after a stay at the farm, things have been as usual with him back at the stable.” Giving another boost to Soul Rush’s chances is the booking of Joao Moreira for the ride.

Serifos: Jockey Yuga Kawada and trainer Mitsumasa Nakauchida team up with Serifos in Sunday’s race, and the horse has finished 4th and 2nd in the past two years of the Grade 1 Yasuda Kinen. Assistant trainer Taku Fukunaga commented: “He might not have been in the very best condition for his last race, but he still put in a good run. He’s been at the stable since, and there weren’t any problems after his last race. There are strong horses in this next Grade 1, but he did finish second in the race last year, and he has won over a mile at Tokyo.” Serifos finished second to Soul Rush last time in the Grade 2 Yomiuri Milers Cup, and will be looking to reverse the placings.

Namur: After a couple of good runs in Hong Kong and Dubai, Namur was sent off the second favorite for the recent Grade 1 Victoria Mile in Japan, but could only manage eighth in that race. She doesn’t always get off to the best of starts, as trainer Tomokazu Takano explained: “She can get restless in the gate, and it doesn’t help her jump smoothly,” the trainer said. “Her front legs can go up, and it means her timing isn’t smooth at the start. In the Victoria Mile, she ended up settling at the rear and found a good rhythm, but from the final corner she wasn’t able to run on well in the way that she usually does.” Yutaka Take once again rides the 5-year-old mare Namur.

Elton Barows: The 4-year-old by Deep Brillante is one of two likely runners for trainer Haruki Sugiyama, and the horse’s last race was in the Grade 1 Champions Mile in Hong Kong in April, where he finished eighth. The trainer commented: “I’d have liked him to have run on good ground last time, but he still ran quite a good race. After returning to Japan and seeing out quarantine, he’s been at Tokyo Racecourse, where he’s recovered his condition and is getting back to himself again.”

Gaia Force: Also trained by Haruki Sugiyama, Gaia Force was tried in the Grade 1 February Stakes last time, and put in a very good run to finish second, in what was the 5-year-old’s first run on dirt. Comments from the trainer were: “Last time I thought we’d try him over a mile on dirt at Tokyo, and he ran very well. He returned to the stable not long ago after a break with an injury, and he’s been his usual self since. He’s been moving very well in his recent training.”

Parallel Vision: It is two wins from two starts in 2024 for the 5-year-old, with the latest win coming in the Grade 3 Lord Derby Challenge Trophy over a mile at Nakayama in March. His raw form looks good, even though he has never run above Grade 2 level. Trainer Sakae Kunieda said: “We’ve tried racing him on dirt, but turf looks to be best for him. It was a good race last time, when he jumped well from the gate and got into a good rhythm. He had a break at the farm after that race, with this being his next target.” Christophe Lemaire will ride Parallel Vision, and he has won on the horse five times already.

Geoglyph: Although he hasn’t won since the Grade 1 Satsuki Sho in 2022, Geoglyph is always being tried in different races, including overseas, and more than not he’s never too far off the mark. His last race was the Grade 1 Osaka Hai in March, when he finished fifth over the 2,000 meters of the race. Assistant trainer Yu Ota commented: “The distance of the Osaka Hai was a bit of a challenge for him, but he ran well. Just recently in training, he’s shown that he can improve more, and one thing is to try and keep him from throwing his head around too much.”

Stella Veloce: The 6-year-old is quite versatile when it comes to distance, and has some fair form at Tokyo, so he’s one not to overlook, even in this strong field. He was last seen finishing fourth in the Grade 1 Osaka Hai over 2,000 meters at Hanshin in March, and unlike some of the other runners, he will have had more time between races. Trainer Naosuke Sugai said: “He ran behind the main leading group of horses last time, but still got a good result in the end. He’s had a nice break in Hokkaido, and has come back in good shape. In a recent piece of work on the uphill, he posted a time of 50.7 seconds over four furlongs.”

Red Mon Reve: The 5-year-old by Lord Kanaloa has produced some good results over a mile, and in his last race he finished second in the Grade 2 Keio Hai Spring Cup over 1,400 meters at Tokyo just recently. Comments from assistant trainer Daisuke Tsumagari were: “He didn’t break particularly well last time, but was able to make up for it with a good finish. In the Nakayama Kinen, he lost his concentration and he couldn’t get a finish in. The key is for him to be able to show his turn of foot, and he seems to have to be in the right state of mind to do that.”

It is the third Classic of the year this coming Sunday (May 19), when the Grade 1 Yushun Himba (Japanese Oaks) will be run at Tokyo Racecourse, where the top-level action continues for the next few weeks. The race for 3-year-old fillies is run over 2,400 meters on the turf track at the course, and it will be the first time for many of them to attempt the mile and a half distance of the race.

First run in 1938, it was originally run in the autumn at Hanshin over a longer distance, before the switch to Tokyo in 1946, when it was first run in the spring over 2,400 meters. It has been held at Tokyo ever since then. Foreign-bred horses were permitted to run in 2003, and the race became an international Grade 1 in 2010.

Recent big-name winners of the race have included Almond Eye (2018), Loves Only You (2019), Daring Tact (2020), and just last year, Liberty Island. There are 18 fillies nominated for this year’s Grade 1 Yushun Himba (Japanese Oaks), which has a maximum field size of 18.

A couple of lead-up races to this Sunday’s big race have been the Grade 3 Flower Cup, run over 1,800 meters at Nakayama in March, and the Grade 2 Sankei Sports Sho Flora Stakes (an official Oaks trial), run over 2,00 meters at Tokyo in April.

All the fillies carry a set weight of 55kg, and there’s a JPY150 million (around USD1 million) first place check for the winner, out of total prize money of JPY325 million. First favorites have a fair record in the race, with five of them winning in the past 10 years, and Liberty Island has been the most recent, when she was sent off a very strong favorite in last year’s race. Record time for the race was set by Loves Only You, when she produced a time of 2 minutes, 22.8 seconds in 2019.

The 85th Grade 1 Yushun Himba (Japanese Oaks) will be race 11 on the Sunday card at Tokyo, with a post time locally of 15:40. Final declarations and the barrier draw will be available later in the week.

Here’s a look at some of this year’s top fillies expected to take on the race:

Stellenbosch: Never out of the first two in five starts, which have included three wins, the filly by Epiphaneia’s big win came in the Grade 1 Oka Sho (Japanese 1000 Guineas) last time. As with so many of the other runners, it’ll be her first time to race beyond 1,800 meters, but she could have what it takes to see out the distance this time. Trainer Sakae Kunieda commented: “She didn’t get a good position from the start last time, but the jockey did a great job to get her into the race, and she finished well to win with a bit in hand. She’s had her usual break at Northern Farm Tenei, and she’s returned to the stable refreshed. She weighed a little less for her last race, but the warmer weather is the reason for that.” Jockey Keita Tosaki has been booked this time for the ride on Stellenbosch.

Sweep Feet: Something of a bargain at the 2022 Hokkaido Summer Sale, the filly by Suave Richard must be pleasing her connections with the prize money she has secured so far. She had plenty of racing as a 2-year-old, and this year she won the Grade 2 Tulip Sho at Hanshin in March, and then went on to finish a close fourth to Stellenbosch in the Grade 1 Oka Sho (Japanese 1000 Guineas) in April. Trainer Yasushi Shono said: “She went to the farm after her last race, and returned to the stable at the end of April. She recovered quickly from her last run, and she was seen at her best in the Tulip Sho. This next race is at Tokyo, and she’ll have to transport over for it, so she won’t need such strong work in training. We’ll just monitor her condition as we see things.” It will be the first time for Sweep Feet to race beyond a mile this time. Jockey Yutaka Take, who brought up his 4,500th JRA win last weekend, rides the filly, and he’s won the Oaks three times.

Admire Belle: Another filly by Suave Richard, Admire Belle has raced three times at Tokyo over 2,000 meters - including a recent win in the Grade 2 Sankei Sports Sho Flora Stakes - so she might be able to see out the extra 400 meters at the track better than some of the other runners. “The race worked out perfectly for her last time, by getting a good position in behind the leaders and biding her time,” said trainer Yukihiro Kato. “She found a good rhythm, and completed the first five furlongs in about 60 seconds, and was then able to finish off strongly. On that run, the Oaks looks good for her.”

Queen’s Walk: The filly by Kizuna is from the stable of trainer Mitsumasa Nakauchida, and the horse has done little wrong in her four career starts, which have included two wins. She was last seen finishing eighth in the Grade 1 Oka Sho (Japanese 1000 Guineas), but she didn’t lose too much in defeat that day, as assistant trainer Taku Fukunaga explained: “With a tightly packed field in the Oka Sho, it was difficult for her to find a good rhythm. It didn’t matter so much about the final result, and since her break at Northern Farm Shigaraki, she’s returned to the stable, where we have been tuning her up for this next race. Hopefully, she’ll be able to show her best this time,” Fukunaga said.

Mi Anhelo: It is two wins from three starts for the Duramente filly, and her latest win came in the Grade 3 Flower Cup over 1,800 meters at Nakayama in March. Trainer Toru Hayashi is pleased with the filly’s development. “She ran a good race last time, thanks to the jockey’s efforts,” the trainer said. “The start was in front of the stands, but she was calm and I could take a lot from that. She’s returned from the farm in good condition, and she seems to be developing more after every race.”

Cervinia: The filly by Harbinger produced some good runs as a 2-year-old, including a win at Tokyo over a mile, but she was a little disappointing in her only run as a 3-year-old, when she could only finish 13th in the Grade 1 Oka Sho (Japanese 1000 Guineas) in April. She faded at the end of that race, but trainer Tetsuya Kimura thinks she is better than that result suggests. “She stayed at Ritto before the Oka Sho, and in the race itself, I don’t think she lost because of the draw she had,” the trainer said. “Coming off her break, I don’t think she had done enough in training, and it was an unfortunate result. On her return from the farm this time, she seems to be fine, as we keep an eye on things.”

Light Back: Although she didn’t win the Grade 1 Oka Sho (Japanese 1000 Guineas), Light Back produced the fastest final three-furlong time in the race, when she finished third to Stellenbosch. It could bode well for a good closing finish this time, if she can see out the distance of the race. Trainer Taiki Chaki said: “She was right at the back in the Oka Sho, but showed a great turn of foot at the end. It was easier for her to find a good rhythm in that race than it was for her in the Elfin Stakes. She’s improving all the time, and despite the fact that she can get a bit worked up, she’s returned from the farm a lot calmer.” Jockey Ryusei Sakai looks set to continue his association with the daughter of Kizuna.

Koganeno Sora: The daughter of Gold Ship has won her last three races, and the latest was the Listed Sweet Pea Stakes over 1,800 meters at Tokyo in April. Trainer Takanori Kikuzawa commented: “The pace was quick last time, and she was a little further back than usual, but she finished well to win with the best final three-furlong time. She’s really developed a lot this year, after a while without racing, so we can look to the Oaks with her. She ate up well after her last race, and I don’t think we’ll need to do too much with her this time, with the short interval between races.”

Ten Happy Rose, coming off a sixth-place finish in her previous start, the Hanshin Himba Stakes G2, 1,600m) and sent to post 14th favorite in this race, landed her first graded victory and G1 title in this year’s Victoria Mile, upsetting a quality field of proven grade-race winners. After winning her two-year-old debut over 1,200 meters, the Epiphaneia mare was winless in her next five starts over a mile and scored four wins after stepping down in distance to 1,400 meters in 15 of her following 17 starts, which included a listed win in the Toki Stakes (1,400m). Trainer Daisuke Takayanagi scored his second JRA-G1 title after saddling T O Keynes to victory in the 2021 Champions Cup while jockey Akihide Tsumura celebrated his first career G1 victory in his 18th grade-race win in his 21st season as a jockey.

Ten Happy Rose broke sharply but soon eased back to settle fourth from the rear. Gradually making up ground along the outside approaching the third corner and securing a clear path into the homestretch, the six-year-old mare showed terrific acceleration going uphill with 400 meters to go, reaching the leader soon after the furlong pole and continuing to pull away to a 1-1/4-length victory.

“I had long been waiting and working hard to be able to stand on this podium as a G1 winner and it feels really great that I have finally made it. The race development, from the start up until the final corner, exceeded my imagination and it was just a matter of how much the mare could extend her strides from there. When we were actually leading in the last 200 meters, it was almost unbelievable. I am grateful for the fans that have been rooting for me and I hope this is just the start of more victories like this,” commented jockey Akihide Tsumura.

Fierce Pride chased the leaders just off the rails in fourth position early, angled out entering the stretch to overtake the early leaders who began to run out of steam going uphill and assumed command before the furlong pole but was outrun by the powerful charge from the outside by the eventual winner and unable to match that foe while managing to hold off the fast closing race favorite to finish second.

Race favorite Masked Diva, breaking smoothly and eased back to mid-division, met disadvantages after shifting out for the stretch run, blocked by horses in front and, while showing a good turn of speed once finding some space inside the furlong pole, was too late to make up enough ground to catch the leaders to finish third.

Other Horses:

4th: (15) Doe Eyes sat around 7th, checked 300m out, showed effort thereafter
5th: (11) Rouge Lignage was off a slow, trailed in rear, launched fastest late speed, belatedly
6th: (5) Umbrail hugged rails around 5th, weakened in last 100m
7th: (13) Moryana positioned around 13th, circled wide, passed tired rivals
8th: (10) Namur broke poorly, ran 2nd from rear, lacked needed kick at stretch
9th: (3) Stunning Rose tracked leaders around 3rd on rails, remained in contention until 100m out
10th: (8) Sound Vivace raced around 5th, checked 300m out, weakened in last 200m
11th: (12) Kita Wing took economic trip around 12th, failed to reach contention
12th: (14) Feel Sympathy broke sharply, stalked leader in 2nd, dropped back after 200m pole
13th: (4) Conch Shell disputed lead and set pace, faded after 300m out
14th: (1) Lilac saved ground around 9th, no response when asked