Japan Horse Racing Tips-Umanity.jp

This coming Sunday, Dec. 8, the 2-year-old fillies are spotlighted in the Hanshin Juvenile Fillies, a Grade 1 turf event over 1,600 meters. Top prize is ¥65 million yen. Despite its name, the Hanshin Juvenile Fillies will be held at Kyoto Racecourse this year, due to renovation work at Hanshin Racecourse.

Though the race, first held in 1949, has shape-shifted over the years, this year’s running is considered its 76th. And, 14 years from opening to foreign-based horses, the race’s 2024 lineup features a landmark, the first competitor from abroad. She’s May Day Ready from the U.S and she comes with a resume boasting three wins, as well as a second in international Grade 1 competition, accomplishments none of the Japanese runners can match. And she’s set to have legendary rider Lanfranco Dettori in the saddle.

Standouts on the home team are the Grade 3 winner Brown Ratchet and Run for Vow, the latter a Grade 2 champ and the top earner of Japan’s nominees. The remaining 23 nominees comprise something of a punter’s nightmare, a wealth of up-and-coming talent, many unproven at the higher levels, but promising, and not to be dismissed at this early stage in their careers. From them, oft-mentioned names are Vip Daisy, Teleos La La, Dantsu Elan, and Caught Alliciant.

Many of the Japan-based hopefuls have only two starts behind them, two have only one, and with only 15 assured a gate, the biggest hurdle for the 10 fillies tied for earnings will be getting past the lottery for the remaining two berths. Since 1991, four fillies that won the race had gotten into the gate by the luck of the draw -- Vodka in 2006, Tall Poppy in 2007, Buena Vista in 2008 and Joie de Vivre in 2011.

Normally, when held at Hanshin, the Juvenile Fillies acts as a perfect steppingstone to the first of the filly classics, the Oka Sho, also held over the Hanshin 1,600, and scheduled to be held there this coming April. This Sunday, however, the race will be on the Kyoto outer course, straightforward, unbiased, and challenging. Starting off in the backstretch, there is a good 500 meters to the first turn, which significantly lessens any bias of the gate position. The Kyoto outer course is known for the climb at the end of the backstretch for about 150 meters, then the sharp drop around the bend where the tempo picks up.

All fillies will carry 55 kg. The Hanshin Juvenile Fillies is the No. 11 race on Kyoto’s Sunday card of 12. Post time is 3:40 p.m.

Here’s a look at some of the likely popular picks:

Brown Ratchet - By Kizuna, out of the mare Forever Darling, Brown Ratchet’s strength is her keen racing sense. The Northern Farm-bred filly is a half sister to the globe-trotting Forever Young, third in this year’s Kentucky Derby and third in the Breeders’ Cup Classic. Brown Ratchet easily topped colts in her debut over the Nakayama 1,800, then competed in the fillies-only Grade 3 Artemis Stakes over the Tokyo 1,600. Racing handily in both, she easily adapted to the varied paces and displayed a strong late drive in both, clocking 11.2-11.0 over the final 2 furlongs of the Artemis. Proven racing in both directions, she’s a big mover that should take well to the Kyoto outer course. Leading jockey Christophe Lemaire, currently ahead of runnerup Yuga Kawada by 31 wins, is expected up.

May Day Ready - In a country dominated by dirt races, May Day Ready’s experience over turf is unusual. Not only have all her four starts been on grass, they’ve all been at different tracks. After debuting with a win at Sarotoga, the daughter of Tapit conquered Kentucky Downs, then continued her streak with a win of the Grade 2 Jessamine Stakes at Keeneland, before skidding to a not-too-shabby second in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf at Del Mar. May Day Ready has proven herself more times than any on the home team over distances of 1,600-1,700 meters, on both fast going and slightly heavy. Trainer Joseph Lee, who has lived in Japan and has been traveling to and from the country for years, knows his way around, as does May Day Ready, who has been ｃwell to her new surroundings since arriving in Japan on Nov. 20. Calm, composed, curious, the one big question is whether her talent will translate well in her first performance over a clockwise track.

Vip Daisy - Also unbeaten in her two career starts, the Satono Diamond-sired Vip Daisy handled the fast pace well in her debut at Chukyo, then displayed versatility next out in the Shigiku Sho (Kyoto, 1,800, Oct. 12). Patient amid the early slow pace, she let rip and clocked 33.3 seconds over the final 3 furlongs to win. Looking good in work, she posted a time of 51.8 seconds up the Ritto hill Nov. 27. “From her two races, I’d say she can do well from any position,” says trainer Takeshi Matsushita. “I’m looking forward to the race.”

Teleos La La - Turning in a 2-1-1 from her debut, the Miho-based Teleos La La, a striking filly weighing close to 500 kg, has raced exclusively over 1,800 meters, her most recent start over the Kyoto outer course. Both her wins were wire-to-wire, both with excellent final 3-furlong times. This will be her first mile and, if she can handle a faster pace, her late speed should serve her well. “With it being the second meet in a row at Kyoto, the times shouldn’t be too fast, which is a plus,” says trainer Toshiaki Tajima.

Run for Vow - A Lord Kanaloa filly, Run for Vow returns from a win over the Kyoto mile in the Nov. 9 Grade 2 Daily Hai Nisai Stakes. She was up against colts, but traveling well midfield amid a relatively slow pace, she neatly pulled away with 200 meters to go and clinched the race. Slow away in her first two starts, she has improved at the break, but a faster pace this time will up the demand on stamina. Yuichi Fukunaga eyes his first top win as trainer. Fukunaga won this race three times as a jockey and, since opening his stable this past March, has already notched 15 wins, among them two graded races.

Dantsu Elan - Debuting with a win over the Niigata mile, Dantsu Elan (also by Lord Kanaloa) next posted 3-1 over two 1,400-meter tests at Kyoto, her most recent a win of the Grade 3 KBS Kyoto Sho Fantasy Stakes. Unlike her two previous races, in the Fantasy Stakes over sloppy going she was able to race from further back and keep something in reserve for the finish, a style that should stand her well over a furlong longer this time. “Her trackwork since the Fantasy Stakes has been good, as it always is. I think she has ample chance,” says Ritto-based trainer Masaru Honda.

Other runners of interest are:

Caught Alliciant, by Saturnalia, is 1-2 from two starts over the mile, her most recent the Grade 3 Niigata Nisai Stakes. If she can nail the break and weather the trip from Miho, this girl likely has latent potential that will stand her well in her first race to the right.
The Ritto-based Arma Veloce aced her debut and leapt to the Grade 3 level, where she competed against colts in the Sapporo Nisai Stakes and missed the win by a nose. Versatile, she should be able to adapt well to her first mile this time out.
Mistress hails from the Yoshito Yahagi stable. She won her debut over the Niigata mile, scored a second at Tokyo in the Grade 3 Artemis Stakes. This will be her first race to the right, but she was on her right lead from the top of the straight home last out. Closer to home and a flat stretch should prove additional pluses.
Pay heed to Shonan Xanadu if she wins the lottery and claims a spot in the Juvenile Fillies lineup. She scored a 2-1 in her first two starts, both over the Kyoto mile. She returned on Oct. 26 after a 4-month spell to finish third in the Grade 3 Artemis Stakes over the Tokyo 1,600. She’s Ritto-based, primed and ready.

Race favorite Lemon Pop won out a close race in this year’s Champions Cup to become the first horse to defend the title since Transcend in 2010 and 2011, when the race was held under the name, the Japan Cup Dirt. The 2023 Best Dirt Horse, boasting three JRA-G1 wins including last year’s February Stakes (dirt, 1,600m) and three NAR titles in the 2023-2024 Mile Championship Nambu Hai (Listed, dirt, 1,600m) and the 2024 Sakitama Hai (Listed, dirt, 1,400m), will retire from racing after this race and stand as stallion at Darley Japan Stallion Complex next year. Trainer Hiroyasu Tanaka claimed his third JRA-G1 victory following last year’s Champions Cup with this horse, while jockey Ryusei Sakai won his sixth after this year’s Takamatsunomiya Kinen with Mad Cool.

Lemon Pop broke smoothly from the inner gate and assumed command after rallying for the lead with Mitono O. The six-year-old son of Lemon Drop Kid continued to set the pace, pulled away persistently after entering the lane, and although challenged with an incredible late charge by Wilson Tesoro before the wire, managed to defend his title with a photo-finish victory.

“It was his last race and I’m glad that he was able to end his career with the best result. I wanted to ride him as smoothly as possible without any loss and was ready for any challenge. I thought we had won but wasn’t quite sure because Wilson Tesoro came from behind with great speed, so I’m glad we were able to win. Lemon Pop is a strong horse—he has won six out of six G1-class races in Japan—there’s no other horse like him, and I’m proud to have been on his back,” commented Ryusei Sakai.

Last year’s runner-up and second pick Wilson Tesoro traveled around eighth, dropped position rounding the last corners, switched to the outside at the early stretch to accelerate powerfully with the fastest late drive and nearly caught the winner but was a nose short at the wire to finish second again this year.

Ninth choice Dura Erede saved ground inside Wilson Tesoro in mid-division, showed tenacious effort on the rails while clocking the third fastest speed over the last 600 meters and while failing to threaten the top two finishers, secured third place as he did last year, finishing 1-1/2 lengths behind the runner-up.

Other Horses:
4th: (3) Hagino Alegrias—ran around 7th, passed one by one at stretch while no match for top 3 finishers
5th: (4) Peptide Nile—chased leaders in 3rd, showed tenacity, failed to hold off late chargers in last 100m
6th: (12) Sunrise Zipangu—raced wide around 11th, advanced to enter lane in 4th, needed more
7th: (10) Ater Astraea—trailed in rear, showed 2nd fastest late speed but was too late
8th: (5) Peisha Es—sat around 5th, lacked needed kick in last 200m
9th: (15) Gloria Mundi—settled wide around 5th from wide draw, checked 300m out, even paced
10th: (11) Mitono O—rallied for lead and stalked winner in 2nd, faded after 200m pole
11th: (1) Crown Pride—tracked leaders around 3rd on rails, weakened in last 300m
12th: (7) Seraphic Call—made headway in backstretch from 13th position, failed to sustain bid
13th: (13) Mick Fire—broke poorly, positioned near rear, unable to reach contention
14th: (9) T O Drefong—raced wide around 9th, outrun after 3rd corner
15th: (16) Gaia Force—raced around 13th early, advanced at backstretch, showed little at stretch
16th: (14) Suleyman—traveled wide around 8th, dropped back after 3rd corner

Rounding out the four Grade 1 races that make up the JRA’s Japan Autumn International Series, the Champions Cup will be run at Chukyo Racecourse near Nagoya this Sunday (December 1). It’s run on dirt over 1,800 meters at the left-handed track, and this year sees the 25th running of the race.
Originally called the Japan Cup Dirt, it’s been an international race since its inaugural year, when it was run at Tokyo in the year 2000, and the distance of the race then was 2,100 meters. It was later run at Hanshin from 2008 until 2013, after which the venue was changed to Chukyo, and at that time it then became known as the Champions Cup.
It’s a race for 3-year-olds and up, and has had a total of 29 runners from overseas so far, with America’s Fleetstreet Dancer the only foreign winner back in 2003. The last runner from abroad was Pavel in 2018, and although six American horses were nominated to run this year, none of them will be making the trip to Japan for this Sunday’s race.
That leaves the big race at the mercy of some of the best dirt horses currently running in Japan, and there have been 20 final nominations for a maximum 16 runner field. Notable winners of the race in recent years include Le Vent Se Leve (2018), Chrysoberyl (2019) and T O Keynes (2021). The first two mentioned won as 3-year-olds, and Chrysoberyl holds the record time for the race, which is 1 minute 48.5 seconds, while Le Vent Se Leve is now making a bit of a name for himself as a stallion.
In the last ten years, first favorites have only won three times, and in that same time period, 5-year-olds have won four times. Weights are set at 56kg for 3-year-olds, and 4-year-olds and above carry 58kg, with a 2kg allowance for fillies and mares. This year’s winner’s check is JPY 120 million (in the region of USD 850,000).
One recent JRA race leading into Sunday’s race has been the Grade 3 Miyako Stakes, run over 1,800 meters at Kyoto early in November.
Post time for the Grade 1 Champions Cup is 15.30 local time, and it will be Race 11 on the twelve-race card at Chukyo. Final declarations and the barrier draw will be available later in the week.
Here’s a look at some of the horses expected to take on the race:

Lemon Pop: Last year’s winner of the race, and winner of last year’s JRA award for the Best Dirt Horse, Lemon Pop is back for another shot this year, and will be aiming to become just the second horse in the history of the race to win in consecutive years. Transcend accomplished the feat in 2010 and 2011. Recent comments on the horse from assistant trainer Hiroyuki Yamazaki were: “After the Nambu Hai, the horse went to the Darley Midway Farm for a break, and came back to the stable on November 5. His first work since returning was on the woodchip course. It’ll be his last race before retiring, and being the horse that won the first Grade 1 for the stable, we all hope he’ll show his best this time too.”

Crown Pride: The 5-year-old by Reach the Crown has a good record in dirt races, and last time successfully defended his title in the Grade 3 Korea Cup, with an overwhelming victory in the race. He was a bit disappointing in last year’s Grade 1 Champions Cup when he finished eleventh, but trainer Koichi Shintani hopes things will be different this time. “His result in the race last year wasn’t so good,” commented the trainer. “I think he was a bit tired after the race in Korea, so this year we’ve taken measures to make sure this isn’t the case. There’s a good feeling about him right now, and the gate he draws, and the start he gets, will be two of the main points this time.”

Wilson Tesoro: Coming off a strong win in the JBC Classic over 2,000 meters at Saga in early November, the 5-year-old by Kitasan Black will be hoping to go one better in this year’s Grade 1 Champions Cup, after finishing second last year. Trainer Hitoshi Kotegawa said: “The horse was in good condition for his last race, and we can now look to this next one with him. Jockey Yuga Kawada got everything right in his last run, and I was pleased with the win. The horse was tired after the 20-hour journey back from the course, but it wasn’t long before we had him running again as usual.” Yuga Kawada once again takes the ride on Wilson Tesoro.

Sunrise Zipangu: The 3-year-old colt by Kizuna ran in this year’s Grade 1 Satsuki Sho (Japanese 2000 Guineas) and also the Grade 1 Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby), but is now taking on dirt races and proving that he can run well in them, with his recent win in the Grade 3 Miyako Stakes. “He got back to winning ways last time,” said assistant trainer, Masanari Tanaka. “Despite drawing a wide gate, the jockey did well, and the horse showed some good footwork. I think racing left-handed this time will make things smoother for him.” Jockey Yutaka Take will ride Sunrise Zipangu, and is looking for his fifth win in the Champions Cup, and consecutive weeks of Grade 1 wins, after bringing the house down at Tokyo last Sunday, when winning on Do Deuce in the Grade 1 Japan Cup.

Peptide Nile: A surprise winner of this year’s Grade 1 February Stakes, the 6-year-old by King Kamehameha has just had two runs since, and recently finished second to Lemon Pop in the Mile Championship Nambu Hai over a mile at Morioka. Trainer Hidenori Take said: “It was his first race in a while last time, but he’d done some good work in training, while we had to consider the long transportation to the track. I thought he ran well, and he’s since had a break at the farm and has come back to the stable in good condition.” If Peptide Nile wins this week, he’ll become the fifth horse to win the Grade 1 February Stakes and the Grade 1 Champions Cup in the same year. Yusuke Fujioka, the regular rider for Peptide Nile, will be the jockey this time too.

Hagino Alegrias: The 7-year-old by Kizuna has earned his connections over JPY 200 million in prize money, and gave trainer Hirofumi Shii his first graded race win, when winning the Grade 3 Sirius Stakes in 2023. He won the race again this year, as he makes it his prep race for the Grade 1 Champions Cup, in which he finished sixth last year. “I had to give him full marks last time, when he ran so well under the top weight of 59.5 kg,” the trainer said. “We sent him to the farm after that, with this race in mind for him next. Since returning, he’s worked solo on the uphill, and a week before the race we intend to have the jockey ride him.” His race jockey is Mirai Iwata, who has enjoyed success with Hagino Alegrias, but is still yet to win a JRA Grade 1 race.

Trainer Haruki Sugiyama sends his versatile runner, Gaia Force, to the race, and the 5-year-old finished fourth in this year’s Grade 1 Yasuda Kinen, as well as scoring a second-place finish in the Grade 1 February Stakes early in the year.
Top jockeys in this Sunday’s race include Cristian Demuro (Seraphic Call), Ryan Moore (Dura Erede), and Christophe Lemaire gets the ride on Mick Fire, the NAR horse that put together seven straight wins last year, and finished fourth to Lemon Pop in his last race, the Mile Championship Nambu Hai.

Regretfully, Ramjet, the up and coming 3-year-old colt by Majestic Warrior, will miss the race due to a stone bruise, and regular dirt runner Meisho Hario will also have to sit out the race with a muscle injury, but there still looks to be plenty of talented runners in this year’s Grade 1 Champions Cup.

Race favorite Do Deuce, coming off his G1 Tenno Sho (Autumn) victory, claimed his fifth G1 victory in this year’s Japan Cup, adding to his success in the Asahi Hai Futurity Stakes (1,600m) in 2021, the Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby, 2,400m) in 2022 and the Arima Kinen (2,500m) in 2023. Following their latest Tenno Sho (Autumn) win with the horse, trainer Yasuo Tomomichi marked his 21st JRA-G1 win while jockey Yutaka Take claimed his 83rd. For Tomomichi, this is his second Japan Cup title after his win in 2017 with Cheval Grand while Take renewed the record of the most Japan Cup titles won by the same jockey to five, following his success with Special Week (1999), Deep Impact (2006), Rose Kingdom (2010) and Kitasan Black (2016).

The 14-horse field was off with no one bidding for the lead and Shin Emperor eventually in front set a slow pace. Do Deuce, breaking from stall no.3, was unhurried and travel in the rear. Durezza took over the lead with still not much pace along the back-stretch, while the son of Heart’s Cry began to make headway from the outside rounding the third corner and still well behind and wide, unleashed an incredible drive with the fastest late speed to tag Durezza 300 meters out, rallied with the stubborn pacesetter but shook him off in the final strides while repelling a determined challenge from Shin Emperor to prevail by a neck.

“As was the case before his victory in the last Tenno Sho (Autumn), he was extremely calm, even more so that last time, throughout when he was in the saddling area, the paddock and then the post parade, so I was very optimistic today. The race itself unfolded with no one wanting to set a solid pace, as expected to a certain extent but resulting in a very slow pace, around 62 seconds in the first 1,000 meters. Take seemed to struggle to settle him down so I was a bit worried watching him go along the backstretch. In contrast to how the race went in the Tenno Sho, Do Deuce ended up having to lead much earlier at the stretch this time and having to fend off challenges from behind and sustain his lead to wire so I had to hold my breath until the very end. This horse gets better with every start—I had thought that his last start was very much his best performance but he even exceeded that in the Japan Cup—so if his condition allows for another start, I hope that he is able to show his very best in his final Arima Kinen,” commented Yasuo Tomomichi.

“The positioning during the race went as planned. It was expected, but the pace was extremely slow and I had to struggle keeping him in hand. In the first half a mile, if the pace was to quicken more, then I was planning to stay back but it didn’t, so I let him gradually make headway along the outside, not so much as to quicken and close the gap, but to release the reins a little bit. Making ground from the last corner, his speed was so great that he was already in front in an instant and after that a normal horse would be worn out and pinned down, but this horse is exceptional and while I wasn’t sure that I’d won until the end, I kept believing he would stay and he did. His retirement from racing is already decided and I was told that the last three G1 starts (the Tenno Sho (Autumn), the Japan Cup and the Arima Kinen) would be his final starts. He certainly finished strongly in his first two this fall and, of course depending on his condition after this race, I look forward to riding him in the Arima Kinen. The Japan Cup this year was fortunate to have great runners from overseas to raise the quality of this race and I feel privileged to have won in such company and sincerely hope that the race will go on to be recognized as a leader within the world of racing,” said Yutaka Take.

Sent off eight pick, Shin Emperor was fast out of the gate, took the early lead on the rails but settled back in third behind Durezza and Stars on Earth. While the eventual winner and Durezza were head-to-head in the stretch, the Siyouni colt dug in from the inside with the second fastest speed, catching Durezza at the wire for a tied-second.

Following a modest break, seventh choice Durezza accelerated from mid-pack to take over the lead before the uphill climb in the backstretch and was first into the straight. After being caught by the eventual winner, the Duramente colt fought back persistently but surrendered in the final strides while caught by the fast-closing Shin Emperor to share second place status.

Sixth favorite Goliath, breaking from the inner-most stall, saved ground along the rails while maintaining a forward position around fifth behind the slow pace. Crowded by rivals briefly entering the final turn, the Adlerflug gelding kept up with the increased pace in the last three furlongs to stay in contention and finish best among the foreign runners in sixth.

“He didn’t break well from the gate and after following a very slow pace, he couldn’t show his usual performance and late speed in the end,” commented Francis-Henri Graffard.

“He was unable to get into a rhythm after following a race with no pace and used up in the critical stages. It didn’t go smoothly for him at all,” said Christophe Soumillon.

Fourth favorite Auguste Rodin was quick out of the gate and eased back in mid-field around seventh entering the backstretch while angling out slightly before the final corner. Eyeing the eventual winner passing him on the outside in early stretch, jockey Ryan Moore urged his mount to follow suit but the Deep Impact colt was unable to match the tremendous finishing speed of the winner and left behind to join the rally for fourth place, ultimately finishing eighth.

“The pace was a little bit slow and that probably didn’t suit him really but he ran OK. Getting excited before would be what he is normally so he wasn’t any different than usual. Ryan said to me that it was a bit of a mess—the race was very slow early and it just didn’t suit him and it didn’t work out for him,” said trainer Aidan O’Brien.

12th pick Fantastic Moon was unhurried after the break and rated near the rear and not far from the eventual winner for most of the trip and, while attempting to follow Do Deuce along the outside route at the straight, was unable to quicken at the uphill stretch and had too much ground to make up once reaching the top of the hill, finishing 11th.

“The pace today was too slow for us—we wanted a much more, smoother flow in the race. Therefore, he was unable to use his good finishing speed at the stretch,” commented Sarah Steinberg.

“The (solid) pace we had expected was never there—the pace at least in Japanese standards was extremely slow. So the horse never had the chance to make use of his late speed,” commented Rene Piechulek.

Other Horses:
4th: (9) Cervinia—chased slow pace in mid-field, every chance as winner overtakes her before last 400m but unable to match speed while good effort to out rally rivals for 4th
5th: (4) Justin Palace—along rails in mid-field, followed Cervinia to join rally for 4th, finished 5th
7th: (14) Stars on Earth—forwardly positioned moving to 2nd as Durezza took over lead entering backstretch, 4th at furlong pole, rallied but overtaken in final strides
9th: (6) Danon Beluga—chased leaders to 2nd corner and eased further back along backstretch, met traffic at early stretch, belated effort
10th: (5) Struve—raced behind in rear after slow start, showed effort last 200m but belatedly
12th: (2) Blow the Horn—hugged rails further back than mid-field, even paced
13th: (11) Karate—rated off rails in mid-pack, dropped back further before 3rd corner, never nearer
14th: (12) Sol Oriens—quickened after break to secure forward position behind leader, still in good position entering stretch but soon faded