Japan Horse Racing Tips-Umanity.jp

The JRA, after resuming the acceptance of spectators at its racecourses in March 2021, starting with limited audiences and then gradually eased restrictions, finally welcomed an audience of 60,000 enthusiastic fans to witness the Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby) this May. In more good news, the World All-Star Jockeys series will take place at Sapporo Racecourse in late August for the first time in three years.

Earlier this season, Japanese-bred contenders turned in some outstanding performances overseas. After dominating four races in the Saudi Cup Meeting in February, 22 runners were sent to the Dubai World Cup in the following month and claimed five out of their eight races. Bathrat Leon (JPN, C4, by Kizuna), sent to Europe last season for two G1 mile-race endeavors - the Sussex Stakes on July 27 and the Prix Jacques le Marois on August 14 - won the Godolphin Mile (G2, dirt, 1,600m) in his first attempt on dirt. Crown Pride (JPN, C3, by Reach the Crown), who claimed the UAE Derby (G2, dirt, 1,900m), flew to the United States for the Kentucky Derby (G1, dirt, 2,000m), where he fared prominently early but then faded to 13th.

The connections of the other three Dubai winners have all entered the Prix de l’ Arc de Triomphe (G1, 2,400m) on October 2. Dubai Sheema Classic (G1, 2,410m) champion Shahryar (JPN, C4, by Deep Impact) returned from the Middle East and then went on another overseas campaign. Running in the Prince of Wales’s Stakes (G1, 1,990m) on June 15, he initially sat in second but gradually ran out of steam and ended in fourth in a field of five, slightly better than three other Japanese contenders who had run in the Prince of Wales’s Stakes previously, all finishing sixth.

The respective winners of the Dubai Gold Cup (G2, 3,200m) and the Dubai Turf (G1, 1,800m), Stay Foolish (JPN, H7, by Stay Gold) and Panthalassa (JPN, H5, by Lord Kanaloa), both ran in the Takarazuka Kinen (G1, 2,200m) on June 26 as their first starts back in Japan, finishing ninth and eighth, respectively. While Panthalassa’s schedule has not been announced yet, Stay Foolish will start in the Grand Prix de Deauville (G2, 2,500m) on August 28, prior to the Arc.

The “Grand Prix” Takarazuka Kinen field comprised a stellar lineup that included the top two Tenno Sho (Spring) (G1, 3,200m) finishers - Titleholder (JPN, C4, by Duramente), who won the Tenno Sho in an emphatic seven lengths, and Deep Bond (JPN, H5, by Kizuna) - both of whom are also enroute to the Arc this fall. In the Takarazuka Kinen, Titleholder produced a fast pace in second before taking command in the straight and then romping to a two-length victory in a record-breaking 2:09.7, boosting the decision to send him to France in the fall. Taking the reins will be Kazuo Yokoyama, the Duramente colt’s partner since the yearend Arima Kinen (The Grand Prix). Once in France, the team will focus solely on the Arc. Deep Bond, who finished fourth in the Takarazuka Kinen after running close to Titleholder, will make a back-to-back Arc bid but also will likely skip any prior races in France.

Another Arc candidate is 2021 Best Two-Year-Old Colt Do Deuce (JPN, C3, by Heart’s Cry), who scored a third-place effort in the Satsuki Sho (Japanese 2000 Guineas, G1, 2,000m) and then upped his game to notch the Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby, G1, 2,400m) by a neck after producing a tremendous charge from far behind. Due to concerns about Do Deuce’s laid-back nature, his connections had initially stated that he would avoid all prep races in France, like the others. Thereafter, however, they reversed course to announce that the colt may start in the Prix Niel (G2, 2,400m) on September 11, prior to the Arc, and then possibly go to the United States for the Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1, 2,400m) on November 5.

Also targeted at the Arc is last year’s Takarazuka Kinen runner-up Unicorn Lion (IRE, H6, by No Nay Never), who suffered a seedy-toe infection in his hoof and strived to make a comeback in the Procyon Stakes (G3, dirt, 1,700m) on July 10 but finished last. The outcome of his next start, the Sapporo Kinen (G2, 2,000m) on August 21, will largely determine if the Arc remains on his autumn agenda.

Grenadier Guards (JPN, C4, by Frankel), the 2020 Asahi Hai Futurity Stakes (G1, 1,600m) winner, put an end to a previously winless 2021 with his much-awaited second grade-race title, the Hanshin Cup (G2, 1,400m), at the end of the season. After disappointing to 12th in the Takamatsunomiya Kinen (G1, 1,200m), his kickoff start this year, the colt traveled with Shahryar to Great Britain for a second sprint-race endeavor, the Platinum Jubilee Stakes (G1) on June 18, but fizzled to 19th.

Accompanying the aforementioned Bathrat Leon to Great Britain was stablemate King Hermes (JPN, C3, by Lord Kanaloa), who won last year’s Keio Hai Nisai Stakes (G2, 1,400m) and was sixth in the NHK Mile Cup (G1, 1,600m). Making his first bid on foreign turf in Newmarket’s July Cup (G1, 1,200m) on July 9, the Lord Kanaloa colt was prominent early on but was overrun in the last 400 meters and finished 11th. His next start will be the Prix Maurice de Gheest (G1, 1,300m) on August 7.

Other spring G1 winners scheduled to return this summer or fall include:
• Cafe Pharoah (USA, H5, by American Pharoah), the back-to-back victor in the February Stakes (G1, dirt, 1,600m), who made his second turf challenge in the Yasuda Kinen (G1, 1,600m) but disappointed to 17th.
• Naran Huleg (JPN, H6, by Gold Allure), who notched his first graded title this year in the Takamatsunomiya Kinen, tested his strength in the mile-distanced Yasuda Kinen but failed to handle the extra 400 meters and finished ninth. He will prepare for his main autumn target, the Sprinters Stakes (G1, 1,200m, Oct.2), possibly by starting in the Centaur Stakes (G2, 1,200m) three weeks prior on September 11.
• Potager (JPN, H5, by Deep Impact), who claimed his first grade-race victory in the Osaka Hai (G1, 2,000m), was unable to contend in his next start, the Takarazuka Kinen, ending in 11th. He will repeat his 2021 autumn racing schedule and start in the Mainichi Okan (G2, 1,800m) on October 9 and then proceed to the Tenno Sho (Autumn) (G1, 2,000m) on October 30.
• Stars on Earth (JPN, F3, by Duramente) won the Oka Sho (Japanese 1000 Guineas, G1, 1,600m) and then took the second gem of the fillies’ Triple Crown, the Yushun Himba (Japanese Oaks, G1, 2,400m), emulating Triple Crown fillies such as Almond Eye and Daring Tact. Unfortunately, the Duramente filly was found to have sustained chip fractures in both forelegs, but it appears she is recovering possibly fast enough for the Shuka Sho (G1, 2,000m) on October 16, so her attempt to sweep the fillies’ Triple Crown still looks promising.
• Oju Chosan (JPN, H11, by Stay Gold), who scored an unprecedented sixth Nakayama Grand Jump (J-G1, 4,250m) triumph in April, is primed to defend his other G1 steeple chase title, the Nakayama Daishogai (J-G1, 4,100m) on December 24 and will probably prep by running in the Tokyo High-Jump (J-G2, 3,110m) on October 16.
• Geoglyph (JPN, C3, by Drefong), this season’s Satsuki Sho champion, failed to handle the extra distance in the following Tokyo Yushun and finished seventh. Diagnosed with a fracture in his right foreleg, he seems to be targeted at the Tenno Sho (Autumn) on October 30 instead of the last leg of the Triple Crown, the Kikuka Sho (Japanese St. Leger, G1, 3,000m) on October 23.
• Danon Scorpion (JPN, C3, by Lord Kanaloa), this year’s NHK Mile Cup winner, will commence his autumn campaign in the Mainichi Okan or the Fuji Stakes (G2, 1,600m) on October 22 and then point towards the Mile Championship (G1, 1,600m) on November 20 in hopes of landing his second G1 and third grade-race title.
• Sodashi (JPN, F4, by Kurofune), winner of three G1 events - most recently the Victoria Mile (1,600m) in May - will pursue repeat victory in the Sapporo Kinen (G2, 2,000m) on August 21 and then aim for another mile G1 title in the Mile Championship.
• Songline (JPN, F4, by Kizuna), who improved on a fifth in the Victoria Mile to land her first G1 victory by beating several G1 winners of both genders in the Yasuda Kinen (G1, 1,600m), will make her fall debut in the Centaur Stakes on September 11 and then set out for the United States to run in the Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1, 1,600m) on November 6.

2021 Horse of the Year Efforia (JPN, C4, by Epiphaneia) was expected to bounce back in the Takarazuka Kinen after a mundane ninth in the Osaka Hai (G1, 2,000m), but despite being favored first and showing good effort in the stretch, he finished sixth. It has been announced that the colt will kick off his fall campaign in the Tenno Sho (Autumn).

The conclusion of spring G1 events with the Takarazuka Kinen marked an extraordinary record - race favorites have lost 13 consecutive G1 flat races since the Hopeful Stakes late last year - a stunning trend that may affect wagering this autumn.

On Saturday, July 9, following two bids at Ascot last month that yielded a fourth and 19th-place, Japanese horsemen returned to England to take on the July Cup over the Newmarket straight course.

King Hermes, a 3-year-old Lord Kanaloa colt, failed, unfortunately, to rule the day and bring Japan its second win of the race. Despite a solid, honest effort, the Ritto-based King Hermes beat only two horses across the finish line amid 13 runners.

A Grade 1 turf event over 6 furlongs, the July Cup went to local filly Alcohol Free, a gutsy No Nay Never 4-year-old fielded by Andrew Balding and ridden by Rob Hornby. The Dubawi-sired Naval Crown, Charlie Appleby’s Platinum Jubilee Stakes winner at Ascot less than a month ago, was second a length and a half later under James Doyle, with Artorious, piloted by Jamie Spencer, in third a half length behind Naval Crown. The race was run over good to firm turf, with a winning time of 1 minute 9.47 seconds.

Despite a less-than-perfect start, King Hermes did a good job tracking the leaders in the early stages, but lost steam and a chance at a placing from about 2 furlongs out.

“He was a bit slow out of the gate, but he recovered right away so that wasn’t the problem,” said Tokyo native Ryusei Sakai, who has ridden all of the colt’s five previous starts. “The early pace was slower than races in Japan and he was able to get into position on his own.

“Things got very difficult for him about 400 meters out, but he continued to try hard,” the 25-year-old Sakai said in praise of the colt’s effort. “He was fresh but the style of the race is different from Japan. I’ll study this race and hope I can use what I learn next time.” And with a nod to racing fans back in Japan, where the race got under way after midnight Sunday, Sakai added, “Despite the late hour, I’d like to thank all those who stayed up to cheer us on.”

Trainer Yoshito Yahagi, who also hails from Tokyo, first raced a horse overseas in 2008 and this year has already notched four major wins abroad, one in Riyadh and three in Dubai.

He’s known for winning big in Australia, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Hong Kong and the U.S., but has yet to field a winner in Europe. From his three bids in England so far, his best has been an eighth-place finish. King Hermes was Yahagi’s third horse to England and his first runner in the July Cup.

Like the rider, Yahagi was at a loss to explain why King Hermes, a Grade 2 winner and sixth in this year’s Grade 1 NHK Mile Cup, powered out early in the race. “At this point, I don’t know what the reason for his loss was,” said the 61-year-old Yahagi.

“He lost momentum early on even though the pace wasn’t that fast. He didn’t lose for a lack of speed either, so I guess he needed to have more power. I’ll be analyzing how the race unfolded and planning how to make a comeback next time out.”

Yahagi’s Bathrat Leon, who won in Dubai earlier this year, accompanied King Hermes to England on a journey lasting some 45 hours. The two arrived in Newmarket on June 24 (local time). Bathrat Leon will take on the Sussex Stakes (G1, 1,600 meters) at Goodwood Racecourse on July 27.

Japan’s first flat race participation in an English race was in 1969, when Speed Symboli finished fifth in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot. Sirius Symboli’s attempt in the same in 1985 was followed by a 15-year dearth of Japan raiders. From the turn of the century, however, Japan-based horses have brought home two victories from 28 bids on British soil.

Titleholder who acquired the most votes from the fans but was posted second favorite, marked a sweeping victory over a strong field in this year’s Takarazuka Kinen by renewing the track record to 2:09.7. He is the first horse to capture both the Tenno Sho (Spring) (G1, 3,200m) and the Takarazuka Kinen in the same year since Deep Impact in 2006. His three G1 victories including last year’s Kikuka Sho (Japanese St. Leger, 3,000m) title are all marked at Hanshin Racecourse. This is the third JRA-G1 win for trainer Toru Kurita and the second for jockey Kazuo Yokoyama, which include this year’s Tenno Sho (Spring) victory with this colt.

Titleholder, making a smooth break from stall six, rallied with Panthalassa for the lead but eventually settled in second and traveled three lengths behind the record-breaking pace in the backstretch. The Duramente colt gradually closed in on the leader approaching the last two corners and, after drawing even with the frontrunner entering the lane, easily pulled away with powerful strides for a comfortable two-length victory.

“This was my fourth race with Titleholder and I knew how the colt could run in good rhythm. The pace was fast but I wasn’t concerned because he still had enough power left at the straight. He’s still in the process of maturing and I think he’ll get better going forward,” commented Kazuo Yokohama. “I’ve been told by the owner that the colt will go to ‘the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe if he wins’ so we’re planning to send him straight to France with Kazuo,” added trainer Toru Kurita.

Fifth choice Hishi Iguazu broke well to settle around sixth by the rails, angled out slightly after the third corner and launched the fastest late drive to pass his rivals one by one in the last 300 meters but failed to close in on the winner while securing the runner-up seat.

Fourth pick and 2020 fillies’ Triple Crown winner Daring Tact sat in 10th, just behind the favorite, made headway on the outer path passing the 1,000-meter point, showed the second fastest late kick and, although unable to threaten the top two finishers, nosed out Deep Bond right before the wire to finish third.

Race favorite Efforia traveled in mid-division, around ninth from the front and, though displaying a strong charge that timed the fourth fastest closing speed, finished in sixth.

Other Horses:
4th: (15) Deep Bond—prominent in 3rd or 4th, unable to keep up with winner, passed by Hishi Iguazu 200m out then Daring Tact just before wire
5th: (9) Meiner Fanrong—raced 3-wide in 8th, advanced and rallied for 2nd, weakened in last 100m
7th: (12) Win Marilyn—sat in 5th, ran gamely until 200m out, gradually dropped back
8th: (11) Panthalassa—set fast pace, ran out of steam passing 200m pole
9th: (8) Stay Foolish—took economic trip in 11th, lacked needed kick
10th: (17) Gibeon—ran around 6th, outrun turning final corners, showed little
11th: (18) Potager—settled around 12th, circled wide, failed to respond
12th: (16) Gloria Mundi—traveled in 13-14th, showed little at stretch
13th: (3) Melody Lane—hugged rails in 12-13th, unable to reach contention
14th: (13) Arrivo—trailed wide in rear, never fired
15th: (5) Iron Barows—positioned around 15th, no factor
16th: (2) African Gold—was off slow, saved ground in 3rd or 4th, faded after final corner
17th: (14) King of Koji—far rear throughout trip
Excluded from running: (1) Authority—due to lameness in his right foreleg

After five consecutive weeks of Grade 1 racing in Tokyo recently, there has been a slight lull in the top-class action here in Japan, but this coming Sunday (June 26) it returns in the form of the Takarazuka Kinen, to be run at Hanshin Racecourse over 2,200 meters on the inner turf track. It is one of the two so-called ‘All-Star’ races in a year, where racing fans get to vote for the horses they want to see competing against each other. It is a race for 3-year-olds and up, and there is a maximum field size of 18. There are 20 horses nominated for this week’s Grade 1 Takarazuka Kinen.

The race was first run in 1960, when the distance was 1,800 meters, but in 1966 it was extended to the 2,200 meters the race is run over today. It was open to foreign trained horses in 1997, and the last overseas challenger was Werther from Hong Kong in 2018. There will be no runners from abroad this time.

This year will see the 63rd running of the Grade 1 Takarazuka Kinen, and as with other recent big races, it’s shaping up to be a truly competitive field. Race favorites have found it tough to win in the past ten years, with just three of them returning to the winner’s enclosure. The race has, however, favored 5-year-olds, who have won seven times in the past decade. The last three years, a filly or mare has won, taking their overall tally of wins in the race to six.

Weights are set at 58kg for 4-year-olds and up, with a 2kg allowance for fillies and mares, and any 3-year-old taking on the race gets to run with 53kg, an attractive weight advantage. Record time for the race was set by Earnestly in 2011, winning in a time of 2 minutes 10.1 seconds. This year’s winner’s check is JPY200 million (just under USD2 million). The winner of this year’s Grade 1 Takarazuka Kinen also receives an automatic entry to Australia’s Cox Plate (won by Lys Gracieux in 2019) and the Longines Breeders’ Cup Turf at Keeneland in November.

The big race will be Race 11 on the Sunday card at Hanshin, with a post time locally of 15:40. Final declarations and the barrier draw will come out later in the week.

Here is a look at some of the runners expected to feature in the race:

Titleholder: This year’s Grade 1 Tenno Sho (Spring) winner looks perfectly at home at Hanshin, running away with his latest win by seven lengths, and the 4-year-old colt by Duramente came out on top of the fans’ poll, demonstrating the respect he commands. Trainer Toru Kurita said: “On his return to the training center on June 1, he looked well and refreshed, and probably better all round than he did when he returned before the Tenno Sho. He has been moving well in his recent training.” The trainer’s two Grade 1 victories have come with Titleholder, and jockey Kazuo Yokoyama, who has ridden him in his last three races, is set to take the ride again.

Efforia: With six wins from eight starts, last year’s Grade 1 Tenno Sho (Autumn) and Grade 1 Arima Kinen (The Grand Prix) winner was looking to continue his success into 2022, but only managed to finish ninth in this April’s Grade 1 Osaka Hai over 2,000 meters at Hanshin, his worst result ever. However, trainer Yuichi Shikato thought that things went against him in that race. “He had the long transportation to the track last time, together with the accident at the gate and the flow of the race itself wasn’t helpful, so things didn’t really go his way,” the trainer said. “He came back to the stable from Northern Farm Tenei on June 2, and looks a lot tighter than he did before his break. This season is also better for him, and he’s shown enough in his work so far.” Jockey Takeshi Yokoyama has ridden the Epiphaneia colt in all his races so far, and will partner him again on Sunday.

Deep Bond: The 5-year-old by Kizuna remains very competitive, as could be seen from his effort right up to the end last time in the Grade 1 Tenno Sho (Spring), where he managed to finish second to Titleholder. He has always finished in the first two at Hanshin, so a big run can be expected this time too. Trainer Ryuji Okubo said: “He was beaten into second last time, and the riderless horse didn’t help things in the run. He still ran well and finished ahead of T O Royal in the end. After giving him a rest, we have had this race as his next target.”

Daring Tact: Having had her first run in over a year in last month’s Grade 1 Victoria Mile, the 5-year-old mare still managed to put in a creditable run to finish sixth. “She was coming back after her long layoff last time, and it was a tough mile race,” trainer Haruki Sugiyama commented. “There had been quite a lot of rain before the race, and she drew the inside gate which wasn’t to her advantage. She still ran well, putting in a final three-furlong time of just over 33 seconds. I thought it was a good run, considering everything, and her legs were fine after the race.” Jockey Kohei Matsuyama is bidding for his sixth career JRA Grade 1 win, with three of them achieved already on Daring Tact.

Authority: After a successful campaign in Saudi Arabia and Dubai earlier this year, where the 5-year-old won and finished third in his respective races (the latter in the Grade 1 Dubai Sheema Classic), he’s now set for his next challenge in this Sunday’s big race. Assistant trainer Yu Ota said: “He has been racing well this year, so it’s been good to use him constantly. He is looking just a little heavy at the moment, so I hope he’ll adjust to things in his fast work from now. We will just have to see how he does racing right-handed in this next race.” Jockey Christophe Lemaire gets on well with him and takes the ride again on Sunday.

Potager: Causing a bit of an upset last time when he won the Grade 1 Osaka Hai over 2,000 meters at Hanshin in April, the 5-year-old by Deep Impact has now won three times at Hanshin from his six career victories overall. Trainer Yasuo Tomomichi has a lot of skill when it comes to having a horse just right for a big race. He recently commented on Potager: “There wasn’t much time between his races in the spring, but he kept his condition well. He ran on from the back of the field in the Kinko Sho, but in the Osaka Hai, he demonstrated how he could run from a more forward position and get a good result. It was decided then to give him a break and bring him back for this race.” The trainer is seeking his 17th JRA Grade 1 victory, and he’s already scored twice at the top level this year.

Panthalassa: From the all-conquering stable of trainer Yoshito Yahagi, Panthalassa’s tough front-running style has won him two races already this year, namely the Grade 2 Nakayama Kinen over 1,800 meters in February, and the Grade 1 Dubai Turf over 1,800 meters in March. He will have to see out an extra 400 meters this time, but the 5-year-old looks capable of a big run this time too. Assistant trainer Yusaku Oka said: “He seems well enough after his overseas trip, and his return to the stable after a stay at the farm. His work on the uphill training track recently has been smooth, and things should be fine with him as we work him more.”

Stay Foolish: From the same stable as Panthalassa, the 7-year-old by Stay Gold is showing that age is not an issue, nor long distance travel, with his two wins earlier this year in Saudi Arabia and Dubai. Forcing the pace in one of them, and being well forward in the other, he proved impossible to stop in both races over long distances. “He returned from the Yamamoto Training Center to the stable on June 9, and everything seems fine with him,” assistant trainer Yusaku Oka said. “He ran well in Saudi and Dubai over the long trips, but this time it’ll be shorter, so we’ll just have to see how he adjusts to the distance.”

Arrivo: The 4-year-old colt by Duramente has been showing improvement, and he now has five wins from his eleven career races to date. His most recent third place finish in the Grade 1 Osaka Hai in April was arguably his best ever race. Trainer Haruki Sugiyama said: “He had won some handicap races away from the big tracks, but I was a little uncertain about how he might perform last time, given the gradient at Hanshin, but he ran well, and there wasn’t much in it between him and the winner. He was tired after that race, but he recovered quickly and we could consider this next race for him.” This year’s Derby winning jockey, Yutaka Take, is set for the ride on Arrivo.