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Osaka Hai (G1) - Preview

28 Mar 1:45 pm


The JRA spring Grade 1 races continue this coming Sunday (March 31), when the Osaka Hai will be run at Hanshin Racecourse over 2,000 meters on the inner turf course at the Kansai track. The race is for 4-year-olds and up, and is the first high-level middle-distance race of the year for some of Japan’s top horses, as they tune up for other big races later on in 2024.

The race was first run in 1957, when it was a handicap and known as the Sankei Osaka Hai, and run over a distance of 1,800 meters. In 1972, the distance was changed to its current 2,000 meters, and it became a Grade 2 race in 1984. It was opened to overseas runners in 2003, and the most recent change has been its elevation to Grade 1 status, just in 2017, making it the latest JRA Grade 1 of them all. That year it also got its title as simply the Osaka Hai.

Some famous winners of the race have included Orfevre (2013), Kizuna (2014) and Kitasan Black (2017) to name just a few. This year sees 20 nominations for the maximum number of 16 runners allowed in the race. Weights are set at 58kg, with a 2kg allowance for fillies and mares. Record time for the race was set just last year, when Jack d’Or managed an all-the- way win in 1 minute 57.4 seconds.

The last 10 years haven’t been kind to the first favorites, with just two of them winning, and the last one to do so was Suave Richard in 2018. Better performances have come from 5-year-olds, which have won six times in the past decade. Even more dominance is held by horses trained at the Ritto Training Center, where winners of the race every year since 2000 have been trained. This year’s Grade 1 Osaka Hai carries a total prize money of JPY432 million, with JPY200 million (approximately USD1.4 million) going to the winner. The first past the post also receives an automatic entry to the Grade 1 Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown later this year.

A couple of races this year leading into Sunday’s feature race have been the Grade 2 Nakayama Kinen, run over 1,800 meters, and the Grade 2 Kyoto Kinen, run over 2,200 meters, with both races being run in February.

The 68th running of the Grade 1 Osaka Hai 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 be available later in the week.

Here’s a look at some of the runners expected to play a part in the big race:

Tastiera: Last year’s Grade 1 Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby) winner hasn’t won since that big day last May, but has only had two runs since then, with his latest being a sixth-place finish in last December’s Grade 1 Arima Kinen. Top trainer Noriyuki Hori is doing his best to have the son of Satono Crown in good shape for this next run. “He came back to the stable at the end of February, and his appetite has been better than it was before the Arima Kinen. He’s in good condition, and looks well in his coat, so I think he’s refreshed, even though he’s still a little tense. His balance is good, and we’ve just been taking care regarding his hindquarters, which can be a bit of a weak point for him,” the trainer said. Jockey Kohei Matsuyama will get the ride on Tastiera this time, but he has had previous success with the horse.

Sol Oriens: The 4-year-old colt by Kitasan Black has had just the one run this year, when he was sent off favorite for the Grade 2 Nakayama Kinen over 1,800 meters in February and finished fourth, but he did manage the best final three-furlong time in that race. Trainer Takahisa Tezuka commented: “He ran quite well last time, in what was his first race in a while. He was well back in the run, and had just a bit too much to do in the end, having to race wide, but he still put in a good finish. His jockey that day (Hironobu Tanabe) recommended trying blinkers in training, and the horse has been moving well in his work with the blinkers on.” Jockey Takeshi Yokoyama will partner Sol Oriens on Sunday, and even though it’ll be the horse’s first start at Hanshin, the jockey knows what to do to get the best out of him.

Bellagio Opera: It is four wins from seven starts for the Lord Kanaloa colt, and two of his wins have come at Hanshin. He warmed up for this next race with a second-place finish in the Grade 2 Kyoto Kinen over 2,200 meters in February, and trainer Hiroyuki Uemura is confident about his chances. “His responses were good enough in his last race, and he just lost out by having to race on the inside of Pradaria in the closing stages, and that horse probably had the better ground. Despite losing in the finish, it looks like he can still improve more,” Uemura said. Jockey Kazuo Yokoyama has struck up a good partnership with Bellagio Opera, and will be looking to add to his two JRA Grade 1 victories, both achieved with Titleholder.

Pradaria: Now a 5-year-old, Pradaria has been slightly unlucky, it seems, when trying to realize his full potential, but things worked out well for him last time when he won the Grade 2 Kyoto Kinen, after disappointing in last year’s Grade 1 Arima Kinen. Trainer Manabu Ikezoe recently gave his opinion on the horse: “We probably gave him a bit too much to do before the Arima Kinen, and he lost weight before that race. He’d put weight back on for his run in the Kyoto Kinen, and he improves for having had a race. Things have been fine with this rotation for him, and he’s had his usual training pattern, looking a lot more flexible.”

Rousham Park: A horse that has really upped his game since last spring, the 5-year-old by Harbinger put together a three-race winning streak last year, before finishing eighth last time in the Grade 1 Hong Kong Cup last December. Refreshed after that, he returns for his first run of the year here. Recent comments from assistant trainer Hiroyuki Yamazaki were: “After his trip to Hong Kong, he had a break at Northern Farm Tenei. He’s recovered quickly and has a good appetite, and he has been doing some training at the farm. In just a short time, he seems to be showing a lot of power again, as we get him ready for this next race.” Keita Tosaki will ride the horse this time, in a bid for Rousham Park’s first Grade 1 success, and the top jockey will be looking to add to his two Grade 1 successes with Songline in 2023.

Harper: The 4-year-old filly by Heart’s Cry is just short of a top-level win, but she finished second in last year’s Grade 1 Yushun Himba (Japanese Oaks), and perhaps of more importance is the fact that she is trained by Yasuo Tomomichi, who sent out Potager to win the Grade 1 Osaka Hai in 2022 at odds of 58/1. Harper will be having her first run of the year, after finishing ninth to Do Deuce in last year’s Grade 1 Arima Kinen. Trainer Tomomichi said: “She was up against some strong horses in the Arima Kinen, but she still ran well. Things are as usual with her after her break at Northern Farm Shigaraki. Her workload’s been good, and she’s been working well with her training partner Do Deuce.”

Rouge Eveil: Having finished second in last autumn’s Grade 1 Queen Elizabeth II Cup, and just 0.7 seconds off Pradaria last time in the Grade 2 Kyoto Kinen, the 5-year-old mare will once again get a weight allowance to boost her chances here. It will be her first time to run at Hanshin, as well as jockey Akira Sugawara’s first time to ride her, so that makes things a little more interesting too. Her trainer, Yoichi Kuroiwa, commented: “She ran smoothly last time, but ran quite wide throughout the race because the ground was rough on the inside. She had lost weight when she returned to the stable after her break at the farm, and one key will be how she progresses from now. Her hooves seem fine, and she’s been moving well in the work we’ve given her.”

Mad Cool Claims First G1 Victory in Takamatsunomiy25 Mar 12:30 pm


Just missing by a nose in second in the Sprinters Stakes last fall, Mad Cool, who was sent to post sixth favorite in this year’s Takamatsunomiya Kinen, landed his first grade-race and G1 title. Debuting in January of his three-year-old season, the son of Dark Angel broke his maiden in his third career start and concluded the season with four consecutive wins. Registering his fifth victory in the listed Shunrai Stakes (Listed, 1,200m), on yielding going, the gray colt finished second by a nose to Mama Cocha in his first G1 challenge, the Sprinter Stakes (G1, 1,200m) and capped off his four-year-old campaign in Hong Kong in the Hong Kong Sprint (G1, 1,200m) in which he was eighth. Trainer Manabu Ikezoe collected his second JRA-G1 title after the 2022 Hopeful Stakes with Dura Erede while jockey Ryusei Sakai, whose last G1 victory was with Lemon Pop in the 2023 Champions Cup, registered his fifth career JRA-G1 title.

Mad Cool broke sharply to come out to the front, soon joined by Victor The Winner and Win Carnelian from the outside, and raced close to the pace while hugging the rails in second or third. Still keeping the inside route turning for home, the powerful gray inherited the lead as the pacesetter weakened at the uphill stretch and continued to pull away while chased by fast-closing Namura Clair from behind to hold off that foe by a head for his first G1 victory.

“I am so glad to have won this race after our narrow defeat last fall (in the Sprinters Stakes). He broke well and we were in an ideal position, right behind the pace, throughout the trip. The plan to stay in the inside for our attack at the stretch also worked to our advantage and he held on well to deter the chase from behind at the end. I’ve been riding this horse from early in his career and the connections had been eyeing this race from the beginning, but he still has room for improvement so I look forward to his future as well,” commented jockey Ryusei Sakai.

Second pick Namura Clair was rated in mid-pack while saving ground along the rails early. The Mikki Isle mare steadily advanced approaching the final turn, stayed along the rails as the field shifted out for better footing on the outside, crept closer to the eventual winner racing in front approaching the uphill stretch and closed in on that foe with the fastest finishing speed up to the wire, just missing by a head in second.

Fifth favorite Victor The Winner was quick out of the gate, disputed the lead with Win Carnelian close behind on his outside, dictated the pace into the stretch, struggled to find another gear going the uphill and outrun by the Mad Cool and Namura Clair in the last furlong but held on well to finish a good length in front of the rest of the field.

“The race went as planned with a quick jump and he got into a good position and today he was even more fresh than he was in Hong Kong. The track was soft and he fought a little bit because it was his first time racing in Japan, so it was not 100 percent for him, but he ran very well. When he was asked going uphill in the last 350 meters, he struggled a little bit and he was one paced from there under pressure but I am so proud of him to have run such a good race in Japan,” commented jockey Ka Chun Leung.

Race favorite Lugal broke sharply and stayed close to the pace between rivals in fourth or fifth but failed to show much after shifting out turning for home and faded to tenth.

Other Horses:
4th: (13) Win Carnelian—stalked leader in 2nd, rallied for lead, showed tenacity
5th: (12) Lotus Land—hugged rails around 13th, launched 2nd fastest late kick
6th: (5) Toshin Macau—ran around 6th, failed to keep up with frontrunners
7th: (1) Big Caesar—saved ground around 6th, showed brief effort
8th: (14) Mama Cocha—tracked leaders around 3rd, failed to sustain bid
9th: (11) Meikei Yell—sat around 6th, angled out, unable to find another gear
11th: (15) Divina—traveled around 15th, failed to respond
12th: (16) Win Marvel—raced around 13th, lacked needed kick
13th: (18) Schwarz Kaiser—positioned 3-wide around 12th, even paced
14th: (8) So Dazzling—settled around 10th, gradually dropped position
15th: (4) Mozu Meimei—trailed in rear, circled wide, unable to reach contention
16th: (17) Matenro Orion—ran 2nd from rear, turned wide, never fired
17th: (9) Champagne Color—raced 3rd from rear, showed little
18th: (7) T M Spada—traveled 3-wide around 6th, dropped back at stretch

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Takamatsunomiya Kinen (G1) - Preview20 Mar 12:30 pm


This Sunday, March 24, Chukyo course hosts the second big event of the year, the Takamatsunomiya Kinen, now in its 54th running. Some 23 horses have been nominated for a full gate open to 18 runners. Ten fillies/mares and two geldings are amid the nominees, with ages ranging from 4 to 8.

The 1,200-meter turf test, along with the Grade 1 Sprinters Stakes of the same distance in the autumn, are the two most important races in determining the year’s top sprinter. The Takamatsunomiya Kinen, unlike the Sprinters Stakes held at Nakayama Racecourse, is run to the left.

This year, there’s an added international touch, with the first foreign-based raider to appear in the race in six years, Hong Kong’s Victor the Winner. In previous years, four horses from abroad (two from the U.S. and two from Hong Kong) have taken on the Takamatsunomiya Kinen. Hong Kong’s Aerovelocity, in 2015, was the only one to capture the race.

Among the headliners of this year’s field is Mama Cocha, who clinched the Sprinters Stakes last October. Her stellar performance, only her second over six furlongs, also brought her the honor of being named the JRA’s Best Sprinter for 2023. She has got tough competition though, with the Sprinters Stakes runner-up Mad Cool and third-place finisher Namura Clair set to vie for the winner’s prize of JPY170 million.

The Takamatsunomiya Kinen is Chukyo’s No. 11 race on the Sunday card of 12. Post time is 15:40 locally.



Here are some of the field’s likely favorites.

Namura Clair: A 5-year-old Mikki Isle mare, Namura Clair has proven highly consistent, only missing the Top 3 spots three times (the board only once) in her career of 16 starts. Second by a length here last year, the Ritto-based mare has failed to make the winner’s circle in her six Grade 1 attempts thus far (three of them over 1,200 meters). She has four graded wins at the distance, with a second and third at the top level. She is primed and prepped with a second by a neck in the Grade 3 Kyoto Himba Stakes over 1,400 meters, which was preceded by her third in the Sprinters Stakes and a win of the Grade 3 Keeneland Cup over 1,200 meters at Sapporo. The wild upset last year due largely to the sloppy track, Namura Clair was the only one who remained true to expectations.With rain expected this year, this one is likely to stick with.

Toshin Macau: Toshin Macau was completely done in by the track condition last year and managed to beat only three runners over the line. This year the 5-year-old heads to the gate looking even more promising than he did last year as fifth pick. He has triumphed in both his last two starts, both Grade 3 events, both over 1,200 meters. He is just off a win of the Ocean Stakes at Nakayama, and had preceded that with a first place in the Keihan Hai at Kyoto at the end of November. With 2016 Takamatsunomiya Kinen winner Big Arthur as his sire, Toshin Macau has every reason to land his first big win. Trainer Mizuki Takayanagi commented: “The switch to Chukyo is not a plus, but I think if the ground isn’t as bad as it was last year, he should be able to handle it. He has grown and added power, so I think he has a chance if things come together well for him.”

Mama Cocha: The 5-year Kurofune-sired Mama Cocha, who won the JRA’s Best Sprinter for 2023 and winner of last year’s Sprinters Stakes, aims to haul in her second big win in only her second Grade 1 bid of her career. Last year, she headed to the Sprinters Stakes off a second in the Grade 3 Kitakyushu Kinen, with less than six weeks between races. This time, she hasn’t raced in three months. but, with jockey Yuga Kawada, who rode her in last year’s Sprinter Stakes expected up, Mama Cocha is in good hands and looking to become only the fourth horse (after Believe, Curren Chan and Lord Kanaloa) to win both the previous year’s Sprinters Stakes and the Takamatsunomiya Kinen the following year. Assitant trainer Yuki Iwasaki said: “Her movement is much improved from her last race and I think we have a good chance here.”

Lugal: The Duramente 4-year-old colt Lugal heads into his first top-level competition. Starting his career over dirt, he was moved to turf and has since finished consistently in the Top 3, with only one of his seven turf starts ending in fourth place. He has just won his first graded stakes competition, the Grade 3 Silk Road Stakes over 1,200 meters at Kyoto on Jan. 28. He has proven reliable racing to the left and is seen as a solid candidate, one capable of an upset over the more established racers. Trainer Haruki Sugiyama commented: “Two weeks ago, his fast work up the hill was very impressive. And last week, even with the ground bad, his footwork was almost too good. He is still a bit heavy but I think with one more workout he’ll be ready.”

So Dazzling: The 4-year-old filly So Dazzling is an interesting challenger heading into her first 1,200 meters race after winning the Grade 3 Kyoto Himba Stakes, which was already the shortest race of her eight career starts by a furlong. The drop in distance seems to suit her. Veteran Yutaka Take, who has ridden all but one of the filly’s starts, is expected up. Assistant trainer Masanori Tanaka says Take’s advice was part of the reason they’ve decided on shortening the distance yet again. “Every time we’ve shortened her race, she’s given us good results. I think that the shorter distances make things easier for her.”

Victor the Winner: Hong Kong’s hopeful, the 6-year-old gelding Victor the Winner is an Australian-bred gelding by Toronado and trained by Danny Shum. Victor the Winner, who scored a fourth place in last year’s Hong Kong Sprint has seven wins and two seconds from 14 starts and is coming off a win of the G1 Centenary Sprint Cup over 1,200 meters at Sha Tin at the end of January. He is to be ridden by his regular rider, the 35-year-old Derek Leung, a two-time Tony Cruz Award recipient who has won 459 races back home in Hong Kong. In addition to the usual rigors of an overseas trip, Victor the Winner has at last two further challenges to conquer on Sunday. He will be racing to the left for his first time and also facing the sharp hill starting just 350 meters before the finish line at Chukyo.

Mad Cool: The Irish-bred 5-year-old Mad Cool, next set off on his first overseas excursion after finishing second in last year’s Sprinters Stakes, but only managed to land eighth place amid 10 runners in the Hong Kong Sprint. Highly consistent over the rest of his career, this son of Dark Angel definitely has ability. His only finishes out of the Top 3 were the Hong Kong Sprint and three starts ago, when he scored ninth over the Chukyo 1,200 meters in July but was later found to have been suffering from heat stroke. Trainer Manabu Ikezoe commented: “He’s won three times at Chukyo. If the going is too fast, that will advantage some of the contenders, so I think it would be ideal for the ground to have some spring to it. I’m hoping he can race from a forward position.”

Others to watch include:

Win Marvel finished 10th place here last year and second in the 2022 Sprinters Stakes, seems to be back in form. He is sailing into Chukyo on a two-race winning streak that landed him the Grade 2 Hanshin Cup and the Grade 3 Hankyu Hai, both over 1,400 meters at Hanshin. With heavier going expected Sunday, his performance over heavy ground last out may carry over to good results this time out.
Just like Toshin Macau, the 4-year-old Big Caesar is also a son of Big Arthur, and takes on his first Grade 1 this time. He comes off a second in the Grade 3 Ocean Stakes that saw him gain ground impressively in the final stage. Proven at Chukyo with a win of an open-class race over 1,200 meters, Big Caesar should not be overlooked.

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Saudi Cup day - Team of 21 scores two from six in 26 Feb 7:10 pm


Saudi Cup eludes, but Saudi Derby, Riyadh Dirt Sprint fall under Japanese onslaught

Buoyed by last year’s victory in the $20-million Grade 1 Saudi Cup, Japan’s horsemen returned to Riyadh’s King Abdulaziz Racecourse with their biggest team yet, a total of 22 horses. After the withdrawal of Saudi Cup hopeful Meisho Hario earlier in the week, Sunday, Feb. 24 saw at least three runners compete in each of the six graded events of the 2024 Saudi Cup Day events open to Thoroughbreds. Twenty-one horses went to the gates and, though the day’s headliner, the fifth running of the Saudi Cup, slipped from their grasp, Japanese horsemen went home with two victories, three seconds and a total of nine finishers on the board.

# # #

The day got under way swimmingly with the first two races falling to the Japanese. Of a trio of entrants in Saturday’s fourth race, the Grade 3 Saudi Derby, it was the unbeaten Forever Young who scored the day’s first win for Japan and the country’s third win of the race. The Real Steel colt, out of the Congrats mare Forever Darling bagged the 1,600-meter dirt event for 3-year-olds after a slow start, but a strong finish, that saw him enter the straight with two American runners 3 lengths out in front. He prevailed over the Bucchero gelding Book’em Danno in the final stride to win by a head. Forever Young’s time of 1:36.17 smashed the track record for the mile.

A Northern Racing-bred colt based at the Ritto stable of Yoshito Yahagi, Forever Young made it a perfect four for four in his yet young career. He had leapt from his debut victory in a JRA event at Kyoto to wins in NAR (Racing by Local Governments) principal races at Mombetsu and Kawasaki. The step up to the international stage and the race’s $1.5 million-purse was a huge one and his victory elicited high praise from rider Ryusei Sakai.“I took on this race with confidence. The eventual runnerup was a lot stronger than I’d expected, but this horse really gave it his all. I believed he would make it home a winner and he did.”

Sakai, who has ridden all four of the colt’s races, continued with his praise and voiced his big dreams for the colt. “He had a lot of experience back in Japan so he could be competitive overseas and he was able to use that experience here. I think he’ll go on to win big races in a number of other countries. I’ll do my best to grow and develop along with him.”

Trainer Yahagi, who has his sights set on the Kentucky Derby, said, “He’s not great out of the gate, so I had anticipated he may be slow away, but I was worried that he was quite a ways back.

“I’m hoping that he’ll be able to do well in the UAE Derby next month and be able to go on to Kentucky.”

Japan’s two other runners crossed the line with only one other horse behind them. Satono Phoenix, piloted by Joao Moreira, finished 10th of the 12-strong field. “He didn’t travel well for me. He was never on the bit and it made it so hard for himself.” Moreira conceded that the Henny Hughes colt “probably didn’t appreciate the kickback in his face.” Moreira was riding the two-win Satono Phoenix (yet to win over the mile) for the first time. “I know he has handled it before but he couldn’t handle it here. It was very disappointing.”

Set Up, a Declaration of War colt who has won at the G3 level, was taking on his first dirt test and only able to manage 11th place. “I was able to get a forward position as planned,” said jockey Takeshi Yokoyama, “but he was tired out in the final 500 meters. I had thought the dirt would suit him, but I may have been wrong. He was in good condition.”

# # #

Japan continued to roll with a victory next up in the $1.5-million Riyadh Dirt Sprint, its third win of the race in five bids. A Grade 3 event over 1,200 meters open to 3-year-olds and up, the race once again saw the appearance of Remake, who had bested Japan’s four entrants last year with a third-place finish and gone on to win the Grade 3 Korea Sprint at Seoul in September. This year, the Lani 5-year-old found the competition in Riyadh more to his liking and was able to run down America’s Skelly, who had been dueling with Jasper Krone, another of Japan’s three entrants in the race and racing on dirt for the first time. Yuga Kawada was able to move Remake to the outside for a clear run and top the field of 11 by a length and a half. His time over the 6 furlongs was 1:10.42.

Owner Koji Maeda swooned over the victory. "I have won the Japanese Derby three times, but this means even more. When he came into the final bend he was travelling so well, I was pretty certain he was going to win.

"Physically, he has improved since last year. The trainer and his staff put it all together and brought the horse here for a brilliant result, which makes it so very special,” Maeda said. “I had no background in racing, but now have 30 G1 wins as an owner and breeder and it means a lot. I’m going to bring the trophy back to the hotel tonight and sleep with it!"

Training Remake was the Ritto-based Koichi Shintani. “He gave a great performance, I was pretty sure he was going to make it home in first, but he had been beaten last year. That had been very disappointing, so I’d discussed it with my staff how we could better his performance. His strength is that he can race from any position."

Yuga Kawada said, "I expected a fast pace in the early stages and that’s how it panned out, so I was able to remain nice and calm while waiting for the straight. Last year, Remake took on this race and riding him was Yuichi Fukunaga, for whom I have the utmost respect. It was his last race before retiring and it was a frustrating finish for him. For me to have taken the reins this year and won for a sole owner means a lot to me and I am extremely grateful.”

Japan’s two other runners, the 5-year-old Jasper Krone (under Taisei Danno) and the 7-year-old Keiai Dorie (with Christophe Lemaire up), both made the board and crossed the line in fourth and sixth place, respectively.

# # #

The day’s next two races were the start of what would be a three-race roll of second-place frustration for Japan. The day’s No. 6 race was the 1351 Turf Sprint, a Grade 2 event over the distance of its name and a race Japan has won twice in three bids. Two of Japan’s four runners succeeded in making the board, with the 6-year-old Mikki Isle mare La La Christine having to settle for second place under Cristian Demuro, 3/4 length behind Irish-bred winner Annaf.

“She put in a good race,” said Shoma Shimozawa, an assistant to trainer Takashi Saito, “She’d been worked up in the temporary stall but had calmed down in the preparade ring, She gave it a good run with a good finish, so it was frustrating. This was her last race and she was the first horse under my care since I started at the training center. She won a graded stakes race and has run in Grade 1s and in the end she raced abroad. She didn’t win but I’m full of gratitude to her and to so many people.”

The 7-year-old Win Greatest finished fourth under Masami Matsuoka. “I thought I could take the lead but the two horses on our outside were too fast. This horse got the position he needed, but the others were just too strong.”

Trainer Yoshihiro Hatakeyama agreed the competition was a rank above, at least on the day. “The jockey was already asking for more as they rounded into the stretch. I don’t know if it was the horse’s condition or just a lack of power, but he was overtaken. We won’t go to Dubai but will return directly to Japan.”

Christophe Lemaire piloted Aguri to a sixth-place finish. “He was even-keeled and level-headed under way, and I was able to easily bring him far out in the straight,” the Frenchman said. “He responded a bit, but then quickly stopped. It’s unfortunate because I had thought he would give us some better results.”

Last year’s winner Bathrat Leon was only able to manage a 10th-place finish this year under Ryusei Sakai. He seemed to be feeling good,” Sakai commented, “but the others around him were very quick away and he wasn’t able to get a good position. If he doesn’t get a forward position, he’s the kind of horse that won’t be able to run his best race. So, the start was everything.”

# # #

The seventh race of the day was the $2-million Neom Turf Cup, a Grade 2 turf event over 2,100 meters. Won in 2022 by Authority and uncontested the following year, three horses from Japan competed alongside 10 others this year and it was the 5-year-old Killer Ability who bested the trio with a second-place finish 1 length behind the Richard Fahey-trained winner Spirit Dancer. Piloting Killer Ability was Cristian Demuro, who said, “He didn’t win but he ran the perfect race. He was on the rail and he quickened. He just found one other horse too good."

Trainer Takashi Saito said, “The jockey praised the horse saying he was really cooperative and easy to ride. He did get a little excited at the first turn but was well in hand in the stretch and the rider thought if he could just get ahead of Luxembourg (eventual fourth-place finisher) he just might do it, but….it wasn’t enough. I had hoped we could win, so it’s quite frustrating.”

The 6-year-old Studley, eighth in last year’s Japan Cup, finished in ninth place. "He ran a good race. I was too far behind,” said jockey William Buick. “But he did stay on."

Joao Moreira crossed the line in 11th place aboard last year’s Japanese Derby third-place finisher Hearts Concerto. “He started OK but found himself a bit wide and I had to take him back to get some cover,” said Moreira. “I started to pick it up early, but it’s only in the last 100 meters that he builds, which wasn’t enough to be competitive here."

# # #

Aidan O’Brien’s Tower of London claimed the eighth race of the day -- the Red Sea Turf Handicap, a $2.5-million G3 over 3,000 meters and the last event before the Saudi Cup. Of four runners fielded by Japan, the two-time G3 winner Echt, a 7-year-old whose best distance tends to be 2,000 meters, turned in the best results. He also topped his finishing order of last year (seventh) by making fifth place this year amid 14 runners, with Japan’s other three -- Breakup, Libyan Glass and Iron Barows – crossing the line in ninth, 10th and 12th place, respectively.

# # #

Last year, from being an open-class winner on the JRA circuit, to double top-class wins in NAR competition, Ushba Tesoro shocked the world when he sprang to the dizzying heights -- a win of the Dubai World Cup. This year, taking on his first Saudi Cup, it was no longer a shock but a disappointment to see him miss the first-place prize of $10 million in Saturday’s big event, the Saudi Cup.

Hoping for back-to-back victories in the race following Japan’s first win of the race, by Panthalassa last year, Japanese fans moaned in unison after the decision on the photo finish Saturday was finally announced – Senor Buscador by a head. The stands at King Abdulaziz, on the other hand, erupted in cheers, in part because Senor Buscador had, just in time for this race, become part of deal with joint-owner Joe Peacock Jr. and local owner Sharaf Mohammed Al Hairi.

The American racer had rallied from way off the front, as the early pace collapsed. Yuga Kawada, who had anticipated the scene, had bided his time but made his run before Senor Buscador and, with only 50 meters left in the race, it looked likely that Japan was poised for two huge victories in a row. But, grit and determination by both Senor Buscador and rider Junior Alvarado saw the duo at the line just in time.

Yuga Kawada had nothing but praise for all involved with Ushba Tesoro. “The trainer and staff brought the horse along in fantastic shape right up to the race and he was able to give it his best. He really, really raced well. The only thing he didn’t do was win, but it was truly a stupendous run,” gushed the usually ultra-cool Kawada.

Trainer Noboru Takagi said, “ ‘Frustrating’ is it in one word! I thought the rider had moved him out at exactly the right moment. The horse had been as he usually is before the race and while racing he was able to keep up better than I thought he would. He was obviously in very good shape. I think 2,000 meters will be easier so this should tie in well to Dubai.”

Japan’s other three hopefuls, Derma Sotogake, Crown Pride and Lemon Pop, finished in fifth, ninth and 12th place, respectively.

# # #

Eon on top, as women dominate Int’l Jockeys Challenge; Japan’s Sakai notches one win to finish sixth

Kicking off the 2-day Saudi Cup gala on Friday, Feb. 23 was the International Jockeys Challenge. A total of 14 top-level jockeys (seven men and seven women) from around the world participated in the series of four races, two turf and two dirt ranging from 1,200 meters to 2,100 meters.

Jockeys competed for prize money from each race, each boasting a $400,000 purse, and the top five finishers in each event received points that would decide their share of the overall challenge purse of $100,000.

Big names dotted the lineup – Damien Oliver, Ryan Moore, Maxime Guyon, Luis Saez – with eight countries in addition to the host country fielding riders — Australia, New Zealand, the United States, England, Brazil, South Africa, France, and Japan, represented by Ryusei Sakai.

But it was the lesser-known names of the female riders that figured largest in the end. The overall win (worth $30,000) went to French jockey Maryline Eon, with a top score of 25 points from a second in the first leg and a win of the second leg.

Colombian Camillo Ospina bagged the first race for and early lift to his final score 17 points, landing him second place and $20,000. Brazilian Victoria Mota, also with 17 points but no wins, was awarded $10,000 for third place. Last year’s champion Luis Saez scored the third race and finished in fourth place for a $5,000 prize. Rachel Venniker, South Africa’s only female jockey finished fifth, bringing her the $3,500 awarded all remaining riders.

Japan’s Sakai started off with a 12th-place finish in the first race, but scored a second next out aboard the 3-year-old filly Mostakmelah. “I knew in the pre-race warmup that I had a chance,” he said. But a fifth in the third race, and a seventh in the fourth and final leg translated to only a meager 12 points and an overall sixth place for the 26-year-old Sakai, who belongs to the Yoshito Yahagi stable.

“I am very grateful to those people who gave me this fabulous opportunity.” Sakai said. “It’s too bad I couldn’t win the second race, but the winner was strong. They are all Thoroughbreds, but just like the people, the horses felt like foreigners, and it was hard to communicate at times.”

Looking ahead to Saturday and the four races he’d be riding in, Sakai, said, “It’s unfortunate that I couldn’t win the jockey challenge, but it’s great to have been able to ride on the day before the Saudi Cup. I know it’ll be late back in Japan, but I’d like to take all the support from the fans and use it to win tomorrow where I couldn’t win today. So, please send me your support!”



SAUDI CUP (G1, 1,800m Dirt, US$ 20 million, 20:40)
- Ushba Tesoro 2nd
- Derma Sotogake 5th
- Crown Pride 9th
- Lemon Pop 12th
Note: Meisho Hario has been scratched from the race.

RED SEA TURF HANDICAP (G3, 3,000m Turf, US$ 2.5 million, 19:50)
- Echt 5th
- Breakup 9th
- Libyan Glass 10th
- Iron Barows 12th

NEOM TURF CUP (G2, 2,100m Turf, US$ 2 million, 19:10)
- Killer Ability 2nd
- Studley 9th
- Hearts Concerto 11th

1351 TURF SPRINT (G2, 1,351m Turf, US$ 2 million, 18:25)
- La La Christine 2nd
- Win Greatest 4th
- Aguri 6th
- Bathrat Leon 10th

RIYADH DIRT SPRINT (G3, 1,200m Dirt, US$ 1.5 million, 17:40)
- Remake 1st
- Jasper Krone 4th
- Keiai Dorie 6th

SAUDI DERBY (G3, 1,600m Dirt, US$ 1.5 million, 17:00)
- Forever Young 1st
- Satono Phoenix 10th
- Set Up 11th

[See more]

ZEFFIRO, SATONO GLANZ, NORTH BRIDGE GO 2-3-4 IN QA20 Feb 6:40 pm


Zeffiro led a Japanese two-three-four in H.H. the Amir Trophy in Qatar on Saturday afternoon (February 17, 2024).

On the final day of the three-day Amir Sword Festival at the Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club, Zeffiro and jockey Joao Moreira went under the wire behind only the winning horse Rebel’s Romance in the 2,400-meter Grade 3 affair in Doha.

Trailing Zeffiro to clog up the board in third and fourth place were his Japanese compatriots Satono Glanz and North Bridge, respectively.

The lion’s share of the US$2.5 million purse went to Rebel’s Romance ($1.425 million), the pride of Godolphin, but the JRA trio took home nearly all of the remaining $1 million-plus with Hong Kong-based Russian Emperor grabbing fifth place.

North Bridge, the 6-year-old trained by Takeshi Okumura, got the race at Al Rayyan Racecourse off to a silky start under Yasunari Iwata, ushering the 11 runners out of the gate.

But the Charlie Appleby-trained Rebel’s Romance, with William Buick, all too familiar to Japanese fans, in the saddle, quickly wrested the lead at the first turn.

Yuga Kawada-ridden Satono Glanz, by Satono Diamond out of Cherry Collect, positioned third, and Zeffiro - the 5-year-old son of Deep Impact under the tutelage of Yasutoshi Ikee - brought up the rear during the 2 minute, 28.74 second journey on what appeared to be solid turf conditions in the Qatari capital.

Things got interesting as the pack rounded the final bend and turned for home as Moreira made his move, pushing his horse towards the front with Rebel’s Romance still in the lead and Satono Glanz and North Bridge trying to apply pressure on the inside.

Yet with less than 300 meters to go and closing in fast on Rebel’s Romance, Zeffiro suddenly and wildly banked out wide. The drift cost him considerable ground, enough for Buick’s mount to make a clean run for the finish and to take the tape by a comfortable three lengths.

[See more]

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Pro Tipster MAX - provides racing tips in the competitive horseracing world, with completely transparent wins/losses -

Pro Tipster MAX is a service that allows you to buy the racing tips of elite Umanity professional tipsters--starting at just 100 yen/race. The racing tips of Umanity-approved professional tipsters aren't just symbols that indicate the outcome, but a proper racing tip that indicates the betting combination and how to allocate funds--racing tips whose wins/losses are completely transparent in this head-to-head world. That's a clear distinction from the racing tips of other sites, which do not publish their wins/losses.

Simply registering as a member (free) allows you to buy the racing tips of professional tipsters.

Last week Results

  • Highest Payout
  • Return Rate
  •  
Rank Tipster Race Payoff
(JPY)
Payout
(JPY)
Tip
1 Ikkun Ikkun
24 Mar Nakayama11R
MARCH STAKES G3
102,040 1,020,400
2 K.Nishino K.Nishino
24 Mar Chukyo12R
SUZUKA TOKUBETSU
10,140 354,900
3 3555aed53d 3555aed53d
24 Mar Nakayama2R
3yoMaiden
11,180 279,500
4 3555aed53d 3555aed53d
23 Mar Hanshin9R
KUNSHIRAN SHO
11,070 276,750
5 3555aed53d 3555aed53d
24 Mar Hanshin2R
3yoMaiden
18,820 188,200

>>See more

Rank Tipster No.of
Races
Return
Rate
Hit
Rate
Winnings
(JPY)
Payoff
Ave.
1 katomai katomai
6R 260% 50% 28,030 15,176
2 Ikkun Ikkun
72R 168% 4% 485,350 398,450
3 K.Nishino K.Nishino
32R 144% 9% 140,800 152,000
4 Kenichi Okuno Kenichi Okuno
49R 133% 34% 86,940 20,308
5 3555aed53d 3555aed53d
70R 127% 7% 188,350 175,190
6 Mutsuki Mutsuki
33R 118% 18% 59,520 64,920
7 P-chan P-chan
44R 112% 25% 4,030 3,211
8 sanada osamu sanada osamu
15R 105% 13% 6,070 62,385

>>See more

Tip Coliseum --Japan's Biggest Racing Tips Arena! Are you Going to Compete? Or just Watch?

Over the course of a year, some 5 million racing tips are registered in the Tip Coliseum, Japan's largest and highest-level racing tip event. Different people use it in different ways--from participating in the tournament and competing for rankings, to watching the tips of top rankers.

Just registering as a member (free) allows you to use the functions of the Tip Coliseum for free.

 Tournament Info:Tournament 218 is currently being held!(23 Mar - 14 Apr)

Tournament 218 Latest result

Rank Tipster Level
Class
Deviation Return
Rate
Winnings
(JPY)
1
Muscle Ataru Muscle Ataru
Lv.67
83.9 467%
19%
1,344,720
2
d06e1efa8b d06e1efa8b
Lv.95
83.8 600%
3%
3,202,950
3
tackey55 tackey55
Lv.86
82.0 422%
4%
1,982,810
4
567 567
Lv.86
81.8 350%
53%
752,910
5
1d2c83ed01 1d2c83ed01
Lv.82
80.4 281%
17%
226,790

>>See more

To Beginners
--Smart Ways to Use Umanity--from Racing Tips to Horse Racing Romance--

Umanity offers all kinds of services to meet the different needs of racing fans, but on the other hand, some people feel "there are so many services, I don't know where to begin." For that reason, we introduce ways to use Umanity according to the type of user. We know you'll find a way that fits you perfectly♪

Data Cruncher

You are the type who assembles information useful for making tips, especially on high-stakes races, such as GI races, and refer to them as you make your own racing tips.
Suitable service

Graded race Page
U index

Recommend using!

[High Stakes Strategies] is packed with useful information for making racing tips, such as the latest information, like pre-race training times on the horses scheduled to run in high stakes races, the expected odds in the racing card, the columns of professional tipster, results from the past 10 years, etc. Then there is Umanity's proprietary racehorse performance index, the U-index, which many people pay to use for its accuracy; members can use it free, but just for high-stakes races, so using it in conjunction with the High Stakes Strategies makes for a perfect combo.

Racing Tip
Addict

Likes racing tips better than 3 squares a day! You're the type who makes tips on lots of races per day, not just the main ones!
Suitable service

Tip Coliseum
Race Info

Recommend using!

First off, try registering your tips in the [Tip Coliseum]. Of course there's the fun of competing for rankings and the racing tips bragging rights for all of Japan--but with our auto-tallying tools you can keep track of your results and bump up your racing prediction prowess through objective self-analysis. What's more, Umanity's [Racing Card (for VIP Club members)] is full of tools for increasing the accuracy of your tips, such as our proprietary speed index, the U-index, as well as “Stable Comments” and “Training Evaluation” and so on provided by Horseracing 8.

Horseracing
Investor

You see the horses as a vehicle for investing and you don't hold the your purse strings tight when it comes to high-quality information--you're looking for a high return!
Suitable service

Pro tipster "MAX"
Sugouma Robot

Recommend using!

With Pro Tipster MAX over 20 well-known professional tipsters provide their racing tips for a fee (from 100 yen/race). And their tips aren't just symbols that indicate the outcome, but proper racing tips that indicate the betting combination and how to allocate funds--racing tips whose wins/losses are completely transparent in this head-to-head world--a totally different critter from other horseracing tip sites, which only post their wins, but not the balance of wins/losses. The racing tips software [Sugouma Robot] is equipped with expected value theory for automatically buying only betting tickets with high expected yields.

Horseracing
Socialite

You love the fun of horseracing with all your friends! You're the type who wants friends to go to the track with!
Suitable service

Horseracing Diary
offline get-togethers

Recommend using!

It's surprising how many people have nothing to say about horseracing on SNS, such as on Facebook. Umanity is a community just for horseracing fans, so don't hold back in talking about horseracing, such as in your Horseracing Diary. What's more, Umanity rents guest rooms at the Tokyo Race Course and holds horseracing offline get-togethers in both Spring and Fall. As these get-togethers are of like-minded horseracing fans, you're sure to make friends. Come along and have fun.

Horseracing
Novice

You're the type who wants to get into horseracing but you don't know where to start!
Suitable service

Graded race Page
Tip Coliseum

Recommend using!

First of all, you should try focusing on high-stakes races because you can get lots of information. [High Stakes Strategies] is packed with useful information for making racing tips, such as the latest information on the horses scheduled to run, the racing card, columns and results from the past 10 years. Next, try registering your tips in the [Tip Coliseum]. Simply registering a tip on a race will double the fun of watching them run. And up to this point it won't even cost you a single penny. You have nothing to lose as it's all free and you can take part in horseracing without betting any money.

Horseracing
Romantic

More than for picking races or investing, you like horseracing because the horses are so beautiful! You're the type who wants to start as a partial owner!
Suitable service

Umanity POG

Recommend using!

[POG] stands for Paper Owner Game. Even though it's a virtual game, the horses are all real--several thousand JRA registered thoroughbreds. You select from among them and if your bid wins the auction, it's registered as your POG horse. You can keep up to 20 POG horses in your stable and the game is in competing for prize money with those horses. Apart from the game, pictures of about 400 race horses have been posted, and appreciating their beautiful bodies is one more pleasure.

FAQ

Q1:
Does it cost anything to use Umanity?
A1:

No, registering with and using Umanity is free. Once you become a member (free), you can participate in the Tip Coliseum, and use functions that are helpful in making tips, such as the U-index (Umanity's proprietary speed index) on high-stakes races, U-Favorites (tip odds ), which show what's popular among Umanity users, register horses to watch, betting ticket purchasing tools, etc.--not to mention enjoying horseracing community functions, such as diaries, messaging and circles--all the basics for free.

Q2:
What do I have to do to register as a member?
A2:

Registering is simple--all it takes is an email address.
Once you register your email address, follow the instructions and you'll be registered as a member in 1 to 2 minutes flat! You can also register as a member via an account, such as your Yahoo! JAPAN ID.

Q3:
Do I have to register to use the site?
A3:

No, some functions (such as news) can be used without registering.
However, most of the functions require becoming a member (free) and then you can use them for free, so we recommend becoming a member.
[Free Functions Available to Umanity Members]
-Participate in the Tip Coliseum (registering tips, rankings and auto tallying of results)
-U-index of high-stakes races (Umanity's proprietary racehorse performance index with some 10,000 regular users)
-U-Favorites (tip odds), which show what's popular among Umanity users
-Plus, functions useful for making tips, such as registering horses to watch and betting ticket purchase support
-Community functions like diaries, messaging and circles

Q4:
Can I see racing tips for free?
A4:

There are both free tips and those you pay for.
You have to pay for the racing tips of professional tipsters.
Doing so requires the Umanity virtual currency, Gold (G).
Gold can be purchased with credit card.
Although you can view the racing tips of non-professional tipsters for "free," in some cases you need to use Umanity points, which you can get for free by being active on the site, such as by logging in, posting tips in the Tip Coliseum, etc.

Q5:
What is the U-index?
A5:

It is an index developed exclusively by Umanity to indicate the performance of a racehorse.
The value is based on the time over the distance of each horse to date, and estimates whether and how well they will perform in this race; as such, the higher the index, the better the race performance is expected to be.
The U-index is provided to Umanity members free for high-stakes races. To use it on all races, you have to become a member of the Umanity VIP Club, which is a paid service.

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