Keiblog

Testa Matta surprises in the February Stakes

Mon, 20 Feb 2012 10:18:29 +0900

In a surprising turn of events, the February Stakes was not all about Transcend when it came right down to it. Everyone just kind of assumed he’d win, but I guess he didn’t feel like it. Transcend, the much hyped Dubai hopeful was a distant and fading 7th.

The winner was the unlucky Testa Matta (USA), who was bought in 2008 at Barrett’s March 2 Year Olds in Training sale by Kazumi Yoshida for $60,000. I say unlucky because this horse, who seemed to be quite talented when he won the JPN1 Japan Dirt Derby as a three year old, has suffered through sickness, wind problems, and leg fractures throughout his career. But that didn’t stop him from claiming his second G1 race.

Normally it is Transcend from start to finish when he runs, but today he got off to a slower than normal start. There was nothing wrong with this break, but Sei Crimson and the others got off a lot sharper. Sei Crimson set a sizzling pace, which Transcend could not catch up to. He was held back in fourth through the mile race, but after being pushed to keep up with the leaders, by the time they hit the top of the stretch you could tell he was finished.

Testa Matta broke well but hung back instead of trying to catch up with the leaders. He was over a dozen lengths behind Sei Crimson at the far turn and just devoured the track, crossing the finish with an easy 2 lengths between him and fellow closer Silk Fortune. Silk Fortune was second to last for most of the race, broke horribly but ran a HUGE race to come in 2nd. He could be a horse to watch out for in the future. He is maturing nicely. Wonder Acute and Danon Come On battled it out down the stretch for third, with Wonder Acute getting it by a nose. Espoir City stayed semi-relevant with a respectable finish 5th.

No word on if there is anything wrong with Transcend. His performance might lead to some speculation on his health, but I am sure that will be addressed later this week. If anything the pace and unfortunate start led to the dethroning of Japan’s dirt champion. Unless it is stated later this week, Transcend is still scheduled to run in the Dubai World Cup on March 31st.

Results for the 29th February Stakes
Finish: Horse (Sire x Dam, BM’s sire) [Margin]
Jockey, Trainer, Owner, Breeder

1st: Testa Matta (USA) (Tapit x Difficult, Concern)
Yasunari Iwata, Akira Murayama, Kazumi Yoshida, Waterford Farm

2nd: Silk Fortune (Gold Allure x Silk Esperanza, Alwuhush) [2]
Kota Fujioka, Norio Fujisara, Silk Co. Ltd., Yoshiji Nakachi

3rd: Wonder Acute (Charismatic x Wonder Heritage, Pleasant Tap) [3/4]
Ryuji Wada, Masao Sato, Nobuyuki Yamamoto

Also Ran: Danon Come On, Espoir City, Tagano Lock On, Transcend, Keiai Tenjin, Yamanin Kingly, Live Concert (IRE), Hiraboku Wild, Grand Prix Boss, Tosho Cousin, Smile Jack, Sei Crimson, Nike Madrid

February Stakes Preview

Fri, 17 Feb 2012 14:14:52 +0900

Even though the frosty tendrils of winter are still lingerings here in Tokyo, it is time to kick off the Spring block of G1 races in Japan. The first G1 race of the new year is the February Stakes. The dirt scene isn’t nearly as celebrated as the turf here in Japan but with their recent luck in Dubai it has become a jumping off point for Dubai dirt hopefuls. Last year the race was won by a fit Transcend, fresh off a short break after cruising to an easy win in the Japan Cup Dirt two months earlier. He went on to narrowly come in second to fellow Japanese runner Victorie Pisa in last year’s Dubai World Cup.

Transcend has earned his second chance at Dubai already with two grade 1 wins last year in the Nambu Hai (JPN1) and the Japan Cup Dirt (G1). He will have a slew of competitors all looking to take him on, and he is the one to beat here as he gears up for another shot at Dubai World Cup Glory.

The February Stakes is a favorite’s race, they almost always win, which means that Transcend is almost a shoe in. But he has some up and coming competition.

His main competition will probably be from Danon Come On and Wonder Acute. Wonder Acute has been second in two G1s so far. He was 2nd in the Japan Cup Dirt last fall to Transcend and was narrowly defeated by Smart Falcon in the Tokyo Daishoten just a few weeks later. The dark bay son of Charismatic is making his papa proud. Danon Come On was a close second in the Nambu Hai (JPN1) last October to Transcend, who was obviously needed the race to shake off some cobwebs that accumulated after having more than 6 months off since his narrow defeat in the Dubai World Cup.

There are a few wild cards. Smile Jack and Grand Prix Boss. Both turf horses who’s greatest achievements have been on turf. The dark bay son of Tapit, Testa Matta is rather hit or miss when it comes to these races. He might not be up to the task today, he was a distant third in the Tokyo Daishoten to a dueling Wonder Acute and Smart Falcon, but he was third in his past two attempts.

Espoir City makes another attempt at the February Stakes, a race he won in 2010 before losing his dirt champion crown to Transcend in 2011.

An important note for you handicappers out there. Out of the past 12 years, post positions below 10 have only one THREE times. The most recent being Espoir City in 2009 from the 4 hole. The next one after that was Espoir City’s father Gold Allure in 2003 from the 5 hole. The third was the Runnymede Farm bred turf and dirt champion Agnes Digital who won the 2002 February Stakes from the 9 hole. More often than not two of the top 3 are from the double digit post positions with the other being one of the high single digit posts. It’s interesting that a lot of the strongest horses got outside draws! Lucky them!

29th February Stakes (G1)
February 19th, 2012, Tokyo Racecourse
1600m, Dirt, Left Handed
4 Year Olds & Up, 57kg

Post# - Horse - Sex/Age - Sire x Dam (BM Sire)
Owner - Trainer (Training Center) - Breeder - Jockey

1 - Nike Madrid - H6 - Wild Rush x Sweet Taste (Salt Late)
Seiji Ono - Masayuki Kawashima (Funabashi) - Shimokobe Farm - Keita Tosaki
Nike Madrid is one a locally registered dirt horse trained by top Tokyo area trainer Masayuki Kawashima. Kawashima also trains four time local horse of the year Furioso who came in second in last year’s February Stakes. Now Nike Madrid is not nearly as talented as Furioso, AND he has one of the most unfortunate post positions you can draw. It would be exciting for the a locally trained horse to win at the JRA level again, but I doubt Nike Madrid is the next Oguri Cap. VIDEO of his last race, the Funabashi Kinen (ungraded stakes, 1000m) which he won.

2 - Tagano Lock On - C4 - Rock of Gibraltar x Tagano Charlies (Saint Ballado)
Ryoji Yagi - Hiroyoshi Matsuda (Ritto) - Ryoji Yagi - Hironobu Tanabe
Other than being 3rd in the Japan Dirt Derby (G1, 2000m) as a three year old last year, this colt probably shouldn’t be here. He has raced in three G3 races since with two fourth place finishes to show for it. However his latest race was the Showa Stakes (G3, 1800m) and he was a distant 10th. He hasn’t been winless this whole time though. He won a listed allowance last September and a open level ungraded stakes in December, both going 1800m. VIDEO of his last race, the Showa Stakes.

3 - Silk Fortune - H6 - Gold Allure x Silk Esperanza (Alwuhush)
Silk Co. Ltd. - Norio Fujisawa (Ritto) - Yoshiji Nakachi - Kouta Fujioka
This guy started out as a decent allowance level sprinter back in 2010 before they tried him at longer distances and more difficult company. It took him a few races to get used to it but he seems to have found himself. Last July he won the G3 Procyon Stakes going 1400m and a 3rd in an open level ungraded stakes. In October they tried him in the G1 Nambu Hai, run at Tokyo last year at 1600m so the same as the February Stakes. He came in third behind Transcend and Danon Come On, finishing in front of Espoir City. He didn’t fare well in the G3 Musashino Stakes a month later but started to bounced back in the Galaxy Stakes (ungraded 1400m) in December and was finally back in the winners circle for the G3 Negishi Stakes (1400m) at Tokyo last month. He could be a good one to use for a trifecta is that is you poison! VIDEO of his last race, the Negishi Stakes.

4 - Smile Jack - H7 - Tanino Gimlet x She C’est Moi (Sunday Silence)
Tomoji Saito - Satoru Kobiyama (Miho) - Uemizu Bokujo - Genki Maruyama
I was surprised to see him entered on the dirt, since he has never tried the surface before, it seems like a pretty high stakes situation for his first attempt. His last win was in the 2011 Tokyo Shimbun Hai (G3, 1600m, turf). His best effort over the past two years at the G1 level have been surprisingly close 3rd place finishes in past two running of the Yasuda Kinen (G1, 1600m, turf). I honestly don’t know what to expect here. But with all likelihood he wont be as good as Transcend. VIDEO of his last race, the Tokyo Shimbun Hai.

5 - Hiraboku Wild - H6 - Wild Rush x November Slew (Seattle Slew)
Hirata Farm Co. Ltd. - Ryuji Okubo (Ritto) - Chiyoda Farm Shizunai - Hideaki Miyuki
I am not sure why this horse is here. He has only tried running in three G3s since last year. He was 5th in his two attempts last year and 12th in the G3 Negishi Stakes last month. Prior to the Negishi Stakes he did win an open level ungraded stakes, the Galaxy Stakes (1400m) over at Hanshin. He has won going a mile at Tokyo before, however that was an allowance race. VIDEO of his last race, the Negishi Stakes, he was 12th.

6 - Keiai Tenjin - H6 - Agnes Digital x Sugino Senhime (Forty Niner)
Keiai Gisizairyo Co. Ltd. - Toshiaki Shirai (Ritto) - Minao Inui - Hiroki Goto
No clue why this fella is running. His last race (which I can’t find a video of) was an open level ungraded stakes called the Subaru Stakes going 1200m. He won very strongly but against a bunch of nobodies. He ran in 2010 February Stakes as well, coming in 8th.

7 - Yamanin Kingly - H7 - Agnes Digital x Yamanin Arena (Sunday Silence)
H. Doi - Hiroshi Kawachi (Ritto) - Nishikioka Farm - Christan Demuro
This handsome chestnut had been a turf horse until last October when they switched him to dirt after being winless for over two years. Now to be fair they only races him in graded stakes all that time. Back in 2009 he when he was 4 years old he was actually a decent race horse. coming in first two graded stakes (G2 & G3) then hitting the board in a bunch of others. They switch him to dirt as a 6 year old and BAM he won the G3 Sirius Stakes (2000m) last October. He then ran 7th in the Japan Cup Dirt (G1, 1800m) and 6th in the Tokyo Daishoten (G1, 2000m).
VIDEO of his last race, the Tokyo Daishoten.

8 - Sei Crimson - H6 - Eishin Sandy x Suda Reef (South Atlantic)
Seiki Kaneda - Toshiyuki Hattori (Ritto) - Shimizu Stud - Hayato Yoshida
This horse has had a decent career in the G3s and open level stakes on dirt. Most of his wins seem to be at either 1200m or 1400m. Last year he started in the February Stakes as the second favorite but ended up 14th. He came back from that rather hit or miss, winning the G# Kakitsubata Kinen (1400m) last May and coming in 2nd in the Japan Breeders Cup Sprint (JPN1, 12000m). He isn’t untalented but he also seems to be a sprinter, not a miler. VIDEO of his last race, the Negishi Stakes, he was 6th.

9 - Espoir City - H7 - Gold Allure x Eminent City (Brian’s Time)
Yuushun Horse - Akio Adachi (Ritto) - Ikuchise Bokujo - Yutaka Take
The 7 year old has managed to say in the money in six out of his seven races last year and was second in his debut this year. He might not be at the level he was in 2009 and spring 2010, but he is still a talented horse. Sadly his regular rider, Tetsuzo Sato will not be on board due to a fall earlier this month, but top rider (and fan favorite) Yutaka Take will be on board to try and help the elder statesman snag another G1 title. He seems to have lost the edge he once had, he was held on for 3rd place in last race, the Showa Stakes (G3, 1400m) last month. VIDEO of his last race, the Showa Stakes.

10 - Wonder Acute - H6 - Charismatic x Wonder Heritage (Pleasant Tap)
Nobuyuki Yamamoto - Masao Sato (Ritto) - Nobuyuki Yamamoto - Ryuji Wada
This is my boy. For many reasons. A) I want to see Charismatic score a G1 as a sire. Wonder Acute, who is a dull dark bay compared to his gilded father, has come SO close! He was chasing down Transcend in the Japan Cup Dirt in early December and then nearly brought Dubai hopeful Smart Falcon to his knees in the Tokyo Daishoten a few weeks later. B) That tough duel in the Tokyo Daishoten really won me over. This horse has guts. I would love to see him become a giant killer. VIDEO of his last race, the Tokyo Daishoten.

11 - Danon Come On - H6 - Symboli Kris S x Shinko Angel (Ogygian)
Danox Co. Ltd. - Yasutoshi Ikee (Ritto) - Northern Farm - Yuichi Fukunaga
He has had a pretty consistent career over the past two years, not coming in worse than 5th twice (Japan Cup Dirt & Negishi Stakes). However both of those poor finishes were in his last two races. In the Negishi Stakes, horse was stuck behind several horses well into the stretch before finally breaking free. He had the third best closing fractions of the race. Some times racing goes that way right? He has battled with these high rollers on better terms before. Back in October he was a close 2nd in the Nambu Hai (JPN1, 1600m) against Transcend and many of the same horses running on Sunday. He really gave Transcend a run for his money that day and it was at Tokyo Racecourse. VIDEO of his last race, the Negishi Stakes.

12 - Live Concert (IRE) - G8 - Singspiel x Dance Lively (Kingmambo)
Green Fields Co. Ltd. - Toshiaki Shirai (Ritto) - Mrs. J. Chandris - Masayoshi Ebina
This horse has primarily run on turf, but has a few dirt tries to his name. He almost seems like the JRA’s go to horse when they need a post position filled. Every once in a while we see a spark of life from the gelding, when he hits the board in a G3. But he never is able to play much of a roll in G1s. VIDEO of his last race, the Kyoto Kimpai.

13 - Grand Prix Boss - C4 - Sakura Bakushin O x Rosy Mist (Sunday Silence)
Grand Prix Co. Ltd. - Yoshito Yahagi (Ritto) - Northern Racing - Hiroyuki Uchida
What What!? The 2010 Champion 2 year old TURF colt is running on the DIRT? The same colt who also won last year’s NHK Mile (G1) on TURF? YUP! Yes he is. Was his sire a surface hopper? Nope. Why are they trying dirt? His connections want to send him to Dubai and can’t decide between the Godolphin Mile (All Weather) or the Duty Free (Turf). Running him on dirt will help them decide. Though honestly, Victoire Pisa didn’t seem to mind Meydan’s all weather surface one bit! Since winning the NHK Mile (G1, 1600m) last may, the son of the late Sakura Bakushin O has been off his game. They sent him to England to run in the St. James Palace Stakes (G1, 1600m) in June but he came in an uninspiring 8th. After returning to Japan, he had another 8th place finish in the Swan Stakes (G2, 1400m) in October. A month later he finished even worse, coming in 13th in the Mile Championship Stakes (G1, 1600m). He seemed to be returning to his old form by the end of the year however, when he ran 2nd in the Hanshin Cup (G2, 1400m in December. VIDEO of his last race, the Hanshin Cup.

14 - Tosho Cousin - H5 - Kurofune x Virgin Tosho (Fuji Kiseki)
Tosho Sangyo - Masazo Ryoke (Ritto) - Tosho Sangyo Corp. Tosho Bokujo - Yuga Kawada
This horse has had a respectable career but I don’t think he will be able to be a match for many of the better horses in the race on Sunday. He seems to enjoy dirt sprints, but has never been tried at a mile (the distance of the February Stakes) before. He has gradually races his way up the various levels offered by the JRA, and after two consecutive wins at the highest ungraded levels, was given a chance in the Negishi Stakes (G3, 1200m) and came in a well earned 2nd place. His price will be really good for those possibly interested in a trifecta, but I wouldn’t bet on him to win. VIDEO of his last race, the Negishi Stakes.

15 - Transcend - H6 - Wild Rush x Cinema Scope (Tony Bin)
Koji Maeda - Takayuki Yasuda (Ritto) - North Hills Management - Shinji Fujita
It’s good to be the King. When it comes to dirt racing that is exactly what Transcend is. He has not been horse than 2nd in his past nine races spanning a little over a year and a half. He won the February Stakes last year before thrilling the world with a near miss in the Dubai World Cup. Bettors have little doubt he will win. And they are probably right. It’s good to be the King. VIDEO of his last race, the Japan Cup Dirt.

16 - Testa Matta (USA) - H6 - Tapit x Difficult (Concern)
Kazumi Yoshida - Akira Murayama (Ritto) - Waterford Farm - Yasunari Iwata
This colt is a JPN1 winner in his own right, but that was back in when he was a three year old back in 2009. The following year he was 2nd in the February Stakes. He was 12th in last year’s Japan Cup Dirt (G1, 1800m) but he rebounded some what later in December to come in 3rd in the Tokyo Daishoten (G1, 2000m). He made his 2012 debut in the Negishi Stakes (G3, 1400m) a respectable 3rd behind Silk Fortune. VIDEO of his last race, the Negishi Stakes.

Japan’s 2012 Forecast

Sat, 7 Jan 2012 12:00:47 +0900

It was announced today that Orfevre is not going to race in Dubai, even though he is registered for the World Cup and the Sheema Classic. His connections sole international focus seems to be the Arc de Triomphe in France. It seemed like an easy call, since Japan has been hell bent on winning the Arc for decades. Last year’s Dubai triumph really had us dreamers going through, about him concurring both. But he is just a horse. One step at a time right? The first step will be the Hanshin Daishoten (G2, 3000m) on March 18th, followed by the Emperor’s Cup Spring [Tenno Sho Haru] (G1, 3200m) on April 29th at Kyoto Racecourse. This is similar to the course that Deep Impact took in 2006, on his way to the Arc. Deep Impact ran in the Takarazuka Kinen (G1, 2200m) that year too, so it is possible Orfevre might start there too. He will be a heavy favorite in the fan polling that will determine the first 10 starters.

After the Arc I am guessing he will try the Japan Cup and then the Arima Kinen. The BIGGEST question in my mind is whether or not they will keep racing him at 5. I know that is jumping the gun. But Deep Impact was retired after his 4 year old campaign. Now he was from one of the last crops of the recently deceased Sunday Silence, and one of SS’s greatest offspring. So maybe that had a lot to do with it. The JRA always talks about needing a STAR. Much like the US actually. Well they have one! I wonder how long they will let him shine!?

For fun I found THIS Japanese blog with images of Orfevre as a foal, weanling, and yearling!

With the retirement of Buena Vista last month, the female ‘crown’ is wide open. Apapane, though adorable and a great distaffer from time to time, is unlikely to take the lead here. So there is a feminine vacuum. I have a feeling that Buena’s little half sister, Joie de Vivre will come out swinging in the filly classics. She is still young, and Buena Vista didn’t win all the time. But she has the right blood and the right team to make it happen. Buena was a fiercely sound mare. Let’s hope her half sister has the same gene!

So let’s look at the JRA G1 line up...

February Stakes
This will the “The Transcend Show” as he prepares for the Dubai World Cup a month in March. His main homeland rival who is also headed to Dubai, Smart Falcon, won’t be seen of. He always seems to duck the JRA G1s, in favor of easy wins in the local circuit. We shall see Falcon on Jan. 26th for the JPN-1 Kawasaki Kinen, in his final prep for the World Cup.

Takamatsunomiya Kinen
I don’t really know what to expect here other than the return of the super cute Curren Chan. It is probably the least interesting race all year. If some foreign horses come that will spice up this otherwise boring spring sprint. A Shin Virgo, the other good sprint mare, is looking to Dubai’s Al Quoz Sprint (G1) at the moment. Dasher Go Go might be back to try again.

Oka Sho, Oaks, Shuka Sho [Filly Triple Crown]
We don’t know for sure who is going to be in this yet. We saw some very strong contenders in the Juvenile Fillies last year. Joie de Vivre will play a role as long as she is fit of course, walking in her sister’s hoof prints. Juvenile fillies runners I Am Yours (2nd) and Sound of Heart (3rd) will be making their bids. A few other 2 year old filly stakes winners were Fine Choice who won the G3 Hakodate 2yo Stakes, Epice Arome who won the G3 Kokura 2yo Stakes. But it will be in the next three months when the Filly Crown group will start to really take shape. On Monday, there is the first 3yo filly graded stakes, the Fairy Stakes (G3, 1600m). On February 11th we have the Queen Cup (G3, 1600m), March 3rd is the Tulip Sho (G3, 1600m), March 11th is the Fillies Review (G2, 1400m) and lastly, March 17th is the Flower Cup (G3,1800m).

Satsuki Sho, Derby, Kikuka Sho [Triple Crown]
Alfredo was the 2011 Champion 2 year old but that doesn’t always translate into 3 year old success. He still has a lot to prove. There are six other stakes winners looking to prove themselves as three year olds. Usually one one or two of these guys makes it big. Orfevre’s only out of money finish (10th) was in a 2 year old stakes. Adam’s Peak won the G3 Radio Nikkei Hai 2yo Stakes, Deep Brilliante won the G3 Tokyo Sports Hai 2yo Stakes, Leo Active won the G2 Keio Hai 2yo Stakes, Clarente won the G2 Daily Hai 2yo Stakes, Grande Tour won the G3 Sapporo 2yo Stakes, and Monstre won the G3 Niigata 2yo Stakes. Classic preps kick off on Monday with the Shinzan Kinen (G3, 1600m). Also in January (15th) is the Keisei Hai (G3, 2000m). The next prep is on February 5th, the Kisaragi Sho (G3, 1800m), on Feb. 12th there is the Kyodo News Hai (G3, 1800m), and the last Feb. prep is on the 25th, the Arlington Cup (G3, 1600m). In March there are four more potential preps. The Yayoi Sho (G2, 2000m) on March 4th, the Falcon Stakes (G3, 1400m) on March 17th, the Spring Stakes (G2, 1800m) on the 18th, and the Mainichi Hai (G3, 1800m) on the 24th. The last possible prep is the New Zealand Trophy on April 7th. Though typically the most significant preps are the Shinzan Kinen, Keisei Hai, Kyodo News, Yoyoi Sho (Victoire Pisa won this), and the Spring Stakes (Orfevre won this one).

Emperor’s Cup Spring
This will be one of the first really exciting races of the year for me. We will see many of the heavy hitters from last year facing off again. Superstar Orfevre will be working towards the Arc and Eishin Flash will be hoping to score big. He was 2nd in the 2011 ECS and 2nd to Orfevre in the Arima Kinen so I think he is out for blood! To the Glory will likely try again. He was one of the favorites last year before an epic fail. 2010 ECS champ Hiruno d’Amour will likely be back to try to make it two in a row. It should be a fun race.

NHK Mile
This one is hard to predict. Basically all of the colts who can’t go the distance of the Derby, or need more stakes earnings to get into the Derby end up here as a last ditch effort to win a G1 before Summer is over. Paints a bleak picture, but Japan is enamored with their distance horses, so the milers and the sprinters end up with G3s mostly.

Victoria Mile
Hopefully we will see Apapane return to form and win another G1 here. Some of the fillies from last year’s classics will likely make an appearance here. Maybe Whale Capture and/or Marcellina. Not sure about Aventura since she has been injured but maybe.

Yasuda Kinen
This takes place a month after the Victoria Mile so we might see Apapane in this one as well. Real Impact will probably make an attempt to win it like he did last year. Eishin Apollon, the ’10 Mile Championship winner, will probably make his return to Japan here after running in Dubai. Grand Prix Boss will likely start here as well. MAYBE Dark Shadow but he seems to be more of a 1800m to 2000m guy.

Takarazuka Kinen
If Orfevre is going to follow Deep Impact’s plan he will run in this race before he takes off for Longchamp and potential Arc glory. The usual suspects will likely show here as will. Remember this is a fan race, so the fans get to pick the first 10 entrees. No doubt Orfevre will be the favorite. Will probably see Tosen Jordan, Eishin Flash, Rose Kingdom is headed for this race, maybe Dark Shadow, To the Glory, Earnestly will likely come back looking for a repeat. Another one of my favorite races.

Sprinters Stakes
This race usually has some interesting international flavor. Maybe we can see Curren Chan capture both sprints this year!

Emperor’s Cup Fall
Likely a Takarazuka Kinen repeat without Orfevre, since this race is held the same weekend as the

Queen Elizabeth II Cup
I really hope Snow Fairy comes back for a three-peat. Otherwise this will be a rather bland meeting between fillies and mares. Though it is feasible that Joie de Vivre might make her first challenge against older mares in this race like her sister Buena did.

Mile Championship
This race has produced some wild card wins in the past. Milers are not high on Japan’s list, though they are gaining in popularity.

Japan Cup
Hopefully Orfevre will continue in the hoof-steps of Deep Impact and also start in the Japan Cup after running in the Arc. Not sure who we will get from over seas, since last year’s posse was AMAZING. Only way we will get another Arc winner over here is if Orfevre wins! haha All your favorite Japanese older horses should be in tow as well. Tosen Jordan trying to make up for losing to a girl last year, my boy Eishin Flash out for blood, and Rose Kingdom looking to make his ’10 win legit.

Japan Cup Dirt
As much as I want Transcend to go to the Breeders Cup (You too Smart Falcon! Shoo Shoo! Off to Santa Anita!) I always get the feeling like they are going to bail. It just isn’t a priority for them it seems. If they both go... that leaves this open to a lot of possible outcomes. I’d love to see Charismatic’s Wonder Acute score a win here! I wonder if this will be the third year of no foreign entries...

Hanshin Juvenile Fillies // Asahi Hai Futurity
I am looking forward to the two year old crop this year. It includes a full brother to Orfevre; a full sister to Daiwa Scarlet; Daiwa Scarlet’s first foal, a filly by Chichicastenago; a full brother to 2008 Derby winner, Deep Sky; a full brother to Vodka; 2011 Kentucky Derby winner Animal Kingdom’s half brother by Mr. Greenley; Dance in the Mood’s third foal, a colt by Chichicastenago; Dance Partner’s King Kamehameha colt; a white full sister to Yukichan; another Deep Impact filly by Admire Groove; a 3/4 sister to Deep Impact by Neo Universe; full brother to 2009 Derby winner Logi Universe; Azeri’s Distorted Humor filly; Ginger Punch’s first foal, a filly by Bernardini; full sister to Erin Court, half sister to Tosen Jordan; Transcend’s half sister by Manhattan Cafe; Buena’s half sister, Fine Cela’s third foal, a colt by Kurofune; Eishin Flash’s half sister by Heart’s Cry; Moscow Burning’s second foal, a full sister to her first one, Burning Zeal, by Heart’s Cry. Fun Fun! A lot of fun horses to see this Summer!

A few stallions first crops debut next year... Chichicastenago, who Shadai bought from France; Meisho Samson, who won the Satsuki Sho, Japanese Derby, and both Emperor’s Cups (Spring & Fall).

Arima Kinen
It is always pure awesomeness. Take the 3 year olds, mix them with the best of both of the Emperor’s Cups, the Takarazuka Kinen, and Japan Cup. Orfevre should show up for this one too. Try for two in a row with the best in the country trying to take him down. Hopefully it wont be his ‘last run’.

JRA Awards for 2011

Fri, 6 Jan 2012 16:42:08 +0900

The winners of the 2011 JRA Awards were announced today.

Horse Of The Year
Orfevre (Stay Gold x Oriental Art, Mejiro McQueen) [3yo Colt]
(Tr) Yasutoshi Ikee (Ow) Sunday Racing (Br) Shadai Corporation
2011 Record: 8 Starts, 6 Wins
2011 Earnings: 805,524,000 yen
2011 Major Wins: Satsuki Sho, Japan Derby, Kikuka Sho, Arima Kinen

Champion 2 Year Old Colt
Alfredo (Symboli Kris S x Princess Camellia, Sunday Silence)
(Tr) Takahisa Tezuka (Ow) Carrot Farm (Br) Northern Farm
2011 Record: 3 Starts, 3 Wins
2011 Earnings: 88,414,000 yen
2011 Major Wins: Asahi Hai Futurity Stakes

Champion 2 Year Old Filly
Joie de Vivre (Deep Impact x Biwa Heidi, Caerleon)
(Tr) Hiroyoshi Matsuda (Ow) Sunday Racing (Br) Northern Racing
2011 Record: 2 Starts, 2 Wins
2011 Earnings: 73,371,000 yen
2011 Major Wins: Hanshin Juvenile Fillies

Champion 3 Year Old Colt
Orfevre (Stay Gold x Oriental Art, Mejiro McQueen)
(Tr) Yasutoshi Ikee (Ow) Sunday Racing (Br) Shadai Corporation
2011 Record: 8 Starts, 6 Wins
2011 Earnings: 805,524,000 yen
2011 Major Wins: Satsuki Sho, Japan Derby, Kikuka Sho, Arima Kinen

Champion 3 Year Old Filly
Aventura (Jungle Pocket x Admire Sunday, Sunday Silence)
(Tr) Katsuhiko Sumii (Ow) Carrot Farm (Br) Shadai Farm
2011 Record: 4 Starts, 3 Wins
2011 Earnings: 186,406,000 yen
2011 Major Wins: Shuka Sho

Champion Older Male
Victoire Pisa (Neo Universe x Whitewater Affair, Machiavellian) [4yo Colt]
(Tr) Katsuhiko Sumii (Ow)Yoshimi Ichikawa (Br) Shadai Farm
2011 Record: 4 Starts, 2 Wins
2011 Earnings: 552,742,800 yen
2011 Major Wins: Dubai World Cup

Champion Older Female
Buena Vista (Special Week x Biwa Heidi, Caerleon) [5yo Mare]
(Tr) Horiyoshi Matsuda (Ow) Sunday Racing (Br) Northern Racing
2011 Record: 6 Starts, 1 Win
2011 Earnings: 364,520,000 yen
2011 Major Wins: Japan Cup

Champion ‘Short Distance’ Horse
Curren Chan (Kurofune x Spring Ticket, Tony Bin) [4yo Filly]
(Tr) Takayuki Yasuda (Ow) Takashi Farm (Br) Shadai Farm
2011 Record: 7 Starts, 5 Wins
2011 Earnings: 261,049,900 yen
2011 Major Wins: Sprinters Stakes

Champion Dirt Horse
Transcend (Wild Rush x Cinema Scope, Tony Bin) [5yo Horse]
(Tr) Takayuki Yasuda (Ow) Koji Maeda (Br) North Hills Management
2011 Record: 5 Starts, 3 Wins
2011 Earnings: 469,914,900 yen
2011 Major Wins: February Stakes, Nambu Hai, Japan Cup Dirt

Champion Steeplechase Horse
Majesty Bio (Opera House x High Grade Bio, Hector Protector) [4yo Colt]
(Tr) Tsuyoshi Tanaka (Ow) Bio K. (Br) Bio Co.
2011 Record: 9 Starts, 4 Wins
2011 Earnings: 177,696,000 yen
2011 Major Wins: Nakayama Daishogai

Trainer with most wins: Kasuhiko Sumii (60 wins)
Trainer with most in earnings: Yasutoshi Ikee (2.4 Billion Yen)
Trainer with highest percentage of wins: Noriyuki Hori (0.2009)
Trainer with best ‘Technical Excellence’: Kasuhiko Sumii

Jockey with most wins: Yasunari Iwata (138 wins)
Jockey with most in earnings: Yasunari Iwata (3.1 Billion Yen)
Jockey with highest percentage of wins: Yuichi Fukunaga (0.1583)

Congratulations to all the winners and good luck in 2012!

2011: One Hell of a Year

Sat, 31 Dec 2011 08:41:36 +0900

All I can say is WOW! What a year for Japanese racing! Dubai World Cups, Triple Crowns, Arc de Triomphe attempts, thrilling Japan Cups, and all star races. This year had it all.

It was such a memorable year. It is hard to imagine next year being able to live up to it. But as the sun sets on 2011, you can already see a glimpse of what is to come and it looks pretty sweet.

What was your favorite moment of 2011? Mine was Buena Vista rising from the ashes like a beautiful phoenix to claim her stolen Japan Cup crown.

Second favorite was watching my very first Triple Crown, when Orfevre stormed home in the Kikuka Sho in such dominating way I felt like I could be watching my generation’s Secretariat.

My third favorite moment was seeing Japan’s Victoire Pisa and Transcend dueling down the stretch at Meydan to capture the world’s richest horse race a mere two weeks after Japan was ripped apart by a historic 9.0 earthquake. I’ll never forget that afternoon, when the quake hit. But I will also never forget the joy I felt seeing Japan come back strong in the Dubai World Cup.

Below are all of the G1 races from the past year, as well as a photo slideshow of the races that made the year great. Lastly, I reposted my favorite JRA television ad that showcases the beauty of the thoroughbred like no other video I have ever seen.

Happy New Year Everyone!

Let’s end where we began the year with this stunning ad put together by the JRA. It truly captures the beauty of the sport in a way that a normal race video just can’t capture. Enjoy!