Racing in Japan

lurkey mclurker · Sun Apr 07, 2019 2:20 pm

Tapitsfly saw her first foal become her first winner as the lovely Gran Alegria, by Deep Impact, won the 2019 Oka Sho in record time, beating that of Almond Eye just last year! Wonder what Christophe Lemaire thinks of that...!

photos & replay via @LongBallToNoOne

HorseRacingInJapan @HorseRacing_JPN
9h 9 hours ago

#JRA #OkaSho (Japanese #1000Guineas) (G1) - Review article; winner Gran Alegria
https://t.co/xHVSSMFf1D
PDF https://t.co/Oap6duxb76
English Race Call Video
https://youtu.be/V9BFRgosHcA
Result https://t.co/Q5kR4W82vG
#horseracing #japan

tachyon · Fri Apr 12, 2019 7:09 am

Le Vent Se Leve(JPN)(Symboli Kris S) has come back on the worktab at Miho Training Center.
He will be trained up to the Teio Sho (Jpn1) 2000m dirt at Ohi on June 26th.

tachyon · Sat Apr 13, 2019 11:51 am

Gran Alegria(JPN) will be pointed to the G1 NHK Mile Cup 1600m turf for 3yos at Tokyo on May 5th instead of the G1 Yushun Himba (Japanese Oaks) 2400m turf at Tokyo, as her jockey Christophe Lemaire commented after the race that 2400m would be too long for her.

tachyon · Sat Apr 13, 2019 12:57 pm

Japan's potential superstar Saturnalia(JPN)(C3. Lord Kanaloa x Cesario) makes his sophomore debut in the G1 Satsuki Sho (Japanese 2000 Guineas) 2000m turf at Nakayama today.
He will surely be sent off as the odds-on favorite.
Can he live upto fans' expectations?
There are some serious contenders out there!

Saturnalia(JPN) (Lord Kanaloa)

Danon Kingly(JPN) (Deep Impact)

Admire Mars(JPN) (Daiwa Major)

Velox(JPN) (Just a Way)

tachyon · Sun Apr 14, 2019 3:12 am

Yes!
Saturnalia is a new superstar!!!

tachyon · Sun Apr 14, 2019 7:27 am

Saturnalia(JPN), 2016C. Lord Kanaloa(JPN) x Cesario(JPN) by Special Week(JPN), won the G1 Satsuki Sho (Japanese 2000 Guineas) 2000m turf at Nakayama on April 14th 2019.
He became the 17th unbeaten colt to claim the Satsuki Sho and the first since Deep Impact in 2005.

-- replay
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yHYHktTLezU (English)
1st 12 Saturnalia(JPN) [Lord Kanaloa(JPN) x Cesario(JPN) by Special Week(JPN)] C3 57 01:58.1
2nd 7 Velox(JPN) [Just a Way(JPN) x Selkis(GER) by Monsun(GER)] C3 57 01:58.1 HD
3rd 4 Danon Kingly(JPN) [Deep Impact(JPN) x My Goodness(USA) by Storm Cat(USA)] C3 57 01:58.1 NS
4th 1 Admire Mars(JPN) C3 57 01:58.5 2
5th 6 Courageux Guerrier(JPN) C3 57 01:58.7 1 1/2
6th 16 Tagano Diamante(JPN) C3 57 01:58.9 1 1/4
7th 11 Last Draft(JPN) C3 57 01:59.0 1/2
8th 17 Admire Justa(JPN) C3 57 01:59.0 HD
9th 14 Daddy's Mind(JPN) C3 57 01:59.2 1 1/2
10th 18 Naimama(JPN) C3 57 01:59.3 1/2
11th 13 Breaking Dawn(JPN) C3 57 01:59.3 HD
12th 10 Schwarz Riese(JPN) C3 57 01:59.7 2
13th 3 Fantasist(JPN) C3 57 01:59.7 HD
14th 2 Satono Lux(JPN) C3 57 01:59.7 NS
15th 9 Meisho Tengen(JPN) C3 57 01:59.7 NS
16th 15 Kurino Gaudi(JPN) C3 57 02:00.0 2
17th 8 Nishino Daisy(JPN) C3 57 02:00.1 3/4
18th 5 Lance of Puraana(JPN) C3 57 02:00.8 4

-- JRA review
''Unbeaten Race Favorite Saturnalia Claims This Year’s Satsuki Sho (Japanese 2000 Guineas) Title''
http://japanracing.jp/_news2019/pdf/190414.pdf

Starine · Sun Apr 14, 2019 11:31 pm

Good for Saturnalia.

And Velox is very handsome -- he looks like a Richard Stone Reeves painting.

tachyon · Mon Apr 15, 2019 8:17 am

Starine wrote: ↑
Sun Apr 14, 2019 11:31 pm
And Velox is very handsome -- he looks like a Richard Stone Reeves painting.

I especially like his white blaze and you may know why.

And I'm very happy that Just a Way(JPN) is represented by his classic contender from his first crop both in Japan and in the states!!

Good for the Heart's Cry line!

lurkey mclurker · Tue Apr 16, 2019 11:00 pm

G @LongBallToNoOne
1h 1 hour ago

SCIACCHETRA broke down at at Training this morning, fractured his leg and has been euthenized. He returned after a year off and was in fantastic Form winning his past two brilliantly. Was probable Fav for the G1 3200m Tenno Sho on 4/28. Terrible news #ripSciacchetra

photos & translated news via @keibalab

Sciacchetra (JPN) - Manhattan Cafe (Sunday Silence) x Samaaha (GB/Singspiel)
https://www.jbis.jp/horse/0001175119/

Sparrow Castle · Wed Apr 17, 2019 1:43 am

Is this for real?

JAPANESE SUPERSTAR ALMOND EYE OUT OF THE ARC

The superstar showdown between Almond Eye and Enable is officially off the table with connections of the Japanese wonderhorse confirming she will not compete in this year’s Prix de L’Arc de Triomphe.

Almond Eye was a joint favourite alongside Enable for this year’s Arc in what was set to be the most anticipated race of the year, but connections have elected not to make the trip to France for October’s Group 1 feature.

More: https://horsebetting.com.au/japanese-su ... rc/103762/

Northport · Wed Apr 17, 2019 7:28 am

Never heard of that website so I was hoping it was fake, but now that it's on Racing Post...

https://www.racingpost.com/news/japan-s ... ans/376239

I get that they want to do what is best for the horse, and it sounds like she didn't ship well to/from Dubai, even if she won in tremendous style. But to say that they are concerned that the ground 6 months from now will not be suitable and that they won't be able to have her shipped/settled in time... Frankly sounds like a cop out or that something bigger is at play.

Does this mean we won't see her outside of Japan again?

tachyon · Wed Apr 17, 2019 8:09 am

Sparrow Castle wrote: ↑
Wed Apr 17, 2019 1:43 am
Is this for real?

JAPANESE SUPERSTAR ALMOND EYE OUT OF THE ARC
The superstar showdown between Almond Eye and Enable is officially off the table with connections of the Japanese wonderhorse confirming she will not compete in this year’s Prix de L’Arc de Triomphe.

Almond Eye was a joint favourite alongside Enable for this year’s Arc in what was set to be the most anticipated race of the year, but connections have elected not to make the trip to France for October’s Group 1 feature.
More: https://horsebetting.com.au/japanese-su ... rc/103762/

Tha's a big shame...

I posted this after her Japan Cup victory last year..
https://www.thoroughbredchampions.com/f ... 28#p197928

----------
----------
What we really want to see is our first Arc winner and we feel that this filly can do it even beating the likes of Enable or Sea of Class.
So I hope that she will bypass Dubai and stay home in next Spring just to prepare for her trip to Europe in Summer /Autumn, as two overseas trips in the same year could turn out to be too much to ask.
I guess that some core racing fans in Japan are feeling the same way now.
----------

Now there can be several explanations for why she is not going to the Arc..
Club horse issue, easy money choice, possible Christophe Lemaire's preference for Saturnalia etc...
But her trainer Sakae Kunieda was quoted as saying today that Almond Eye had heat issues after the Dubai race again.
I would like to believe that the decision was made for the best interest of the filly this time.
Her health is more important than anything.
And there is no change to the fact that she is a super champion.

The popular twitter account ''Almond Eye'' posted this a week ago.
I must say I had the same feel....

https://twitter.com/AlmondEye150310/sta ... 5441251328

Almond Eye‏ @AlmondEye150310 · April 10th
Saturnalia and @christo68914587 training to run The Satsukisho, Japan’s equivalent of the 2000 Guineas, the Triple Crown’s first leg.

It may be Saturnalia, not Almond Eye, who will win Arc @francegalop for the first time in Japan...

Satsuki Sho winner Saturnalia will be registered for the Arc this year and, if he does well in the Japanese Derby, he is likely to go to the Arc and Christophe Lemaire will pick up the mount.

tachyon · Wed Apr 17, 2019 9:04 am

Northport wrote: ↑
Wed Apr 17, 2019 7:28 am
Does this mean we won't see her outside of Japan again?

Hmmmm .... I don't know....

Her owner Silk Racing Club made it clear in its statement that she won't go to the Arc this year.
And her trainer Sakae Kunieda only added, ''It is highly unlikely to go to Europe this year'.

It sonds like she will not make a long overseas trip any more.

Hong Kong remains a possibility (few fans will be thrilled with it, though).
And .. ah, well........ Santa Anita is relatively close!

lurkey mclurker · Wed Apr 17, 2019 4:18 pm

After seeing her affected by the heat last October, I am very grateful that they are putting her welfare first. I know it's a blow and they desperately want an Arc win, but... not at that cost.

carole · Fri Apr 19, 2019 4:17 pm

Then again who's to say Enable can't ship to Japan for a showdown with Almond Eye? She can go to Japan rather than to the US after another go at the Arc and wait for a December race rather than the BC in November. She already did the Arc-BC Turf double so nothing to lose.

Northport · Fri Apr 19, 2019 8:17 pm

Win, lose, or draw, I would be surprised if Enable races again after the Arc.

carole · Sun Apr 21, 2019 12:35 pm

Northport wrote: ↑
Fri Apr 19, 2019 8:17 pm
Win, lose, or draw, I would be surprised if Enable races again after the Arc.

That's true, they're unlikely to risk her for another race after that.

Squeaky · Sun Apr 21, 2019 12:51 pm

tachyon wrote: ↑
Fri Apr 12, 2019 7:09 am
Le Vent Se Leve(JPN)(Symboli Kris S) has come back on the worktab at Miho Training Center.
He will be trained up to the Teio Sho (Jpn1) 2000m dirt at Ohi on June 26th.

le vent se leve april 2019.jpg

So glad to hear this Tachyon- please keep us up to date on LVSL’s training progress. Who else is pointing for the Teio Sho? Thanks !

gorudoshippu · Tue Apr 23, 2019 7:48 pm

tachyon wrote: ↑
Wed Apr 17, 2019 9:04 am
Hong Kong remains a possibility (few fans will be thrilled with it, though).
And .. ah, well........ Santa Anita is relatively close!

almondeye twitter stated she might go to hk-tw and aus this year
https://twitter.com/AlmondEye150310/sta ... 6925895682

and it's nice to see suzuka in this list https://twitter.com/AlmondEye150310/sta ... 5646777344

lurkey mclurker · Thu Apr 25, 2019 12:21 am

G @LongBallToNoOne
19h 19 hours ago

Legend Yutaka Take the new Jockey for SOUL STIRRING (Frankel x Stacelita).
They go to the G1 1600m Victoria Mile on 5/12
She sasn't won since May 2017 when she was oustanding in the Oaks notching up her 5th win / 6 starts
Had some issues, hopefully she can bounce back to her best

Also tachyon I saw something saying that Rock This Town was injured & retired, do you know if that's true?