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March 2017
The Japan Racing Association

Exclusive Topics for Horse Racing in Japan - Spring Edition -

• High Expectations for Further Success Overseas
• Key Middle & Long Distance Runners of 2017
• Other Key Runners in Sprint, Mile, Older Fillies/Mares, Dirt and Steeplechasing
• Three-Year-Old Classic Hopefuls

The JRA horse racing season starts in earnest with the three-year-old classic trials in March, whilehorses begin to prepare towards the spring 2017 G1 events. We take this opportunity to bring you up to date on the progress of last year’s stars and this season’s key runners, hoping that this special spring edition of our seasonal Japan Autumn International Newsletter will support your reporting of upcoming events.

High Expectations for Further Success Overseas

Real Steel in the 2016 Dubai Turf

The Dubai World Cup day meeting has become a major destination for Japanese runners aspiring to take on the challenge of racing overseas, with 10 horses taking part in the event last year. 11 Japanese runners, including the Real Steel (JPN, H5, by Deep Impact) and Lani (USA, C4, by Tapit), winners of last year’s Dubai Turf (G1, 1,800m) and the UAE Derby (G2, dirt, 1,900m), respectively, will attempt to score new successes in Dubai as they begin their 2017 campaigns.

Awardee in the 2016 Antares Stakes

Four dirt runners are bidding for the Dubai World Cup (G1, dirt, 2,000m), the second richest horse race in the world. Awardee (USA, H7, by Jungle Pocket) made a successful switch to dirt from turf racing in the fall of his five-year-old season, winning six in a row, including his first G1 victory in the 2016 JBC Classic (dirt, 2,100m) in November. He just missed by a neck in the following Champions Cup (G1, dirt, 1,800m) before another second in his last start, the Tokyo Daishoten (G1, dirt, 2,000m).

Apollo Kentucky (left)
in the 2016 Miyako Stakes

Apollo Kentucky (USA, H5, by Langfuhr) out-dueled Awardee and eventually pulled away to a 1-1/2- length victory for his first G1 title in the Tokyo Daishoten. He was coming off a close 0.4-second fifth in the Champions Cup after marking his first grade-race victory in the Miyako Stakes (G3, dirt, 1,800m) in November. Both Awardee and Apollo Kentucky will kick off their 2017 seasons in Dubai.

Gold Dream
in the 2017 February Stakes

Gold Dream (JPN, C4, by Gold Allure) will make his first overseas challenge in Dubai as this year’s February Stakes (G1, dirt, 1,600m) champion. He demonstrated his aptitude and liking for the Tokyo dirt mile course in marking his third victory out of four starts, including his first grade-race triumph in the G3 Unicorn Stakes (dirt, 1,600m) last June. The Gold Allure (JPN, by Sunday Silence) colt was entered in the February Stakes after a disappointing 12th in the December Champions Cup, where he had been sent off second favorite. He scored his first G1 win in the February Stakes with a sound and convincing performance.

Lani in the 2016 UAE Derby

Lani, after his victory in the 2016 UAE Derby, went to the U.S. and not only became the first Japanese runner to challenge in all three of America’s Triple Crown races, he turned in a fine third-place finish in the Belmont Stakes (G1, dirt, 2,400m). Thereafter, he made three low-key starts back home—the best being a third in a non-graded race. He was sixth in his four-year-old kick-off start in Dubai, the Al Maktoum Challenge Round 3 (G1, dirt, 2,000m) on March 4 and is now pointing toward further improvement in his main target, the Dubai World Cup.

Sounds of Earth (right)
in the 2015 Arima Kinen

Sounds of Earth (JPN, H6, by Neo Universe), registered to run in the Dubai Sheema Classic (G1, 2,410m), has yet to claim a G1 title but proved well up to the highest level and was runner-up in the Japan Cup (G1, 2,400m) in November. He has finished second in seven graded races including three G1 starts, but he disappointed to eighth in the Arima Kinen (G1, 2,500m) after being well backed as fourth favorite in the race.

Vivlos in the 2016 Shuka Sho

Real Steel hopes for continued success in the Dubai Turf as defending champion. He was a one-length second to 2015 Horse of the Year Maurice (JPN, by Screen Hero) in his fall debut in the Tenno Sho (Autumn) (G1, 2,000m) and was unsuccessful when stepping up in distance in the Japan Cup, finishing fifth. Vivlos (JPN, F4, by Deep Impact), who will make her first overseas challenge in the Dubai Turf, landed her inaugural G1 title last year in her first start at this level in the last leg of the three-year-old fillies’ triple, the Shuka Sho (G1, 2,000m), before taking the rest of the season off. Both horses began their 2017 seasons in the Nakayama Kinen (G2, 1,800m) on February 26, with Vivlos finishing a close fifth and Real Steel more than 2-1/2-lengths behind her in eighth.

Kafuji Take (JPN, H5, by Precise End) will be starting in the Godolphin Mile (G2, dirt, 1,600m). Lightly regarded as the 11th favorite in last year’s Champions Cup, the son of Precise End (USA, by End Sweep) turned in an impressive fourth-place finish in the dirt G1, and then validated the performance by claiming his first grade-race title in the Negishi Stakes (G3, dirt, 1,400m) on January 29. He also made use of his strong late charge to finish third in the February Stakes.

Another runner traveling to Dubai is Dios Corrida (JPN, C3, by Kane Hekili), a two-time winner at 1,200 meters on dirt. The three-year-old Kane Hekili (JPN, by Fuji Kiseki) colt flew into Dubai with Lani to run in the Mahab Al Shimaal (G3, dirt, 1,200m) on March 4 and finished seventh in his first test against seniors prior to the Dubai Golden Shaheen (G1, dirt, 1,200m).

Hoping to follow in the footsteps of Lani, nine three-year-olds have been entered for the Triple Crown in the U.S., a positive outcome of the “Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby” agreement under which Japanese runners are given a chance to qualify for the Kentucky Derby (G1, dirt, 2,000m) and a bonus of 1 million dollars for any Japanese-trained winner of the Belmont Stakes.

Among those entered, Epicharis (JPN, C3, by Gold Allure) will be granted priority for the Kentucky Derby after dominating the Hyacinth Stakes (dirt, 1,600m), one of the U.S. Triple Crown qualifiers held in Japan on February 19. It is hoped he will follow Lani and secure a consecutive victory for Japan in the UAE Derby before his expected U.S. trip. Also headed for the UAE Derby is Adirato (JPN, C3, by Rulership), who came off two consecutive wins after switching to dirt and finished second in the Hyacinth Stakes.

Key Middle & Long Distance Runners of 2017

Kitasan Black
in the 2016 Japan Cup

Although Maurice, A Shin Hikari (JPN, by Deep Impact) and Lovely Day (JPN, by King Kamehameha) left the racing scene as of the end of last season, the middle-distance category still maintains its high standard. Several G1 winners remain in training, led by Kitasan Black (JPN, H5, by Black Tide), winner of the 2016 Tenno Sho (Spring) (G1, 3,200m) and Japan Cup, as well as the season’s Horse of the Year. Kitasan Black will focus on racing in Japan this spring, beginning with the Osaka Hai (2,000m)—upgraded to G1 status this year—on April 2, then the Tenno Sho (Spring) on April 30 and the Takarazuka Kinen (G1, 2,200m) on June 25.

Satono Diamond
in the 2016 Arima Kinen

Satono Diamond (JPN, C4, by Deep Impact), who overtook Kitasan Black for a neck victory in the Arima Kinen and registered his second G1 title following the Kikuka Sho (Japanese St. Leger, G1, 3,000m), will also aim for the Tenno Sho (Spring) after kicking off his 2017 campaign in the Hanshin Daishoten (G2, 3,000m) on March 19. After that, the 2016 Best Three-Year-Old Colt could pass up the Takarazuka Kinen in preparation for the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (G1, 2,400m) this fall.

Makahiki (right)
in the 2016 Tokyo Yushun

Makahiki (JPN, C4, by Deep Impact), who claimed the Tokyo Yushun by crossing the wire a nose in front of Satono Diamond, disappointed to 14th in his Arc challenge last year and was given the rest of the season off. He finished third in his comeback start in February this year in the Kyoto Kinen, which was won by Satono Crown (JPN, H5, by Marju) who scored his second consecutive win following his first G1 success overseas in the Hong Kong Vase last year. Both Makahiki and Satono Crown will start in the Osaka Hai.

Dee Majesty (JPN, C4, by Deep Impact), winner of the 2016 Satsuki Sho (Japanese 2000 Guineas, G1, 2,000m), was unable to show much in his first G1 challenge against his seniors in the Japan Cup, finishing 13th. His 2017 debut will be the Nikkei Sho (G2, 2,500m) on March 25, prior to the Tenno Sho (Spring). Meanwhile, 2015 Arima Kinen victor Gold Actor (JPN, H6, by Screen Hero), who succumbed to third place last season but aims to defend his Nikkei Sho title in his 2017 kick-off start, will target the Takarazuka Kinen this spring.

Ambitious
in the 2016 Sankei Osaka Hai

The 2016 Osaka Hai victor Ambitious (JPN, H5, by Deep Impact) is hoped to defend his title in the upgraded version of the race this year after a fourth-place finish in the Nakayama Kinen. Among others challenging to become the inaugural winner of the new G1 race are several coming off the Kinko Sho (G2, 2,000m), which was reprogrammed to March from December beginning this year. These include winner, Yamakatsu Ace (JPN, H5, by King Kamehameha), who finished fourth in the Arima Kinen last year, sixth-place finisher Staphanos (JPN, H6, by Deep Impact), who has yet to claim a G1 win while finishing within the money in four G1 starts at 2,000 meters, and Rouge Buck (JPN, M5, by Manhattan Cafe), who already is a three-time grade-race winner at 1,800 meters but finished eighth in the Kinko Sho.

Notable runners heading for the Tenno Sho (Spring) include last year’s second- and third-place finishers, Curren Mirotic (JPN, G9, by Heart’s Cry) and Cheval Grand (JPN, H5, by Heart’s Cry), both of whom will be coming off prep starts in the Hanshin Daishoten. One and Only (JPN, H6, by Heart’s Cry), winner of the 2014 Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby, G1, 2,400m), will also start in the Hanshin Daishoten. Kikuka Sho runner-up Rainbow Line (JPN, C4, by Stay Gold), who finished sixth against his seniors in the Japan Cup last season, will aim for the Tenno Sho (Spring) after the Nikkei Sho. Tanta Alegria (JPN, H5, by Zenno Rob Roy), winner of the American Jockey Club Cup (G2, 2,200m) on January 22, will head straight to the 3,200-meter G1 at Kyoto.

Albert (JPN, H6, by Admire Don), back-to-back winner of the Stayers Stakes (G2, 3,600m) in 2015 and 2016, mowed down his rivals at the stretch after racing behind for his third grade-race victory in the Diamond Stakes (G3, 3,400m) on February 18. Fame Game (JPN, G7, by Heart’s Cry), the 2015 Tenno Sho (Spring) runner-up, who won two Diamond Stakes title in 2014 and 2015 and then was second in 2016, was forced wide at the stretch and finished sixth.

Other Key Runners in Sprint, Mile, Older Fillies/Mares, Dirt and Steeplechasing

Red Falx
in the 2016 Sprinters Stakes

The short distance category lost its star sprinter/miler, Mikki Isle (JPN, by Deep Impact), whose connections suddenly announced his retirement early this year after being named 2016 Best Sprinter or Miler. Consequently, the 2017 Takamatsunomiya Kinen (G1, 1,200m) on March 26 will feature Red Falx (JPN, H6, by Swept Overboard), who won the Sprinters Stakes but most recently was 12th in the 2016 Hong Kong Sprint (G1, 1,200m). Last year’s Takamatsunomiya Kinen victor Big Arthur (JPN, H6, by Sakura Bakushin O) sustained a muscle bruise on his right foreleg and his connections expect him to make his comeback in the summer campaign.

Dance Director (JPN, H7, by Aldebaran) won his second consecutive title in the Silk Road Stakes (G3, 1,200m), a major step towards the sprint G1 held on January 29, but then he suffered a fracture in his left foreleg and was unable to attempt his first G1 victory in the Takamatsunomiya Kinen. 2016 Sprinters Stakes third-place finisher Solveig (JPN, F4, by Daiwa Major) finished sixth in the same prep.

Albiano (USA, M5, by Harlan's Holiday), who was third in the Takamatsunomiya Kinen last year, encountered the disadvantage of being pinched back rounding the third corner and finished 17th in a field of 18 in her five-year-old debut in the Kyoto Himba Stakes (G3, 1,400m) on February 18. Afterward, the connections announced her retirement to become a broodmare this spring. Meanwhile, Let’s Go Donki (JPN, M5, by King Kamehameha), winner of the Kyoto Himba Stakes and a G1 winner of the 2015 Oka Sho (Japanese 1000 Guineas, G1, 1,600m), will head for her second Takamatsunoimya Kinen challenge.

Talking Drum (JPN, H7, by King Kamehameha) won his first grade-race challenge in the Hankyu Hai (G3, 1,400m) on February 26 while 2016 Hanshin Cup (G2, 1,400m) victor Shuji (JPN, C4, by Kinshasa no Kiseki) finished eighth. Melagrana (AUS, M5, by Fastnet Rock) won her first grade-race title in the Ocean Stakes (G3, 1,200m) on March 4, with 2014 Sprinters Stakes champion Snow Dragon (JPN, H9, by Admire Cozzene) finishing 2-1/2 lengths behind in eighth.

Logotype (JPN, H7, by Lohengrin) will aim for a consecutive Yasuda Kinen (G1, 1,600m) title on June 4 after finishing third in the Nakayama Kinen this year and a start planned in the Lord Derby Challenge Trophy (G3, 1,600m) on April 1. Lord Derby Challenge Trophy also will feature 2016 NHK Mile Cup (G1, 1,600m) runner-up Lord Quest (JPN, C4, by Matsurida Gogh), who will commence his 2017 campaign. 2016 Yasuda Kinen third-place finisher Fiero (JPN, H8, by Deep Impact) will make his first sprint challenge in the Takamatsunomiya Kinen.

Isla Bonita in the 2014 Satsuki Sho

2014 Satsuki Sho victor and runner-up in the Mile Championship (G1, 1,600m) last year, Isla Bonita (JPN, H6, by Fuji Kiseki) will start his six-year-old campaign in the Milers Cup (G2, 1,600m) on April 23. The race will also include Young Man Power (JPN, H5, by Snitzel), winner of three grade-race titles at a mile, Air Spinel (JPN, C4, by King Kamehameha), a strong contender in last year’s Triple Crown in which he scored a third and two fourth-place finishes prior to winning the Kyoto Kimpai (G3, 1,600m) on January 5, and Black Spinel (JPN, C4, by Tanino Gimlet), who is coming off a victory in the Tokyo Shimbun Hai (G3, 1,600m) on February 5.

The Victoria Mile (G1, 1,600m) on May 14 will be contested between the top older fillies and mares, many of whom will be coming off starts in the Hanshin Himba Stakes (G2, 1,600m) on April 8. 2015 Best Three-Year-Old Filly Mikki Queen (JPN, M5, by Deep Impact) will be making her first start since finishing fifth in the Arima Kinen. 2016 Queen Elizabeth II Cup (G1, 2,200m) winner Queens Ring (JPN, M5, by Manhattan Cafe) will be making her comeback start in Japan after a ninth-place performance in the Hong Kong Cup (G1, 2,000m) in December last year. Maximum de Paris (JPN, M5, by King Kamehameha) is an improving mare who landed her first grade-race title impressively in the Aichi Hai (G3, 2,000m) on January 14.

2016 Yushun Himba third-place finisher Biche (JPN, F4, by Deep Impact) was 10th in her 2017 debut, the Nakayama Himba Stakes (G3, 1,800m) on March 12, where Tosen Victory (JPN, M5, by King Kamehameha) claimed her first graded victory. Smart Layer (JPN, M7, by Deep Impact), fifth place in the Hong Kong Vase last year, turned in a runner-up effort in the Kyoto Kinen (G2, 2,200m) on February 12 but her connections decided to give her a rest and postpone her intended trip to Australia.

Jeweler (right) in the 2016 Oka Sho

2016 Oka Sho winner Jeweler (JPN, F4, by Victoire Pisa) was hoped to make a comeback in the Victoria Mile after a leg problem following her fourth-place finish in the Shuka Sho last year, but she was diagnosed with a fracture in her left hind leg and retired.

Sound True
in the 2016 Champions Cup

The dirt-racing category turned a new page as long-reigning dirt race star Hokko Tarumae (JPN, by King Kamehameha) retired as of last season. In addition to aspiring runners in Dubai, other dirt runners who aim to turn in successful 2017 campaigns including 2016 Best Dirt Horse Sound True (JPN, G7, by French Deputy), who capped off his six-year-old campaign with a third-place finish in the Tokyo Daishoten after claiming the Champions Cup. However, coming off a runner-up effort in the 2017 Kawasaki Kinen (dirt, 2,100m) won by All Blush (JPN, H5, by War Emblem), who scored a wire-to-wire three-length victory, the French Deputy (USA, by Deputy Minister) gelding disappointed to eighth in the February Stakes. He will aim to bounce back in his next target, the Teio Sho (dirt, 2,000m) on June 28.

Best Warrior (USA, H7, by Majestic Warrior), fourth in the February Stakes last year, maintained good form with a runner-up effort in the same race this season, missing the title by a neck margin. Still winless since his second title in the Mile Championship Nambu Hai (dirt, 1,600m), he has finished within the money in all but one start thereafter. Copano Rickey (JPN, H7, by Gold Allure), two-time victor in the race in 2014 and 2015, is still struggling to regain his best form, finishing 14th. The same is true of Moanin (USA, H5, by Henny Hughes), who is winless since taking last year’s February Stakes, finishing 12th this year. Best Warrior and Copano Rickey will run in the Kashiwa Kinen (dirt, 1,600m) on May 5 as their next outings, while Moanin will run in the Antares Stakes (G3, dirt, 1,800m) on April 15.

Up to Date
in the 2015 Nakayama Grand Jump

Oju Chosan, who dominated Up to Date by an overwhelming nine-length margin in the Nakayama Daishogai last December, confirmed his superiority again this year in the Hanshin Spring Jump (J-G2, 3,900m) on March 11, although Up to Date was impressive with a 2-1/2-length second and well ahead of the third-place finisher by four lengths.

Three-Year-Old Classic Hopefuls

Soul Stirring
in the 2016 Hanshin Juvenile Fillies

Preparation towards the three-year-old Classics are on the move. The Tulip Sho (G3, 1,600m) on March 4, which is the main prep towards the Oka Sho, centered around 2016 Best Two-Year-Old Filly Soul Stirring (JPN, F3, by Frankel), who became the first among the first crop sired by Frankel (GB, by Galileo) to claim a G1 title by winning the Hanshin Juvenile Fillies (G1, 1,600m). Soul Stirring continued to excel in her three-year-old debut with a dominating two-length victory for her second grade-race title. Hanshin Juvenile Fillies runner-up Lys Gracieux (JPN, F3, by Heart’s Cry) was beaten to third a half-length behind runner-up and seventh-favorite Miss Panthere (JPN, F3, by Daiwa Major).

Rising Reason
in the 2017 Fairy Stakes

Hanshin Juvenile Fillies third-place finisher Reine Minoru (JPN, F3, by Daiwa Major) was a half-length second behind Karakurenai (JPN, F3, by Lohengrin), who landed her first grade-race victory in the Fillies’ Revue (G2, 1,400m) on March 12. Gold Cape (JPN, F3, by Workforce) also earned a ticket to the Oka Sho with a third-place effort. The Anemone Stakes (1,600m), an Oka Sho trial held the day before the Fillies’ Revue, was won by Fairy Stakes (G3, 1,600m) winner Rising Reason (JPN, F3, by Black Tide). Deirdre (JPN, F3, by Harbinger) was a half-length behind in second. Rieno Tesoro (USA, F3, by Speightstown), who won the Zen-Nippon Nisai Yushun (dirt, 1,600m) against males last December, was a close fourth.

Other notable Oka Sho contenders include Salonika (JPN, F3, by Deep Impact) and Admire Miyabi (JPN, F3, by Heart’s Cry), who are coming off respective victories in the Elfin Stakes (1,600m) on February 4 and the Queen Cup (G3, 1,600m) on February 11. Vous Etes Jolie (JPN, F3, by Lohengrin), winner of the Niigata Nisai Stakes (G3, 1,600m) last August, came off a fourth-place finish in the Arlington Cup (G3, 1,600m) on February 25 against opposite genders. Mi Suerte (JPN, F3), another Frankel filly, who became a grade-race winner earlier than Soul Stirring by claiming the Fantasy Stakes (G3, 1,400m) prior to finishing fourth against males in the Asahi Hai Futurity Stakes (G1, 1,600m), will pass up her prep and head directly to the Oka Sho. Other strong candidates could emerge among those running in the Flower Cup (G3, 1,800m) on March 20.

The Yayoi Sho (G2, 2,000m) on March 5, the main prep race towards the first leg of the Triple Crown, the Satsuki Sho on April 16, was won by Cadenas (JPN, C3, by Deep Impact), who captured his first grade race in the Kyoto Nisai Stakes (G3, 2,000m) as a two-year-old. Runner-up My Style (JPN, C3, by Heart’s Cry) and third-place Danburite (JPN, C3, by Rulership) also earned berths in the coming three-year-old Classics. Komano Impulse (JPN, C3, by Bago), already a grade-race winner in the Keisei Hai (G3, 2,000m) on January 15, finished sixth, about 2-1/2 lengths from the winner.

Satono Ares in the
2016 Asahi Hai Futurity Stakes

The Asahi Hai Futurity Stakes winner and 2016 Best Two-Year-Old Colt Satono Ares (JPN, C3, by Deep Impact) will kick off his three-year-old season in the Spring Stakes (G2, 1,800m) on March 19. Bless Journey (JPN, C3, by Battle Plan), who won back-to-back grade-race titles last fall in the Saudi Arabia Royal Cup (G3, 1,600m) and the Tokyo Sports Hai Nisai Stakes (G3, 1,800m) and was to make his comeback start in the Spring Stakes, sustained a distal radius bone fracture to his right foreleg, postponing his 2017 debut.

Rey de Oro
in the 2016 Hopeful Stakes

Heading straight to the Satsuki Sho are Rey de Oro (JPN, C3, by King Kamehameha), winner of the 2016 Hopeful Stakes (G2, 2,000m) (upgraded to G1 status this year), America’s Cup (JPN, C3, by Manhattan Cafe), victor in the Kisaragi Sho (G3, 1,800m) on February 5, Suave Richard (JPN, C3, by Heart’s Cry), who captured the Kyodo News Service Hai (G3, 1,800m) on February 12, and Persian Knight (JPN, C3, by Harbinger), winner of the Arlington Cup.

Meanwhile, the Asahi Hai Futurity Stakes runner-up Monde Can Know (JPN, C3, by Kinshasa no Kiseki) and third-place finisher Bom Servico (JPN, C3, by Daiwa Major) will aim for the NHK Mile Cup (G1, 1,600m) on May 7, instead of the Satsuki Sho, after making their prep starts in the Spring Stakes and the Falcon Stakes (G3, 1,400m) on March 18, respectively. Kyohei (JPN, C3, by Reach the Crown), winner of the Shinzan Kinen (G3, 1,600m) on January 8, was unable to show much in the Arlinton Cup (G3, 1,600m) on February 25, finishing seventh. Other possible NHK Mile Cup starters may come off starts in either the Mainichi Hai (G3, 1,800m) on March 25 or the New Zealand Trophy (G2, 1,600m) on April 8.