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August 2020
The Japan Racing Association

Exclusive Topics for Horse Racing in Japan - Summer Edition -

 

Deirdre in the 2020 Nassau Stakes

Mozu Ascot
in the 2020 February Stakes

JRA-organized races, which began to be held in front of empty stands from the end of February due to the COVID-19 pandemic, continued without spectators even after the Japanese government lifted its nationwide state of emergency in late May. JRA finally resumed operating selected off-track betting sites on July 11, although races continue to be held behind closed doors.

Although wagering was limited to betting by telephone or online, sales remained relatively sound during the first half of its fiscal year—earnings came to 96.8% from a year earlier. The Takamatsunomiya Kinen, the Victoria Mile and the Takarazuka Kinen even increased sales from last year. Telephone/online betting, which had accounted for 70% of total sales in 2019, attracted new members in the first six months of this year to grow by 8.4% and play a major role in supporting the sport’s continuity during the pandemic.

Although horse racing in Japan has begun to revert to more “normal” conditions, the ongoing pandemic has affected international travel, forcing JRA to cancel its World All-Star Jockeys event, which normally is held annually at Sapporo Racecourse in late August. Plans to send top horses overseas have been postponed or cancelled—Australia’s Queen Elizabeth Stakes in April was the last trip abroad—which may also affect scheduling for the fall campaign.

The exception has been Deirdre (JPN, M6, by Harbinger), who has been training in Newmarket, England, since last year. Coming off a runner-up effort in her 2020 debut, the Mohamed Yousuf Naghi Motors Cup (2,100m) in Saudi Arabia, the Harbinger mare entered the Eclipse Stakes (G1, 1,990m) on July 5 and ran forwardly in third but was outrun to finish fifth by 5-1/4 lengths. She continued with another unenergetic effort in her next start, the Nassau Stakes (G1, 1,980m) on July 30, where she faded to last after racing in third early. This has raised doubts about her main target, the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (G1, 2,400m) on October 4, for which she was listed as the only starter from Japan as of July.

Mozu Ascot (USA, H6, by Frankel), winner of the February Stakes (G1, dirt, 1,600m), will enter the Mile Championship Nambu Hai (dirt, 1,600m) at NAR’s Morioka Racecourse on October 12 as his prep race, if conditions allow, for the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (G1, dirt, 1,600m) on November 7.

Daring Tact
in the 2020 Yushun Himba

Contrail
in the 2020 Tokyo Yushun

Almond Eye
in the 2020 Victoria Mile

Daring Tact (JPN, F3, by Epiphaneia) hopes to emulate Almond Eye, the last winner of the Fillies Triple two years ago, and become the sixth Triple champion by winning the Shuka Sho (G1, 2,000m) this coming October 18. With a win in her fall debut, the Rose Stakes (G2, 2,000m) on September 20, she also has a chance to become the first in history to claim the Triple undefeated.

Contrail (JPN, C3, by Deep Impact) aims to become the eighth Colts Triple Crown winner with a win in the Kikuka Sho (Japanese St. Leger, G1, 3,000m) on October 25. He would become the first such colt since Orfevre (JPN, by Stay Gold) in 2011 and the third undefeated title winner after Symboli Rudolf (JPN, by Partholon) in 1984 and his sire Deep Impact (JPN, by Sunday Silence) in 2005. Scheduled to return from his summer break in the Kobe Shimbun Hai (G2, 2,200m) on September 27, his connections also could decide to run him in the Japan Cup (G1, 2,400m) on November 29 if he is up to it after the Kikuka Sho.

Almond Eye (JPN, M5, by Lord Kanaloa), after an overwhelming victory in the Victoria Mile (1,600m), entered the Yasuda Kinen (G1, 1,600m) with many hoping she would become the first runner in JRA history to score eight G1 career titles over turf. However, the Lord Kanaloa mare missed her break and succumbed to second, which her connections attributed to a soft track and the short spacing between her previous two starts. In her fall comeback, she will likely aim for a repeat victory in the Tenno Sho (Autumn) (G1, 2,000m) on November 1, her next shot at rewriting history.