Successful Stint in Riyadh Produces Another Historic Joint Feat

Since the inception of the Saudi Cup meeting in 2020, an increasing number of Japanese horses have made the Middle East a key early-season destination thanks to the successes of various Japanese runners. Many have even run in meetings in both Saudi Arabia and Dubai during their trips overseas. Counting the undercard races also held on the big day in Saudi Arabia, 20 Japanese entrants ran in the Saudi Cup on February 25, including a record six in the main Saudi Cup (G1, dirt, 1,800m).

The international event at King Abdulaziz Racetrack was highlighted by the historic victory of Panthalassa (JPN, H6, by Lord Kanaloa), who became Japan’s first horse to win the world’s richest race in only his second career start on dirt. The son of Lord Kanaloa dictated the pace following a good jump start and finished strongly to hold back a determined challenge from behind, winning by 3/4 length. It was his second G1 title in the Middle East after last year’s Dubai Turf (G1, 1,800m). In all, Japanese runners dominated four of the top five places, including back-to-back February Stakes (G1, dirt, 1,600m) winner Cafe Pharoah (USA, H6, by American Pharoah), 2022 Satsuki Sho (Japanese 2000 Guineas, G1, 2,000m) champion Geoglyph (JPN, C4, by Drefong) and 2022 UAE Derby (G2, dirt, 1,900m) winner and Champions Cup (G1, dirt, 1,800m) runner-up Crown Pride (JPN, C4, by Reach the Crown) following in third, fourth and fifth, respectively. Last year’s Champions Cup victor Jun Light Bolt (JPN, H6, by King Kamehameha) was seventh while the last of the six Japanese starters, Vin de Garde (JPN, H7, by Deep Impact), who was second and third in the Dubai Turf in 2021 and 2022, respectively, crossed the wire in 11th.

Bathrat Leon (JPN, H5, by Kizuna) also scored a wire-to-wire victory for Japan in the 1351 Turf Sprint (G3, 1,351m), registering his second overseas title after winning the Godolphin Mile (G2, dirt, 1,600m) last year. Resistencia (JPN, M6, by Daiwa Major), the 2019 Best Two-Year-Old Filly, finished fifth in the last start of her racing career, while 2020 NHK Mile Cup (G1, 1,600m) champion Lauda Sion (JPN, H6, by Real Impact) and 2022 Yasuda Kinen (G1, 1,600m) winner Songline (JPN, M5, by Kizuna) followed in ninth and tenth, respectively. Songline is expected to start next in the Victoria Mile (G1, 1,600m) on May 14.
Another victory for Japan was earned by Silver Sonic (JPN, H7, by Orfevre) in the Red Sea Turf Handicap (G3, 3,000m). Last year’s Stayers Stakes (G2, 3,600m) winner burst clear from a forward position in third to win by a comfortable 2-1/2 lengths. In seventh was fellow Japanese runner Echt (JPN, H6, by Rulership), who won the 2022 Tanabata Sho (G3, 2,000m). Silver Sonic will not go to Dubai and will instead return to Japan to aim for his first G1 title in the Tenno Sho (Spring) (G1, 3,200m) on April 30.

Derma Sotogake (JPN, C3, by Mind Your Biscuits), winner of the 2022 Zen-Nippon Nisai Yushun (Listed, dirt, 1,600m), finished third, which was best among four Japanese runners in the Saudi Derby (G3, dirt, 1,600m). The other three, Continuar (JPN, C3, by Drefong), From Dusk (USA, C3, by Bolt d’Oro) and Ecoro Ares (USA, C3, by Unified), finished fifth, ninth and twelfth, respectively.

In the Riyadh Dirt Sprint (G3, dirt, 1,200m), Remake (JPN, C4, by Lani), winner of the 2022 Capella Stakes (G3, dirt, 1,200m), closed strongly but failed to threaten the leaders and finished third. Three-time graded winner Justin (JPN, H7, by Orfevre), defending champion Dancing Prince (JPN, H7, by Pas de Trois) and Ryuno Yukina (JPN, H8, by Vermilion), runner-up in the 2022 JBC Sprint (Listed, dirt, 1,200m), followed in fourth, fifth and sixth, respectively.

Twelve Japanese runners were transferred from Saudi Arabia to their next destination, Meydan Racecourse in Dubai, including Bathrat Leon and Lauda Sion for the Godolphin Mile, Derma Sotogake and Continuar for the UAE Derby, Remake and Justin for the Dubai Golden Shaheen (G1, dirt, 1,200m), Vin de Garde for the Dubai Turf, and Panthalassa, Cafe Pharoah, Geoglyph, Crown Pride and Jun Light Bolt for the Dubai World Cup (G1, dirt, 2,000m), all taking place on March 25.

An additional 15 runners will join those traveling from Saudi Arabia for the Dubai World Cup meeting, including the six-year-old chestnut and 2021 Best Dirt Horse T O Keynes (JPN, H6, by Sinister Minister), who added another major title in the JBC Classic (Listed, dirt, 2,000m) last year but was unable to defend his title in the Champions Cup, finishing fourth, and will be coming off a runner-up effort in the Kawasaki Kinen (Listed, dirt, 2,100m) on February 1. Ushba Tesoro (JPN, H6, by Orfevre) will also run in the Dubai World Cup. The late developer scored his first graded title in the Tokyo Daishoten (G1, dirt, 2,000m) last December and then proceeded to top T O Keynes in the Kawasaki Kinen in his kick-off start this season. Vela Azul (JPN, H6, by Eishin Flash), who switched from dirt to turf racing last year and scored four wins out of seven starts including the Kyoto Daishoten (G2, 2,400m) and the Japan Cup (G1, 2,400m), will also start in the Dubai World Cup. After capping of the previous season with a tenth in the Arima Kinen (G1, 2,500m), the son of Eishin Flash has been chosen to run on dirt again for his 2023 comeback, which will test his ability at the highest level on dirt where he has a record of 2-4-3 out of 16 starts.

Aiming for a consecutive Dubai Sheema Classic (G1, 2,410m) title is 2021 Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby, G1, 2,400m) victor Shahryar (JPN, H5, by Deep Impact). The dark bay won his second G1 title when claiming the Dubai Sheema Classic last year and capped off the season with a runner-up effort in the Japan Cup. A record of 2-1-1 out of four starts going left-handed at 2,400m should be an advantage for the defending champion. Another strong candidate in the Dubai Sheema Classic is 2022 Horse of the Year Equinox (JPN, C4, by Kitasan Black). Second in both spring classics for three-year-olds, the Satsuki Sho and the Tokyo Yushun, the colt dominated two prestigious G1 events against seniors in the Tenno Sho (Autumn) (G1, 2,000m) and the Arima Kinen last year. Lightly raced since his career debut in August of his two-year-old season—he has just six career starts—his true ability will be put to the test following a strenuous long-distance trip overseas which will be his first. Win Marilyn (JPN, M6, by Screen Hero), who nearly claimed G1 titles in the 2020 Yushun Himba (Japanese Oaks, G1, 2,400m) and the Queen Elizabeth II Cup (G1, 2,200m) last year, followed with a victory in the Hong Kong Vase (G1, 2,400m) in December, coming up strongly from behind under Damian Lane to bag her first G1 title, which her connections hope she’ll repeat with another strong performance in the Dubai Sheema Classic.

Three Japanese runners will be in the field for the Dubai Turf. Last year’s Tokyo Yushun winner Do Deuce (JPN, C4, by Heart’s Cry) disappointed in France last autumn, finishing fourth in the Prix Niel (G2, 2,400m) and 19th in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (G1, 2,400m), prompting his withdrawal from the Japan Cup. Well rested, the bay colt bounced back to claim the Kyoto Kinen (G2, 2,200m) on February 12, his kick-off start of this season, and is hoped to claim his third G1 title in Dubai. Serifos (JPN, C4, by Daiwa Major) turned in a close fourth against older foes in the Yasuda Kinen in the first half of his three-year-old season, and then proceeded to win back-to-back in the Fuji Stakes (G2, 1,600m) and the Mile Championship (G1, 1,600m), paving his way to becoming the first three-year-old to be selected as JRA’s Best Sprinter or Miler of 2022. Run exclusively at a mile in eight starts since his debut, the colt will have to cope with another extra 200 meters in the Dubai Turf. Another four-year-old, Danon Beluga (JPN, C4, by Heart’s Cry), who was fourth in his two classics runs in spring following a back-to-back victory in his first two career starts, including his first grade-race victory in the Kyodo News Hai (G3, 1,800m), proved competitive against older foes in two autumn G1 starts, finishing third in the Tenno Sho (Autumn) and fifth in the Japan Cup. The Heart’s Cry colt is hoped to claim his first G1 title in his coming race at the same distance as the Kyodo News Hai. 2020 Best Two-Year-Old Colt Danon the Kid (JPN, H5, by Just a Way) was also invited to the Dubai Turf but then was suspended from racing until March 28th after playing up in the starting gate in his kick-off start this year in the Nakayama Kinen (G2, 1,800m) on February 26, ruling him out of his trip to Dubai. Instead, the son of Just a Way will head to the Osaka Hai (G1, 2,000m) at Hanshin Racecourse on April 2.

Red le Zele (JPN, H7, by Lord Kanaloa), second in both the 2021 and 2022 Dubai Golden Shaheen, will join Remake and Justin for his third challenge this year. He was second in the February Stakes after closing on the winner with the fastest late speed from second to last. February Stakes winner Lemon Pop (USA, H5, by Lemon Drop Kid), who has a record of 7-3-0 out of 10 starts at distances between 1,300 and1,600 meters on dirt, had a choice of running in either the Godolphin Mile or the Dubai Golden Shaheen, but his connections decided to test his ability at 1,200 meters in the latter.

Another Japanese runner scheduled to start in Dubai include Win Carnelian (JPN, H6, by Screen Hero), who is a two-time G3 winner over turf at a mile for the Godolphin Mile. Joining Derma Sotogake and Continuar in the UAE Derby will be Dura Erede (JPN, C3, by Duramente), Goraiko (JPN, C3, by Hokko Tarumae) and Perriere (JPN, C3, by Henny Hughes), respective winners of the Hopeful Stakes (G1, 2,000m), the JBC Nisai Yushun (Listed, dirt, 1,800m) and the Hyacinth Stakes (Listed, dirt, 1,600m).

Horses nominated to run in the Triple Crown in the U.S. were announced in February. While the actual runners among the 35 registered horses are yet to be determined, the list includes the aforementioned Continuar, Derma Sotogake, Dura Erede, Ecoro Ares, From Dusk, Goraiko and Perriere. Among 14 Japanese horses nominated for three races in Australia’s “The Championships” at Randwick Racecourse, Unicorn Lion (IRE, H7, by No Nay Never) will challenge the Queen Elizabeth Stakes (G1, 2,000m) on April 8. He marked his first graded title in the Naruo Kinen (G3, 2,000m) and followed up with a runner-up in the Takarazuka Kinen (G1, 2,200m) in 2021. After another victory in the Fukushima Kinen (G3, 2,000m) last November, the dark bay finished 16th in the Japan Cup and was seventh in the Kyoto Kinen. Ho O Amazon (JPN, H5, by King Kamehameha), winner of the 2021 Arlington Cup (G3, 1,600m), will also travel to Australia with stablemate Unicorn Lion to run in the All Aged Stakes (G1, 1,400m) on April 15.

Spring G1 Campaign for Four-Year-Olds and Up in Japan

Equinox, last year’s Horse of the Year, will commence the 2023 season in Dubai, but Best Older Colt or Horse Titleholder (JPN, H5, by Duramente) will focus on races in Japan during the spring season. After winning the Tenno Sho (Spring) and the Takarazuka Kinen last spring, Titleholder finished a disappointing 11th and ninth in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe and the Arima Kinen in autumn, respectively. He will start this season with the Nikkei Sho (G2, 2,500m) on March 25 and then head to the Tenno Sho (Spring) at Kyoto Racecourse, which will be reopened in April after undergoing a major renovation that began in the fall of 2020.

This year’s Osaka Hai (G1, 2,000m) on April 2 will include JRA Award winners, Best Older Filly or Mare Geraldina (JPN, M5, by Maurice) and Best Three-Year-Old Filly Stars on Earth (JPN, F4, by Duramente). The former, whose dam Gentildonna is a two-time Horse of the Year winner, claimed her first G1 title in the Queen Elizabeth II Cup in November last year and then made a good stretch run despite a poor break for third in the following Arima Kinen. Stars on Earth collected two of the fillies’ Triple Crown—the Oka Sho (Japanese 1000 Guineas, G1, 1,600m) and the Yushun Himba—but then was sidelined due to chip fractures in both forelegs. The Duramente filly returned to racing in the Shuka Sho (G1, 2,000m) but failed to sweep the Triple Tiara, finishing third after a poor break. She was then given the rest of the season off due to suspensory desmitis in her left foreleg.

The Osaka Hai will also include some of the Nakayama Kinen runners—winner Hishi Iguazu (JPN, H7, by Heart’s Cry) who came off an eight-month break to capture his third graded victory, and runner-up Lagulf (JPN, C4, by Maurice). Fifth in the Nakayama Kinen was Shuka Sho victor Stunning Rose (JPN, F4, by King Kamehameha), who will pass up the Osaka Hai due to a minor health issue and head to the Victoria Mile (G1, 1,600m) on May 14. Prognosis (JPN, H5, by Deep Impact), who captured his first graded title in the Kinko Sho (G2, 2,000m) on March 12, will also withdraw from the Osaka Hai and possibly head to Hong Kong’s Queen Elizabeth II Cup (G1, 2,000m) on April 30. Last year’s Osaka Hai champion Potager (JPN, H6, by Deep Impact), who finished sixth in the Kinko Sho, is scheduled to run in the race again this year.

The lineup additionally will include the aforementioned Danon the Kid, as well as Weltreisende (JPN, H6, by Dream Journey) and North Bridge (JPN, H5, by Maurice), respective winners of the Nikkei Shinshun Hai (G2, 2,200m) and the American Jockey Club Cup (G2, 2,200m) in January. Others will include two-time G2 winner Jack d’Or (JPN, H5, by Maurice) and 2021 Hopeful Stakes champion Killer Ability (JPN, C4, by Deep Impact).

In the Tenno Sho (Spring) on April 30, defending champion Titleholder probably will be challenged mainly by four-year-old colts. Last year’s Kikuka Sho (Japanese St. Leger, G1, 3,000m) champion Ask Victor More (JPN, C4, by Deep Impact), who was given the rest of the season off instead of racing in the year-end Arima Kinen, will commence the current season in the Nikkei Sho, like Titleholder as mentioned. Mixology (JPN, C4, by Orfevre), though unable to run in the Triple Crown races, extended his winning streak to four when claiming the Diamond Stakes (G3, 3,400m) in record time on February 18, and will make his first G1 challenge in the Tenno Sho (Spring).

Boldog Hos (JPN, C4, by Screen Hero), following a runner-up performance in the Kikuka Sho, scored another second in the Arima Kinen before kicking off his four-year-old season in the Hanshin Daishoten (G2, 3,000m) on March 19, where the son of Screen Hero finished second, 1-3/4 lengths behind the Kikuka Sho third-place finisher Justin Palace (JPN, C4, by Deep Impact). Deep Bond (JPN, H6, by Kizuna), who registered runner-up efforts in both the 2021 and 2022 Tennno Sho (Spring), was fifth.

The first flat-turf G1 event of the year, the Takamatsunomiya Kinen (1,200m), will be held at Chukyo Racecourse on March 26. Defending champion Naran Huleg (JPN, H7, by Gold Allure) kicked off this season in the Ocean Stakes (G3, 1,200m) on March 4 but finished a disappointing ninth, while Vento Voce (JPN, H6, by Turtle Bowl) won the race to claim his second graded title. Key runners from other prep races will include, from the Silk Road Stakes (G3, 1,200m) on January 29, winner Namura Clair (JPN, F4, by Mikki Isle), who scored her third graded victory, and last year’s Keihan Hai (G3, 1,200m) victor Toshin Macau (JPN, C4, by Big Arthur), who finished three lengths behind in fourth, and from the Hankyu Hai (G3, 1,400m) on February 26, victor Aguri (JPN, C4, by Caravaggio), who extended his winning streak to four, and 2020 Asahi Hai Futurity Stakes (G1, 1,600m) winner Grenadier Guards (JPN, H5, by Frankel), who was seventh.

This year’s Takamatsunomiya Kinen field will also feature six-time graded victor Meikei Yell (JPN, M5, by Mikki Isle), 2021 Sprinters Stakes champion Pixie Knight (JPN, H5, by Maurice), and last year’s Sprinters Stakes runner-up Win Marvel (JPN, C4, by I’ll Have Another). Others will include Lotus Land (USA, M6, by Point of Entry) and Kir Lord (JPN, G8, by Lord Kanaloa), who finished second and third respectively in last year’s edition of the race.

This year’s Victoria Mile, which is open to four-year-old and up fillies and mares, will feature defending champion Sodashi (JPN, M5, by Kurofune). After capturing her third G1 title in last year’s edition, the white filly finished a competitive third in the Mile Championship (G1, 1,600m) against the opposite gender. Through Seven Seas (JPN, M5, by Dream Journey), winner of the Nakayama Himba Stakes (G3, 1,800m) on March 11, will likely head to the Victoria Mile along with two-time graded winner Art House (JPN, F4, by Screen Hero), who crossed the wire in fourth in the same race.

Other key contenders will include Izu Jo no Kiseki (JPN, M6, by Epiphaneia), fourth-place finisher of the Arima Kinen who will run in the Hanshin Himba Stakes (G2, 1,600m) on April 8, the main prep to the Victoria Mile, Namur (JPN, F4, by Harbinger), who was runner-up in both last year’s Shuka Sho and this year’s Tokyo Shimbun Hai, La La Christine (JPN, M5, by Mikki Isle), winner of the Kyoto Himba Stakes (G3, 1,400m) on February 18 as well as the aforementioned Songline and Stunning Rose.

In addition to defending champion Songline, this year’s Yasuda Kinen on June 4 will probably include strong milers like Serifos, Danon the Kid, Sodashi and two NHK Mile Cup (G1, 1,600m) winners— Schnell Meister (GER, H5, by Kingman; 2021) and Danon Scorpion (JPN, C4, by Lord Kanaloa). Schnell Meister commenced the current season in the Nakayama Kinen, where he showed good effort despite meeting traffic at the top of the stretch for fourth, while two-time G3 winner Elusive Panther (JPN, H5, by Heart’s Cry) finished eighth. Danon Scorpion will begin his four-year-old campaign with the Keio Hai Spring Cup (G2, 1,400m) on May 13, one of the prep races towards the Yasuda Kinen, while contenders from the Milers Cup (G2, 1,600m) on April 23, another Yasuda Kinen prep, will probably be among the Yasuda Kinen lineup.

The highlight of steeplechase racing for this spring will undoubtedly be the Nakayama Grand Jump (J-G1, 4,250m) on April 15. With the retirement of legendary jumper Oju Chosan (JPN, by Stay Gold), last year’s Nakayama Daishogai (J-G1, 4,100m) champion Nishino Daisy (JPN, H7, by Harbinger) is sure be the center of attention this year. The son of Harbinger kicked off this season in the Hanshin Spring Jump (J-G2, 3,900m) on March 11, where he traveled in mid-division before advancing to second but then weakened in the stretch to third, 8-1/2 lengths behind winner Gemini King (JPN, G7, by Transcend).

Three-Year-Old Classic Hopefuls

This year’s three-year-old classics will commence with the Oka Sho (Japanese 1000 Guineas, G1, 1,600m) for fillies on April 9 and then the Satsuki Sho (Japanese 2000 Guineas, G1, 2,000m) for males a week later.

Liberty Island (JPN, F3, by Duramente), the Best Two-Year-Old Filly who won the championship race for two-year-old fillies—the 2022 Hanshin Juvenile Fillies (G1, 1,600m)—will head directly to the Oka Sho where she will likely be sent off well-backed as race favorite along with runner-up Shinryokuka (JPN, F3, by Satono Diamond), who will also launch her three-year-old season in the first leg of the fillies’ Triple Crown. Ravel (JPN, F3, by Kitasan Black), who had claimed the Artemis Stakes (G3, 1,600m) in October but finished a disappointing 11th behind these two in the two-year-old-filly championship, will also make her three-year-old season debut in the Oka Sho. Meanwhile, Hanshin Juvenile Fillies’ third-place finisher Doe Eyes (JPN, F3, by Rulership) kicked off his current season with a neck second behind Harper (JPN, F3, by Heart’s Cry) in the Queen Cup (G3, 1,600m) on February 11.

The first leg of the fillies’ Triple Crown will also feature runners who performed well in one of three trials: Mozu Meimei (JPN, F3, by Real Impact), Kona Coast (JPN, F3, by Kitasan Black) and Perifania (JPN, F3, by Maurice), the top three finishers in that order in the Tulip Sho (G2, 1,600m) on March 4; Tosen Laurier (JPN, F3, by Satono Crown) and Conch Shell (JPN, F3, by Kizuna) in the Anemone Stakes (Listed, 1,600m) on March 12; and Sing That Song (JPN, F3, by Duramente), Moon Probe (JPN, F3, by Maurice) and June Orange (JPN, F3, by Just a Way), who were the top three in the Fillies’ Revue (G2, 1,400m) on the same day as the Anemone Stakes.

Other notable runners likely to appear in the Oka Sho are Light Quantum (JPN, F3, by Deep Impact), Yurisha (JPN, F3, by Greater London) and Emu (JPN, F3, by Harbinger), respective winners of the Shinzan Kinen (G3, 1,600m) on January 8, the Elfin Stakes (Listed, 1,600m) on February 4 and the Flower Cup (G3, 1,800m) on March 18, as well as Kita Wing (JPN, F3, by Danon Ballade), winner of last year’s Niigata Nisai Stakes (G3, 1,600m) and the Fairy Stakes (G3, 1,600m) in January and seventh in the Tulip Sho. Dura (JPN, F3, by Duramente), who won the Sapporo Nisai Stakes (G3, 1,800m) and was sixth in the Hanshin Juvenile Stakes, failed to deliver in the Tulip Sho, where she was a disappointing 15th.

Meanwhile, the Satsuki Sho will see two prominent candidates absent. The 2022 Asahi Hai Futurity Stakes (G1, 1,600m) winner and Best Two-Year-Old Colt Dolce More (JPN, C3, by Rulership) will head for the NHK Mile Cup on May 7, while the year-end Hopeful Stakes champion Dura Erede will set out to challenge the UAE Derby, as mentioned above.

Hopeful Stakes runner-up Top Knife (JPN, C3, by Declaration of War) began his three-year-old season in the main trial race towards the Satsuki Sho, the Yayoi Sho Deep Impact Kinen (G2, 2,000m) on March 5, and finished a length from the winner Tastiera (JPN, C3, by Satono Crown) in second, followed by One Direct (JPN, C3, by Harbinger) who was a neck behind in third.

Those who earned Satsuki Sho berths in other trial races included Shonan Bashitto (JPN, C3, by Silver State) and Ras Hammel (JPN, C3, by Silver State), who were first and second respectively in the Wakaba Stakes (Listed, 2,000m) on March 18, and Bellagio Opera (JPN, C3, by Lord Kanaloa), Ho O Biscuits (JPN, C3, by Mind Your Biscuits) and Metal Speed (JPN, C3, by Silver State), the top three finishers in that order in the Spring Stakes (G2, 1,800m) the following day.

Along with these trial-race finishers, the field in the first leg of the Triple Crown is likely to include Danon Touchdown (JPN, C3, by Lord Kanaloa), runner-up in the Asahi Hai Futurity Stakes, and Sol Oriens (JPN, C3, by Kitasan Black), Hrimfaxi (JPN, C3, by Rulership) and Phantom Thief (JPN, C3, by Harbinger), respective winners of the Keisei Hai (G3, 2,000m) in January, the Kisaragi Sho (G3, 2,000m) in February and the Kyodo News Hai (G3, 1,800m) also in February.

The NHK Mile Cup will include runners from two trial races—the New Zealand Trophy (G2, 1,600m) on April 8, in which Dolce More will make his seasonal debut, and the Arlington Cup (G3, 1,600m) a week later—as well as Oka Sho and Satsuki Sho runners who prefer running a mile instead of stepping up to the 2,400-meter Yushun Himba or Tokyo Yushun. Tamamo Black Tie (JPN, C3, by Declaration of War), who won the Falcon Stakes (G3, 1,400m) on March 18, will also head to the NHK Mile Cup.