10 May, 2018
As March turned into April, the JRA spring G1 season really kicked into full swing with five G1s in this month alone and seven graded prep races for G1s later in the spring.
April's immediately got off the mark with the 2000m G1 Osaka Hai at Hanshin Racecourse on April 1st. Promoted from a G2 last year, the Osaka Hai has already become a major event as the only 2000m G1 in the first half of the year with Japan's best eagerly participating. This year, lacked the star power of the recently retired Kitasan Black(JPN) but that only made for a more competitive race. Facing four G1 winners proved little trouble for rising star Suave Richard(JPN), who last year ran second in the G1 Japanese Derby and won the 2500m G2 Copa Republica Argentina Hai last fall. This year they have taken him back in distance, and it has proved a success. He won the 2000m G2 Kinko Sho last month over several of the same rivals he went on to beat again in the Osaka Hai. They'll take him back even further in distance this summer, targeting the 1600m G1 Yasuda Kinen in early June.
The 1600m G1 Oka Sho(Japanese 1000 Gunieas) was the first classic race to be held this year, and it was Almond Eye(JPN) who came from the back of the field in a dramatic turn of foot to give her sire his first G1 winner. The Lord Kanaloa(JPN) filly started as the second favorite and ran down favorite Lucky Lilac(JPN) down the stretch to win by a solid 1¾ lengths over the two-year-old champion. While a daughter of Lord Kanaloa(JPN) might not be able to handle the 2400m of the Japanese Oaks next month, given her running style the long straight of Tokyo Racecourse could benefit her greatly as she heads into a rematch with Lucky Lilac(JPN). Lucky Lilac(JPN) hopes to use the Oaks as a launching pad to the G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe in the fall.
The 2000m G1 Satsuki Sho(Japanese 2000 Guineas) continued the trend this year of young stallions performing well at the highest level. Seventh favorite Epoca d'Oro(JPN) ran away with the Satsuki Sho at Nakayama Racecourse. This was the second G1 title from Orfevre's first crop, and the next three finishers were by stallions like Rulership(JPN), Screen Hero(JPN), and Lord Kanaloa(JPN). Deep Impact's Kitano Commandeur(JPN) who was the third favorite finished fifth, but since the top five finishers get a free trip to the G1 Japanese Derby, there will be a rematch at the end of May. The race was paced rather strangely as Aithon(JPN) took off at the start and opened up a wide lead over the majority of the field with the eventual third-place finisher Generale Uno(JPN) and Jun Valerot(JPN) stalking not too far behind. Several lengths back eventual winner Epoca d'Oro(JPN) bided his time till they hit the stretch and then made his move. The top there favorites Wagnerian(JPN), Stelvio(JPN), and Kitano Commandeur(JPN) far back in the back of the pack and were unable to overcome their poor positions in the end.
The 3200m G1 Tenno Sho Haru is the longest G1 on the JRA calendar and while not a common distance, has been won by some of the greatest horses of the modern age. Kitasan Black(JPN) won it in 2016 and 2017, Gold Ship(JPN) won in 2015, and Deep Impact(JPN) won it in 2006. When paired with wins in other more common distanced G1s, the ability to stay that distance has greatly improved the vitality of a stallion. All three of the above-mentioned horses, now stallions, won G1s between 2000m and 3200m. Deep Impact(JPN) being the oldest of the three has gone on to an illustrious career, while Gold Ship(JPN)'s first crop are yearlings this year and Kitasan Black(JPN) is currently covering his first book of mares. The race itself was filled with great highs and lows with second favorite Rainbow Line(JPN) upsetting favorite G1 Japan Cup winner Cheval Grand(JPN) at the wire to claim his first long awaited G1 title, only to be pulled up lame immediately after crossing the wire. The five-year-old son of Stay Gold(JPN) took an off step a stride before the wire and was vanned off the track but initial vet reports show it shouldn't be a life-threatening injury.
The 1600m G1 NHK Mile restricted to three-year-olds has proved a popular race over the years, producing many stallions and even a couple Derby winners. There were two prep races held this month, the first being the G2 New Zealand Trophy at Nakayama Racecourse where the top three finishers get an automatic berth into the NHK Mile. In the end, second favorite Katsuji(JPN) got under the wire a head over favorite and fellow Deep Impact(JPN) son Keiai Nautique(JPN), closely followed by the imported son of Into Mischief(USA), Delta Barows(USA). The second was the 1600m G3 Arlington Cup at Hanshin Racecourse where the top three finishers also get an automatic berth into the NHK Mile. Here the favorite Tower of London(JPN) worked his way up to prevail a half a length over Pax Americana(JPN), followed closely by Red Veyron(JPN).
There were two preps for the 1600m G1 Victoria Mile next month; a G1 made special just over a decade ago for older fillies and mares. The first was the 1600m G2 Hanshin Himba Stakes at Hanshin Racecourse where Miss Panthere(JPN) proved once again she is one of the best milers of her sex besting a field filled with talented stakes winners including Oaks winner Soul Stirring(JPN), G1 winner Admire Lead(JPN), G2 winner Rabbit Run(USA), multiple G3 winner Lys Gracieux(JPN), G3 winner Denko Ange(JPN), G3 winner Eterna Minoru(JPN), and other stakes winners. Miss Panthere(JPN), the daughter of champion miler Daiwa Major(JPN), broke on the lead and never looked back. The second Victoria Mile prep was the 1800m G3 Fukushima Himba Stakes at Fukushima Racecourse where seventh favorite Kinsho Yukihime(JPN) upset the favorite Kawakita Enka(JPN) at the wire by a neck.
This month had one last prep race for the 2400m G1 Japanese Oaks, the 2000m G2 Flora Stakes at Tokyo Racecourse. The favorite and eventual winner Satono Walkure(JPN) broke dead last and hadn't made up much ground as the field turned for home, but thanks to the long stretch at Tokyo she had time and came flying down the middle of the course to catch thirteenth favorite Pioneer Bio(JPN) at the wire to win by a neck. Both fillies will meet again in the Oaks in late May.
As one of the last major G1 Japanese Derby preps, the 2400m G2 Aoba Sho does not have a good track record for producing a Derby winner despite giving an automatic berth to the top two finishers. The closest a winner has come was 2012 Aoba Sho winner Fenomeno(JPN) who lost the Derby by a nose to Deep Brillante(JPN). This year two runners going to the Derby were both massive upsets. Sixth favorite Go for the Summit(JPN) won the race by an easy two lengths while seventh favorite Etario(JPN) won the photo for second over post time favorite Super Feather(JPN). Their popularity might not change much as they join an already impressive field of the country's best three-year-olds in the Derby at the end of May.
The first G1 race that allows three-year-olds to run against older horses is the 1600m G1 Yasuda Kinen in early June. So while it is possible we will see runners from the G2 New Zealand Trophy, G3 Arlington Cup or G1 NHK Mile participate, the G2 Milers Cup was the main prep this month for older horses looking to run next in the G1. There were only three four-year-olds in the race, and two of them proved to be much the best on the day. Sungrazer(JPN), who had won the 1400m G3 Swan Stakes last year, was the fourth favorite but won easily by 1¼ over Mozu Ascot(USA). Both colts are slated for a rematch in the Yasuda Kinen.
As usually is the case there was only one graded dirt race in April, and that was the 1800m G3 Antares Stakes, which saw the return of Great Pearl(JPN). After nearly a year off due to injury, the son of King Kamehameha(JPN) managed to remain undefeated over the dirt in six starts. His injury last May took the promising colt out the rest of the year but if he keeps his health Great Pearl(JPN) could be a true force to be reckoned with on the JRA dirt scene this year and next.
While not nearly as prolific as flat racing in Japan, each week there are always a couple of jumps races held at various tracks around Japan. Typically the JRA's 4th race will be a jumps race if the track has a jumps course and then there are a few graded stakes sprinkled throughout the year. While often left off normal G1 lists, the J-G1 Nakayama Grand Jump was very exciting this year as the 2016 and 2017 Champion Steeplechaser Oju Chosan(JPN) captured the race for a third year in a row in record time. Oju Chosan(JPN) has been undefeated since he first won the Nakayama Grand Jump in 2016 and this time extended his win streak to nine, including five J-G1s, three J-G2s, and a J-G3. He is the first Japanese horse to win the springtime J-G1 three time in a row and if his form holds until December he will add a new record of becoming the first horse ever both J-G1s (Nakayama Grand Jump in April and Nakayama Daishogai in December) three times in a row. He is already considered one of the greatest steeplechasers ever to run in Japan and shows no signs of slowing down.
All JRA graded stakes results and race replays are available on Japan Association for International Racing, and Stud Book (JAIRS)'s website: http://japanracing.jp/
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Satomi Oka (Ms)
Satomi Oka Bloodstock Pty Ltd
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