20 August, 2019
July is a pretty quiet month in the JRA as most of the G1 winning horses take the summer months to rest and prepare for a fall campaign, the month allows the rest of the horses to mature and gain graded stakes cred all their own.
The 2000m G3 Tanabata Sho at Fukushima Racecourse on July 7th saw the triumphant return to form of Mikki Swallow(JPN), a son of Tosen Homareboshi(JPN). After a disappointing 2018 where he tried his hand at a multitude of G1 and G2 races against some of the best horses in the country, the G2 winner in his own right could never get up there. While the cats are away during this summer season, the swallows will play, and that is precisely what Mikki Swallow(JPN) did. Though he broke slowly out of the gate and settled mid-pack early on, as they neared the third corner, he started to make his moved and never looked back. He came charging down the center of the track and pass the field with ease as they rounded the turn for home. Crescendo Love(JPN) by Stay Gold(JPN) made a gallant final sprint to catch him but finished 3/4 of a length behind in second with Lord Vent d'Or(JPN) by Daiwa Major(JPN) a further three lengths back in third.
In the 1400m G3 Procyon Stakes on July 7th at Chukyo Racecourse, the month's lone dirt graded stakes race, Arctos(JPN) by Admire Aura(JPN) captured his first graded stakes win of his career. He broke sharp and stalked the pace before moving to the inside to save ground. He positioned himself perfectly to run down a tiring Matera Sky(USA) to win by half a length over Mikki Wild(JPN) by Lord Kanaloa(JPN). Vengeance(JPN) by Casino Drive(USA) was two lengths back in third.
On July 14th in the 2000m G3 Hakodate Kinen saw five-year-old My Style(JPN) finally rose to the potential he has shown for a while to capture his first graded stakes win of his career. After three years of running in the money in various graded stakes, My Style(JPN) by Heart's Cry(JPN) broke on the lead and never looked back putting over a dozen lengths between him and the rest of the pack. He held off Meiner Fanrong(JPN) by Stay Gold(JPN) who stalked him the entire way and finished only a neck back in second. Stay Foolish(JPN) by Stay Gold(JPN) was a length and three quarters back in third.
The 1200m G3 Hakodate Nisai Stakes on July 21st at Hakodate Racecourse was the first two-year-old graded stakes race of the year. The most exciting part of this year's renewal was the impressive win by Bien Fait(JPN), by freshman sire Kizuna(JPN). Kizuna(JPN) was already leading the way of the freshman sires when his son Bien Fait(JPN) wired his first graded stakes race, but this early score took him to a whole new level. Bien Feit(JPN) went to the lead early and kept the field at bay the entire time to win by a length and three quarters. Taisei Vision(JPN) by Turtle Bowl(FR) came up from the back to the pack to finish second a length and a quarter ahead of Prince Return(JPN) by Strong Return(JPN) who finished third.
The 1600m G3 Chukyo Kinen at Chukyo Racecourse on July 21st had a strong full-field going into the gate. In the end, Groove It(JPN) by Lord Kanaloa(JPN) lived up to his blue-blooded breeding getting up to win by a nose. Sitting mid-pack Groove It(JPN) fought tooth and nail up the backstretch with other horses in the field to get to the finish line. His battle with Kurino Gaudi(JPN) by Screen Hero(JPN) lasted to the last moments of the race when in a photo finish, Groove it(JPN) was declared the winner. Primo Scene(JPN) by Deep Impact(JPN) was a neck back in third.
Mikki Charm(JPN) by Deep Impact(JPN) was second in the G1 Shuka Sho last October but came back this Spring to win the G2 Hanshin Himba Stakes. The four-year-old filly rebounded from her poor finish in the G1 Victoria Mile back in May with a win in the 1800m G3 Queen Stakes at Sapporo Racecourse on July 28th. Mikki Charm(JPN) stalked the pace throughout before making her move as they turned from home and she hit the front of the pack as they entered the stretch. From there she expertly sprinted away from the pack and had just enough left in the take to hold off Scarlet Color(JPN) by Victoire Pisa(JPN) by a neck. Caribbean Gold(JPN) by Stay Gold(JPN) was another head back in third.
The 1000m G3 Ibis Summer Dash on July 28th at Niigata Racecourse is the shortest race in the JRA graded stakes schedule and a uniquely run race as well. They start in a shoot-off the stretch and sprint towards the finish in a straight line. Lion Boss(JPN) by Battle Plan(USA) broke well but lost a bit of ground as he shifted to the far outside. Kappatsuhatchi(JPN) by Kinshasa no Kiseki(AUS) and Regina Forte(JPN) by Aldebaran(USA) went to the lead with Lion Boss(JPN) hot on their heels. Lion Boss(JPN) powered home to win by three-fourths of a length over Kappatsuhatchi(JPN). All Possible(JPN) by Daiwa Major(JPN) got up for third by a neck.
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
E-mail : satomi@bloodstock.jp
Tel : +61 414 414 450