17 September, 2019
Summer racing comes to an end as Japan moves into September's fall racing program. Here is a look back at the nine graded stakes races in the JRA during August.
The 1800m G3 Leopard Stakes over the Niigata Racecourse dirt track on August 4th made a lot of fans happy when a rare registered white thoroughbred, Hayayakko(JPN) by King Kamehameha(JPN) out of the all-white mare Marshmallow(JPN) got up to win. The Leopard Stakes, for three-year-olds, was the white colt's first graded stakes win, and the first graded stakes win in the JRA by an all-white thoroughbred. He broke sharp but ended up settling in the back of the pack during the majority of the nine-furlong race, and as they turned into the long Niigata straight, it almost looked hopeless for the flashy colt but about 300m left in the stretch he kicked into high gear on the outside and started his charge for home. He worked hard for the win and wore down multiple JPN1 placed Derma Louvre(JPN), by Pyro(USA), to win by a neck. Toyger(JPN), by Henny Hughes(USA), was a half a length back in third.
On August 4th, the 2000m G3 Kokura Kinen at Kokura Racecourse saw G1 Caulfield Cup-bound Mer de Glace(JPN), by Rulership(JPN) capture his third consecutive G3 win this year. Going to post as the favorite, he broke a little awkwardly, bumping another horse before he settled near the back of the pack. As they turned for home, the flashy colt went wide as they entered the stretch and mounted an impressive rally, effortlessly passing the rest of the field and holding off an equally remarkable closing run by Cadenas(JPN) by Deep Impact, to win by a neck. Noble Mars(JPN), by Jungle Pocket(JPN), was three-quarters of a length back in third. After three quality performances, the four-year-old colt was tapped to take on one of Australia's most prestigious races, the G1 Caulfield Cup in October.
The 1600m G3 Sekiya Kinen at Niigata Racecourse on August 11th showcased that even at six-years-old Mikki Glory(JPN)'s closing speed, inherited from the late Deep Impact(JPN) was just as prevalent as ever, though it took a while to kick into gear. Breaking slow, the old-timer was forced into the second to last position. As they turned into the long Niigata straight, the elder statesman was stuck behind a wall of horses, seemingly with nowhere to go until they were about 300m away from the finish when a very patient Christophe Lemaire angled his mount a bit to the outside and started to push him. It took several strides for the horse to get rolling by at the 100m mark he was flying past the other horses and won by a solid half a length in the thrilling renewal of Niigata's third to last graded stakes of the summer. Mieno Succeed(JPN), by Stay Gold(JPN), was second and So Glittering(JPN), by Stay Gold(JPN) a head back in third.
The 1700m G3 Elm Stakes over the Sapporo Racecourse dirt track on August 11th was for contestants three-year-old and up and it was five-year-old Mozu Attraction(JPN), by Jungle Pocket(JPN) finally secured his first graded stakes title. Slow out of the gate; he settled near the back of the pack as they moved into the first turn. As the neared the far turn, he started to gain momentum and started slowly inching up through the field be just a few lengths away from the front runners as they turned for home. The veteran racer made it look easy as he continued to pick off the remaining three runners in front of him and hit the wire a comfortable length and a half in front of the rest of the competition. Highland Peak(JPN), by Tosen Bright(JPN), was second and Satono Titan(JPN), by Symboli Kris S(USA) was another length and a quarter back in third.
The 1200m G3 Kitakyushu Kinen at Kokura Racecourse on August 18th is one of several sprint races that lead into the September 29th G1 Sprinters Stakes held at Nakayama racecourse. The race proved to be an upset when ninth favorite Daimei Princess(JPN), by King Halo(JPN) broke slowly from the outside and an unusually dramatic move and went from 11th position to first during the six-furlong trial. The mare swung wide in the final turn and charged down the center of the track to win by a solid length in front of three-year-old filly Dirndl(JPN), by Rulership(JPN). Aonbharr(JPN), by Lord Kanaloa(JPN) who ran even further back through the first part of the race put in a similarly impressive rally, channeling the impressive closing speed of her sire, but the four-year-old filly had to settle for third, only a neck behind Dirndl(JPN).
The 2000m G2 Sapporo Kinen at Sapporo Racecourse on August 18th was the highlight of the month with many of Japan's stars making their late summer debut after a month or more off. Four contenders were G1 winners, while from the six G2 winners in the race, four have placed in at least one G1 race, and another three horses have placed in graded stakes made this one of the most competitive races of the summer. Blast Onepeice(JPN), by Harbinger(GB) who is also G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe bound later this year made good use of this first run back, making up for two unusually disappointing runs earlier in the year. He sat mid-pack after the break and weaved through horses to chase down the talented Sungrazer(JPN), by Deep Impact(JPN) and got his neck in front to take the coveted prize. Fierement(JPN), by Deep Impact(JPN), who is also G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe bound made a massive rally at the end as well to finish a length back in third, but the stayer obviously will benefit from the extra 400m in France.
The 1600m G3 Niigata Nisai Stakes at Niigata Racecourse on August 25th was the second graded stakes race in the JRA for two-year-olds. Woman's Heart(JPN), by Heart's Cry(JPN), stayed perfect, breaking well, she settled mid-pack but moving into Niigata's long stretch. It took her a furlong to get going after she broke out from behind a wall of horses, but by the 200m mark, she was flying down the center of the track and wore down Pale Ale(JPN), by Daiwa Major(JPN) to win by a confident half a length. Big Queen Bio(JPN), by King's Best(USA) as a length and three quarters back in third.
The 1200m G3 Keeneland Cup at Sapporo Racecourse on August 25th was yet another prep race for the G1 Sprinters Stakes on September 29th. Danon Smash(JPN), by Lord Kanaloa(JPN), redeemed himself after a less than stellar finish in the G1 Takamatsunomiya Kinen in March. He was a victim of the contaminated supplement trouble the JRA had back in June, which ended in him and many others being scratched from the G3 Hakodate Sprint Stakes. Though he broke wide, he was sharp out of the gate and sat off the pace, biding his time and saving ground. As they turned for home, he swung wide working his way through the tiring front runners and catching last year's victor, Nac Venus(JPN), by Daiwa Major(JPN) who had tried her best to run away with the race again. He outsprinted the talented Tower of London(JPN), by Raven's Pass(USA) who was second by three-fourths of a length and Linate(JPN), by Stay Gold(JPN) who was only a nose further back in third. Danon Smash(JPN) will likely be one of the favorites in the fall's first G1, the Sprinters Stakes.
The 1800m G3 Sapporo Nisai Stakes at Sapporo Racecourse on August 31st was the third graded stakes for this year's crop of two-year-olds, and it turned into an exhibition for freshman sire Gold Ship(JPN) who's offspring finished one-two on the 1800m event. Eventual winner Black Hole(JPN) broke well and settled mid-pack before launching a massive challenge in the turn for home, swinging very wide and sprinting past his rivals to win by a comfortable length and three quarters. Second place Satono Gold(JPN)'s run was impressive in his own way, as the grey colt mimicked his sire in more ways than one. He broke dead last and ran in the back of the back during the majority of the race. He kicked into gear mid-turn, swinging wide down the stretch and closed like a rocket ending on a high note. Darlington Hall(GB), by New Approach(IRE), was another length and a quarter back in third.
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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