25 December, 2019
The second to last month of the year sees the fall G1 season in full throttle culminating in the G1 Japan Cup at the end of the month, a race that sets all international eyes on Japanese racing.
There were two graded stakes races on November 2nd in the JRA; both were for two-year-olds. The 1400m G2 Keio Hai Nisai Stakes at Tokyo Racecourse saw the late Turtle Bowl(IRE) get his second JRA graded stakes winner when post time favorite Taisei Vision(JPN) stormed home to win by two lengths. He sat mid-pack for the first part of the race before making his move in the stretch and picked off his rivals with ease. Bien Fait(JPN) by Kizuna(JPN) was second with Varuna(JPN) by Epiphaneia(JPN) a further two lengths back in third.
The next graded stakes race of the day was the 1400m G3 Fantasy Stakes for fillies at Kyoto Racecourse. Resistencia(JPN) by Daiwa Major(JPN) made it look effortless as she stalked the pace during the majority of the race. She was only sixth favorite going into the gate, but she did not race that way, never being in any danger of losing the race even when favorite Magic Castle(JPN) by Deep Impact(JPN) made a huge in the stretch having to settle for second by one length. Second favorite Clear Sound(JPN) by Kizuna(JPN) was a neck back in third.
November 3rd also had two graded stakes races on, which included a dirt G3 and a G2 used as either a prep for the Japan Cup or the year-end Arima Kinen. The 1800m G3 Miyako Stakes at Kyoto Racecourse is the last prep for the G1 Champions Cup, previously the Japan Cup Dirt. This year's event was upset by the six-year-old Vengeance(JPN) by Casino Drive(USA) who made a drastic move in the final turn to come from the back of the pack to sit third as they came into the stretch where he soon took the lead and never looked back. He hung on to win by half a length over the determined closer King's Guard(JPN) by Sinister Minister(USA) and a relentless Westerlund(JPN) by Neo Universe(JPN), who was a neck back in third. This was the first graded stakes winner for the blue-blooded Casino Drive(USA) who is by Mineshaft(USA) out of 2007 Kentucky Broodmare of the Year Better than Honour(USA).
The 2500m G2 Copa Republica Argentina at Tokyo Racecourse has produced G1 Japan Cup winners in the past, so it is always a race to look out for. First home in this renewal was second favorite Muito Obrigado(JPN) by Rulership(JPN) stalked the pace throughout, saving ground in the inside, just behind the pacesetter, champion steeplechaser Oju Chosan(JPN) by Stay Gold(JPN). As the field turned for home, the jumping legend started to run out of steam, Muito Obrigado(JPN) got room to run and made his move to pull away by a length and a quarter. Taisei Trail(JPN) by Heart's Cry(JPN) worked his way up to come in second by a head over favorite African Gold(JPN) by Stay Gold(JPN).
On November 9th, the 1600m G2 Daily Hai Nisai Stakes at Kyoto Racecourse saw some top two-year-olds in the country come together as we near championship season. Third favorite Red Bel Jour(JPN) by Deep Impact(JPN) showed flashes of his late sire when he sprinted down the straight to win by a length and a half over Win Greatest(JPN) by Screen Hero(JPN). A tiring Pale Ale(JPN) by Daiwa Major(JPN) held tight for third by three-quarters of a length.
The 1600m G3 Musashino Stakes at Tokyo Racecourse on November 9th is a prep race for the 1800m G1 Champions Cup in December. The race was upset by ninth favorite Wonder Linder(JPN) by Statue of Liberty(USA), who stormed home from the back of the pack to easily beat G1 winner Time Flyer(JPN), by Heart's Cry(JPN), by a length and a quarter. Danon Face(JPN) by King Kamehameha(JPN) was half a length back in third.
On November 10th, the 2200m G1 Queen Elizabeth II Cup at Kyoto Racecourse enjoyed an incredibly strong renewal with multiple G1 and graded stakes winners loading into the gates. The heroine at the end, however, was Lucky Lilac(JPN) by Orfevre(JPN), who, after being crowned the champion two-year-old of her generation, had to compete against the legendary Almond Eye(JPN) and deal with some tension issues inherited from her father. Now nearly two years after she became a champion at two, she turned up the heat and won her second G1 race confidently by a length and a quarter. Crocosmia(JPN) by Stay Gold(JPN), always the bridesmaid held on for second after leading nearly all the way, and this year's G1 Japanese Oaks winner Loves Only You(JPN) by Deep Impact(JPN) was a neck back in third.
The 2000m G3 Fukushima Kinen on November 10th at Fukushima Racecourse saw favorite Crescendo Love(JPN) by Stay Gold(JPN) claim his first graded stakes victory. Breaking a bit slow, the five-year-old stalked Stay Foolish(JPN) by Stay Gold(JPN), and they even started making an early move together before entering the third corner. As they turned for home, Stay Foolish(JPN) looked ready to pounce but after bolting towards the inside at the top of the stretch, he lost some ground that took too long to get back into gear while Crescendo Love(JPN) rolled on in a straight line to win by length and a quarter over Stay Foolish(JPN). Mikki Swallow(JPN) by Tosen Homareboshi(JPN) was always a few steps behind the two throughout the race and ended up a neck back in third.
The 1800m G3 Tokyo Sports Hai Nisai Stakes on November 16th at Tokyo Racecourse saw the berth of a horse that could be an exciting colt to follow. The two-year-old Contrail(JPN) by Deep Impact(JPN) sat mid-pack during the race before exploding into gear just before the 400m pole and flew home to win by a shocking five lengths. A likely favorite as wet go into the two-year-old G1s this December, he could be one to look out for as he progresses with his career. Al Jannah(JPN) by Deep Impact(JPN) was second, and Rhinebeck(JPN) by Deep Impact(JPN) was third by a further four lengths.
The 1600m G1 Mile Championship on November 17th at Kyoto Racecourse is the last half of the dual G1 miles in the JRA. It is a rare event for a horse to win both the G1 Yasuda Kinen and the G1 Mile Championship, closing out each half of the year at the top. However, this year, the rarity blossomed in front of fans when Indy Champ(JPN) by Stay Gold(JPN), who dethroned Almond Eye(JPN) by Lord Kanaloa(JPN) in the G1 Yasuda Kinen back in June, put in an even more dominant performance. He broke sharp and ran behind the pace and sat comfortably in the fifth position till they opened up on the stretch, and he powered home to win by a comfortable length and a half over favorite Danon Premium(JPN) by Deep Impact(JPN). G1 winner Persian Knight(JPN) by Harbinger (GB) was third by a neck after an impressive closing kick.
The 2000m G3 Kyoto Nisai Stakes at Kyoto Racecourse on November 23rd usually leads into the 2000m G1 Hopeful Stakes at the end of the year versus the 1600m G1 Asahi Hai Futurity in mid-December. The top three favorites finished in order but very spread out over multiple lengths. Third favorite Roll of Thunder(JPN) by Epiphaneia(JPN) broke sharp and set the pace till the top of the stretch when second favorite Miyamazakura(JPN) by Deep Impact(JPN) were neck and neck battling for the lead before both were chased down by favorite My Rhapsody(JPN) by Heart's Cry(JPN) at the 100m pole to win by two lengths. Miyamazakura(JPN) was second with Roll of Thunder(JPN) three lengths back in third.
On November 24th, the 1200m G3 Keihan Hai bought together a strong band of sprinters at Kyoto Racecourse. Second favorite Right on Cue(JPN) by Shamardal(USA) got up to claim his first graded stakes win. He launched himself from mid-pack going wide and charged home to win by a length and three quarters. I love Tailor(JPN) by Tosen Ra(JPN) came charging from the back of the pack to finish second with Karakurenai(JPN) by Lohengrin(JPN) held on a half a length back in third.
The main event on November 24th was the 2400m G1 Japan Cup at Tokyo Racecourse, where they held the first-ever renewal of the race without a foreign raider, but a spectacular field of international jockeys. A yielding course left the field wide open, but a smart ride by Oisin Murphy put Suave Richard(JPN) by Heart's Cry(JPN) back in the winners' circle for the first time after over a year in a half. He sat mid-pack and moved expertly on the rail to catch a super game Curren Bouquetd'or(JPN) by Deep Impact(JPN) at the wire to win by three-quarters of a length. A charging Wagnerian(JPN) by Deep Impact(JPN) got up to be a length and a half back in third.
On November 30th there were two more graded stakes that month including the 2000m G3 Challenge Cup where young sire Just a Way(JPN) finally got his first graded stakes winner with an impressive rally by three-year-old Lord My Way(JPN) who overcame a slow start to get his head in front for the win. Triomphe(JPN) by Turtle Bowl(IRE) lead the whole way around the Hanshin Racecourse only to be caught in the final strides. Breathtaking(JPN) by Deep Impact(JPN) got up to be third by half a length.
The 3600m G2 Stayers Stakes is the longest graded stakes in the JRA, held at Nakayama Racecourse. On November 30th, Deep Impact(JPN) got yet another graded stakes winner with the upset win of Mondo Intero(JPN) by three-quarters of a length. A poor start hampered favorite Albert(JPN) by Admire Don(JPN) chances to win the race and had him near the back of the pack for the majority of the race. He did his best to chase down Mondo Intero(JPN), but he did manage to get a length infant of tiring pacesetter A Shin Click(JPN) by Rulership(JPN).
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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