04 December, 2019
The fall G1 season got into high gear in October with the last legs of the triple crowns. There were also a couple of two-year-old races and some great races for older horses.
On October 5th, favorite Salios(JPN) by Heart's Cry(JPN) sat off the pace in the 1600m G3 Saudi Arabia Royal Cup at Tokyo Racecourse, one of several graded stakes for two-year-olds leading into championship season. He stalked pacesetter Absolutismo(JPN) by Daiwa Major(JPN) before getting into high gear down the stretch pulling clear of a late rallying Cravache d'Or(JPN) by Heart's Cry(JPN) as they neared the finish line to win by a length and a quarter. Absolutismo(JPN) held on a further three and a half lengths back for third.
The 1800m G2 Mainichi Okan at Tokyo Racecourse, this year on October 6th, is routinely one of the strongest G2s in the country, and while the gate was not full this time out, it was another deep renewal that saw half the gate taken up by G1 winners. As per her usual style, the big grey Kurofune(USA) filly, Aerolithe(JPN) broke fast and took the lead and set sharp fractions early on. However, unlike last year, when she wired the race, she was chased down by the highly regarded Danon Kingly(JPN), by Deep Impact(JPN), who won by a comfortable length and a quarter. G1 Yasuda Kinen winner Indy Champ(JPN), by Stay Gold(JPN), was back a further length and a quarter in third.
The 2400m G2 Kyoto Daishoten at Kyoto Racecourse on October 6th saw a significant upset when 11th favorite Dreadnoughtus(JPN) by Harbinger(GB) stalking of pacesetter Danburite(JPN) by Rulership(JPN) paid off and resulted in his second career graded stakes win by a length and a quarter. Danburite(JPN) was only 6th favorite, but he hung on for second and finished three-quarters of a length over a fast closing Shirvanshah(JPN) by Deep Impact(JPN) out of the Champion American Mare Azeri(USA).
On October 13th, the 2000m G1 Shuka Sho at Kyoto Racecourse was the final leg of the filly triple crown. While there was no Triple Crown on the line this year, the race was filled with very talented fillies with very bright futures. Chrono Genesis(JPN) had finished third twice in the other triple crown races, but the third time was the charm for this daughter of Bago(FR). She enjoyed the slight give in the turf after a week of rain and surged to win her first G1 title by two lengths. Curren Bouquetd'or(JPN), by Deep Impact(JPN), who had also finished second in the G1 Japanese Oaks over the summer, was hot on Chrono Genesis(JPN)'s heels but had to once again settle for second. Shigeru Pink Dia(JPN), by Daiwa Major(JPN), was second in the G1 Oka Sho back in April and despite closing like a freight train from the back of the pack, she was a length and a half a length back in third.
The 1800m G2 Fuchu Himba Stakes at Tokyo Racecourse on October 14th saw Scarlet Color(JPN) by Victoire Pisa(JPN) impress racegoers rallying from the back of the pack to win the G2 event by an indisputable length and a quarter. Six-year-old Frontier Queen(JPN), by Meisho Samson(JPN) rallied for second place, just getting past G1 winner Lucky Lilac(JPN) by Orfevre(JPN) by half a length to claim second. This race is often a prep-race for the G1 Queen Elizabeth II Cup in November.
The 1600m G3 Fuji Stakes at Tokyo Racecourse on October 19th saw the triumphant return of G1 Victoria Mile winner Normcore(JPN) by Harbinger(GB). She pulled up from her G1 triumph with a minor fracture and took the rest of the summer off to recover and came back in fantastic form to win the Fuji Stakes against male rivals including the four-year-old Leyenda(JPN) by King Kamehameha who was a half-length back in second and five-year-old mare Red Olga(JPN) by Deep Impact(JPN) was a head back third. Normcore(JPN) will run next in the G1 Hong Kong Mile in December.
On October 20th, the last leg of the Triple Crown, the 3000m G1 Kikuka Sho(Japanese St. Leger) at Kyoto Racecourse, was yet another domestic triple crown without a potential triple crown winner but yet again the overall quality of the race was not diminished. World Premiere(JPN) by Deep Impact(JPN) is the full brother to G2 winner and stallion World Ace(JPN) and increased his brother's value at stud significantly when crossing the finish line a neck ahead of impeccably bred Satono Lux(JPN) by Deep Impact(JPN) out of the hot broodmare Listen(IRE). Velox(JPN) by the promising young sire Just a Way(JPN) was second in the G1 Satsuki Sho(Japanese 2000 Guineas) and third in the G1 Japanese Derby. This time out too, he had to settle for third again in the G1 Kikuka Sho, a length behind Satono Lux(JPN).
The 1600m G3 Artemis Stakes at Tokyo Racecourse on October 26th was an early prep race for the G1 Hanshin Juvenile Fillies in December. Three amazingly bred fillies were the first three home in this newly minted graded stakes. Favorite Ria Amelia(JPN), by Deep Impact(JPN), made her backers proud as she charged home to catch the two pacesetters. Her dam, Ria Antonia(USA), won the Breeders Cup Juvenile Fillies back in 2013. Sanctuaire(JPN), by Deep Impact(JPN), was three fourth of a length back in second after having stalked the pace early on. She is a half-sister to dual G1 winner Yoshida(JPN) who just entered stud in the United States. Big Queen Bio(JPN) by the late King's Best(USA) is out of the talented race mare Animate Bio(JPN), who placed in multiple G1 races back in her day. All three are likely to meet again in the G1 Hanshin Juvenile Fillies in December.
The 1400m G2 Swan Stakes at Kyoto Racecourse on October 26th saw Lord Kanaloa(JPN) earn yet another graded stakes winner to in ever-growing stallion resume when Diatonic(JPN) charged from the back of the pack to get his nose in front of G1 winner Mozu Ascot(USA), by Frankel(GB) in the final few feet of the race to clinch it by a nose. It was a major effort by Mozu Ascot(USA), who has been trying hard to get back to his 2018 form, and for the first time in a long time, he showed some of his old brilliance despite having to settle for second place. My Style(JPN), by Heart's Cry(JPN) fought gallantly down the stretch against Mozu Ascot(JPN) but finished a neck back in third.
The 2000m G1 Tenno Sho Aki at Tokyo Racetrack on October 27th turned into the Almond Eye(JPN) show with the Champion filly coming back to the Japanese turf at full strength after a disappointing third-place finish in the G1 Yasuda Kinen back in June. The daughter of Lord Kanaloa(JPN)'s few months off brought her back, and she made it all look easy, destroying a solid field to win by three lengths. Danon Premium(JPN), by Deep Impact(JPN), who has been exceedingly unlucky this year, got up to finish second just a neck over pacesetter Aerolithe(JPN), by Kurofune(USA). Aerolithe(JPN), a miler at heart, set an excellent pace for Almond Eye(JPN) to feed off of in her first run of her fall campaign.
Japan also enjoyed a high profile foreign win in the 2400m G1 Caulfield Cup on October 19th at Caulfield Racecourse in Melbourne, Australia. Multiple G3 winner Mer De Glace(JPN), by Rulership(JPN) enjoyed a stormy day to make easy pickings of his Australian rivals to become only the second Japanese raider to win the prestigious Australian race after Admire Rakti(JPN), by Heart's Cry(JPN) won the race back in 2014.
This wasn't the only major international win for Japan in October, Lys Gracieux(JPN) by Heart's Cry(JPN) dominated the 2000m G1 Cox Plate at Mooney Valley Racecourse on October 26th in Australia. The talented filly make it look easy, saving ground in the back of the pack before swinging wide to hit the lead at the 100m mark and win handily by a length and a half.
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 Bloodstock Pty Ltd
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