04 November, 2020
The Autumn racing season has begun in Japan, and many of the country's top horses are coming back to prepare for the second half of the JRA's G1 schedule, which resumes in October.
On September 5th, the 1800m G3 Sapporo Nisai Stakes at Sapporo Racecourse history was made when Sodashi(JPN) by Kurofune(USA) became the first registered white thoroughbred to win a JRA turf graded stakes race. Her close relation, Hayayakko(JPN) by King Kamehameha(JPN), won the G3 Leopard Stakes last summer over the dirt, becoming the first registered white thoroughbred ever to win a JRA graded stakes in general. The offspring of Shirayukihime(JPN) by Sunday Silence(USA) have been fan favorites since the white mare started producing white offspring. Many of them, like Yukichan(JPN) by Kurofune(USA) and Buchiko(JPN) by King Kamehameha(JPN), also the dam of Sodashi(JPN), became world-famous on top of also being good racehorses. The white genes have spread to the next generation, and so has the ability to run. The brilliant white filly sat off the pace early on before starting to make her move in the turn where she hit the lead. She held off a desperate charge from Uberleben(JPN) by Gold Ship(JPN) to win by a neck setting a course record in the process. Bathrat Leon(JPN) by Kizuna(JPN) was a length and three quarters.
The 2000m G3 Niigata Kinen at Niigata Racecourse on September 6th ended in a blueblooded one-two finish when Bravas(JPN) got his head in front of a resilient Jinambo(JPN). Jinambo(JPN) is the son of two triple crown winners Deep Impact(JPN) and Apapane(JPN). He took the lead from the get-go, and despite being challenged multiple times by several horses, he was able to dig deep to stay in front. However, on the far outside, Bravas(JPN), who is the son of Derby winner King Kamehameha(JPN) and multiple G1 winner Verxina(JPN), closed late to catch the front runner at the wire. Sanrei Pocket(JPN) by Jungle Pocket(JPN) was a neck back in third.
Also, on September 6th, was the 1200m G3 Kokura Nisai Stakes at Kokura Racecourse. Meikei Yell(JPN) by freshman sire Mikki Isle(JPN) sat mid-pack early on and swung very wide, going around the far turn. From about the 200m pole, it was a match race between Meikei Yell(JPN) and Mondreise(JPN) by Daiwa Major(JPN), but Meikei Yell(JPN) powered past her rival in the final six strides of the race to win by a length and a quarter. She gave her sire Mikki Isle(JPN) his first graded stakes winner. Fodla(JPN) by Lord Kanaloa(JPN) was four lengths back in third.
On September 12th, the 2000m G3 Shion Stakes at Nakayama Racecourse was one of two Shuka Sho prep races held this month. Maltese Diosa(JPN) by Kizuna(JPN) posted a slight upset to capture her second graded stakes victory. She stalked the pace in second position before taking the lead at the top of the stretch to win by a comfortable length and a quarter. Pallas Athena(JPN) by Rulership(JPN) was second, and Season's Gift(JPN) by Epiphaneia(JPN) was a neck back in third.
On September 13th, the 1600m G3 Keisei Hai Autumn Handicap at Nakayama Racecourse, the ladies took the first two spots home against the boys. Trois Etoiles(JPN) by Lord Kanaloa(JPN), who won this race last year as well, got her nose in front of the persistent front runner Smile Kana(JPN) by Deep Impact(JPN). Smile Kana(JPN) kept rebuking any small move forward made by Trois Etoiles(JPN) during the final two furlongs, but she got caught in the final strides. Bom Servico(JPN) by Daiwa Major was a nose back in third.
The 1200m G2 Centaur Stakes at Chukyo Racecourse also on September 13th was the final prep race for the G1 Sprinters Stakes in October. Danon Smash(JPN) by Lord Kanaloa(JPN) sixth graded stakes title making him one of the like favorites in next months G1. He broke sharp and stalked the pace set by 2017 G1 Takamatsunomiya Kinen winner Seiun Kosei(JPN) by Admire Moon(JPN). At the 200m mark, the colt launched into a powerful stretch run and pulled away to win by an easy length. Meisho Glocke(JPN) by Meisho Samson(JPN) was second, and Mr Melody(USA) by Scat Daddy(USA) was a neck back in third.
On September 20th, the 2000m G2 Rose Stakes at Chukyo Racecourse was the last prep race for G1 Shuka Sho in October. The filly everyone wants to see, Daring Tact(JPN), undefeated after having won both the G1 Oka Sho and the G1 Japanese Oaks, will head straight into the G1 Shuka Sho next month without a prep. However, this race gave some insight into those looking to dethrone the new queen of Japanese racing. The biggest threat honors are likely to go to the winner of this race; Ria Amelia(JPN) by Deep Impact(JPN) dominated her fellow three-year-olds winning by a resounding two lengths. She sat in second position the entire way around before she turned it up a notch and took off. Musica(JPN) by Epiphaneia(JPN) was second, and Oh My Darling(JPN) by Deep Impact(JPN) was a length and a quarter back in third.
On September 21st, the 2200m G2 St. Lite Kinen at Nakayama Racecourse is the second to last prep race for the G1 Kikuka Sho(Japanese St. Leger) next month, the last being the G2 Kobe Shimbun Hai. Babbitt(JPN) by Nakayama Festa(JPN) took the lead and never looked back, winning by a length and a half. This was the colt's second graded stakes win this year, making him one that Contrail(JPN) will have to chase down in next month's final leg of the Triple Crown. Satono Flag(JPN) by Deep Impact(JPN) was second, and Galore Creek(JPN) by Kinshasa no Kiseki(AUS) was a half-length back in third.
The 2200m G2 All-Comers at Nakayama Racecourse on September 27th can be a prep for the G1 Tenno Sho in October, the G1 Japan Cup in November, or both. Five-year-old mare Centelleo(JPN) by Deep Impact(JPN) posted a mild upset over popular filly Curren Bouquetd'or (JPN) also by Deep Impact(JPN). Centelleo(JPN) sat near the back of the pack for most of the race before swinging wide in the turn for home. Curren Bouquetd'or (JPN) had taken the lead shortly after entering the stretch and looked much the winner, but Centelleo(JPN) found her stride in the last 100m and caught her at the wire to win by a nose, earning her first graded stakes win. Stay Foolish(JPN) by Stay Gold(JPN) was a length and a quarter back in third.
Also, on September 27th, the 2200m G2 Kobe Shimbun Hai at Chukyo Racecourse is where Triple Crown hopeful Contrail(JPN) made his first start of the fall season. It turned out to be a master performance, the kind we have come to expect from the near-black son of Deep Impact(JPN), winning by convincing two lengths over his rivals. Breaking from the inside, he took cover on the rail and settle back into the middle of the pack, a little further back than he had been in previous races. Despite not getting space early on, his jockey Yuichi Fukunaga stayed calm and waited for his moment to strike. That moment came at the 400m mark, and he launched into gear, and once he had pulled clear of the pack, Fukunaga showed him the whip twice, and the gap widened, and he effortlessly galloped home needing no more encouragement to maintain a commanding lead. This leaves Contrail(JPN) in a position to become the first undefeated triple crown champion since his father in 2005. Weltreisende(JPN) by Dream Journey(JPN) was second, and Robertson Quay(JPN) by Rulership(JPN) was 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
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