26 July, 2021
June brings the end of the Spring and Summertime G1 race bonanza in the JRA but has two of the most anticipated races of the year. The G1 Yasuda Kinen and the G1 Takarazuka Kinen bring with them the best of the sprinter/milers and the best middle-distance runners/stayers together for renewals that are always fan favorites. Also, in June, two-year-old racing starts in the JRA, and the next generation of stars begin to make their accent.
In the 2000m, G3 Naruo Kinen at Chukyo Racecourse on June 5th, Unicorn Lion(IRE) gave his sire No Nay Never(USA) his first Japanese graded stakes winner. Unicorn Lion(IRE) broke sharp and immediately went to the lead and never looked back. He pulled away from the field to win by three and a half lengths. Shonan Bardi(JPN) by King's Best(USA) was second after chasing the winner the entire way around the track. G1 winner Blast Onepiece(JPN) by Harbinger(GB) was three-quarters of a length back in third.
The 1600m G1 Yasuda Kinen at Tokyo Racecourse on June 6th ended in an upset when eighth favorite Danon Kingly(JPN) by Deep Impact(JPN) got to the wire before overwhelming favorite Gran Alegria(JPN) also by Deep Impact(JPN). The two-time graded stakes winner Danon Kingly(JPN) had shown a lot of promise over the past few years, placing in three different G1 races, so it was only a matter of time before dark bay colt finally snagged one for himself. The final furlong was a mad dash for the finish line, multiple G1 winner Gran Alegria(JPN) was second by a head while G1 NHK Mile Cup winner Schnell Meister(GER) by Kingman(GB) was a half-length back in third.
In the 1800m, G3 Epsom Cup at Tokyo Racecourse on June 13th, Zadar(JPN) gave his sire Tosen Ra(JPN) his first graded stakes winner. He settled mid-pack and stayed there until the stretch, where he launched into a powerful stretch drive and confidently held off other challengers. Satono Flag(JPN) by Deep Impact(JPN) was a neck back in second after working his way up from the back of the pack. Falconia(JPN), also by Deep Impact(JPN), who also worked his way up from the back, was a further length and a quarter back in third.
Bien Fait(JPN) by Kizuna(JPN) gave his sire his fourth graded stakes winner of the year when he wired the 1200m G3 Hakodate Sprint Stakes at Sapporo Racecourse on June 13th. The gelding broke fast and had just enough in the tank to hold on to win his second graded stakes. Curren Moe(JPN), the daughter of two champion sprinters, Lord Kanaloa(JPN) and Curren Chan(JPN), chased Bien Fait(JPN) all the way around but came up a neck short in the end. Mikki Brillante(JPN) by Deep Brillante(JPN) was a nose back in third.
The 1600m G3 Unicorn Stakes over the dirt course at Tokyo Racecourse on June 20th saw an upset when Smasher(JPN) by Majestic Warrior(USA) worked his way up from mid-pack capture his first graded stakes title. The young colt made a massive move in the stretch coming from far back and quickly passed the rest of the field to win by a length. Ca Va(JPN) by I'll Have Another(USA), who had stalked the pace all the way, held on for second. Keiai Lovage(JPN) by Henny Hughes(USA) came from the back of the pack to be another length back in third.
In the 2000m, G3 Mermaid Stakes at Hanshin Racecourse on June 20th, Kizuna(JPN) got his second graded stakes winner of the month and fifth of the year when Shamrock Hill(JPN) wired the race. She managed to hold off the fast-closing Clavel(JPN) by Epiphaneia(JPN), who had come from the back of the pack by a neck. Shadow Diva(JPN) by Heart's Cry(JPN) had been just off the pace and managed to hang on by a neck to be third.
The 2200m G1 Takarazuka Kinen at Hanshin Racecourse on June 27th saw the glorious return of Chrono Genesis(JPN) by Bago(FR). The stunning grey mare started her year with a runner-up effort in the G1 Dubai Sheema Classic at the end of March. She seems to have come back from Dubai in fantastic condition, winning easily by two and a half lengths. She stalked the pacesetters around the track before launching into high gear mid-stretch and pulling away. Unicorn Lion(IRE) by No Nay Never(USA) broke sharp and lead for the majority of the race. The second favorite, Lei Papale(JPN) by Deep Impact(JPN), had been stalking him most of the way and made a move at the top of the stretch to challenge him, and the two got into a duel as they sprinted for the goal. Chrono Genesis(JPN) moved a bit towards the outside and overtook the dueling pair at the 100m mark, and continued to pull away as she crossed the wire. Unicorn Lion(IRE) came out on top of his stretch duel, finishing second. Lei Papale(JPN), who had been undefeated until now, was a neck back in third. Chrono Genesis(JPN) became the first mare to win three Grand Prix races in succession(the Arima Kinen and Takarazuka Kinen are considered Grand Prix races in Japan). Only two other horses in Japanese racing history have managed multiple runnings of the Arima Kinen and Takarazuka Kinen back to back, Speed Symboli(JPN) in 1969/70, and Grass Wonder(USA) in 1998/99.
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
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