20 July, 2021
The fifth month of the year is always one of the most exciting, with a G1 one race every weekend. May includes races that bring to the forefront nearly every top horse Japan has to offer and bring about new stars of the Turf with the Oaks and Derby.
The 2400m G2 Aoba Sho at Tokyo Racecourse on May 1st was a Japanese Derby trial where the first two finishers gain an automatic berth into the G1 Japanese Derby on May 30th. As the field raced down Tokyo's long stretch, two colts burst from the pack, both digging deep, hoping for a win. Kingston Boy(JPN) by Duramente(JPN) and Wonderful Town(JPN) by Rulership(JPN) both darted for the lead, and it looked like Kingston Boy(JPN) might have had an advantage due to his inside positioning, but Wonderful Town(JPN) dug deep to get his nose in front for a photo finish. Red Velocity(JPN) by World Ace(JPN) was a neck back in third.
The 3200m G1 Tenno Sho Spring at Hanshin Racecourse on May 2nd is usually held at Kyoto Racecourse, but this year that track is under construction. 2019 G1 Kikuka Sho(Japanese St. Leger) winner World Premiere(JPN) by Deep Impact(JPN) proved he still had what it took to perform on the big stage after an injury kept him off the track for much of 2020. He broke well and sat mid-pack for most of the stamina trial, biding his time until the finish. The pace was strong in the race, setting up the five-year-old to start making up a little ground as they turned for home. He swung wide in the stretch and caught up with the favorite Deep Bond(JPN) by Kizuna(JPN). They two dueled briefly, but World Premiere(JPN) held him off gamely to win by three-quarters of a length and set a new course record in the process. Deep Bond(JPN) was second, and Curren Bouquetd'or(JPN) by Deep Impact(JPN) had to settle for third by two lengths.
In the 2200m, G2 Kyoto Shimbun Hai at Chukyo Racecourse on May 8th, Red Genesis(JPN) by Deep Impact(JPN) denied Lupercalia(JPN) by Maurice(JPN) his first graded stakes victory and, in turn, claimed his own. Lupercalia(JPN) is the half-brother to G1 winners Epiphaneia(JPN), Leontes(JPN), and Saturnalia(JPN) and took the lead right from the start. Up until the final furlong, he looked like he was set up well to win the race, with a significant lead over the rest of the field, but Red Genesis(JPN) chased him down during those final 200m to win by three-quarters of a length. Machaon d'Or(JPN) by Gold Ship(JPN) was third by another three quarters of a length.
The 2000m G3 Niigata Daishoten at Niigata Racecourse on May 9th saw an impressive run by Sanrei Pocket(JPN) by Jungle Pocket(JPN) when the six-year-old came blazing from the back of the pack and hold off favorite Potager(JPN) by Deep Impact(JPN). Sanrei Pocket(JPN) settled into the back of the pack for the early stages of the race before mounting his closing kick to come from 10th position, holding off all others to win his first graded stakes title. Potager(JPN) rallied the best he could, but he couldn't catch the winner finishing a neck back in second. Satono Saltus(JPN) by Deep Impact(JPN) chased the pace throughout and held on by a neck to finish third.
German-bred Schnell Meister(GER) by Kingman(GB) rallied in the 1600m G1 NHK Mile Cup at Tokyo Racecourse on May 9th to get his nose in front to win his first G1. The colt was the second favorite at post time due to an impressive runner-up effort in the G2 Yayoi Sho two months prior. He rallied from mid-pack and chasing Songline(JPN) by Kizuna(JPN), who showed an impressive turn of foot to put away the competition around him. Songline(JPN) gave Schnell Meister(GER) the target he needed to rally himself, and they hit the wire together, with Schnell Meister(GER) getting his nose across the line first. Grenadier Guards(JPN) by Frankel(GB) was two and a half lengths back in third.
The 1400m G2 Keio Hai Spring Cup at Tokyo Racecourse on May 15th saw favorite Lauda Sion(JPN) by Real Impact(JPN), last year's G1 NHK Mile Cup winner, back in the winner's circle for the first time in a year. He ran in the second position throughout the early stages of the race, stalking the pace before taking the lead with about 100m to go. The G1 winner held off a fast closing Travesura(JPN) by Dream Journey(JPN) by a neck. Kaiser Minoru(JPN) by Lord Kanaloa(JPN) was a length and a quarter back in third.
The 1600m G1 Victoria Mile at Tokyo Racecourse on May 16th always attracts the best fillies and mares in the country, and this year was no different. There wasn't much between the field as they crossed the finish except for the fact that the winner, Gran Alegria(JPN) by Deep Impact(JPN), crossed the wire four lengths ahead of everyone else. The nearly odds on favorite mare was just too much for the rest of them as she launched into overdrive in the stretch and flashed her now-signature burst of speed, showing she is in a true class of her own. Rambling Alley(JPN) by Deep Impact(JPN) was second, and Magic Castle(JPN) by Deep Impact(JPN) was a neck back in third.
In the 1900m G3 Heian Stakes over the dirt course at Chukyo Racecourse on May 22nd, Auvergne(JPN) by Smart Falcon(JPN) blew past pacesetter American Seed(USA) by Tapit(USA). Auvergne(JPN) was stalking the pace early on in the race but took over with about 250m to go and proceed to put a further six lengths between himself and American Seed(USA) by the time he crossed the wire. American Seed(USA) was second, and Marche Lorraine(JPN) by Orfevre(JPN) was a length and a half in third.
The 2400m G1 Yushun Himba(Japanese Oaks) at Tokyo Racecourse on May 23rd had a bitter-sweet finish this year when Uberleben(JPN) by Gold Ship(JPN) solidly won the race by a length. A few months prior, Shigeyuki Okada, one of the most prolific owner/breeders in Japan for decades, passed away at 71. His farm, Big Red Farm, bred the Classic winner. The mare was homebred, and the stallion, Gold Ship(JPN), even stands at Mr. Okada's stud farm. The filly, running under his racing club colors, gave his family a bust of happiness and fond memories as decades of dreams brought their loved one to life for one brief shining moment. Uberleben(JPN) bided her time in the back of the pack before moving towards mid-pack as the field turned for home. She worked her way up towards the lead down the stretch, launched into high gear just past the 200m, and pulled away to win by a length. Akaitorino Musume(JPN) by Deep Impact(JPN) was second, and Hagino Pilina(JPN) by Kizuna(JPN) was third by a nose.
In the 2400m, G1 Tokyo Yushun(Japanese Derby) at Tokyo Racecourse on May 30th Shahryar(JPN) by Deep Impact(JPN) posted a mild upset, getting his nose in front of the overwhelming favorite G1 Satsuki Sho(Japanese 2000 Guineas) winner Efforia(JPN) by Epiphaneia(JPN). Shahryar(JPN) sat mid-pack throughout the mile and a half race, and at the 200m mark, it looked like Efforia(JPN) on his way to a second classic title. Shahryar(JPN) weaved his way through the pack and took aim at the favorite, and they hit the wire together, with Shahryar(JPN) winning the photo finish. Stella Veloce(JPN) by Bago(FR) was a length and a quarter back in third.
The 2500m G2 Meguro Kinen at Tokyo Racecourse on May 30th have stallion Gold Ship(JPN) his third graded stakes winner when Win Kiitos(JPN) upset the field to win by a decisive two lengths. He stalked the pace throughout the race before pulling away and winning easily. Heat on Beat(JPN) by King Kamehameha(JPN) worked his way up from mid-pack to finish second. Admire Alba(JPN) by Heart's Cry(JPN), who had been stalking the pace as well, held on to finish third a further length and three quarters back.
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/.
Please contact our representative below for further details:
Satomi Oka (Ms)
Satomi Oka Bloodstock Pty Ltd
E-mail : satomi@bloodstock.jp
Tel : +61 414 414 450