26 October, 2021
As summer racing comes to an end, the fall season gears up for a string of G1s that will start in October, leading to the end of the 2021 racing calendar.
The 1800m G3 Sapporo Nisai Stakes on September 4th at Sapporo Racecourse was won by Geoglyph(JPN) by hot young sire Drefong(USA). He settled near the back of the pack early on before making his move as the field went into the turn. He quickly passed the pacesetters as they got into the stretch and surged forward to win by an impressive four lengths. Ask Wild More(JPN) by Kizuna(JPN) was second, and Tosen Vanno(JPN) by Vanquish Run(JPN) was another length and a half back in third.
In the 2000m, G3 Niigata Kinen on September 5th at Niigata Racecourse Meiner Fanrong(JPN) by Stay Gold(JPN) posted a major upset when he charged down the extreme far outside rail to get his first graded stakes win. The race proceeded ordinarily enough, but as the field turned for home, the field stretched out across the entire width of the turf course, leading the last few furlongs of the race to be a mad dash to the finish. Meiner Fanrong(JPN) had been in the back of the pack for most of the race and was maneuvered to the outside rail to make his closing charge. In the final few meters, he was able to get a half a length lead as he crossed the wire. Tosen Surya(JPN) by Lohengrin(JPN) was second, and Clavel(JPN) by Epiphaneia(JPN) was just a nose back in third.
The 1200m G3 Kokura Nisai Stakes on September 5th at Kokura Racecourse ended with a Mikki Isle(JPN) exacta when two of his daughters hit the line first. Namura Clair(JPN) sat mid-pack during the initial stages of the sprint before swinging wide and drawing clear of the field in the stretch to win by two lengths. Sri Pada(JPN) was in second while Anegohada(JPN) by Kizuna(JPN) was a further length and a quarter back in third.
The 2000m G3 Shion Stakes on September 11th at Nakayama Racecourse was a G1 Shuka Sho Trial race where the first three home get automatic entry into the last fillies classic race. Fine Rouge(JPN) by Kizuna(JPN) settled into the sixth position early on, but despite having to swing wide in the turn for home, the filly was able to find another gear and pull away to win by a length and three quarters. Through Seven Seas(JPN) by Dream Journey(JPN) was second, and Miss Figaro(JPN) by Deep Impact(JPN) was a nose back in third.
The 1600m G3 Keisei Hai Autumn Handicap on September 12th at Nakayama Racecourse had a mild upset when the seventh favorite Catedral(JPN) by Heart's Cry(JPN) rallied from mid-pack to win his first graded stakes race. The five-year-old started far back in the 12th position but was able to maneuver his way into the middle throughout the race. He was able to weave through the pack and chase down pacesetter Contra Check(JPN) by Deep Impact(JPN) and get his neck in front at the wire. Grenadier Guards(JPN) by Frankel(GB) was half a length back in third.
The 1200m G2 Centaur Stakes on September 12th at Chukyo Racecourse is a crucial step race for the first G1 of the fall season, the G1 Sprinters Stakes, in early October. Champion Resistencia(JPN) by Daiwa Major(JPN) showed her talents against the males, stalking the pace throughout and holding off the talented young Pixie Knight(JPN) by Maurice(JPN) to win by a neck. Kurino Gaudi(JPN) by Screen Hero(JPN) was a length and a quarter back in third.
The 2000m G2 Rose Stakes on September 19th at Chukyo Racecourse was a G1 Shuka Sho Trial race where the first three home get automatic entry into the last fillies classic race. A Shin Hiten(JPN) by A Shin Hikari(JPN) took off like a rocket at the start, taking a commanding lead. She worked hard to hold onto that lead in the stretch but ultimately, Andvaranaut(JPN) by King Kamehameha(JPN) caught up to her to finish a length and a quarter in front. A Shin Hiten(JPN) held on for second, and Art de Vivre(JPN) by King Kamehameha(JPN) was a half-length back in third.
The 2200m G2 St. Lite Kinen on September 20th at Nakayama Racecourse was a Japanese St. Leger Trial race where the first three home get automatic entry into the last classic race. Asamano Itazura(JPN) by Victoire Pisa(JPN) posted a mild upset when the ninth favorite charged from the back of the pack to get his neck in front in the final strides. So Valiant(JPN) by Orfevre(JPN) was second, and Orthoclase(JPN) by Epiphaneia(JPN) was a further length and three quarters back in third.
In the 2200m G2 All Comers on September 26th at Nakayama Racecourse, there was an owner exacta with Win Marilyn(JPN) and Win Kiitos(JPN) finished one-two both for owner Win Co. Ltd.. Win Marilyn(JPN) by Screen Hero(JPN) already had two G2 wins under her belt and was second in last year's G1 Japanese Oaks. She stalked the pace early on, biding her time till it was about a furlong left to go before she switched into high gear, threaded her way through horses, and went on to win by a length and a half. Win Kiitos(JPN) by Gold Ship(JPN) inched her way up from further off the pace to capture second a neck over G1 winner Glory Vase(JPN) by Deep Impact(JPN).
The 2200m G2 Kobe Shimbun Hai on September 26th at Chukyo Racecourse was a Japanese St. Leger Trial race where the first three home get automatic entry into the last classic race. Stella Veloce(JPN) by Bago(FR) had pondered the possibility of traveling to the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe earlier in the year but decided to stay home and focus on trying to win the final leg of the Triple Crown instead. He proved his connections decision a wise won when he sloshed his way to victory in this vital prep race. He rated near the back of the pack for almost the entirety of the race, then weaved his way through the pack to duel it out with Red Genesis(JPN) by Deep Impact(JPN). The two colts fought it out during the final 100m, but Stella Veloce(JPN) still managed to pull ahead to win by a confident half a length. Red Genesis(JPN) was second, and Monte Dio(JPN) by Just a Way(JPN) was another three lengths back in third.
Abroad, Deep Bond(JPN) by Kizuna(JPN) made waves when he wired the G2 Prix Foy on September 12th on his path to participate in the G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe on October 3rd in France.
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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