21 February, 2022
Another year of JRA racing began strong despite the still raging pandemic.
In the G3 2000m, Nakayama Kimpai at Nakayama Racecourse on January 5th fourth favorite Red Galant(JPN) posted a slight upset when he stormed home to capture his first graded stakes title of his career. The son of Lord Kanaloa(JPN) sat off the pace early on after breaking sharply. He launched into a powerful closing drive to pull away and win by two and a half lengths in the stretch. Scar Face(JPN) by Heart's Cry(JPN) was second, and Heat on Beat(JPN) by King Kamehameha(JPN) was a neck back in third.
There was another upset in the G3 1600m Kyoto Kimpai at Chukyo Racecourse on January 5th. Seventh favorite Zadar(JPN) by Tosen Ra(JPN) came storming down the stretch from the back of the pack to win his second graded stakes of his career. Daiwa Cagney(JPN) by King Kamehameha(JPN) was a length back in second, and Kaiser Minoru(JPN) by Lord Kanaloa(JPN) was a further head back in third.
In the G3 1600m, Shinzan Kinen at Chukyo Racecourse on January 9th fourth favorite Matenro Orion(JPN) by Daiwa Major(JPN) dug deep to earn his first graded stakes title. The colt stalked the pace early in the race, and as the field passed the 400m mark, he skimmed the inside rail to snag the lead. He had a solid lead until the final 100m when Solitario(JPN) by Maurice(JPN) pushed hard to try to take the race from him. Matenro Orion(JPN) held fast and won by a neck. Solitario(JPN) was second and Red Belle Ame(JPN) by Heart's Cry(JPN) a length and three quarters back in third.
There was also a mild upset in the G3 1600m Fairy Stakes at Nakayama Racecourse on January 10th when fifth favorite Lilac(JPN) by Orfevre(JPN) got up to win her first graded stake race. The filly started near the back of the pack in the first stages of the race. She went around the far turn wide and came charging down the center of the track to get her neck in front by the finish. Stars on Earth(JPN) by Duramente(JPN) had been off the pace early on and got caught at the wire to finish second. Bijou Noir(JPN) by Kitasan Black(JPN) swooped up from the back of the pack to finish a length and a quarter back in third.
In the G3 2000m, Aichi Hai at Chukyo Racecourse on January 15th Ruby Casablanca(JPN) by King Kamehameha(JPN) posted a major upset when she won as the seventh favorite. The mare was near the back of the pack for the early parts of the race stuck on the inside rail. As the field entered the stretch, the majority of the horses went wide, opening up a straight path for Ruby Casablanca(JPN) to make a strong stretch drive. She hit the lead at about the 100m mark and held on to win by a head. Maria Elena(JPN) by Kurofune(USA) dug deep to give the winner a run for her money but had to settle for second. Des Ailes(JPN) by Deep Impact(JPN) was another neck back in third.
The G3 2000m Keisei Hai at Nakayama Racecourse on January 16th is one of the first significant preps for the classic season, with past classic winners having participated and won it. Eishin Flash(JPN) won this race back in 2010, so it is fitting that his son Onyankopon(JPN) would win it this year. For the first half, he was mid-pack before losing some initial ground to find himself a little further back as the field entered the stretch. He found space to swing wide into the stretch and launched into a powerful stretch drive to pull away from the field and win by a length and a quarter. Logi Harbin(JPN) by Harbinger(GB) was second, and Verona City(JPN) by Epiphaneia(JPN) was another length and a quarter back in third.
In the G2 2200m Nikkei Shinshun Hai at Chukyo Racecourse on January 16th, Yoho Lake(JPN) by Deep Impact(JPN) finally found his way back to the winners' circle after a fruitless 2021. He sat mid-pack throughout the race, and as they entered the stretch, he chased down favorite Stella Veloce(JPN) by Bago(FR) and held him off to win by three-quarters of a length. Stella Veloce(JPN) was second, and Yashamaru(JPN) by Kizuna(JPN) was three lengths back in third.
In the G2 1800m Tokai Stakes on dirt at Chukyo Racecourse on January 23rd, Suave Aramis(JPN) by Heart's Cry(JPN) upset favorite Auvergne(JPN) by Smart Falcon(JPN) in the final strides. Seventh favorite Suave Aramis(JPN) has a pair of G3 wins spread over the past two years, so this was a step up for the seven-year-old. He broke well but was overtaken by the rest of the field and had to settle in along the rail back in the tenth position. As the field turned for home, he was able to angle off the rail and find an opening in the middle of the track, where he mounted a massive closing run. He chased down Auvergne(JPN) to win by half a length. Bullbear Iride(JPN) by Kinshasa no Kiseki(AUS) got up by a length and a quarter for third.
In the G2 2200m, American Jockey Club Cup at Nakayama Racecourse on January 23rd, King of Koji(JPN) by Lord Kanaloa(JPN) earned his second graded stakes title of his career. He settled down in the back of the pack for the majority of the race after rearing at the start. He angled wide as they turned for home and charged down the center of the track to win by a comfortable length and a half. Meiner Fanrong(JPN) by Stay Gold(JPN) was second, and Boccherini(JPN) by King Kamehameha(JPN) was half a length back in third.
The G3 1400m Negishi Stakes on dirt at Tokyo Racecourse on January 30th saw T M South Dan(JPN) by South Vigorous(USA) win his first graded stakes of his career. He sat mid-pack early in the race and surged to the lead in the final furlong to win by a length. Helios(JPN) by Orfevre(JPN) was second, and Tagano Beauty(JPN) by Henny Hughes(USA) was half a length back in third.
Fan-favorite Meikei Yell(JPN) by Mikki Isle(JPN) captured her fourth graded stakes title in the G3 1200m Silk Road Stakes at Chukyo Racecourse on January 30th. Meikei Yell(JPN) had become known for her keen behavior in races where she wouldn't settle and often fought with her jockey to try to take the lead. However, this time out, the now four-year-old filly settled well just off the pace before taking the lead and winning by one length like a professional. Shine Garnet(JPN) by Orfevre(JPN) was second, and Naran Huleg(JPN) by Gold Allure(JPN) was a neck back in third.
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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