Exclusive Topics for Horse Racing in Japan
- Spring Edition March 2017
The Japan Racing Association
The JRA horse racing season starts in earnest with the three-year-old classic trials in March, while
established horses begin to prepare towards the spring 2017 G1 events. We take this opportunity to
bring you up to date on the progress of last year’s stars and this season’s key runners, hoping that
this special spring edition of our seasonal Japan Autumn International Newsletter will support your
reporting of upcoming events.
High Expectations for Further Success Overseas
The Dubai World Cup day meeting has become a major
destination for Japanese runners aspiring to take on the challenge
of racing overseas, with 10 horses taking part in the event last
year. 11 Japanese runners, including the Real Steel (JPN, H5, by
Deep Impact) and Lani (USA, C4, by Tapit), winners of last
year’s Dubai Turf (G1, 1,800m) and the UAE Derby (G2, dirt,
1,900m), respectively, will attempt to score new successes in
Dubai as they begin their 2017 campaigns.
Real Steel in the 2016 Dubai Turf
Four dirt runners are bidding for the Dubai World Cup (G1, dirt,
2,000m), the second richest horse race in the world. Awardee
(USA, H7, by Jungle Pocket) made a successful switch to dirt
from turf racing in the fall of his five-year-old season, winning
six in a row, including his first G1 victory in the 2016 JBC
Classic (dirt, 2,100m) in November. He just missed by a neck in
Awardee in the 2016 Antares Stakes
the following Champions Cup (G1, dirt, 1,800m) before another
second in his last start, the Tokyo Daishoten (G1, dirt, 2,000m).
Apollo Kentucky (USA, H5, by Langfuhr) out-dueled
Awardee and eventually pulled away to a 1-1/2- length victory
for his first G1 title in the Tokyo Daishoten. He was coming off a
close 0.4-second fifth in the Champions Cup after marking his
first grade-race victory in the Miyako Stakes (G3, dirt, 1,800m)
in November. Both Awardee and Apollo Kentucky will kick off
their 2017 seasons in Dubai.
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Apollo Kentucky (left)
in the 2016 Miyako Stakes
Gold Dream (JPN, C4, by Gold Allure) will make his first
overseas challenge in Dubai as this year’s February Stakes (G1,
dirt, 1,600m) champion. He demonstrated his aptitude and liking
for the Tokyo dirt mile course in marking his third victory out of
four starts, including his first grade-race triumph in the G3
Unicorn Stakes (dirt, 1,600m) last June. The Gold Allure (JPN, by
Gold Dream
in the 2017 February Stakes
Sunday Silence) colt was entered in the February Stakes after a
disappointing 12th in the December Champions Cup, where he
had been sent off second favorite. He scored his first G1 win in the February Stakes with a sound
and convincing performance.
Lani, after his victory in the 2016 UAE Derby, went to the U.S.
and not only became the first Japanese runner to challenge in all
three of America’s Triple Crown races, he turned in a fine
third-place finish in the Belmont Stakes (G1, dirt, 2,400m).
Thereafter, he made three low-key starts back home—the best
being a third in a non-graded race. He was sixth in his
Lani in the 2016 UAE Derby
four-year-old kick-off start in Dubai, the Al Maktoum Challenge
Round 3 (G1, dirt, 2,000m) on March 4 and is now pointing toward further improvement in his
main target, the Dubai World Cup.
Sounds of Earth (right)
in the 2015 Arima Kinen
Sounds of Earth (JPN, H6, by Neo Universe), registered to run
in the Dubai Sheema Classic (G1, 2,410m), has yet to claim a G1
title but proved well up to the highest level and was runner-up in
the Japan Cup (G1, 2,400m) in November. He has finished
second in seven graded races including three G1 starts, but he
disappointed to eighth in the Arima Kinen (G1, 2,500m) after
being well backed as fourth favorite in the race.
Real Steel hopes for continued success in the Dubai Turf as
defending champion. He was a one-length second to 2015 Horse
of the Year Maurice (JPN, by Screen Hero) in his fall debut in the
Tenno Sho (Autumn) (G1, 2,000m) and was unsuccessful when
stepping up in distance in the Japan Cup, finishing fifth. Vivlos
(JPN, F4, by Deep Impact), who will make her first overseas
Vivlos in the 2016 Shuka Sho
challenge in the Dubai Turf, landed her inaugural G1 title last
year in her first start at this level in the last leg of the three-year-old fillies’ triple, the Shuka Sho
(G1, 2,000m), before taking the rest of the season off. Both horses began their 2017 seasons in the
Nakayama Kinen (G2, 1,800m) on February 26, with Vivlos finishing a close fifth and Real Steel
more than 2-1/2-lengths behind her in eighth.
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Kafuji Take (JPN, H5, by Precise End) will be starting in the Godolphin Mile (G2, dirt, 1,600m).
Lightly regarded as the 11th favorite in last year’s Champions Cup, the son of Precise End (USA, by
End Sweep) turned in an impressive fourth-place finish in the dirt G1, and then validated the
performance by claiming his first grade-race title in the Negishi Stakes (G3, dirt, 1,400m) on
January 29. He also made use of his strong late charge to finish third in the February Stakes.
Another runner traveling to Dubai is Dios Corrida (JPN, C3, by Kane Hekili), a two-time winner
at 1,200 meters on dirt. The three-year-old Kane Hekili (JPN, by Fuji Kiseki) colt flew into Dubai
with Lani to run in the Mahab Al Shimaal (G3, dirt, 1,200m) on March 4 and finished seventh in
his first test against seniors prior to the Dubai Golden Shaheen (G1, dirt, 1,200m).
Hoping to follow in the footsteps of Lani, nine three-year-olds have been entered for the Triple
Crown in the U.S., a positive outcome of the “Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby” agreement under
which Japanese runners are given a chance to qualify for the Kentucky Derby (G1, dirt, 2,000m)
and a bonus of 1 million dollars for any Japanese-trained winner of the Belmont Stakes.
Among those entered, Epicharis (JPN, C3, by Gold Allure) will be granted priority for the
Kentucky Derby after dominating the Hyacinth Stakes (dirt, 1,600m), one of the U.S. Triple Crown
qualifiers held in Japan on February 19. It is hoped he will follow Lani and secure a consecutive
victory for Japan in the UAE Derby before his expected U.S. trip. Also headed for the UAE Derby
is Adirato (JPN, C3, by Rulership), who came off two consecutive wins after switching to dirt
and finished second in the Hyacinth Stakes.
Those headed for the Queen Elizabeth II Cup (G1, 2,000m) on April 30 in Hong Kong might
include Nuovo Record (JPN, M6, by Heart’s Cry). Seventh in the Nakayama Kinen, her first start
since finishing fourth in the Hong Kong Vase (G1, 2,400m) last December, the 2014 Yushun Himba
(Japanese Oaks, G1, 2,400m) winner was 10th in the following Kinko Sho (G2, 2,000m) on March
11. Nakayama Kinen victor Neorealism (JPN, H6, by Neo Universe), who landed his second
graded title in the race following the Sapporo Kinen (G2, 2,000m) last August, might make his
second challenge in Hong Kong after his ninth-place finish in the 2016 Hong Kong Mile (G1,
1,600m).
Kafuji Take
in the 2017 Negishi Stakes
Nuovo Record
in the 2014 Yushun Himba
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Neorealism
in the 2017 Nakayama Kinen
Key Middle & Long Distance Runners of 2017
Although Maurice, A Shin Hikari (JPN, by Deep Impact) and
Lovely Day (JPN, by King Kamehameha) left the racing scene as
of the end of last season, the middle-distance category still
maintains its high standard. Several G1 winners remain in
training, led by Kitasan Black (JPN, H5, by Black Tide),
winner of the 2016 Tenno Sho (Spring) (G1, 3,200m) and Japan
Cup, as well as the season’s Horse of the Year. Kitasan Black
will focus on racing in Japan this spring, beginning with the
Osaka Hai (2,000m)—upgraded to G1 status this year—on April 2, then the Tenno Sho (Spring) on
April 30 and the Takarazuka Kinen (G1, 2,200m) on June 25.
Kitasan Black
in the 2016 Japan Cup
Satono Diamond (JPN, C4, by Deep Impact), who overtook
Kitasan Black for a neck victory in the Arima Kinen and
registered his second G1 title following the Kikuka Sho
(Japanese St. Leger, G1, 3,000m), will also aim for the Tenno
Sho (Spring) after kicking off his 2017 campaign in the Hanshin
Daishoten (G2, 3,000m) on March 19. After that, the 2016 Best
Three-Year-Old Colt could pass up the Takarazuka Kinen in
preparation for the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (G1, 2,400m) this
fall.
Satono Diamond
in the 2016 Arima Kinen
Makahiki (JPN, C4, by Deep Impact), who claimed the Tokyo
Yushun by crossing the wire a nose in front of Satono Diamond,
disappointed to 14th in his Arc challenge last year and was given
the rest of the season off. He finished third in his comeback start
in February this year in the Kyoto Kinen, which was won by
Makahiki (right)
in the 2016 Tokyo Yushun
Satono Crown (JPN, H5, by Marju) who scored his second
consecutive win following his first G1 success overseas in the
Hong Kong Vase last year. Both Makahiki and Satono Crown
will start in the Osaka Hai.
Dee Majesty (JPN, C4, by Deep Impact), winner of the 2016 Satsuki Sho (Japanese 2000 Guineas,
G1, 2,000m), was unable to show much in his first G1 challenge against his seniors in the Japan
Cup, finishing 13th. His 2017 debut will be the Nikkei Sho (G2, 2,500m) on March 25, prior to the
Tenno Sho (Spring). Meanwhile, 2015 Arima Kinen victor Gold Actor (JPN, H6, by Screen Hero),
who succumbed to third place last season but aims to defend his Nikkei Sho title in his 2017
kick-off start, will target the Takarazuka Kinen this spring.
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Satono Crown
in the 2016 Hong Kong Vase
Dee Majesty
in the 2016 Satsuki Sho
Gold Actor
in the 2015 Arima Kinen
The 2016 Osaka Hai victor Ambitious (JPN, H5, by Deep
Impact) is hoped to defend his title in the upgraded version of
the race this year after a fourth-place finish in the Nakayama
Kinen. Among others challenging to become the inaugural
winner of the new G1 race are several coming off the Kinko Sho
(G2, 2,000m), which was reprogrammed to March from
Ambitious
December beginning this year. These include winner, Yamakatsu
in the 2016 Sankei Osaka Hai
Ace (JPN, H5, by King Kamehameha), who finished fourth in
the Arima Kinen last year, sixth-place finisher Staphanos (JPN, H6, by Deep Impact), who has
yet to claim a G1 win while finishing within the money in four G1 starts at 2,000 meters, and
Rouge Buck (JPN, M5, by Manhattan Cafe), who already is a three-time grade-race winner at
1,800 meters but finished eighth in the Kinko Sho.
Yamakatsu Ace
in the 2016 Kinko Sho
Staphanos
in the 2014 Fuji Stakes
Rouge Buck
in the 2016 Mainichi Okan
Notable runners heading for the Tenno Sho (Spring) include last year’s second- and third-place
finishers, Curren Mirotic (JPN, G9, by Heart’s Cry) and Cheval Grand (JPN, H5, by Heart’s
Cry), both of whom will be coming off prep starts in the Hanshin Daishoten. One and Only (JPN,
H6, by Heart’s Cry), winner of the 2014 Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby, G1, 2,400m), will also
start in the Hanshin Daishoten. Kikuka Sho runner-up Rainbow Line (JPN, C4, by Stay Gold),
who finished sixth against his seniors in the Japan Cup last season, will aim for the Tenno Sho
(Spring) after the Nikkei Sho. Tanta Alegria (JPN, H5, by Zenno Rob Roy), winner of the
American Jockey Club Cup (G2, 2,200m) on January 22, will head straight to the 3,200-meter G1 at
Kyoto.
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Curren Mirotic (right)
in the 2016 Tenno Sho (Spring)
Cheval Grand in the
2016 Copa Republica Argentina
Rainbow Line
in the 2015 Senryo Sho
Albert (JPN, H6, by Admire Don), back-to-back winner of the Stayers Stakes (G2, 3,600m) in
2015 and 2016, mowed down his rivals at the stretch after racing behind for his third grade-race
victory in the Diamond Stakes (G3, 3,400m) on February 18. Fame Game (JPN, G7, by Heart’s
Cry), the 2015 Tenno Sho (Spring) runner-up, who won two Diamond Stakes title in 2014 and 2015
and then was second in 2016, was forced wide at the stretch and finished sixth.
Tanta Alegria in the
2017 American Jockey Club Cup
Albert
in the 2016 Stayers Stakes
Fame Game
in the 2015 Diamond Stakes
Other Key Runners in Sprint, Mile, Older Fillies/Mares, Dirt and Steeplechasing
The short distance category lost its star sprinter/miler, Mikki Isle
(JPN, by Deep Impact), whose connections suddenly announced
his retirement early this year after being named 2016 Best
Sprinter or Miler. Consequently, the 2017 Takamatsunomiya
Red Falx
in the 2016 Sprinters Stakes
Kinen (G1, 1,200m) on March 26 will feature Red Falx (JPN,
H6, by Swept Overboard), who won the Sprinters Stakes but
most recently was 12th in the 2016 Hong Kong Sprint (G1,
1,200m). Last year’s Takamatsunomiya Kinen victor Big Arthur
(JPN, H6, by Sakura Bakushin O) sustained a muscle bruise on his right foreleg and his
connections expect him to make his comeback in the summer campaign.
Dance Director (JPN, H7, by Aldebaran) won his second consecutive title in the Silk Road Stakes
(G3, 1,200m), a major step towards the sprint G1 held on January 29, but then he suffered a fracture
in his left foreleg and was unable to attempt his first G1 victory in the Takamatsunomiya Kinen.
2016 Sprinters Stakes third-place finisher Solveig (JPN, F4, by Daiwa Major) finished sixth in the
6
same prep.
Big Arthur in the
2016 Takamatsunomiya Kinen
Dance Director
in the 2017 Silk Road Stakes
Solveig
in the 2016 Hakodate Sprint Stakes
Albiano (USA, M5, by Harlan's Holiday), who was third in the Takamatsunomiya Kinen last year,
encountered the disadvantage of being pinched back rounding the third corner and finished 17th in a
field of 18 in her five-year-old debut in the Kyoto Himba Stakes (G3, 1,400m) on February 18.
Afterward, the connections announced her retirement to become a broodmare this spring.
Meanwhile, Let’s Go Donki (JPN, M5, by King Kamehameha), winner of the Kyoto Himba
Stakes and a G1 winner of the 2015 Oka Sho (Japanese 1000 Guineas, G1, 1,600m), will head for
her second Takamatsunoimya Kinen challenge.
Albiano
in the 2015 Swan Stakes
Let’s Go Donki
in the 2015 Oka Sho
Talking Drum (left)
in the 2017 Hankyu Hai
Talking Drum (JPN, H7, by King Kamehameha) won his first grade-race challenge in the
Hankyu Hai (G3, 1,400m) on February 26 while 2016 Hanshin Cup (G2, 1,400m) victor Shuji
(JPN, C4, by Kinshasa no Kiseki) finished eighth. Melagrana (AUS, M5, by Fastnet Rock) won
her first grade-race title in the Ocean Stakes (G3, 1,200m) on March 4, with 2014 Sprinters Stakes
champion Snow Dragon (JPN, H9, by Admire Cozzene) finishing 2-1/2 lengths behind in eighth.
Shuji
in the 2016 Hanshin Cup
Melagrana
in the 2017 Ocean Stakes
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Snow Dragon
in the 2014 Sprinters Stakes
Logotype (JPN, H7, by Lohengrin) will aim for a consecutive Yasuda Kinen (G1, 1,600m) title on
June 4 after finishing third in the Nakayama Kinen this year and a start planned in the Lord Derby
Challenge Trophy (G3, 1,600m) on April 1. Lord Derby Challenge Trophy also will feature 2016
NHK Mile Cup (G1, 1,600m) runner-up Lord Quest (JPN, C4, by Matsurida Gogh), who will
commence his 2017 campaign. 2016 Yasuda Kinen third-place finisher Fiero (JPN, H8, by Deep
Impact) will make his first sprint challenge in the Takamatsunomiya Kinen.
Logotype
in the 2016 Yasuda Kinen
Lord Quest in the
2016 Keisei Hai Autumn Handicap
Fiero (right)
in the 2015 Mile Championship
2014 Satsuki Sho victor and runner-up in the Mile Championship
(G1, 1,600m) last year, Isla Bonita (JPN, H6, by Fuji Kiseki)
will start his six-year-old campaign in the Milers Cup (G2,
1,600m) on April 23. The race will also include Young Man
Power (JPN, H5, by Snitzel), winner of three grade-race titles at
a mile, Air Spinel (JPN, C4, by King Kamehameha), a strong
contender in last year’s Triple Crown in which he scored a third Isla Bonita in the 2014 Satsuki Sho
and two fourth-place finishes prior to winning the Kyoto Kimpai (G3, 1,600m) on January 5, and
Black Spinel (JPN, C4, by Tanino Gimlet), who is coming off a victory in the Tokyo Shimbun
Hai (G3, 1,600m) on February 5.
Young Man Power
in the 2016 Fuji Stakes
Air Spinel (left)
in the 2017 Kyoto Kimpai
Black Spinel
in the 2017 Tokyo Shimbun Hai
The Victoria Mile (G1, 1,600m) on May 14 will be contested between the top older fillies and
mares, many of whom will be coming off starts in the Hanshin Himba Stakes (G2, 1,600m) on April
8. 2015 Best Three-Year-Old Filly Mikki Queen (JPN, M5, by Deep Impact) will be making her
first start since finishing fifth in the Arima Kinen. 2016 Queen Elizabeth II Cup (G1, 2,200m)
winner Queens Ring (JPN, M5, by Manhattan Cafe) will be making her comeback start in Japan
after a ninth-place performance in the Hong Kong Cup (G1, 2,000m) in December last year.
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Maximum de Paris (JPN, M5, by King Kamehameha) is an improving mare who landed her first
grade-race title impressively in the Aichi Hai (G3, 2,000m) on January 14.
Mikki Queen
in the 2015 Yushun Himba
Queens Ring
in the 2016 Queen Elizabeth II Cup
Maximum de Paris
in the 2017 Aichi Hai
2016 Yushun Himba third-place finisher Biche (JPN, F4, by Deep Impact) was 10th in her 2017
debut, the Nakayama Himba Stakes (G3, 1,800m) on March 12, where Tosen Victory (JPN, M5,
by King Kamehameha) claimed her first graded victory. Smart Layer (JPN, M7, by Deep
Impact), fifth place in the Hong Kong Vase last year, turned in a runner-up effort in the Kyoto
Kinen (G2, 2,200m) on February 12 but her connections decided to give her a rest and postpone her
intended trip to Australia.
Biche
in the 2016 Shion Stakes
Tosen Victory in the
2017 Nakayama Himba Stakes
Smart Layer in the
2016 Hanshin Himba Stakes
2016 Oka Sho winner Jeweler (JPN, F4, by Victoire Pisa) was
hoped to make a comeback in the Victoria Mile after a leg
problem following her fourth-place finish in the Shuka Sho last
year, but she was diagnosed with a fracture in her left hind leg
and retired.
Jeweler (right) in the 2016 Oka Sho
The dirt-racing category turned a new page as long-reigning dirt
race star Hokko Tarumae (JPN, by King Kamehameha) retired as
of last season. In addition to aspiring runners in Dubai, other dirt
runners who aim to turn in successful 2017 campaigns including
2016 Best Dirt Horse Sound True (JPN, G7, by French
Deputy), who capped off his six-year-old campaign with a
third-place finish in the Tokyo Daishoten after claiming the
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Sound True
in the 2016 Champions Cup
Champions Cup. However, coming off a runner-up effort in the 2017 Kawasaki Kinen (dirt,
2,100m) won by All Blush (JPN, H5, by War Emblem), who scored a wire-to-wire three-length
victory, the French Deputy (USA, by Deputy Minister) gelding disappointed to eighth in the
February Stakes. He will aim to bounce back in his next target, the Teio Sho (dirt, 2,000m) on June
28.
Best Warrior (USA, H7, by Majestic Warrior), fourth in the February Stakes last year,
maintained good form with a runner-up effort in the same race this season, missing the title by a
neck margin. Still winless since his second title in the Mile Championship Nambu Hai (dirt,
1,600m), he has finished within the money in all but one start thereafter. Copano Rickey (JPN, H7,
by Gold Allure), two-time victor in the race in 2014 and 2015, is still struggling to regain his best
form, finishing 14th. The same is true of Moanin (USA, H5, by Henny Hughes), who is winless
since taking last year’s February Stakes, finishing 12th this year. Best Warrior and Copano Rickey
will run in the Kashiwa Kinen (dirt, 1,600m) on May 5 as their next outings, while Moanin will run
in the Antares Stakes (G3, dirt, 1,800m) on April 15.
Best Warrior
in the 2015 Procyon Stakes
Copano Rickey
in the 2015 February Stakes
Moanin
in the 2016 February Stakes
Lastly, the Nakayama Grand Jump (J-G1, 4,250m) on April 15
will focus on two JRA Award winners, 2016 Best Steeplechase
Horse Oju Chosan (JPN, H6, by Stay Gold), who claimed both
the Nakayama Grand Jump as well as the Nakayama Daishogai
(J-G1, 4,100m) last year, and 2015 Best Steeplechase Horse Up
to Date (JPN, H7, by Kurofune), who won both titles in that
Oju Chosan
in the 2016 Nakayama Daishogai
year.
Oju Chosan, who dominated Up to Date by an overwhelming
nine-length margin in the Nakayama Daishogai last December,
confirmed his superiority again this year in the Hanshin Spring
Jump (J-G2, 3,900m) on March 11, although Up to Date was
impressive with a 2-1/2-length second and well ahead of the
third-place finisher by four lengths.
Up to Date
in the 2015 Nakayama Grand Jump
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Three-Year-Old Classic Hopefuls
Preparation towards the three-year-old Classics are on the move.
The Tulip Sho (G3, 1,600m) on March 4, which is the main prep
towards the Oka Sho, centered around 2016 Best Two-Year-Old
Filly Soul Stirring (JPN, F3, by Frankel), who became the first
among the first crop sired by Frankel (GB, by Galileo) to claim a
G1 title by winning the Hanshin Juvenile Fillies (G1, 1,600m).
Soul Stirring
in the 2016 Hanshin Juvenile Fillies
Soul Stirring continued to excel in her three-year-old debut with
a dominating two-length victory for her second grade-race title.
Hanshin Juvenile Fillies runner-up Lys Gracieux (JPN, F3, by Heart’s Cry) was beaten to third a
half-length behind runner-up and seventh-favorite Miss Panthere (JPN, F3, by Daiwa Major).
Hanshin Juvenile Fillies third-place finisher Reine Minoru (JPN,
F3, by Daiwa Major) was a half-length second behind
Karakurenai (JPN, F3, by Lohengrin), who landed her first
grade-race victory in the Fillies’ Revue (G2, 1,400m) on March
12. Gold Cape (JPN, F3, by Workforce) also earned a ticket to
the Oka Sho with a third-place effort. The Anemone Stakes
(1,600m), an Oka Sho trial held the day before the Fillies’ Revue,
Rising Reason
in the 2017 Fairy Stakes
was won by Fairy Stakes (G3, 1,600m) winner Rising Reason
(JPN, F3, by Black Tide). Deirdre (JPN, F3, by Harbinger) was a half-length behind in second.
Rieno Tesoro (USA, F3, by Speightstown), who won the Zen-Nippon Nisai Yushun (dirt, 1,600m)
against males last December, was a close fourth.
Lys Gracieux
in the 2016 Artemis Stakes
Reine Minoru
in the 2016 Kokura Nisai Stakes
Karakurenai
in the 2017 Fillies’ Revue
Other notable Oka Sho contenders include Salonika (JPN, F3, by Deep Impact) and Admire
Miyabi (JPN, F3, by Heart’s Cry), who are coming off respective victories in the Elfin Stakes
(1,600m) on February 4 and the Queen Cup (G3, 1,600m) on February 11. Vous Etes Jolie (JPN,
F3, by Lohengrin), winner of the Niigata Nisai Stakes (G3, 1,600m) last August, came off a
fourth-place finish in the Arlington Cup (G3, 1,600m) on February 25 against opposite genders. Mi
Suerte (JPN, F3), another Frankel filly, who became a grade-race winner earlier than Soul
Stirring by claiming the Fantasy Stakes (G3, 1,400m) prior to finishing fourth against males in the
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Asahi Hai Futurity Stakes (G1, 1,600m), will pass up her prep and head directly to the Oka Sho.
Other strong candidates could emerge among those running in the Flower Cup (G3, 1,800m) on
March 20.
Admire Miyabi
in the 2017 Queen Cup
Vous Etes Jolie
in the 2016 Niigata Nisai Stakes
Mi Suerte
in the 2016 Fantasy Stakes
The Yayoi Sho (G2, 2,000m) on March 5, the main prep race towards the first leg of the Triple
Crown, the Satsuki Sho on April 16, was won by Cadenas (JPN, C3, by Deep Impact), who
captured his first grade race in the Kyoto Nisai Stakes (G3, 2,000m) as a two-year-old. Runner-up
My Style (JPN, C3, by Heart’s Cry) and third-place Danburite (JPN, C3, by Rulership) also
earned berths in the coming three-year-old Classics. Komano Impulse (JPN, C3, by Bago),
already a grade-race winner in the Keisei Hai (G3, 2,000m) on January 15, finished sixth, about
2-1/2 lengths from the winner.
The Asahi Hai Futurity Stakes winner and 2016 Best
Two-Year-Old Colt Satono Ares (JPN, C3, by Deep Impact)
will kick off his three-year-old season in the Spring Stakes (G2,
1,800m) on March 19. Bless Journey (JPN, C3, by Battle Plan),
who won back-to-back grade-race titles last fall in the Saudi
Arabia Royal Cup (G3, 1,600m) and the Tokyo Sports Hai Nisai
Satono Ares in the
2016 Asahi Hai Futurity Stakes
Stakes (G3, 1,800m) and was to make his comeback start in the
Spring Stakes, sustained a distal radius bone fracture to his right
foreleg, postponing his 2017 debut.
Cadenas
in the 2017 Yayoi Sho
Komano Impulse
in the 2017 Keisei Hai
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Bless Journey in the
2016 Tokyo Sports Hai Nisai Stakes
Heading straight to the Satsuki Sho are Rey de Oro (JPN, C3, by
King Kamehameha), winner of the 2016 Hopeful Stakes (G2,
2,000m) (upgraded to G1 status this year), America’s Cup (JPN,
C3, by Manhattan Cafe), victor in the Kisaragi Sho (G3,
1,800m) on February 5, Suave Richard (JPN, C3, by Heart’s
Cry), who captured the Kyodo News Service Hai (G3, 1,800m)
on February 12, and Persian Knight (JPN, C3, by Harbinger),
winner of the Arlington Cup.
America’s Cup
in the 2017 Kisaragi Sho
Suave Richard in the
2017 Kyodo News Service Hai
Rey de Oro
in the 2016 Hopeful Stakes
Persian Knight
in the 2017 Arlington Cup
Meanwhile, the Asahi Hai Futurity Stakes runner-up Monde Can Know (JPN, C3, by Kinshasa
no Kiseki) and third-place finisher Bom Servico (JPN, C3, by Daiwa Major) will aim for the
NHK Mile Cup (G1, 1,600m) on May 7, instead of the Satsuki Sho, after making their prep starts in
the Spring Stakes and the Falcon Stakes (G3, 1,400m) on March 18, respectively. Kyohei (JPN, C3,
by Reach the Crown), winner of the Shinzan Kinen (G3, 1,600m) on January 8, was unable to
show much in the Arlinton Cup (G3, 1,600m) on February 25, finishing seventh. Other possible
NHK Mile Cup starters may come off starts in either the Mainichi Hai (G3, 1,800m) on March 25
or the New Zealand Trophy (G2, 1,600m) on April 8.
Monde Can Know
in the 2016 Keio Hai Nisai Stakes
Bom Servico
in the 2016 Two-Year-Olds (Maiden)
13
Kyohei
in the 2017 Shinzan Kinen