By Alan Carasso
In this continuing series, we take a look ahead at US-bred and/or conceived runners entered for the upcoming weekend at the tracks on the Japan Racing Association circuit, with a focus on pedigree and/or performance in the sales ring. Here are the horses of interest for this Saturday running at Hanshin Racecourse:
Saturday, April 4, 2026
1st-HSN, ¥11,280,000 ($71k), Maiden, 3yo, f, 1800m
PETRICHOR (JPN) (f, 3, Justify–Nicest {Ire}, by American Pharoah) just failed to overcome gate 14 of 16 on Kyoto debut going this trip on Jan. 11, finishing a close second, and should be very tough to handle in this second go. A Feb. 20 foal, the bay is out of Nicest, third in the 2021 G1 Irish Oaks, the same race annexed by her own dam Chicquita (Ire) (Montjeu {Ire}) eight years prior, and later runner-up in that year's GI American Oaks once acquired privately by Katsumi Yoshida. Chicquita, the €6-million topper at the 2013 Goffs November Sale, is also the dam of MGSW & G1SP Emily Dickinson (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) and her half-siblings include the globetrotting Magic Wand (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), who in addition to her Group 1 success in Australia also placed at the highest level in America (4x), France (2x), Ireland (2x) and Hong Kong. Christophe Lemaire has the riding assignment. O-Sunday Racing Co Ltd; B-Northern Racing, T-Hiroyuki Uemura
BRIGHT BERYL (JPN) (f, 3, Uncle Mo–Orglandes {Fr}, by Le Havre {Ire}) is the first foal for her dam, a two-time winner in France for Carlos and Yann Lerner before winning Del Mar's GIII Red Carpet Handicap in her third American appearance in November 2020 for Michael Dubb, Madaket Stables and Wonder Stables and trainer Chad Brown. Purchased by Shimokobe Farm for $440,000 at the 2021 Keeneland November Sale, she made a single subsequent appearance for her new owner before visiting this late sire prior to her export. O-Shimokobe B; B-Shimokobe Farm; T-Mitsu Nakauchida
2nd-HSN, ¥11,280,000 ($71k), Maiden, 3yo, 1400m
CHURCHILL DEUCE (JPN) (c, 3, Into Mischief–Beautiful Gift, by Medaglia d'Oro) is out of a mare that was victorious in the 2021 GIII Santa Ysabel Stakes and runner-up in the GII Santa Anita Oaks before being purchased by Katsumi Yoshida for $2 million with this foal in utero at the 2022 Fasig-Tipton November Sale. Offered at the JRHA Select Sale less than five months after his birth, Churchill Deuce was a $1.13-million purchase and was a respectable fifth going 1800 meters on Kyoto debut back on Jan. 12. Yutaka Take rides. Beautiful Gift is a half-sister to GSW & GISP Chitu (Henny Hughes). O-Kieffers Co Ltd; B-Shunsuke Yoshida; T-Mikio Matsunaga
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