In this ongoing series, Alan Carasso takes 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 weekend running at Hanshin Racecourse, including the 4-year-old debut of the very exciting Mozu Ascot (Frankel {GB}), who has yet another awkward gate to overcome in the G3 Hankyu Hai:
Saturday, February 24, 2017
5th-HSN, ¥13,720,000 ($129k), Allowance, 3yo, 1400m
COPANO KICKING (g, 3, Spring At Last–Celadon, by Gold Halo {Jpn}) kicked off his career on the highest of high notes, romping home to graduate by eight lengths on Kyoto debut over 1200 meters Feb. 4 (video, gate 2). A $19K KEESEP buyback turned $100K FTFMAR juvenile acquisition, the dark bay is the overwhelming 1-2 favorite to make it back-to-back victories. B-Reiley McDonald (KY)
Sunday, February 25, 2017
11th-HSN, Hankyu Hai-G3, ¥78k ($734k), 4yo/up, 1400mT
The very talented MOZU ASCOT (c, 4, Frankel (GB)&log=">Frankel {GB}–India, by Hennessy) ran well in defeat in his first two career appearances before going on a four-race winning skein, including a handy success going this specialist distance at Kyoto Nov. 26 (video, gate 15). He was last seen finishing a competitive fourth to the retired Isla Bonita (Jpn) (Fuji Kiseki {Jpn}) in the G2 Hanshin Cup over course and distance Dec. 23. The son of Summer Wind Farm's MGSW India is a half-brother to SW & 'TDN Rising Star' Kareena (Medaglia d'Oro) and was bought back on a bid of $275K at KEESEP in 2015. India is a half-sister to SW Pilfer (Deputy Minister), the dam of GISW To Honor and Serve (Bernardini), 'TDN Rising Star' and GISW Angela Renee (Bernardini) and SW & GISP Elnaawi (Street Sense). To be successful here, he will need to overcome gate 17 as well as top Japanese sprinter/miler Red Falx (Jpn) (Swept Overboard). B-Summer Wind Farm (KY)
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