In this continuing 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 Kyoto and Tokyo Racecourses, including the return to action of US-bred G1SW Mozu Ascot (Frankel {GB}).
Saturday, October 27, 2018
4th-KYO, ¥13,400,000 ($119k), Newcomers, 2yo, 1200m
The interestingly named POMPEII WORM (c, 2, Itsmyluckyday–Briecat, by Adcat) is the second foal to race from his dam, a Grade II winner and second to Zenyatta (Street Cry {Ire}) in the GI Vanity H. on synthetic and a Grade II winner on turf. A March foal, the chestnut breezed a furlong in a bullet :9 4/5 on his incorrect lead and was purchased by Katsumi Yoshida for $525K at this year's OBS March Sale (video). B-Spendthrift Farm LLC (KY)
11th-KYO, Swan S.-G2, ¥112,800,000 ($1m), 3yo/up, 1400mT
The Saturday feature at Kyoto features the first start of a fall preparation for MOZU ASCOT (c, 4, Frankel (GB)&log=">Frankel {GB}–India, by Hennessy). Last seen posting a spectacular victory in the G1 Yasuda Kinen at Toyko June 3 (see below, gate 10), the half-brother to SW & 'TDN Rising Star' Kareena (Medaglia d'Oro) is out of a MGSW Summer Wind-raced half-sister to Pilfer (Deputy Minister), the dam of MGISW To Honor and Serve (Bernardini), GISW Angela Renee (Bernardini) and SW & GISP Elnaawi (Street Sense). Mozu Ascot was a $275K buyback at the 2015 KEESEP sale and, all things equal, progresses from here to next month's G1 Mile Championship and the G1 Longines Hong Kong Mile in early December. B-Summer Wind Farm (KY)
Sunday, October 28, 2018
1st-TOK, ¥9,550,000 ($85k), Maiden, 2yo, 1400m
LITTLE MONSTER (f, 2, Into Mischief–Pashmina, by Pentelicus) failed to land a blow debuting on turf in July, but woke up with a switch to the main track in her latest to just miss over this course and distance Oct. 13. An $85K purchase as a short yearling at OBSWIN, the half-sister to the fleet MSW Pashito the Che (Flatter) improved over the next eighth months and was hammered for $375K at KEESEP. B-Off the Hook Partners LLC & Farm III Enterprises LLC (FL)
3rd-KYO, ¥9,550,000 ($85k), Maiden, 2yo, 2000mT
MINT FRESH (f, 2, War Front&log=">War Front–Minorette, by Smart Strike) is the first foal for her dam, stakes-placed in Ireland for Ballydoyle and Aidan O'Brien before annexing the inaugural running of the GI Belmont Oaks Invitational in New York for Chad Brown in 2014. Minorette is a daughter of GSW Silk and Scarlet (GB) (Sadler's Wells), whose distinguished produce include G1 Mile Championship hero Eishin Apollon (Giant's Causeway) and G1 Jebel Hatta S. winner Master of Hounds. B-Shadai Farm (KY)
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