By Alan Carasso
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 Niigata and Tokyo Racecourses:
Saturday, May 13, 2017
8th-NII, ¥14,250,000 (US$125k), Alw, 4yo/up, 1200m
A SHIN HIMAWARI (f, 4, Uncle Mo–Home From Oz, by Pulpit) opened her account by an impressive seven lengths at first asking going 1800m last February (video, gate 9), but makes her first appearance since finishing down the field at Kyoto last October. A half-sister to MGSW Madefromlucky (Lookin at Lucky) and to Japanese SP A Shin Gold (Medaglia d'Oro), the bay filly is out of a full-sister to leading sire Tapit. Third dam Ruby Slippers (Nijinsky II) produced champion sprinter Rubiano (Fappiano). B-Michael Jawl (KY)
Sunday, May 14, 2017
1st-NII, ¥9,550,000 (US$84k), Maiden, 3yo, 1800m
MENUETT (JPN) (f, 3, Tapit–Spinning Wildcat, by Hard Spun), third and fifth in a pair of starts on the dirt to begin her career on Christmas Eve (video, gate 13), was beaten five lengths into eighth in her first try on the turf Apr. 22, but returns to the main track for this. Menuett's dam is re Ba winning daughter of Eclipse Award winner Hollywood Wildcat (Kris S.), making her closely related to GI Breeders' Cup Mile winner War Chant (Danzig) and GSW & MGI/G1SP Ivan Denisovich (Ire) (Danehill). Spinning Wildcat was purchased by KI Farm carrying this foal in utero for $600,000 at the 2013 Fasig-Tipton November sale. B-KI Farm
5th-TOK, ¥13,720,000 (US$121k), Alw, 3yo, 1400m
PANTHER BAROWS (c, 3, Hard Spun–Grandma Martha, by Gone West) debuted with a strong runner-up effort in a 1600m turf maiden last November and made a victorious return to the races with a 1 1/2-length success as the 2-5 favorite on the dirt at Kyoto Apr. 22 (video, gate 10). A $135K KEESEP yearling turned $300K FTFMAR juvenile, the bay is a maternal grandson of 1999 GII Schuylerville S. winner Magicalmysterycat (Storm Cat). Leading rider Mirco Demuro retains the mount. B-WinStar Farm LLC (KY)
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