Japan

Godolphin homebred Tower of London (Jpn) (Raven's Pass) and Danon Smash (Jpn) (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}), two of the best sprinters the country has to offer, go head-to-head for the third time in their last four appearances in Sunday's G1 Takamatsunomiya Kinen (1200m) at Chukyo Racecourse. Group 1-placed over a mile as a juvenile, Tower of London has amassed an imposing resume over 1200-1400m in the last year or so, having set course records when taking out the G2 Keio Hai Spring Cup (1400m in 1:19.4) and the G2 Centaur S....

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 weekend running at Chukyo and Hanshin Racecourses. A preview of Saturday's Fukuryu S. (allowance), the final leg on the Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby, will appear in Saturday's TDN. The featured race on the weekend is Sunday's G1 Takamatsunomiya Kinen: Saturday, March,...

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 weekend running at Nakayama, Hanshin and Chukyo Racecourses: Saturday, March 14, 2020 5th-NKY, ¥9,680,000 ($92k), Maiden, 3yo, 1600mT CHAROITE (f, 3, Uncle Mo--Taboo, by Forestry) turned in a creditable debut effort, finishing fourth on her lone appearance over course and distance Dec. 22....

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 and Nakayama Racecourses: Saturday, March 7, 2020 6th-HSN, ¥13,830,000 ($131k), Allowance, 3yo, 1400mT COMBAT MARCH (f, 3, Shackleford--Combat's Love, by Combat Ready) took them gate to wire to debut a two-length winner at 28-1 at this track Dec. 14...

The Japan Racing Association (JRA) has announced that, though racing will continue to take place at its tracks, spectators will not be allowed access to racecourses from Saturday. Feb. 29 until further notice in an attempt to curb the spread of coronavirus. As of Thursday morning, there had been seven deaths from COVID-19 in Japan. The JRA's decision follows news on Wednesday that racing in Korea has been suspended from Feb. 28 to Mar. 9. A statement on the JRA website reads, "In measures to prevent the spread of the...

Making his first start since a towering 10-length graduation over nine furlongs on his Dec. 14 debut at Nakayama, Cafe Pharoah (American Pharoah), one of six winners from seven Japanese runners for his Triple Crown-winning stallion, bombed the start of Sunday's Listed Hyacinth S. at Tokyo, but gradually worked his way into contention and sprinted hard in the final furlong to score by 1 1/4 lengths. He is the sixth first-crop stakes winner for American Pharoah. Favored at just over even money, the $475,000 OBS March acquisition by Emmanuel de...

Two-time US Horse of the Year California Chrome (Lucky Pulpit) is recovering well from a bout with enteritis since his arrival at Arrow Stud Jan. 29, the JS Company--who manages the stallion business at Arrow Stud--reported across social media early Thursday (Japanese time). He was not part of the Arrow Stud stallion parade in recent days, prompting concern, but he will be paraded in March. The tweet read: "Dear all of fans, CC has a minor enteritis after arriving at Arrow Stud and recovering now. Fortunately, he eats very well and his...

Mozu Ascot became the first black-type winner and group winner on dirt for Juddmonte's brilliant Frankel, as he saluted by 1 1/4 lengths over favoured MGSW Copano Kicking in the G3 Negishi S. at Tokyo on Sunday. It was the 6-year-old entire's first try over the surface. Winless since taking the 2018 G1 Yasuda Kinen, Mozu Ascot had performed with credit since then and was second two starts back in the G2 Swan S. on Oct. 26. Fourteenth after a wide trip in the G1 Mile Championship last out, the...

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 weekend running at Kokura, Kyoto and Tokyo Racecourses, the latter of which hosts the G3 Negishi S. and has attracted its defending champion Copano Kicking (Spring At Last) and G1SW Mozu Ascot (Frankel {GB}) making his dirt debut: Saturday, February 1, 2020 2nd-KYO,...

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 weekend running at Kokura, Kyoto and Nakayama Racecourses: Saturday, January 25, 2020 1st-KOK, ¥9,680,000 ($88k), Maiden, 3yo, 1000m ISSHIN (c, 3, Take Charge Indy--Appealing Stella, by Closing Argument) made a favorable impression in his lone racetrack appearance to date, finishing third in a...

Champion I'll Have Another (Flower Alley--Arch's Gal Edith, by Arch)'s first two North American foals have arrived. The first was dropped Jan. 14 at Rancho San Miguel. The 2020 filly is out of the winning mare Year of Light by Event of the Year. She was bred by Jacqueline Bousquet and Dr. Jeaneen Metzler. She was followed shortly on Jan. 15 by a filly born at Ballena Vista Farm, out of the Tribal Rule broodmare Jennifer's Joy bred by Harold and Pamela Tillema and Richard Tillema. Jennifer's Joy is from the...

A pair of immaculately bred 2-year-old fillies by the late Deep Impact (Jpn) and produced by two mares of considerable importance in the U.S. broke their maidens about 30 minutes apart at Japan's Niigata Racecourse Sunday, Aug. 11. Sunday Racing Co. Ltd's Catulus Felis (Jpn), the first foal out of 2015 GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf winner Stephanie's Kitten (Kitten's Joy), validated 3-10 favoritism to graduate over 1800 meters. Drawn gate 12 in the field of 14, the February foal was off a beat slowly then settled about...