Japan

Hong Kong sprinter extraordinaire Ka Ying Rising (NZ) (Shamexpress {NZ}) headlines the HK$13-million G1 Queen's Silver jubilee Cup at Sha Tin on Sunday. Trained by David Hayes for the Ka Ying Syndicate, the likeable gelding is operating on a nine-race winning streak, and had the re-opposing Helios Express (Aus) (Toronado {Ire}) and Howdeepisyourlove (Aus) (Deep Field {Aus}) second and third when he took the G1 Centenary Sprint Cup last month over his pet distance of 1200 metres. The world's highest rated turf sprinter in 2024, the gelding will be partnered...

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 is one horse of interest for this Sunday running at Kyoto Racecourse: Sunday, February 16, 2025 1st-KYO, ¥10,600,000 ($69k), Maiden, 3yo, 1900m CHRONUS BULLET (c, 3, Global Campaign--Above Heaven, by Mr. Greeley) has one start under his belt, a useful third-place effort going 1700 meters at Kokura Jan. 25. 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 four sophomore fillies of interest for this weekend running at Tokyo and Kyoto Racecourses, with American-breds nicely represented at stakes level: Saturday, February 8, 2025 3rd-KYO, ¥11,850,000 ($78k), Newcomers, 3yo, 1400m RENENET (f, 3, American Pharoah--Family Meeting, by Sky Mesa), a $325,000 Keeneland September acquisition by Dr. Masatake Iida,...

Eclipse Champion Juvenile Citizen Bull (Into Mischief) tops a list of 373 total 3-year-olds who were made eligible to this year's Triple Crown series, Churchill Downs announced Tuesday. This year's total represents a 7.8% increase from last year's 346 early nominations. Additionally, a record 69 Japan-based horses, trained by 33 different conditioners, were nominated, which shattered last year's record of 47. Sixty of the nominees have already won stakes races, including the top 10 point leaders on the Road to the Kentucky Derby: Citizen Bull, Speed King (Volatile), Coal Battle...

"Your Mr. Bassett doesn't come to Japan because of the war," said a junior executive of the Japan Racing Association in late August 2004. It was close to midnight in Sapporo, where I had accompanied Rogers Beasley on my first trip to Japan. We had dined with Masayuki Goto, a very sharp man, then a general manager of corporate planning, who the same junior executive whispered would in time ascend to the top job. Gotosan insisted on karaoke after dinner, and I learned later such occasions bring out candor, laughter,...

3rd-Chukyo, ¥10,600,000 ($68,720), Maiden, 3yo, 1900m, 2:01.3, ft. RHINO (JPN) (c, 3, Into Mischief--Princess Noor {'TDN Rising Star', GISW, $363,500}, by Not This Time) was not disgraced when fourth in a pair of starts on the turf to begin his career, but was switching to the surface for which he was bred this time around and looked a different proposition altogether. Sent forward from gate one, Rhino was content to allow a rival to take up the running and sat a comfortable stalking trip from second down the backstretch. Awaiting...

A full field of 18 juveniles heads to the post for the final Group 1 event on the JRA calendar, Saturday's Hopeful Stakes over the metric mile and a quarter at Nakayama Racecourse. And the entrants will be looking to join an honour roll that includes the likes of future luminaries such as Epiphaneia (Jpn), Rey de Oro (Jpn), Saturnalia (Jpn) and Contrail (Jpn), who would go on to secure the Triple Crown the following season. As recently as last weekend, the Hopeful form received the best kind of advertisement...

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 Kyoto Racecourse: Saturday, December 21, 2024 5th-KYO, ¥13,720,000 ($88k), Newcomers, 2yo, 1600mT STIR HEART (JPN) (f, 2, Gun Runner--Speech, by Pulpit) is the first foal to race from her dam, who caused a mild upset in taking out the 2020...

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 Chukyo and Kyoto Racecourses: Saturday, November 30, 2024 5th-CKO, ¥13,720,000 ($92k), Newcomers, 2yo, 1800m JUNE ARTEMIS (f, 2, Quality Road--Sustainable, by Forestry), a $325,000 Keeneland September yearling purchase by Yoshikawa Holdings, is out of a two-time stakes-placed half-sister to...

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 Tokyo and Kyoto Racecourses: Saturday, November 16, 2024 11th-TOK, Tokyo Sports Hai Nisai S.-G2 ($461k), 2yo, 1800mT DEL AVAR (c, 2, Frankel {GB}--Amour Briller, by Smart Strike) was impressively off the mark at first asking going this distance at Fukushima...

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 Tokyo, Kyoto and Fukushima Racecourses: Sunday, November 3, 2024 4th-TOK, ¥13,720,000 ($90k), Newcomers, 2yo, 1400mT CARAVAGGISTI (c, 2, Caravaggio--Tonahutu {Ire}, by Sir Prancealot {Ire}) is out of a mare who was placed twice in graded turf events for Doug O'Neill...

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 Fukushima and Tokyo Racecourses. Sunday's horses of interest will appear in Saturday's TDN: Saturday, November 2, 2024 1st-FKS, ¥10,480,000 ($69k), Maiden, 2yo, 1700m CHUWA CHIEF (c, 2, Tom's d'Etat--Figure, by Overanalyze) gave an excellent account of himself on Chukyo...