North Hills

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 Kyoto and Tokyo Racecourses: Sunday, February 1, 2026 4th-KYO, ¥12,330,000 ($81k), Newcomers, 3yo, 1400m REVIVI (f, 3, Good Magic--Seasoned Warrior, by Majestic Warrior), whose dam was Grade II-placed at two, is a half-sister to SP Souper Echo (Macho Uno) and...

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: Sunday, October 12, 2025 4th-TOK, ¥14,250,000 ($93k), Newcomers, 2yo, 1300m MON SOUHAIT (c, 2, McKinzie--Fashion World {GB}, by Dubawi {Ire}), a $100,000 Keeneland September yearling and $100,000 OBS April breezer (see below), is the latest starter...

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 Hanshin Racecourse: Sunday, March 30, 2025 6th-HSN, ¥15,200,000 ($101k), Allowance, 3yo, 1200m SEEK THE DREAM (c, 3, Liam's Map--Surf Siren, by Bernardini) is the lone winner from two to race out of his unraced dam, a half-sister to Taareef (Kitten'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 Nakayama Racecourses: Saturday, January 25, 2025 3rd-CKO, ¥11,850,000 ($76k), Newcomers, 3yo, 1400m BLUE AROMA (f, 3, American Pharoah--Comical, by Into Mischief) is the first foal from her dam, winner of the 2019 GIII Schuylerville Stakes, second in 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 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 Niigata Racecourse, two debuting both Saturday and Sunday: Saturday, July 27, 2024 2nd-NII, ¥13,720,000 ($89k), Newcomers, 2yo, 1400mT JASPER DIVINE (c, 2, Frosted--Rocket Reload, by Reload), whose dam was stakes-placed on the turf at two in the five-furlong Woodbine Cares...

5th-Fukushima, ¥13,720,000 ($84,982), Newcomers, 2yo, 1800mT, 1:49.9, gd/fm. DEL AVAR (c, 2, Frankel {GB}--Amour Briller {MSW-Jpn, $2,317,880}, by Smart Strike) came from a seemingly unlikely position at a late juncture to graduate in highly impressive fashion at first asking. Away a half-step slowly from gate four, the homebred colt lingered in the latter third of the 16-strong field racing around the first turn and was shuffled back to about third-last after overracing as they reached the backstretch. Still only 11th at the third corner, Del Avar caught the eye with...

Koji Maeda, whose homebred Lani (Tapit) finished ninth to Nyquist in the 2016 GI Kentucky Derby, could have another Classics contender on his hand after Ramjet (Jpn) (Majestic Warrior) turned on the afterburners in the final 300 meters to post a convincing victory in Sunday's Listed Hyacinth S. at Tokyo Racecourse. Having earned 30 Derby points as a result, the dark bay now leads the Japanese series with one race remaining. Clearly last away from the stalls, Ramjet had only one rival behind as he came under a ride at...

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 13, 2024 4th-KYO, ¥11,850,000 ($82k), Newcomers, 3yo, 1800m DANON K TWO (JPN) (c, 3, Justify--Enticed {Ire}, by Galileo {Ire}) is the first foal from a mare that cost 800,000gns ($1.1 million) at the...

Victorious in last year's G2 Keio Hai Nisai S. (1400m), Obamburumai (Jpn) (Discreet Cat) was having his first start since finishing seventh to Dolce More (Jpn) (Rulership {Jpn}) in the G1 Asahi Hai Futurity S. in December. Settled just ahead of midfield as lukewarm favourite Yurisha (Jpn) (Greater London {Jpn}) tore away to lead by nearly double digits over the rain-affected turf, Obamburumai was a bit short of room and with plenty to do with less than 400 metres to race, but he found his best stride late and got...

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 Hanshin and Nakayama Racecourses. While much of the local focus will be on the 14 runners entered across the four races that comprise the Longines Hong Kong International Races, Sunday's action at home includes the G1 Hanshin Juvenile Fillies: Saturday,...

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 Racecourse. Top-level racing makes a much-anticipated return to Japan this weekend with the running of the G1 Sprinters' S. at Nakayama, where the fairer sex looks to hold all the aces: Saturday, October 1, 2022 3rd-CKO, ¥13,400,000 ($93k), Newcomers,...