Tokyo

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 Sunday running at Tokyo Racecourse: Sunday, June 14, 2026 4th-TOK, ¥14,880,000 ($92k), Newcomers, 2yo, 1400m KENSHIRO WORLD (c, 2, Violence--Colby Cakes, by Scat Daddy) was knocked down to Machmer Hall for $130,000 at the 2025 Keeneland January Sale and was re-offered at Fasig-Tipton...

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 Tokyo Racecourses. Sunday's horses of note will appear in the Saturday edition of the TDN: Saturday, June 13, 2026 6th-TOK, ¥14,880,000 ($92k), Newcomers, 2yo, 1400mT DEMIAN (c, 2, Flightline--Mira Alta, by Curlin) continues the coming-out party for his...

Sunday, Tokyo, Japan, post time: 15:40, YASUDA KINEN-G1, ¥347,280,0000, 3yo/up, 1600mT Field: Lebensstil (Jpn) (Real Steel {Jpn}), Long Run (Jpn) (Victoire Pisa {Jpn}), Off Trail (GB) (Farhh {GB}), Sixpence (Jpn) (Kizuna {Jpn}), Sakura Toujours (Jpn) (Neo Universe {Jpn}), Stellenbosch (Jpn) (Epiphaniea {Jpn}), Suzu Khalom (Jpn) (Satono Diamond {Jpn}), Champagne Color (Jpn) (Duramente {Jpn}), Water Licht (Jpn) (Drefong), Luxor Cafe (American Pharoah), World's End (Jpn) (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}), Sirius Colt (Jpn) (Makfi {GB}), Seiun Hades (Jpn) (Silver State {Jpn}), Gaia Force (Jpn) (Kitasan Black {Jpn}), Dragon Boost (Jpn) (Screen Hero {Jpn}),...

Despite missing the break and getting bumped by a foe to begin the Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby), favoured Lovcen delivered regardless stepping up to 2400 metres for the first time. His head victory over fellow tenacious closer Peintre Naif (Kizuna) handed his trainer Haruki Sugiyama his ninth JRA Group 1 win. The World Premiere colt is the 25th to win the G1 Satsuki Sho (Japanese 2000 Guineas) and then the Japanese Derby. The Kikuka Sho (Japanese St Leger) over 3000 metres in October would give Lovcen the opportunity to become...

Saturday, Carlisle, post time: 15:10, THE BETWAY LESTER PIGGOTT FILLIES' STAKES-G3, £125,000, 4yo/up, f/m, 11f 39yT Field: Azaniya (Ire) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}), Coedana (Ire) (King Of Change {GB}), Crepe Suzette (Ire) (Saxon Warrior {Jpn}), Estrange (Ire) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}), Naga (Fr) (Dubawi {Ire}), Patagonia Girl (GB) (Australia {GB}), Sharpen (Ire) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}), Waardah (Ire) (Postponed {Ire}). TDN Analysis: Moved from Haydock due to the well-documented ground concerns there, this represents a different test on a stiff track than it would have been at its traditional Merseyside home...

Sunday's G1 Yushun Himba (Japanese Oaks) result represented a lot of firsts, with Juryoku Pierrot (Orfevre) claiming Classic laurels. Seina Imamura, Japan's Best Newcomer Jockey in 2022, became the first Japanese female jockey to win a JRA Group 1--it was her third attempt--as well as the first to ride in and win a Japanese Classic race. She follows in the footsteps of jockey Rachel King, who claimed the G1 February Stakes aboard Costa Nova (Lord Kanaloa) in 2025 and was the first woman to win a top tier race in...

Embroidery (Admire Mars) confirmed her standing as the outstanding older female in Japan with a dominant victory in Sunday's Victoria Mile at Tokyo. The Group 1 is a 'Win and You're In' for the GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf. Produced to lead by Christophe Lemaire with a furlong to run, Embroidery quickly asserted from there to register her third Group 1 success, having previously won both the Oka Sho (Japanese 1,000 Guineas) and Shuka Sho in 2025. At the line she had 1 1/4 lengths to spare over...

Japanese Triple Crown hero Contrail sired his first group winner when Going To Sky punched his ticked for the G1 Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby) with a three-quarter length win in the G2 Aoba Sho on Saturday. Stepping up to 2400 metres for the first time, the son of the stakes-winning Tapit mare Goin To The Window was sent off at 7-1. Breaking in stall 16 of 18, the Field Racing runner secured a spot in midfield while Noche Cerrada (Drefong) showed the way into the first turn. The pace was...

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: Saturday, April 25, 2026 7th-KYO, ¥15,620,000 ($98k), Allowance, 3yo, 1800m WAZAOGI (c, 3, Gun Runner--Ladies' Privilege, by Harlan's Holiday) outran debut odds of 13-1 to be a sound third over this track and distance last November...

Another dreary February day, another G1 February Stakes victory for Costa Nova (Lord Kanaloa). One of the rare Japanese Group 1 dirt races, the 1600-metre contest has now been won  twice in consecutive years by three horses, with Copano Rickey (Gold Allure) saluting in 2014/2015 and Café Pharoah (American Pharoah) equaling that feat in 2021/2022. The race is a "Win and You're In" for the GI Breeders' Cup Classic in the autumn. The 12-5 chance raced in midfield as Sixpence (Kizuna) cut out the running. Trapped three wide with five...

Sunday, Tokyo, Japan, post time: 15:40, FEBRUARY STAKES-G1, ¥290,980,000, 4yo/up, 1600m Field: Omega Guiness (Jpn) (Logotype {Jpn}), Happy Man (Jpn) (Danon Legend), Brian Sense (Jpn) (Hokko Tarumae {Jpn}), Perriere (Jpn) (Henny Hughes), Sixpence (Jpn) (Kizuna {Jpn}), Ramjet (Jpn) (Majestic Warrior), Long Run (Jpn) (Victoire Pisa {Jpn}), Sakura Toujours (Jpn) (Neo Universe {Jpn}), W Heart Bond (Jpn) (Kizuna {Jpn}), Lord Couronne (Jpn) (Leontes {Jpn}), Sunrise Hawk (Jpn) (Leontes {Jpn}), Costa Nova (Jpn) (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}), Natural Rise (Jpn) (Kizuna {Jpn}), Wilson Tesoro (Jpn) (Kitasan Black {Jpn}), Peptide Nile (Jpn) (King Kamehameha {Jpn}),...

The Euro/Middle East Road to the Kentucky Derby and the Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby continue Friday and Sunday, respectively, with the $217,760 Listed Dubai Road to the Kentucky Derby over 1900 meters and the $245,100 Listed Hyacinth Stakes going a one-turn mile at Meydan Racecourse and Tokyo Racecourse. The seventh race on an eight-race card under the Friday night lights at Meydan, the Dubai Road to the Kentucky Derby lacks the presence of G3 UAE 2000 Guineas hero Six Speed (Not This Time), who is training up to...