(13th Sep 10)
Nakayama Festa(JPN) creditable second in Prix Foy
Nakayama Festa(JPN) had a wonderful prep race at Longchamp on September 12th and it is confirmed he goes to the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe on the first weekend of October as one of leading contenders.
G2/Prix Foy, the principal prep race for the Arc for older horses, attracted only six runners, and there was no pace early in the race, which is often seen in Franc. Nakayama Festa, the 6 to 1 third favorite, was settled well at the third position by his rider Masayoshi Ebina. The 4-y-o colt by Stay Gold ran bravely on the homestretch and just failed to catch Duncan, who completed wire-to-wire victory enjoying the advantage of slow pace, by three quarter of length. Byword, the even money favorite who had won G1/Prince of Wales Stakes at Royal Ascot in June, was disappointing fourth, and Daryakana, 3 to 1 second favorite and winner of five races including G1/Hong Kong Vase, ran poorly finishing fifth.
"Nakayama Festa needed this race" said Yoshitaka Ninomiya who trains Nakayama Festa. "I believe he learned a lot today, and hope to get just one better placing on the first week of October."
Nakayama Festa, by Stay Gold out of Dear Wink, is bred by Arai Bokujo at Mukawa and sold to Shinichi Izumi for 10,000,000yen at the yearling session of JRHA Select Sale in 2007.
The performance of Victoire Pisa(JPN), in G2/Prix Niel on the same card was also encouraging. The 3-y-o colt by Neo Universe finished fourth to Behkabad, who is now ante-post favorite for the Arc.
Major bookmakers have given both of Nakayama Festa and Victoire Pisa the 25 to 1 price for the European Championship over 2,400m on October 3rd.
(9th Sep 10)
Japanese stars take part in Arc trials
Nakayama Festa(JPN), the winner of G1/Takarazuka Kinen in June, is in the list of nominees for G2/Prix Foy at Longchamp on September 12th. This is his final prep for Prix de I'Arc de Triomphe.
Nakayama Festa, by Stay Gold out of Dear Wink, is bred by Arai Bokujo at Mukawa and sold to Shinichi Izumi for 10,000,000yen at the yearling session of JRHA Select Sale in 2007.
Immediately after the success at G1/Takarazuka Kinen on June 27th at Hanshin, Yoshitala Ninomiya, who trains the colt at Miho, announced about the campaign in France in autumn, eyeing Prix de I'Arc de Triomphe as the ultimate goal.
Nakayama Festa arrived at the yard of Tony Clout on August 10th and has been trained well there.
Masayoshi Ebina is booked to ride Nakayama Festa in the Foy.
Both of Yoshitaka Ninomiya and Masayoshi Ebina have won the Prix Foy in 1999 with El Condor Pasa.
The field of G2/Prix Niel on the same card includes Victoire Pisa(JPN), the winner of G1/Satsuki Sho, Japanese 2000 Guineas. The 3-y-o colt by Neo Universe, owned by Yoshimi Ichikawa and trained by Katsuhiko Sumii, will be ridden by Yutaka Take.
(2nd Aug 10)
POP ROCK(JPN) seeks new ground
Pop Rock made a successful European debut at Galway on July 30th.
The 9-y-o Horse by Helissio is bred by Katsumi Yoshida of Northern Farm and earned more than 500 million yen for his owner/breeder. In addition to compete the back-to-back victory of G2/Meguro Kinen, Pop Rock finished second to Delta Blues
Pop Rock was transferred to Ireland earlier this year and has been under the care of Takashi Kodama, who has resumed his training career in Ireland this year.
Pop Rock was in the field of 1m6f Guiness Race at Galway on July 30th, and won by two and half lengths, with Fran Berry aboard, despite it was his first race since February.
"I am very much proud of him" said Takashi Kodama, who are moved to tears with his first career win as Curragh-based trainer. "Pop Rock has proved the Japanese stayers can be competitive here. It is wonderful."
Pop Rock came out of race well, and his next start is G1/Irish St Leger on September 11th at Curragh.
(29th Mar 10)
TEAM JAPAN ran well at Meydan on Dubai World Cup Day
Japanese delegation, formed by four Japanese-bred horses, ran well on the night of Dubai World Cup taken place at Meydan, fantastic and fascinating new racecourse in Dubai.
The first horse who carried the flag of Japan on March 27th was Glorious Noah, trained by Yoshito Yahagi at Ritto, in the field of G2/Godolphin Mile. The 4-y-o colt by Precise End is the winner of G3/Negishi Stakes, and finished fourth in G1/Japan Dirt Derby. In other words, the colt owned by Yoko Takano had neither won G1 nor G2. And he has neither run on synthetic surface, nor started outside of Japan. Therefore, his form suggested he is not the horse belonging to the highest level in Japan, and he might not be good enough to take part in the international event.
However, the colt bred by Samekawa Bokujo, fought well, showing high spirits, and finished fourth in the 14 runners' field, beating Desert Party, MGSW representing Godolphin, and Cat Junior, the winner of G3/Burji Nahaar, the prep race for Godolphin Mile on Super Thursday,
This is very encouraging result for owners and trainers who have top dirt horses, whose form in Japan is better than Glorious Noah.
While many Japanese-trained horses have ran well in major events on grass over mile and quarter to mile and half in Europe, Mid East, and Asia, the form by Japanese runners in the international races for sprinters had been rather poor. For example, Japanese representatives have always been well beaten in Hong Kong Sprint in the last decade. However, it is neither tendency nor common sense any more. Laurel Guereeiro
The field of Golden Shaeen is very competitive, too, which included Gayego, the winner of G1/Ancient Title H in the United States, Kinsale King, MGSW from the United States, One World, the second finisher in G1/Hong Kong Sprint, and Rocket Man, the best ever sprinter emerged at Singapore.
The brave performance of Laurel Gurreiro, by King Halo, bred by Murata Bokujo and owned by Laurel Club, is another example which proves that top grass horses in Japan could compete in the race with highest level on synthetic surface.
As Red Desire won G2/Maktoum Challenge Round 3 on Super Thursday, many Japanese expected Buena Vista
It is widely recognized the field of 2010 renewal of Sheema Classic is the best ever, which attracted nine individual G1 winners from all over the world. Despite such strong field. Japanese had high hope on Buena Vista, the Champion 2-y-o filly in 2008 and the duel Classic winner in 2009. She was a bit disappointing in the second half of 2009, when she had some unlucky races, however, we are convinced again that she is special filly, as she won the G2/Kyoto Kinen on February 20th, which was her seasonal debut, beating top older colts and horses, such as Dream Journey, the winner of G1/Arima Kinen and G1/Takarazuka Kinen in 2009, and Jaguar Mail, who placed in G1/Hong Kong Vase in 2008 and 2009.
Buena Vista shown her brilliant finishing speed on the homestretch at Meydan, and just failed to catch Dar Re Mi,
5-y-o mighty mare by Singspiel. Youmzain and Cavalryman, second and third finisher in the Arc in 2009, Eastern Anthem and Spanish Moon, winner and second finisher in Sheema Classic in 2009, and Presious Passion, second finisher in BC Turf in 2009, are all behind Buena Vista.
The racing world is now looking forward to seeing the rematch between two great female athletes, Dar Re Mi and Buena Vista. Is it taken place at Ascot in July?, at Longchamp in October?, at Tokyo in November?
Red Desire was not the same horse on World Cup Night, as she was on Super Thursday, and well beaten in Dubai World Cup. While she was calm in parade ring and settled well at rear of field in Maktoum Challenge, she was very hot in parade ring and could not reproduce her kick in Dubai World Cup. As all of first three finishers in the World Cup had been defeated by Red Desire in Maktoum Challenge, it is obvious that this is not her true form.
(5th Mar 10)
Impressive performance by RED DISIRE(JPN) on Super Thursday
There were several factors considered as the obstacles to overcome. The first time to run outside of Japan. The first race on synthetic surface. The first race under floodlights. And the first start since last November.
Red Desire is brave enough to overcome all, and won G2/Maktoum Challenge Round 3 at Meydan on March 4th.
Red Desire is bred by Teruya Yoshida of Shadai Farm and sold privately to Tokyo Thoroughbred Club, the racing club based at Tokyo. The 4-y-o filly by Manhattan Café, trained by Mikio Matsunaga at JRA Ritto Training Center near Kyoto, had started 7 times and won 3 races, including G1/Shuka Sho, the final leg of fillies' Triple Crown in Japan, by the end of 2009. In addition, the filly out of Great Sunrise by Caerleon finished second in G1(JPN)/Oka Sho, Japanese 1000 Guineas, and G1(JPN)/Yushun Himba, Japanese Oaks, and third in G1/Japan Cup.
The field of 2010 renewal of Maktoum Challenge Round 3, which was won by Dubai Millennium in 2000, Street Cry in 2002, and Electrocutionist in 2006, was very competitive. The leader at betting market in UK was Cavalryman, the winner of G1/Grand Prix Saint-Cloud and third finisher in G1/Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe. Gloria De Campeao, the winner of G1/International Cup at Kranji and second finisher in G1/Dubai World Cup in 2009, and Allybar, the winner of the second leg of G3/Maktoum Challenge, are both in the field. And Vodka,
Red Desire was settled at the rear of the field until at the three furlong pole, though the pace was not strong, by jockey Olivier Peslier. Once they came into the homestretch, the Japanese filly ridden by French guy delivered very impressive challenge, using her wonderful turn of foot, and hit the front just in time, beating Gloria De Campeao by 1/4 lengths.
This victory means a lot for Japan. The performance by Red Desire proves that the top grass horses in Japan can be competitive in the top level in the races on synthetic surface.
Please do not miss the JRHA Sale, where you can find the top contenders in Dubai World Cup, the race on synthetic surface which carry the purse of $10 million.
