(25th May 16)

A SHIN HIKARI(JPN) stakes a claim to the best in the world

A Shin Hikari(JPN) by Deep Impact(JPN) collected his second Graded One win at Chantilly on May 24th in style, beating European rivals by ten lengths in G1/Prix d'Ispahan,
The undulation at Chantilly and rain-softed ground were the worrying factors for A Shin Hikari, who won G1/Hong Kong Cup in December establishing the stakes record, however, neither of them did harm him to produce his best form.
The next start for A Shin Hikari is G1/Prince of Wales Stakes on the second day of Royal Ascot,
and the bookmakers which reacted with the impressive performance immediately, cut A Shin Hikari to 6/4 to 2/1 favorite.

(2nd May 16)

MAURICE(JPN) conquers Hong Kong Champions Mile

A week after knocked down by stormy weather and cutting ground, Japan took the revenge successfully at Sha Tin on May 1st, when Maurice(JPN), 2015 Japanese Horse of the Year, won G1/Champions Mile easily.
The 5-y-o Horse by Screen Hero(JPN), winner of 2008 Japan Cup, ridden by Joao Moreira, was supported as 11-10 favorite by the Hong Kong punters. He was settled at the fourth position in twelve runners' field and accelerated immediately when Moreira asked at the top of homestretch to win by two lengths.
This is his fourth Graded One Stakes, after G1/Yasuda Kinen, G1/Mile Championship, and G1/Hong Kong Mile, and Maurice extended the winning streak, which started in January 2015, to seven.
While it is likely that his next start is G1/Yasuda Kinen on June 5th at Tokyo, the connection considers the races with further distance, such as G1/Takarazuka Kinen.

(25th Apr 16)

Weather knocked down Japanese horses at Hong Kong

The storm hit the area of Sha Tin on April 24th and it did not help Japanese-trained horses.
Werther, 9 to 2 second favorite in 13 runners, who won of HKG1/Hong Kong Derby last time out and has won G2/Championship Stakes on heavy ground at his home nation, drew clear to win G1/Queen Elizabeth 2
Stakes by four and half lengths.
Lovely Day(JPN), who was supported as 19 to10 favorite, finished 4th, Nuevo Record(JPN) was 6th, and Satono Crown(JPN) was 12th, as none of them could handle the "Yielding" track.
It is fortunate that Japan has chance to revenge the defeat, as Maurice(JPN), Japanese Horse of the Year in 2015, is standing by for G1/Champions' Mile on May 1st at Sha Tin.

(19th Apr 16)

Japanese trio ready for Queen Elizabeth 2 Cup

The quality field of G1/Queen Elizabeth 2 Cup on Sunday includes three Japanese-trained horses, including JRHA graduate, Satono Crown(JPN), and the reports from Sha Tin have been all positive.
Lovely Day(JPN), 5-y-o horse by King Kamehameha and Nuevo Record(JPN), 5-y-o mare by Heart's Cry arrived at Hong Kong on Thursday 14th after having uneventful flight from Kansai Airport.
Joao Moreira, Champion Jockey in Hong Kong, is booked for Lovely Day, Japanese Champion Older Male who won G1/Takaraduka Kinen and G1/Emperor's Cup Autumn in 2015, while Yutaka Take will pilot Nuevo Record, winner of G1/Japanese Oaks and finished second in G1/Hong Kong Cup last December.
Satono Crown, 4-y-o colt by Marju, arrived safely at Sha Tin in early morning of Sunday 17th. Satono Crown, who was bought at the yearling session of JRHA Select Sale in 2013 by Hajime Satomi for 58,000,000yen, $568,628 at the exchange rate of the day, has won three Graded Stakes including G2/Kyoto Kinen last time out and earned 209,920,000yen, more than three times of his price. Zac Purton, who partnered Admire Rakti when they won G1/Caulfield Cup, is booked for Satono Crown.

(28th Mar 16)

Japan shines twice at Meydan

Lani, Koji Maeda's homebred in the United States, won G2/UAE Derby, beating Polar River, the odd-on favorite representing South Africa, by three quarters of length at Meydan on March 26th.
The colt by Tapit out of G1/Emperor's Cup winner Heavenly Romance(JPN) stumbled immediately after the break, however, he made a big move on backstretch and delivered strong challenge on homestretch. Yu Change(JPN), by Swift Current, finished good third, being only neck behind Polar River.
The winner of UAE Derby is given 100 points for Kentucky Derby, and Lani will be shipped from Dubai to Kentucky to join the field of "Run for Roses" on May 7th at Churchill Downs.
Two hours later, Real Steel(JPN) conquered G1/Dubai Turf, which carries the US$6 million purse,
overcoming the disadvantage of starting from wide barrier. The colt by Deep Impact, who placed in all three legs of Triple Crown last year, captured his first Graded One Stakes in Dubai.
Duramente(JPN) by King Kamehameha, was unlucky loser in G1/Dubai Sheema Classic. Despite he lost the shoe of his fore right leg during the parade, Duramente ran bravely and finished second to Postponed, winner of G1/King George 6 and Queen Elizabeth Stakes. And Last Impact(JPN) by Deep Impact in the same race finished third.

(23rd Mar 16)

Strong team representing Japan at Meydan

The delegation dispatched form Japan at Dubai World Cup Night on coming Saturday is the biggest ever and looks the strongest ever.
Probably the best chance for Japan is Duramente(JPN), dual classic winner last year and made successful return to racecourse winning G2/Nakayama Kinen on February 28th, in G1/Dubai Sheema Classic, where he will be ridden by his regular rider Mirco Demuro. Last Impact(JPN), second in 2015 Japan Cup, for whom Joao Moreira is booked, and One and Only(JPN), Japanese Derby winner in 2014 with Yutaka Take on board, are also entered in Sheema Classic.
Real Steel(JPN), placed in all three legs of Triple Crown last year, is solo Japanese challenger in G1/Dubai Turf and Ryan Moore is booked for him. As Solow, the defending champion, is ruled out of the race due to injury, Real steel should have good chance to win Dubai Turf, which was won by Just A Way, JRHA graduate, in 2014.
Another hopeful is Bel Canto, specialist of 5 furlong straight course, in G1/Al Quoz Sprint.
Lani(USA), Yu Change(JPN), and On The Rocks(JPN), will try to win G2/UAE Derby for the first time as Japanese-trained horse.
Neo Black Dia(JPN) will carry the Japanese flag in G2/Dubai Gold Cup, and Hokko Tarumae(JPN) will compete with strong team from the United States in G1/Dubai World Cup, the feature race of the night.