(1st May 17)

Neorealism(JPN) captures Queen Elizabeth 2 Cup in astonishing style

It proved to be slowly-run race as expected, but the big move of Neorealism(JPN) at the five furlong pole was a big surprise. And in the end, Neorealism, six-year-old horse by Neo Universe, captured fourth success of G1/Queen Elizabeth 2 Cup for Japan, after Eishin Preston in 2002 and 2003 and Rulership in 2012, helped by the enterprising riding performance of Joao Moreira, champion jockey in Hong Kong. It is amazing long spurt by Neorealism, who covered final four furlongs for 44.80 seconds.
Pakistan Star, who had finished second both in Hong Kong Classic Cup and Hong Kong Derby, finished second here as well and Werther, reining Horse of the Year in Hong Kong and tried to complete the back-to-back win of the race, finished third.
It is the third Graded Stakes, after G2/Sapporo Kinen in August 2016 and G2/Nakayama Kinen in February 2017, and the first Graded One Stakes, for Neorealism, bred by Northern Farm and owned by Carrot Club. As Vivlos(JPN) has won G1/Dubai Turf in March at Meydan, this is the second success by Japanese-bred horse at international event so far this year.

(27th Apr 17)

Neorealism runs for another Japanese success at international events

Neorealism, solo Japanese challenger in the G1/Queen Elizabeth2 Cup on April 30th at Sha Tin, will try to win the third success in Hong Kong during five months for Noriyuki Hori, who won G1/Hong Kong Vase with Satono Crown and G1/Hong Kong Cup with Maurice in December.
It is indeed smashing performance by Neorealism, who runs for Carrot Club, the racing syndication under the influence of Katsumi Yoshida's Northern Farm, which bred Neorealism, at Nakayama on February 26th, when he won the G2/Nakayama Kinen. It is the second Graded Stakes for Neorealism after G2/Sapporo Kinen in August 2016, when he defeated Maurice by two lengths.
The field of QE2C is not big, but is competitive, as it includes Werther, reigning Hong Kong Horse of the Year and try to compete the back to back win of QE2C, Pakistan Star, the rising star at Hong Kong who finished second in Hong Kong derby last time out, Dicton, representing France, and The United States representing Australia.

(27th Mar 17)

Vivros(JPN) won Dubai Turf for Japan

Vivros(JPN) by Deep Impact conquers the quality field of G1/Dubai Turf on March 25th to become the third Japanese-trained winner of the event over 1,800m at Meydan in the last four years, following Just A Way(JPN) by Heart's Cry in 2014 and Real Steel by Deep Impact in 2016.
Vivros, ridden by Joao Moreira, was settled at the rear of field and delivered strong challenge on homestretch, using the sharpest turn of foot, to overtake the star horses from Europe, such as Ribchester, Decorated Hero, Mondialiste, and Deauville, all of which have won Grade/Group One race.
A couple of hours earlier than that event, Epicharis(JPN) tried to make all G2/UAE Derby over 1,900m muddy dirt track at Meydan. Although the colt by Gold Allure was narrowly beaten by Godolphin's Thunder Snow, who has already won G1/Criterium International in France, it is really brave run and proved that the standard of dirt division in Japan is as high as the turf division.

(22nd Mar 17)

The Biggest Japanese Delegation at Dubai

Japan sends the biggest ever delegation, formed by 10 selected runners, at Dubai World Cup night,
the richest horse race meeting in the world, at Meydan on March 25.
One of the most interesting card on the day is G2/UAE Derby for three-year-old colts and fillies, which carries US$2 million purse, as this is included in the "Road to Kentucky Derby". One of two Japanese entrants in this race is Epicharis, who is the leading point earner at the "Japan Road to Kentucky Derby" and holds the entry for US Triple Crown. The colt by Gold Allure, bred by Masatsugu Kamata, was offered at the foal session of 2014 JRHA Select Sale and bought by Northern Farm by 26,000,000yen, approximately US$254,902. Epicharis, trained by Kiyoshi Hagiwara, is unbeaten through four starts, including LR/Hyacinth Stakes, the second leg of the "Japan Road to Kentucky Derby". Epicharis and Adirato, another Japanese entrant for UAE Derby, will try to run good race at Dubai and then travel from Dubai to the United States to run US Triple Crown.
Gold Dream, Apollo Kentucky, Awardee, and Lani will represent Japan in G1/Dubai World Cup, feature race of the event which carries US$10 million purse.
The rest of Japanese runners are Sound of Earth in G1/Dubai Sheema Classic Vivros in G1/Dubai Turf, Dios Corrida in G1/Golden Shaeen, and Kafuji Take in Godolphin Mile.