Freshman Sire Shancelot Represented by First Japanese Starter at Niigata

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 Stakes, debuts in the colors of Kazuo Kato, who also campaigns Frosted's multiple Japanese group-winning turf sprinter Jasper Krone. The latter's trainer Hideyuki Mori signed the ticket on Jasper Divine at this year's OBS March Sale at $255,000 after the Mar. 14 foal breezed an eighth of a mile in :9 4/5. Jasper Krone was a $90,000 buy at OBSMAR in 2021. B-Denny Andrews (KY)

3rd-NII, ¥13,720,000 ($89k), Newcomers, 2yo, 1200m
ECORO AZEL (c, 2, Shancelot–Cicada's Song, by Twirling Candy) was an OBS April acquisition by the aforementioned Hideyuki Mori, who gave $215,000 for the colt after he covered a furlong in :10 flat. The transaction made for a nice profit for pinhooker and consignor Jose Munoz, who parted with $17,000 for the colt at last year's Fasig-Tipton October sale. Crawford Farms, who campaigned this GII Amsterdam Stakes romper and MGISP sire in partnership, purchased Ecoro Azel's twice stakes-placed dam for $52,000 carrying to Practical Joke at the 2021 Keeneland January Sale. B-Crawford Farms (KY)

Sunday, July 28, 2024
2nd-NII, ¥10,480,000 ($68k), Maiden, 2yo, 1200m
JASPER SOLEIL (c, 2, Mitole–Hen Escape, by Henny Hughes) is the lone firster in a field of nine and also goes out for Mori, who gave $135,000 on behalf of Kazuo Kato at OBS March (:10 flat). Carlo Vaccarezza had previously purchased the close relation to the stakes-winning Extreme Lyra (Eskendereya) for $52,000 at Keeneland September last fall. The Jan. 28 produce is out of a half-sister to champion and G1 Prix de l'Abbaye winner Benbaun (Ire) (Stravinsky) and the third dam bred MGSW GI Breeders' Cup Mile runner-up Hawksley Hill (Ire) (Rahy). B-Brandywine Farm (Jim & Pam Robinson) (KY)

3rd-NII, ¥13,720,000 ($89k), Newcomers, 2yo, 1800mT
LARGE GALLERY (f, 2, American Pharoah–Scarlet Color {Jpn}, by Victoire Pisa {Jpn}) is the first foal from his dam, a North Hills homebred who recorded the most important of her three career victories in the G2 Fuchu Himba Stakes in 2018, defeating champion Lucky Lilac (Jpn) (Orfevre {Jpn}) in the process. A victory here would make Large Gallery the first winner for her sire from a Sunday Silence-line dam. B-North Hills Co Limited (KY)