By Alan Carasso
In this continuing series, we take a look ahead at US-bred and/or conceived runners (and, in today's case, by a US-based shuttle stallion) 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 and Hanshin Racecourse. The second of those venues hosts the first of this year's fillies' Classics, the G1 Oka Sho (Japanese 1000 Guineas), featuring champion Sodashi (Jpn) (Kurofune):
Sunday, April 11, 2021
3rd-HSN, ¥9,680,000 ($89k), Maiden, 3yo, 2000m
SUZUKA PHAROAH (AUS) (c, 2, American Pharoah–Berrimilla {Aus} by Fastnet Rock {Aus}) spots his Northern Hemisphere-bred opponents a significant amount of maturity, but, in broad terms, Australian imports typically hold their own at this level. An A$120K purchase out of the 2020 Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale, the Sept. 18 foal is a maternal grandson of the stakes-placed Purrfection (NZ) (Tale of the Cat), resulting in Storm Cat inbreeding that has proved successful with this successful young sire. The colt's third dam is responsible for G1 New Zealand Oaks winner and G1 Australian Oaks runner-up Boundless (NZ) (Van Nistelrooy). B-Dr D J O'Brien (Qld)
6th-NII, ¥9,680,000 ($89k), Maiden, 3yo, 1800mT
HIROSHIGE SAPPHIRE (JPN) (f, 3, Medaglia d'Oro–Al's Gal, by English Channel) is the first produce for her dam, a $35K Mike Maker claim turned Grade I winner of the 2016 E.P. Taylor S. (see below). Sold for $800K at Fasig-Tipton November a few weeks later, she remained in training into early 2017, but was retired, was covered by this sire and fetched $950K at Keeneland November that fall. Among the competition Sunday is Ho O Margaux (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}), a once-raced (third) daughter of GI Ballerina S. winner Haveyougoneaway (Congrats). B-Shigeki Nishikawa
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