By Alan Carasso
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 Kyoto and Nakayama Racecourses as the JRA ushers in the new year with Sunday and Monday racing this week:
Sunday, January 5, 2020
1st-KYO, ¥9,680,000 ($90k), Maiden, 3yo, 1200m
ASTER HORN (c, 3, Speightstown–Arania, by Dynaformer), a half-brother to MGSW marathon dirt runner Campaign (Curlin), failed to fire in a 1400m turf maiden in October, but perked up with a switch to the dirt, finishing third at Chukyo Dec. 7. A $360K Keeneland September purchase, the chestnut is out of an unraced daughter of SW/GSP Aurora (Danzig), whose distinguished produced include Grade I winners Arch (Kris S.) and Acoma (Empire Maker); SW Alisios (Kris S.); Aztec Pearl (A.P. Indy), the stakes-placed dam of GSW Aztec Sense (Street Sense); and Antics (Unbridled), who bred Japanese MGSW/G1SP Albiano (Harlan's Holiday) and multiple Eclipse candidate and GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint winner Covfefe (Into Mischief). Aster Horn's third dam is champion Althea (Alydar). B-Alexander-Groves Thoroughbreds (KY)
2nd-KYO, ¥9,680,000 ($90k), Maiden, 3yo, 1800m
UNBOUNDED (c, 3, Uncle Mo&log=">Uncle Mo–Undercover Justice, by Lawyer Ron), a $400K KEESEP acquisition, was sent off the 29-10 favorite going this distance on Hanshin debut Dec. 7, but could manage just a sixth-place effort behind the very impressive A Shin Amen Ra (American Pharoah). Sold in utero for $300K at KEENOV in 2016, Unbounded is a full-brother to GSP Conquest Babayaga and was produced by a half-sister to GISW Negligee (Northern Afleet). B-Bill Justice (KY)
9th-KYO, ¥19,110,000 ($177k), Allowance, 3yo, 2000mT
AMERICAN SEED (c, 3, Tapit&hid=28277">Tapit–Sweet Talker, by Stormin Fever) cost Master Fencer (Jpn) (Just a Way {Jpn})'s owner Katsumi Yoshizawa $825K at KEESEP in 2018 and the immaculately bred colt returned some of that investment when taking out an 1800-meter turf maiden at Hanshin on his Dec. 8 debut in determined style (see below, gate 5). The full-brother to SW/GSP Sweet Tapper and half to Perregaux (Distorted Humor) is out Sweet Talker, who was snapped up by Don Adam's Courtlandt Farm for $1.15 million at KEENOV about three weeks after her victory in the GI QE II Challenge Cup at the adjacent racetrack. Second dam Another Vegetarian (Stalwart) was responsible for three-time Group 3 winner Silver Medallion (Badge of Silver). B-Courtlandt Farm (KY)
Monday, January 6, 2020
3rd-NKY, ¥9,680,000 ($90k), Maiden, 3yo, 1800m
About 100 hips before acquiring American Seed, Yoshizawa went to $450K for AMERICAN FACE (c, 3, Tapit&hid=28277">Tapit–Screen Goddess, by Giant's Causeway), whose dam is a winning half-sister to this breeder's GISW Star Billing (Dynaformer). The colt's MGSP third dam To the Hunt (Relaunch) produced Stellar Jayne (Wild Rush), who upset Ashado (Saint Ballado) in the 2004 GI Mother Goose S. and added that year's GI Gazelle H. before selling to Godolphin for $3.6 million at KEENOV. Oisin Murphy has the call. B-George Krikorian (KY)
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