Notable US-Bred Runners in Japan: Oct. 3, 2020

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 Chukyo and Nakayama Racecourses, the latter of which plays host to Sunday's G1 Sprinters' S., the first of 13 fall Group 1s in Japan and featuring US-breds Mozu Superflare (Speightstown) and Mr Melody (Scat Daddy):

Saturday, October 3, 2020
4th-CKO, ¥13,400,000 ($127k), Newcomers, 2yo, 1800m
PARADISUM (c, 2, Medaglia d'Oro–Taste of Heaven {Aus}, by Encosta de Lago {Aus}) is the third foal from his dam, a full-sister to G1SW sire Manhattan Rain (Aus) and SW/G1SP stallion Echoes of Heaven (Aus); as well as a half-sister to the legendary Redoute's Choice (Aus) (Danehill), G1SW Platinum Scissors (Aus) (Danehill) and GSW Sliding Cube (Aus) (Rock of Gibraltar {Ire}), the dam of 'TDN Rising Star' and successful young stallion Rubick (Aus) (Encosta de Lago {Aus}). The female family also includes Group 1 winners Shoals (Aus) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}), Hurricane Sky (Aus) (Star Watch {Aus}) and Umatilla (NZ) (Miswaki). Noted Australian bloodstock agent James Harron signed the ticket on then 3-year-old Taste of Heaven at A$1.5m (US$1.389m) during the Teeley Assets Reduction at the 2014 Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale. Paradisum was bought back on a bid of $235K at Keeneland November in 2018 before hammering for $400K at last year's KEESEP sale. The Jan. 31 foal is inbred 4×4 to Fairy Bridge, the dam of the full-brothers Sadler's Wells and Fairy King. B-Elevage II LLC (KY)

8th-NKY, ¥14,300,000 ($136k), Allowance, 3yo/up 1200m
SUI (f, 3, Candy Ride {Arg}–Eltimaas, by Ghostzapper) was tried over 1800m and 1400m in her first two career starts with limited success, but proved easily best when scoring by four front-running lengths over this course and trip Mar. 22. The half-sister to champion sprinter and Japanese-based sire Drefong (Gio Ponti) was a $300K KEESEP acquisition and was successfully resold for $675K at last year's OBS March Sale. Eltimaas, a half-sister to champion Action This Day (Kris S.), was purchased by Machmer Hall for $77K in foal to Mizzen Mast at KEENOV in 2013. B-Machmer Hall, Carrie & Craig Brogden (KY)

Another one for Lyle Hewitson 🇿🇦 as he goes coast to coast on 6. SUI 🇺🇸 (Candy Ride x Eltimaas (Ghostzapper)) at Royal Nakayama 🇯🇵 in Race 2pic.twitter.com/8IVzq9sGim

— Graham Pavey (@LongBallToNoOne) March 22, 2020

11th-CKO, Sirius S.-G3, ¥68m ($644k), 3yo/up, 1900m
CAFE PHAROAH (c, 3, American Pharoah–Mary's Follies, by More Than Ready) assumed the mantle as Japan's top 3-year-old dirt horse earlier this year with victories in the Listed Hyacinth S. in February and in the G3 Unicorn S. (see below, gate 16) in June, both at Tokyo, and with it locked up the Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby. But he stubbed his toe when a well-beaten seventh to Danon Pharaoh (Jpn) (American Pharoah) in the Listed Japan Dirt Derby in July and resumes against his elders here. A $475K graduate of last year's OBSMAR sale, Cafe Pharoah is a half-brother to 'TDN Rising Star' Regal Glory (Animal Kingdom), who recently padded her resume with a win in the GIII Kentucky Downs Ladies' Turf S. Cafe Pharoah gets the services of Christophe Lemaire. B-Paul P Pompa Jr (KY)