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 Kokura, Kyoto and Tokyo Racecourses, the latter of which hosts the G3 Negishi S. and has attracted its defending champion Copano Kicking (Spring At Last) and G1SW Mozu Ascot (Frankel {GB}) making his dirt debut:
Saturday, February 1, 2020
2nd-KYO, ¥11,400,000 ($105k), Newcomers, 3yo, 1200m
MIAMI TESORO (c, 3, Speightstown–Run a Risk, by Distorted Humor), a $160K Keeneland September yearling, is the second foal to the races from his multiple stakes-placed dam, a half-sister to GSWs Rey de Cafe (Kingmambo) and El Crespo (A.P. Indy); and to SW Tricky Causeway. The chestnut's third dam Tricky Game (Majestic Light) was a half to Seeking the Gold (Mr. Prospector) and produced MGSW/MGISP King Cugat (Kingmambo). A Medaglia d'Oro half-brother to Miami Tesoro fetched $240K from Mike Ryan at KEESEP last fall. Owner Kenji Ryotokuji campaigned this sire's MSW & G1SP Rieno Tesoro. B-G Watts Humphrey Jr (KY)
4th-TOK, ¥13,830,000 ($127k), Allowance, 3yo, 1600m
SUNRISE RAPPORT (JPN) (c, 3, Constitution#tot">Constitution–Kara's Match Point, by Curlin) validated debut odds of 6-5 to post a three-length victory over 1800 meters at Hanshin Dec. 21 (see below, gate 12). His dam, a half-sister to GISW Dancing Rags (Union Rags) and MGSW Coup de Grace (Tapit), was purchased for $450K carrying this foal in utero at KEENOV in 2016. Sunrise Rapport's third dam was champion and GI Breeders' Cup Distaff winner Jewel Princess (Key to the Mint). B-Shimokobe Farm
10th-KOK, ¥19,110,000 ($176k), Allowance, 3yo, 1700m
CLEPAT (f, 3, American Pharoah–Intelyhente, by Smart Strike) became her sire's first Japanese winner when taking out an 1800m Hanshin maiden by open lengths Sept. 15 (see below, gate 3), but may have struggled with a rain-affected track when down the field in the Cattleya Sho (allowance) at Tokyo Nov. 23. A $310K KEESEP yearling, the April foal is a half-sister to SP Count Alexander (Scat Daddy) and her dam is a full-sister to MGSW Bel Air Beauty, dam of Canadian champion Stacked Deck (First Samurai) and GSP Valentino Beauty (Vindication). B-William Duignan & Tranquility Investments Limited (KY)
Sunday, February 2, 2020
11th-TOK, Negishi S.-G3, ¥72,000,000 ($662k), 3yo/up, 1400m
Arguably Japan's top dirt horse from 1200-1400m, COPANO KICKING (g, 5, Spring At Last–Celadon, by Gold Halo {Jpn}) is back to defend his title in this event en route to possible major targets near-term. Victorious in nine of his 15 career starts and only twice out of the top three, the $19K KEESEP RNA turned $100K Fasig-Tipton Gulfstream breezer exits a comprehensive score in the G3 Capella S. (see below, gate 7), a race he also annexed in 2019 en route to the Negishi. Copano Kicking, who could go on to the G1 February S. (1600m) at Tokyo in three weeks' time, also holds entries for the $1.5-million Riyadh Dirt Sprint (1200m) late next month and the G1 Dubai Golden Shaheen (1200m) in March. Connections have also expressed an interest in the GI Breeders' Cup Sprint. G1SW Mozu Ascot (Frankel {GB}), a son of MGSW India (Hennessy), tries the dirt for the first time here. B-Reiley McDonald (KY)
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