Oscar Performance Represented By First Japanese Starter

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 Saturday at Tokyo and Sunday at Hanshin. The latter venue plays host to Sunday's G1 Takarazuka Kinen, the final top-level event in Japan for three months and offering the winner a spot in the field for the GI Breeders' Cup Turf in November. The field appears at the end of TDN Europe and a full preview can be found in Saturday's TDN Euro:

Saturday, June 25, 2022
5th-TOK, ¥13,400,000 ($99k), Newcomers, 2yo, 1800mT
MEINER VISION (JPN) (c, 2, Oscar Performance–Songoficeandfire, by Dynaformer) becomes the first Japanese starter for his first-crop sire (by Kitten's Joy), who has already been represented by the impressive debut scorer Andthewinneris at Keeneland at the end of April. The bay is the third to the races for his dam, twice placed in turf marathon events at Grade III level and acquired for $200K with this colt in utero at the 2020 Keeneland January Sale. Songoficeandfire is a daughter of G1 Yorkshire Oaks heroine Catchascatchcan (GB) (Pursuit of Love {GB}), the dam of Irish Group 2 winner Antonius Pius (Danzig), whose Group 1 placings included the St James's Palace, the Prix du Moulin and the Breeders' Cup Mile. B-Big Red Farm

Sunday, June 26, 2022
5th-HSN, ¥13,400,000 ($99k), Newcomers, 2yo, 1800mT
KAUPILI (c, 2, Frosted–Heavenly Romance {Jpn}, by Sunday Silence) is the latest produce for his Tenno Sho-winning dam, whose other notable offspring include MGSW/MG1SP and $4-million earner Awardee (Jungle Pocket {Jpn}), five-time stakes winner Amour Briller (Smart Strike) and the enigmatic G2 UAE Derby winner and GI Belmont S. third Lani (Tapit) from the same sire line. It should be noted that the three siblings were a combined four for 30 on the grass, but improved dramatically with a switch to the dirt track. B-North Hills Co Limited (KY)