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 Racecourse, where Unsaid Vow (Giant's Causeway) steps into group company for Saturday's G2 Kyoto Shimbun Hai:
Saturday, May 9, 2020
11th-KYO, Kyoto Shimbun Hai-G2, ¥103,500,000 ($973k), 3yo, 2200mT
UNSAID VOW (c, 3, Giant's Causeway–Country Cafe, by Lion Heart) dips a toe into group-stakes company, having led home a Coolmore-sired 1-2 when besting Besame Mo (Uncle Mo) to graduate going 1800 meters over a sloppy Hanshin main track Mar. 28 (see below, gate 6). A $110K Keeneland September yearling acquisition, the chestnut is out of a half-sister to GISW Cupid (Tapit) and a full-sister to Heart Ashley, whose son Fiano Romano (Aus) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}) is a Group 3 winner on turf in Japan. Heart Ashley is also the dam of Australian GSP Ameristralia (Aus) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}), while MGSW turf marathoner Hostess (Chester House) appears under the colt's third dam. B-Mike G Rutherford (KY)
Sunday, May 10, 2020
2nd-KYO, ¥9,680,000 ($91k), Maiden, 3yo, 1400m
PRECIOUS GIRL (f, 3, Speightstown–Pressurizing, by Henrythenavigator), a debut runner-up to very impressive repeat winner Lecce Baroque (Uncle Mo) in February (see below, gate 12), will look to improve off a seventh to Primo d'Arc (Bernardini) when last seen Mar. 8. The $375K FTKNOV weanling purchase is out of an unraced daughter of Vertigineux (Kris S.), of course the dam of the irrepressible Zenyatta (Street Cry {Ire}), her three-time Grade I-winning half-sister Balance (Thunder Gulch) and SW Where's Bailey (Aljabr). Speightstown's six Japanese winners this season include G1 Takamatsunomiya Kinen victress Mozu Superflare. B-Gilgai Farm (KY)
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