Owner/Breeder Fipke Represented By First Japanese Winner

Prominent North American owner/breeder Charles Fipke was represented by his first winner in Japan when the newly turned 3-year-old filly Kana Tape (Jpn) (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}) ran out an impressive three-length winner of a newcomers' event going 1800 meters on turf at Tokyo Racecourse Sunday afternoon.

Sent off the narrow second favorite at odds of 3-2, the bay filly jumped well from gate two for top rider Takeshi Yokoyama and tracked pacesetting Mozu Cleopatra (Jpn) (American Pharoah) from close up in second. Felt for as the field entered the final 400 meters, Kana Turn quickened nicely while racing a touch greenly switching her leads back and forth in the final furlong, but maintained a safe margin to the wire (see below). Boulard Buck (Jpn), the 13-10 chalk, completed the exacta for her leading Shadai-based stallion. Kana Tape is conditioned for Fipke by Noriyuki Hori.

Kana Tape is a daughter of American-raced 2004 GI American Oaks and GI Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup heroine Ticker Tape (GB) (Royal Applause {GB}), who was acquired by Katsumi Yoshida for $950,000 in foal to Giant's Causeway at the 2011 Keeneland November Sale. The bay, bred in the name of Yoshida's Northern Farm, was purchased by Fipke for ¥84 million ($772,800) as a foal at the 2019 JRHA Select Sale.

According to Umanity.jp, Kana Tape is the third horse to race in the Fipke silks in Japan, following Stellar Impact (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}–Topliner, by Thunder Gulch) and Galileo Impact (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}–Galileo Always {Ire}, by Galileo {Ire}).

Fipke's best North American runners include champion and GI Breeders' Cup Distaff winner Forever Unbridled (Unbridled's Song), GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare upsetter Perfect Shirl (Perfect Soul {Ire}), Tale of Ekati (Tale of the Cat), Unbridled Forever (Unbridled's Song) and Grade I-winning milers Jersey Town (Speightstown) and his son Bee Jersey. Fipke also races horses in England, Ireland, France, Australia and Dubai.