Chukyo

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 Saturday running at Chukyo and Nakayama Racecourses: Saturday, January 7, 2023 3rd-NKY, ¥11,850,000, Newcomers, 3yo, 1200m HARDWIRED (c, 3, Hard Spun--Season Maker, by Pioneerof the Nile) is the first foal out of an unplaced daughter of the late French SW & MGSP Season's...

In this continuing series, Alan Carasso takes 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, Nakayama and Hanshin Racecourses. Juvenile Fillies got their chance at Group 1 glory last weekend and it's the boys' turn this weekend at Hanshin, with the running of the G1 Asahi Hai Futurity: Saturday, December 17, 2022 5th-CKO,...

In a dramatic finish to Sunday's G1 Champions Cup at Chukyo, Jun Light Bolt (Jpn) (King Kamehameha {Jpn}) collared G2 UAE Derby hero Crown Pride (Jpn) (Reach The Crown {Jpn}) by a neck just before the wire. Sent off at 6-1 in this 1800-metre contest, the 5-year-old entire settled one off the rail in midpack as Red Soldado (Jpn) (Majestic Warrior) dashed to the front. That rival, setting an uncontested pace, got away with middling fractions on the backstretch, with the first 1000 metres covered in 1:02.40. As a result,...

Horse for the course T O Keynes (Jpn) (Sinister Minister) appears a very tough nut to crack in Sunday's G1 Champions Cup (ex Japan Cup Dirt) at Chukyo Racecourse, a race in which he bolted up by a half-dozen lengths over the classy Chuwa Wizard (Jpn) (King Kamehameha {Jpn}) twelve months ago. The 5-year-old earned a berth in the 2022 G1 Saudi Cup with his victory here last year, but he was disappointing in eighth behind Emblem Road (Quality Road) in Riyadh back in February. He regrouped and validated odds-on...

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 Racecourse. Top-level racing makes a much-anticipated return to Japan this weekend with the running of the G1 Sprinters' S. at Nakayama, where the fairer sex looks to hold all the aces: Saturday, October 1, 2022 3rd-CKO, ¥13,400,000 ($93k), Newcomers,...

Coolmore America's Mendelssohn, a son of the much-missed sire of sires Scat Daddy, was represented by his first Japanese winner and 16th overall from his first crop when the 2-year-old filly Celadonite (Jpn) turned in a professional debut effort over 1400 meters on the dirt Saturday at Chukyo Racecourse. Drawn widest in a field of 10 in a rare sex-restricted event for first-time starters, the early April foal jumped alertly and was part of the early mix, then eased back to sit a midfield trip in the clear while racing...

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 Saturday running at Chukyo and Nakayama Racecourses: Saturday, September 24, 2022 4th-CKO, ¥13,400,000 ($94k), Newcomers, 2yo, 1400m CELADONITE (JPN) (f, 2, Mendelssohn--Celadon, by Gold Halo {Jpn}) is the first Japanese-foaled produce for her well-traveled dam, whose best produce to date was the very...

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 Racecourse: Saturday, September 10, 2022 3rd-CKO, ¥13,400,000 ($93k), Newcomers, 2yo, 1400mT ECORO DIANA (f, 2, More Than Ready--Nutcracker Suite {Ire}, by Fastnet Rock {Aus}), a $75,000 Keeneland September purchase, improved into a $200,000 OBS March juvenile after breezing her...

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 Sunday running at Chukyo and Hakodate Racecourses: Sunday, June 12, 2022 2nd-HAK, ¥9,900,000 ($74k), Maiden, 3yo, 1700m SWEET ZAZ (f, 3, Nyquist--Century Park, by General Meeting) was beaten double digits into 12th when debuting in a nine-furlong turf event in March, but switches...

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 Racecourse. The penultimate Group 1 event of the spring racing calendar is set for Sunday at Tokyo, which hosts the G1 Yasuda Kinen. Two-time G1 February S. hero Cafe Pharoah (American Pharoah) tries the grass for just the second...

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 Sunday running at Chukyo and Tokyo Racecourses. Featured on the 12-race program at headquarters is an intriguing renewal of the G1 Victoria Mile for female turfers, which has drawn the likes of fan-favorite Sodashi (Jpn) (Kurofune), G3 1351 Turf Sprint heroine Songline (Jpn)...

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 Saturday running at Chukyo Racecourse. The weekend's highlight takes place at Tokyo, where recent Group 2 winner Jean Gros (More Than Ready) steps up in grade for the G1 NHK Mile Cup over the metric mile: Saturday, May 7, 2022 2nd-CKO, ¥9,900,000 ($76k), Maiden,...