Japan

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 Nakayama Racecourses: Sunday, September 29, 2024 3rd-CKO, ¥13,720,000 ($96k), Newcomers, 2yo, 1400m AMERICAN BEACH (c, 2, American Pharoah--American Song {Arg}, by Stripes Song {Arg}) is the second foal from his dam, winner in Argentina of the G1 GP...

Favored at 2-5 in defense of his title in Wednesday's Listed Nippon TV Hai at Funabashi Race Track outside Tokyo, Ushba Tesoro (Jpn) (Orfevre {Jpn}) was produced wide into the stretch and kicked home smartly, but was forced to settle for second behind all-the-way winner William Barows (Jpn) (Mikki Isle {Jpn}), who scored the upset as the 7-1 third choice. Derma Sotogake (Jpn) (Mind Your Biscuits) chased the early pace, but weakened in the straight to finish fifth, beaten 8 1/2 lengths. William Barows, a Group 2 winner on dirt...

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 Nakayama Racecourse: Saturday, September 21, 2024 9th-NKY, ¥30,400,000 ($213k), Allowance, 2yo, 1200mT ECORO SIEG (c, 2, Twirling Candy--Lily Pod, by Bernstein), whose Grade III-placed dam is also responsible for SP She's Got a Way (Tonalist), cost $95,000 at last year's...

SAPPORO, Japan -- "It's been a hard day's night," sang Masayuki Goto, vice-chairman of the Asian Racing Federation (ARF), as he took to the stage for his keynote speech during the closing exchanges of the 4oth Asian Racing Conference (ARC). And it is plain that Goto, the former president and CEO of the Japan Racing Association (JRA), and his fellow ARF committee members are looking forward to the day when their counterparts around the world are singing along in perfect harmony, perhaps to the tune of Here Comes The Sun....

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 and Sapporo Racecourses: Saturday, August 31, 2024 6th-CKO, ¥13,720,000 ($94k), Newcomers, 2yo, 1400m YUTO THE YUTO (c, 2, Preservationist--Officer Leah, by Officer) is set to become the first Japanese starter for his young sire, who has accounted for 41...

The sales action rolls on to Baden-Baden this Friday for Germany's major yearling auction, the BBAG September Sale. If the talk in the build-up is to be believed then there will be more overseas visitors than ever landing at Karlsruhe airport to make the short journey to the sales grounds and its neighbouring racecourse during a lively week of action in both spheres. They surely can't all be going solely for the excellent eve-of-sale barbecue, featuring the traditional jumbo bratwurst and Elvis impersonator. Far more important than that fun night...

SAPPORO, Japan -- While other racing nations are becoming accustomed to lauding the overseas success of Japanese runners and looking on with awe at the huge financial clout of the country's domestic racing programme, it would be folly to think that Japan's racing scene does not face its own specific issues. Indeed, the host nation for the 40th Asian Racing Conference (ARC) was put under the spotlight in Sapporo on Thursday when leading trainer Yoshito Yahagi and breeder Kenichiro Mishima took to the stage to discuss ways in which Japanese...

Insel Racing's Awesome Result (Justify) made Tuesday's $365,264 Listed Breeders' Gold Cup her seventh victory from as many trips to the post and likely earned a trip to Del Mar for the GI Breeders' Cup Distaff Nov. 2. The same race was used as a springboard to victory in the same event by Marche Lorraine (Jpn) (Orfevre {Jpn}) at the seaside oval in 2021. Favored at 1-10 off a maiden stakes success in the Listed Empress Hai at Kawasaki May 8, Awesome Result broke a bit sideways, causing Yutaka Take...

SAPPORO, Japan -- "Wherever you are, the important thing is that aftercare is recognised as a shared responsibility for owners, breeders, participants and the authorities." So said Michael Owen, the keynote speaker at the eighth annual conference of the International Forum for the Aftercare of Racehorses (IFAR). The words of the former England footballer underlined the message that has been at the forefront of IFAR since its inception in 2016 under the drive of the charitable wing of Sheikh Mohammed Al Maktoum's Godolphin operation. Its formation has brought about a...

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 Niigata Racecourse: Saturday, August 17, 2024 5th-NII, ¥13,720,000 ($92k), Newcomers, 2yo, 1200mT ECORO SIEG (c, 2, Twirling Candy--Lily Pod, by Bernstein), bred on a variant of the highly successful cross of Candy Ride (Arg) over Storm Cat, cost $95,000 at...

Last seen finishing the distant runner-up behind Tuz (Oxbow) in the G1 Dubai Golden Shaheen at Meydan Mar. 30, Don Frankie (Jpn) (Daiwa Major {Jpn}) turned in an ideal prep for an expected date in the GI Breeders' Cup Sprint with an all-the-way victory in Wednesday's $353,808 Listed Cluster Cup at Morioka Raceourse on the National Association of Racing circuit. An agile individual for a horse that tipped the scales Wednesday at 607 kg (1335 pounds), Don Frankie was ridden for speed from gate seven by Kenichi Ikezoe and made...

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 Sunday running at Niigata Racecourse: Sunday, August 4, 2024 2nd-NII, ¥13,720,000 ($92k), Newcomers, 2yo, f, 1600mT T O NILSSON (JPN) (f, 2, McKinzie--American Legend, by American Pharoah) was purchased by Tomoya Ozasa for the equivalent of $84,390 at last year's JRHA Select Sale and...