Japanese Triple Crown

With the winners of the first two legs of the Japanese Triple Crown--G1 Satsuki Sho hero Geoglyph (Jpn) (Drefong) and G1 Tokyo Yushun victor Do Deuce (Jpn) (Heart's Cry {Jpn})--targeting upcoming spots versus open rivals, Sunday's G1 Kikuka Sho (Japanese St Leger) looms a competitive affair, with a pair of colts from the penultimate crop of the last Deep Impact (Jpn)--who completed his own Triple Crown here in 2005--looming especially large. Deep Impact is already the sire of four Kikuka Sho winners. Justin Palace (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) was Group...

Stunning Rose (Jpn) (King Kamehmeha {Jpn}), runner-up in the G1 Yushun Himba (Japanese Oaks), thwarted Stars on Earth (Jpn)'s (Duramente {Jpn}) Triple Crown bid with a victory in third jewel of the sophomore fillies' Triple Crown in Kyoto's G1 Shuka Sho Sunday. Breaking sharply, the third betting choice settled behind pacesetters Bright on Base (Jpn) (Kitasan Black {Jpn}) and Sound Vivace (Jpn) (Duramente {Jpn}) in a two-wide fourth down the backstretch. Meanwhile, race favorite Stars of Earth missed a beat at the start and was pinched back, forcing her to...

This week's TDN Snippets have a little international flavor, while also appreciating one of America's best, and most versatile, stallions. Can lightning strike twice? LNJ's Lighthouse (Mizzen Mast)'s Group 1 exploits in Australia have been well documented, and she's set to be offered through the Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale in May. The same connections have sent Ivy League (Medaglia d'Oro), formerly with Richard Mandella, to the Ciaron Maher/David Eustace stable trying to repeat the magic formula. All Purpose. All Places. All Power... It's not just a marketing slogan, as...

One week removed from Daring Tact (Jpn) (Epiphaneia {Jpn})'s Fillies' Triple Crown-sealing score in the G1 Shuka Sho, Contrail (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) will on Sunday attempt to provide Japanese racing with a unique double when he goes for the colts' Triple Crown in the G1 Kikuka Sho. He looks to join a list of just seven other colts, including his sire, and in fact his path this season has been almost identical to Deep Impact's: Contrail, who is unbeaten in six starts, justified champion 2-year-old honours with a first-up...