Kyoto

Elite-level racing in Japan for the first half of the season comes to a close this weekend with the running of the G1 Takarazuka Kinen, being contested this year at Kyoto Racecourse due to ongoing renovations at its normal home at Hanshin. The 2200-metre contest will earn the winner a fees-paid berth into the GI Longines Breeders' Cup Turf at Del Mar in early November. The Takarazuka Kinen is one of two fan-voted events on the JRA calendar annually, and its leading votegetter Do Deuce (Jpn) (Heart's Cry {Jpn}) will...

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 and Tokyo Racecourses: Saturday, June 15, 2024 5th-KYO, ¥13,720,000 ($88k), Newcomers, 2yo, 1200m AMERICAN BIKINI (JPN) (f, 2, American Pharoah--Paris Bikini, by Bernardini) is a half-sister to Paris Lights (Curlin), who won the 2020 GI CCA Oaks, prompting Katsumi...

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 Hakodate, Kyoto and Tokyo Racecourses: Saturday, June 8, 2024 3rd-HAK, ¥10,480,000 ($67k), Maiden, 3yo, 1000m ARGENTINITA (JPN) (f, 3, Constitution--Way to Versailles, by Tizway) fetched just $16,000 at the 2016 OBS June Sale, then punched well above her weight...

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 and Tokyo Racecourses: Saturday, May 25, 2024 2nd-KYO, ¥10,480,000 ($67k), Maiden, 3yo, 1800m IZANAGI (c, 3, City of Light--Miss Squeal, by Smart Strike) cost $625,000 at the 2022 Keeneland September sale and was the latest of his dam's produce...

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 is one horse of interest for this Saturday running at Kyoto Racecourse: Saturday, May 18, 2024 1st-KYO, ¥10,480,000 ($67k), Maiden, 3yo, 1800m BEL DINAH PHAROAH (JPN) (f, 3, American Pharoah--Gianna Schicchi, by War Front) is out of a half-sister to His Highness The Aga Khan's Shareta (Ire) (Sinndar {Ire}), runner-up...

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 and Tokyo Racecourses: Saturday, May 11, 2024 3rd-KYO, ¥10,480,000 ($67k), Maiden, 3yo, 1900m CRITICAL HIT (c, 3, American Pharoah--Mythical Mission, by Giant's Causeway) was a creditable fifth on his Hanshin debut over 1800 meters Mar. 30 and returned on...

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 Kyoto and Tokyo Racecourses. Group 1 racing returns to Japan this weekend with Sunday's running of the G1 February S., whose defending champion Lemon Pop (Lemon Drop Kid) swerves the race in favor of next weekend's G1 Saudi Cup....

11th-Kyoto, ¥42,190,000 ($284,065), Allowance, 4yo/up, 1900m, 1:57.4, ft. AWESOME RESULT (f, 4, Justify--Blossomed, by Deputy Minister), a maiden winner in a single juvenile appearance in 2022, was perfect in her three trips to the races last season, including a victory over 2100 metres at Tokyo Nov. 18. A touch unprepared at the break of this 4-year-old return, the bay was accordingly off a half-step slowly and was consigned to the latter third of the field for the run around the first turn. Yutaka Take slipped her some rein and asked...

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 Saturday running at Kyoto and Tokyo Racecourses: Saturday, February 3, 2024 4th-KYO, ¥11,850,000 ($81k), Newcomers, 3yo, 1800m AIR SAMSARA (c, 3, Nyquist--Yuzuru, by Medaglia d'Oro) is the latest to the races out of this stakes-winning dam, whose daughter Yuugiri (Shackleford) pieced together...

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--all filllies--including three in a single race at Kyoto as well as Nakayama: Saturday, January 20, 2024 3rd-NKY, ¥11,850,000 ($80k), Newcomers, 3yo, 1200m ROLY GLORY (f, 3, Justify--Roly Poly, by War Front) is the first foal from her dam, winner in England of...

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 Kokura, Kyoto and Nakayama Racecourses: Saturday, January 13, 2024 4th-KYO, ¥11,850,000 ($82k), Newcomers, 3yo, 1800m DANON K TWO (JPN) (c, 3, Justify--Enticed {Ire}, by Galileo {Ire}) is the first foal from a mare that cost 800,000gns ($1.1 million) at the...

Having been announced as one of the newest members of the stallion roster at Darley Japan, Palace Malice remained in a rich vein of form with his young progeny, as US-bred Noble Roger was given a perfect steer by Yuga Kawada to take out Monday's G3 Shinzan Kinen at Kyoto. It was the sire's second pattern winner in the last month, adding to the success of the American-conceived, but Japanese-foaled Jantar Mantar (Jpn) in the G1 Asahi Hai Futurity. Looking to build on a smart debut victory going a mile...