Tokyo

Three top-class European invaders made the trip across to contest Sunday's G1 Japan Cup, trying to put a dent in the locals, who have more or less owned the 2400-metre feature since the turn of the century. But each was done in--to varying degrees--by a race that was run at a walking pace for the opening mile, and favoured Do Deuce (Jpn) (Heart's Cry {Jpn}) ensured that the trophy would remain in Japan for another year. The 5-year-old took off from the back of the field approaching the home straight...

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 on the Japan Cup undercard Sunday at Tokyo Racecourse: Sunday, November 24, 2024 6th-TOK, ¥13,720,000 ($89k), Newcomers, 2yo, 1800mT RHINO (JPN) (c, 2, Into Mischief--Princess Noor, by Not This Time) is the first foal for his dam, the $1.35-million topper at the 2020 OBS April...

A field of 16 juveniles--13 colts and a trio of fillies--will head to the Tokyo 1600-meter start for Saturday's $199,488 Cattleya Stakes (allowance), a contest that serves as the first of four legs on the Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby and offers points on a 10-5-3-2-1 scale. American-breds comprise a quarter of the field and Godolphin homebred Snappy Dresser (Union Rags) is the best-backed of the foursome at just over 5-2 in early wagering. A full-brother to MGSW & GISP Caramel Swirl, the May 19 foal debuted in a...

Three of Europe's top 2400-metre gallopers face an 11-strong local challenge in Sunday's G1 Japan Cup, looking to snap an 18-year run of success for Japanese-based horses. While it has become next to impossible for the raiders to walk away with the Tokyo spoils, that was not always the case. In the first 17 renewals, horses from overseas prevailed on no fewer than a dozen occasions, including theretofore unprecedented consecutive winners for Sir Michael Stoute with Singspiel (Ire) and Pilsudski (Ire) in 1996 and 1997, respectively. But since that time,...

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 Tokyo and Kyoto Racecourses: Saturday, November 16, 2024 11th-TOK, Tokyo Sports Hai Nisai S.-G2 ($461k), 2yo, 1800mT DEL AVAR (c, 2, Frankel {GB}--Amour Briller, by Smart Strike) was impressively off the mark at first asking going this distance at Fukushima...

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 Tokyo and Fukushima Racecourses: Saturday, November 9, 2024 4th-TOK, ¥10,480,000 ($68k), Maiden, 2yo, 1600m GOLDEN KITE (c, 2, Tapit--L' Age d'Or, by Medaglia d'Oro) sold to Steven Venosa's SGV Thoroughbreds for $200,000 at last year's Keeneland September sale and...

The 20-1 shot Panja Tower (Jpn) (Tower Of London {Jpn}) defended his unbeaten record with a neck score in the G2 Keio Hai Nisai Stakes at Tokyo on Saturday. The Deep Creek runner won a newcomers' affair at Chukyo on Sept. 8. Away without incident, the bay drifted back through the field to sit in seventh as rail-runner Marino Tonitrus (Jpn) (Thunder Snow {Ire}), Craspedia (Jpn) (Mr Melody {Jpn}) to her outside, and Shin Forever (Complexity), three deep, battled for supremacy during the early stages and approaching the turn. 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 Tokyo, Kyoto and Fukushima Racecourses: Sunday, November 3, 2024 4th-TOK, ¥13,720,000 ($90k), Newcomers, 2yo, 1400mT CARAVAGGISTI (c, 2, Caravaggio--Tonahutu {Ire}, by Sir Prancealot {Ire}) is out of a mare who was placed twice in graded turf events for Doug O'Neill...

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 Fukushima and Tokyo Racecourses. Sunday's horses of interest will appear in Saturday's TDN: Saturday, November 2, 2024 1st-FKS, ¥10,480,000 ($69k), Maiden, 2yo, 1700m CHUWA CHIEF (c, 2, Tom's d'Etat--Figure, by Overanalyze) gave an excellent account of himself on Chukyo...

Already an elite-level winner at 1600, 2400 and 2500 metres, Do Deuce (Jpn) (Heart's Cry {Jpn}) jumped out of the ground in the Tokyo straight and rattled home down the outside to add Sunday's G1 Tenno Sho (Autumn) over the metric mile and a quarter. Fellow G1 Tokyo Yushun hero Tastiera (Jpn) (Satono Crown {Jpn}) could not resist the winner's flying finish and settled for second, while pacesetting Ho O Biscuits (Jpn) (Mind Your Biscuits) was a valiant third. Ho O Biscuits won the break from gate nine and set...

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 Tokyo and Niigata Racecourses: Saturday, October 26, 2024 5th-TOK, ¥13,720,000 ($90k), Newcomers, 2yo, 1600mT TOSEN PENELOPE (f, 2, Maximum Security--Hassenah {Brz}, by Red Runner) becomes the first Japanese starter for her first-crop sire (by the now Japan-based New Year's Day)...

Second choice Arte Veloce (Jpn) (Maurice {Jpn}) led home paternal half-brother Taisei Current (Jpn) (Maurice {Jpn}) en route to breaking his black-type duck in the G3 Saudi Arabia Royal Cup at Tokyo on Saturday. The Teruo Ono-raced colt was trying 1600 metres for the first time and remained unbeaten. A July 27 maiden winner over 1500 metres at Sapporo at first asking, Saturday's 5-2 shot was not hindered by the rain and was taken under a firm hold when too eager down the backstretch by pilot Naosuke Sugai. Shin Forever...