By Alan Carasso
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 a very productive 4-year-old season in 2023, winning the GII Thoroughbred Club of America S. ahead of a gallant runner-up effort behind repeat champion Goodnight Olive (Ghostzapper) in the GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint. According to Winchester Farm's Dr. Naoya Yoshida, Yuugiri has been retired and is booked to Elite Power for the upcoming breeding season. The family has served these breeders very well, as Yuzuru's half-sister Nokaze (Empire Maker) has bred five winners from five starters–all in Japan–including Group 2 scorer Air Almas (Majestic Warrior) and Air Fanditha (Hat Trick {Jpn}), a two-time listed stakes winner. The colt's third dam Angelic Song (Halo) was a full-sister to Devil's Bag, Saint Ballado, et al. B-Sekie & Tsunebumi Yoshihara (KY)
5th-TOK, ¥11,850,000 ($81k), Newcomers, 3yo, 1600mT
RAINBOW TOPAZ (JPN) (c, 3, Ghostzapper–Lady Dyna, by Tapit), a $125,000 in-utero purchase at Keeneland November in 2020, is a maternal grandson of Dr. John Chandler's Dynaforce (Dynaformer), a stakes winner and Group 2-placed in France for Andre Fabre and later winner of the GI Beverly D. S. and GI Flower Bowl S. while under the care of Bill Mott upon her repatriation to the U.S. The dam of English SW & GSP Aljezeera (GB) (Frankel {GB}), Dynaforce is kin to 12 winners out of Aletta Maria (Diesis {GB}), including MGISW Cetewayo (His Majesty), GSW & GISP Bowman Mill (Kris S.), SW Ntombi (Quiet American) and De Aar (Gone West), the MGSP dam of three-time graded winner and multiple Grade I-placed Willcox Inn (Harlan's Holiday). B-Yuki Dendo
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