Action continues Thursday in Hong Kong with the inagural running of the Gr-II Gome Sprint (4y0+, 1200m) at the Sha Tin racecourse.
The huge favorite will be the world’s top ranked sprinter (grass) Sacred Kingdom, who is coming off a tough luck second in the Queen's Silver Jubilee Stakes. If all goes well, he should romp.
A group of Japan’s top stayers will gather on Sunday for the Gr-I Tenno Sho (Spring) (4yo+, 3200m).
Leading the field are the winners of the top two preps of the race, Gr-II Hanshing Daishoten winner Admire Jupiter, also winner of three of his last four, and Gr-II Nikkei Shinshun Hai victor Admire Monarch, who was third last out in the Daishoten. But multiple Gr-I winner Meisho Samson, out of form as of late with two unplaced efforts in a row after his game third in the Japan Cup in November, will be looking to retake his place among the Japan’s elite. A possible spoiler is also Asakusa Kings, winner of the '07 Kikuka Sho, the last leg of the Japanese triple crown, and who is coming of a 08 debut third in theSankei Osaka Hai .
Favorite Company scores back to back stakes win when he takes the Yomiuri Milers Cup in an ultra tight finish in which the top 11 finishers were separated by little over four lengths...
(updated 4/20)
The first leg of Japan's Triple Crown, the Satsuki Sho (Japanese 2000 Guineas), went to Captain Thule in an upset, as he cruised to a 2-1/2 length win while leading the whole way around.
The favorite, Meiner Charles, was just edged out for second and finished third. Next up for the Captain is the second leg of the Triple Crown, the Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby) next month.
Six horses have taken the Triple Crown in Japan: Deep Impact ('05), Narita Brian ('94), Symboli Rudolf ('84), Mr. C.B. ('83), Shinzan ('64) and St Lite ('41).
Sunday will see the running of the Gr-I Satsuki Sho (Japanese 2000 Guineas), which is the first leg of Japan’s Triple Crown.
With last year’s 2yo champion Goshawk Ken not competing, the race is wide open with no clear standout. The likely favorite appears to be Meiner Charles, winner of three in a row and only one in the field to have won two races or more. His stiffest competition may be Black Shell, second to ‘Charles last out.
An interesting side note to the J-TC is that they were established to provide a method choosing the best breeding prospects in competition so geldings are therefore not allowed to enter.
(updated 4/18)
In Saturday’s Yomiuri Milers Cup, Company is looking to nab his second graded stakes in a row, coming off his victory in the Nakayama Kinen last month. In his way again will be Maruka Phoenix, who had won 4 in a row but has floundered in his last two attempts in graded stakes.
Asian Wind took the Gr-II Hai Hanshin Himba Stakes (3yo+,f&m, 1400m), going gate to wire and springing a slight upset in garnering her first graded win...
Reginetta came with a late rally to win the Gr-I Oka Sho (Japan 1,000 Guineas, 3yo, f, 1600m), the first leg of the fillies Triple Crown. 2yo filly Champion Tall Poppy was not a factor and finished eight.
Only two fillies have ever taken their Triple Crown: Still in Love ('03) and Mejiro Ramonu ('86).
Also worth noting is that the other '07 2yo champion, Goshawk Ken, also floped on Sunday, as he finished a dissapointing 12th as the favorite in the ungraded New Zealand Trophy, where Satono Progress was a surprise winner. How this affects 'Ken's participation next week in the Satsuki Sho (Japanese 2000 Guineas), the first leg of Japan's Triple Crown, is up in the air.
The Gr-II Chairman’s Trophy (3yo+, 1600m) will be run in Hong Kong Sunday, and the local milers will have a chance to earn a rare win with the outstanding Good Ba Ba bypassing the race.
2006’s top miler Armada, in his second race back after a one year layoff leads the charge. But he will have to contend with the improving Hello Pretty and Gr-I winner Joyful Winner.
A top trio of Japan’s best takes to the track Sunday for the Sankei Osaka Hai (3yo+, 2000m).
’07 Champion 3yo filly Daiwa Scarlet makes her ’08, having last finished second against the ‘boys’ in December’s Gr-I Arima Kinen. Facing off against her will be multiple Gr-I winner and defending race champion Meisho Samson, who just lost out Horse of the Year award when he came in second to eventual HOY Admire Moon in the Japan Cup. His last effort was a less-than stellar eighth in the ‘Kinen. But it will by no means be a two-horse races, as multiple stakes winner Dream Passport will line up, and he already has a victory over ‘Samson in the past.
A pair of major graded stakes in Japan this weekend, with the Gr-II Nikkei Sho (G2) on Saturday and the Gr-I Takamatsunomiya Kinen (4yo+, 1200m) on Sunday.
The ‘Kinens’s feature horses are defending winner Suzuka Phoenix and Super Hornet, winner 3 out of his last 5, in his first race since a second in the Gr-I Mile Championship in November. Their main challengers are Laurel Guerreiro, winner of two recent Gr-III’s which included beating Suzuka last out, Maruka Phoenix, who had four allowance wins in a row before a 12th as he stepped up to a Gr-III, and Fine Grain & Premium Box, both coming off back to back non-stakes wins.
Tune back later for a preview of the Nikkei Sho once the entries are released.
A group of 13 Japanese stayers are entered into Sunday's Gr-II Hanshin Daishoten (4yo+, 3000m).
Leading the charge is the winner of last year’s race, the 8yo Eye Popper, making his ’08 debut. But he will be hard pressed to outrun Admire Jupiter, who last November set a 2500m course record when winning the Copa Republica Argentina. But look out for the consistent Pop Rock, last out second in the November Japan Cup.
Today we will preview Japan’s biggest race, Saturday's Group 1 Arima Kinen (3yo+, 2500m), as well as Australia's Gr-II C.B. Cox Stakes on Wednesday. Come Thursday, we will complete the international scene also in Australia with the Gr-II Villiers Stakes. We will then also include a list of upcoming graded stakes for the week of Dec 24- 30, as G-t-W will be closed for Christmas.
This year’s Arima Kinen is exceptionally deep, and lines up as an almost virtual replay of the recent Japan Cup. That race’s winner, Admire Moon, has since been retired, leaving as the likely race favorite the third place finisher, Meisho Samson. The four time Group 1 winner has been in top form this year, and is about 1 combined length from bagging two more this year. If he has a clear run when he starts his finishing kick he will be very tough to beat. In the process, he will likely have to pass Pop Rock as they get close to the wire. Always consistent and placing in all the major races, Pop Rock will once again play a big factor, but expect his case of seconditis to continue. But the toughest challenge to ‘Samson might come from the sibling duo of Daiwa Major and Daiwa Scarlett, Japan’s top miler and top filly. They are coming off big wins in the Group 1’s Mile Championship and Queen Elizabeth II Commemorative Cup, and certainily have the talent to win. But both face major question marks, as the ‘Major is best at a mile and has never won this far, while ‘Scarlett has never run this far period. Others to keep an eye but that need to improve back to their form from last year are ’06 Japan Derby winner Vodka, ’06 Melbourne Cup winner Delta Blues and ’06 Singapore Airlines International Cup winner Cosmo Bulk.
To wrap up our Japan feature, we need to point out Goshawk Ken’s get to wire victory in the Asahi Hai Futurity Stakes on Sunday, in all likelyhood wrapping up Japan’s 2yo championship.
It is easy to think as the Breeder’s Cup as the final big event in the US’s horse racing season, with most Eclipse Awards already decided. But if you do, you would be mistaken as a host of graded stakes will take place thisThanksgiving week. In the US, there will be 18 graded stakes happening, which include five Grade 1’s, while no lesser display will happen overseas where 9 Group 1 and 2 stakes will be run.
So with a full plate in store, we’re kicking off the previews early this week and heading to Japan for the big Japan cup weekend…
Perhaps the best race of the week, if not the year, may just be the Gr-1 Japan Cup, being run over 2400m on the turf on Sunday. Featured in this race will be Europe's 2007 Horse of the Year Dylan Thomas, winner of the ‘07 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe and King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes. The Breeder’s Cup Turf was mean to be Dylan’s final race, but after a less than stellar effort, his handlers have brought him to Japan for what they hope will be a successful swan song. But to do so, he will have to conquer a group of Japan’s top runners, which will be lead by perhaps Japan’s best horse, multiple Group 1 winner Meisho Samson. He is coming off an impressive win in the the Gr 1Tenno Sho (Autumn), to go in hand with his Tenno Sho (Spring) victory, and his powerful stretch runs may have him in the lead as they near the final strides. In the mix also figures to be Admire Moon, winner of the Gr 1’s Dubai Sheema Classic and Takarazuka Kinen (where he beat Meisho Samson), although he is coming off a dissapointing finish behind Meisho Samson in the Tenno Sho (Autumn). Expect the race to come down to those three. Also expected to seriously contend are Japan Derby winner Vodka, ‘06 Melbourne Cup winner Delta Blues, multiple stakes placed Pop Rock, still looking for that first Group 1 victory, and US invader Artiste Royal, winner of the Clement L. Hirsch Memorial Turf. All in all, the winner of this race may well be able to claim the title of best turf horse in the world... although the group gathering in Hong Kong in two weeks time will have something to say about that.
(updated 11/20) - The Japan Cup had a major defection today when Dylan Thomas was removed due to not testing negative for equine viral arteritis.
But the Japan festivities actually kickoff Saturday with the Gr-1 Japan Cup Dirt, run at 2100m. Pacific Classic winner Student Council has made the leap overseas, and appears to have found himself late this summer, garnering back to back graded stakes wins. He will be looking to become the third US based horse to take this race in the last five years. But to do so, he will have to best expected favorite Vermillion, who is coming off a pair of wins in local races, and seems to be entering his top form. But one who might beat them both to the wire is late closer Dragon Fire. Having just won in better-late-than-never style in the Sirus Stakes, the 2100m distance seems like it will suit his running style just find.
Note that there is also one Group 3 stakes race that is not being previewed.
From Japan we head to Australia, for the next Group 1 offering of the weekend and the Railway Stakes, for 3 year olds & up, being contested at 1600m. The Railway is the second leg of the Australian Mile Triple Challenge.
The big favorite will be El Presidente, considered by most to be the best horse in Western Australia, winner of 7 of 9 career starts including the R.J. Peters Stakes last out. The big question is how he will handle the mile race, having never raced beyond 1400m. But the impressive finishing kick he displayed in the Peters hints that he should be able to handle the distance. But if the favorite falters, New ####e is expected to be the one to come through. Coming off a layoff, he took the Northerly Stakes in impressive fashion and should be in even better shape now. Finally, Beat the Storm deserves some consideration, even after a terrible last start in the RJ Peters, as he has finished in the money in 13 out of 19 races.
Note that there are seven other Group 3 and 4 stakes races that are not being previewed. If you happen to find yourself in the outback this weekend, you have plenty of action to choose from.
Check back again later for the continued flurry of race previews…
Daiwa Major confirmed his status as Japan's top miler, winning the Mile Championship for the second year in a row. (updated image & video, 11/19)
Traveling close to the leaders, Daiwa Major took control over the then-leading Fusaichi Richard on the final turn and began to pull away. But upset-minded Super Hornet started making ground with a strong move on the outside, with Suzaka Phoenix not far behind. But Daiwa Major dug in and held off the challenge, winning by a neck.
I am a FOX Sports Blogger who hasn't yet written much of a bio yet. But as you can tell, I'm a horse racing aficionado... who also happens to love the Mets and NY Giants (not from NY, but thanks for asking)
