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(28th Mar 24)

22 Japanese hopes have accepted the invitations to the Dubai World Cup meetings

21 horses from JRA and 1 horse from NAR have arrived Dubai and will run in seven international races at Meydan on the Dubai World Cup day. Japan Racing Association is going to conduct simulcasting of the four races-G1 Dubai Golden Shaheen, G1 Dubai Turf, G1 Dubai Sheema Classic and the G1 Dubai World Cup.

10 horses among the team are the graduates of Japan Racing Horse Association and will compete in the following six races.

<G2 Dubai Gold Cup, 3200m Turf>
The 2017 Select Sale Foal Session graduate Iron Barows, the 2023 G2 Stayers Stakes winner, finished disappointing 12th in the G3 Red Sea Turf Handicap (3000m, turf) at King Abdulaziz in February latest.

<UAE Derby, 1900m Dirt>
Susumu Fujita’s Yoshito Yahagi-trained colt proved his star prospect as he won the G3 Saudi Derby (1600m) at King Abdulaziz in style last month. Sold at the 2022 Select Sale Yearling Session, Forever Young seeks his fifth straight win since debut and an entry spot for the G1 Kentucky Derby.

Mikio Matsunaga trained Ballon d’Or, a 2021 Select Sale Foal Session graduate, hopes to take his first group race success on Saturday. A two-time winner in six career starts finished sixth in Hyacinth Stakes (1600m, dirt), the Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby, in February last time.

<Golden Shaheen, 1200m, Dirt>
A proven dirt sprinter Don Frankie has finished on the board in 12 out of 15 starts. Sold at the 2019 Select Sale Foal Session, the 5-year-old son of Daiwa Major emerged his talent last term as he took four wins including the G3 Procyon Stakes (1400m, dirt) and the local G2 Tokyo Hai (1200m, dirt) in October. His first appearance this term was the G1 February Stakes (1600m, dirt) and finished ninth last time.

<Dubai Turf, 1800m, Turf>
The 2019 Select Sale Foal Session graduate and the 5-year-old Danon Beluga has returned to Meydan to fly flag in the Dubai Turf. Finished third to Equinox in the 2022 G1 Tenno Sho Autumn (2000m, turf), he showed his impressive closing speed and ran brave 2nd in this race last year. He rounded off the last term with a sixth-place in the G1 Japan Cup (2400m, turf) last time.

Matenro Sky, a 5-year-old gelding and the 2019 Select Sale Foal Session graduate, keeps good form. Has shown a consistency, finishing in top three in 13 from 17 career runs, the son of Maurice finished 5th in the G3 Tokyo Shimbun Hai (1600m) in February and overcame the rain affected track for his first group race success in the G2 Nakayama Kinen (1800m) last time.

<Dubai Sheema Classic, 2400m, Turf>
Sold at 2019 Select Sale Yearling Session for 190,000,000yen, Justin Palace emerged his talent last term. He claimed the G1 Tenno Sho Spring (3200m, turf) for his first G1 success in June and ran 3rd and 2nd in the G1 Takarazuka Kinen (2200m, turf) and the G1 Tenno Sho Autumn( (2000m, turf) respectively. Joao Moreira has been booked to ride.

<Dubai World Cup, 2000m Dirt>
All the three Japanese contenders for this year’s US $12,000,000 feature race are the JRHA Select Sale graduates. Ushba Tesoro, the 2017 Select Sale Foal Session graduate, has been under spotlight after he was converted to dirt surface at five. The reigning Dubai World Cup was beaten by a head behind Senor Buscador in the G1 Saudi Cup (1800m, dirt) in February last time. If he wins this year’s Dubai World Cup, he will become the highest-earning Japanese racehorse, which is currently held by Equinox.

The 2021 Select Sale Yearling Session graduate and the world traveler Derma Sotogake is aiming at his first overseas G1 success. Last year’s G2 UAE Derby winner finished sixth in the G1 Kentucky Derby and finished 2nd to White Abbario in the G1 Breeders’ Cup Classic (2000m, dirt) in November. He started off this term in Saudi Arabia and finished 5th in the G1 Saudi Cup (1800m, dirt) latest.

A 4-year-old Dura Erede, the 2021 Select Sale Yearling Session graduate, has had ixed forms on both turf and dirt. He seemed to like the Meydan surface as he finished 2nd in the G2 UAE Derby (1900m, dirt) last year. He was back to turf after he returned to Japan but showed little in two starts. He showed upward curve and ran 3rd in the G1 Champions Cup (1800m, dirt) and the local G1 Tokyo Daishoten (2000m, dirt) at NAR-Oi in December respectively. Did poorly when 12th in the G1 February Stakes (1600m, dirt) last time.

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(28th Feb 24)

The Saudi Cup Day-Two winners from team Japan in six international races

21 horses, the Japan’s largest contingent ever to the Saudi Cup Day, ran in six international races at King Abdulaziz racecourse on February 24th. Japan scored two wins- in the US $1.5M G3 Saudi Derby (1600m, dirt) won by Forever Young (by Real Steel) and the following US$1.5M G3 Riyadh Dirt Sprint (1200m, dirt) won by Remake (by Lani)
The 2021 Select Sale Foal Session graduate and bred by Northern Farm, the Susumu Fujita owned Forever Young had a slow start and traveled from mid-pack. Jockey Ryusei Sakai guided him wide out to escape from kick-back, and the 3-year-old colt trained by Yoshito Yahagi found another top gear to seize the lead in the final strides to held off Book Em’ Danno (USA) by a head. Forever Young became the first Japanese winner of the day and remained unbeaten in four starts. According to trainer Yahagi, the colt will head to Dubai for the UAE Derby (1900m, dirt) and then aim at the G1 Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs.

Aguri, a 5--year-old horse by Caravaggio, had his second overseas travel in career, following last year’s G1 Chairman’s Spring Prize (1200m, turf) at Sha Tin, and ran in the US$2M G2 1351 Turf Sprint (1351m, turf), piloted by Christophe Lemaire. The 2020 Select Sale Yearling Session graduate and bred by Northern Farm, the Masahiro Miki owned horse raced in the mid-pack but finished sixth to Anaaf (IRE).

The 2017 Select Sale Foal Session graduate and bred by Northern Farm, the Hirotsugu Inokuma owned the 7-year-old Iron Barows (by Orfevre) was one of the four runners fielded by Japanese in the US$2.5M G3 Red Sea Turf Handicap (3000m, turf) and finished 12th.

In the feature race of the day, US$20M G1 Saudi Cup (1800m, dirt), two of the four Japanese runners were JRHA Select Sale graduates, -last year’s G1 Dubai World Cup reigning horse Ushba Tesoro (by Orfevre) and the G1 Breeders’ Cup Classic runner-up Derma Sotogake (by Mind Your Biscuits). The American trainee Senor Buscador (USA) prevailed in the photo-finish, holding off the late Japanese hope Ushba Tesoro and with Yuga Kawada on board in the last couple of strides for his first G1 success. The 2017 Select Sale Foal session graduate and bred by Chiyoda Farm, the Ryotokuji Kenji Holdings Co., Ltd owned Ushba Tesoro aims to defend the Dubai World Cup title next.
One of the other Japan’s hopes in the Saudi Cup and the 2021 Select Sale Yearling Session graduate and bred by Shadai Farm, the Hiroyuki Asanuma owned 4-year-old Derma Sotogake had his first race up since last fall and finished fifth under Christophe Lemaire.

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(23rd Feb 24)

Japan aiming higher with The Saudi Cup meetings

21 Japan-trained horses will be running this year’s The Saudi Cup meetings in six races at King Abdulaziz racecourse on coming Saturday. This year, Japanese racing fans can bet on the G1 Saudi Cup on JRA tote system.
Last year, trainer Yoshito Yahagi trained Pantharassa had an emotional wire-to-wire victory in the feature race of the day, US$20M the G1 Saudi Cup. Four runners will be field in the feature race this year-last year’s G1 Dubai World Cup winning horse Ushba Tesoro, Japan’s dirt champion horse Lemon Pop, the well-world traveler Crown Pride and the last year’s G1 Breeders’ Cup Classic runner-up Derma Sotogake.

The 7-year-old horse Ushba Tesoro by Orfevre is a 2017 JRHA Select Sale Foal Session graduate. Bred by Chiyoda Farm and owned by Ryotokuji Kenji Holdings Co., Ltd, the Noboru Takagi trained horse had a piece of steady gallop on the dirt track with jockey Yuga Kawada on board on Wednesday. Trainer Takagi and jockey Kawada are both pleased with how he was in the gallop over the course, which seems to be heavier and tougher than last year. Ushba Tesoro will start from gate 11. Takagi said about the draw, “He usually settles back, so the draw is not a big concern.”

The 4-year-old Derma Sotogake by Mind Your Biscuits is a 2021 JRHA Select Sale Yearling Session graduate. Bred by Shadai Farm and owned by Hiroyuki Asanuma, the Hidetaka Otonashi trained colt has had a good preparation for the race. With having a minor issue with his hoof after the Breeders’ Cup, Derma Sotogake will start for the first time in more than three months. The draw reaction from the connection (No.13) was not a pessimistic.

The 5-year-old horse by Caravaggio and the 2020 JRHA Select Sale Yearling Session graduate Aguri is to run the G2 1351 Turf Sprit. The G3 and the multiple grade race placed horse started off the term with a 2nd place in the 1200m-G3 Silk Road Stakes in January. As Trainer Takayuki Yasuda will retire on March 5th, Aguri will be the last overseas traveler for the handler. Christophe Lemaire is going to ride.

The 2017 JRHA Select Sale Foal Session graduate Iron Barows has been traveled to overseas for the first time in his career and runs the G3 Red Seas Turf (3000m). The Hiroyuki Uemura trained 7-year-old horse grabbed the long awaited first group race success in the G2 Stayers stakes (3600m) last December before he showed little in the G1 Arima Kinen last time. Christian Demuro will be on board.

The very promising 3-year-old colt Forever Young should be the one to focus. Trained by the legend Yoshito Yahagi, the Real Steel sired colt is a 2022 JRHA Select Sale Yearling Session. Susumu Fujita-owned colt remains unbeaten in three starts since debut. In his last start, local G1 Zennihon Nisai Yushun (1600m, dirt) at NAR-Kawasaki, he won by outstanding seven lengths. With his regular rider Ryusei Sakai on board, Forever Young prepares well for Saturday’s G3 Saudi Derby (1600m, dirt), and according to Yahagi, he is heading to Dubai for the G2 UAE Derby next to get the points for the G1 Kentucky Derby.

(*Meisho Hario has been withdrawn from the G1 Saudi Cup)

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SELECT SALE GRADE RACE WINNER

Wolfe

Coongy Cup・G3
SELECT SALE GRADE RACE WINNER
Sire:Novellist
Dam:Peace of World
Sire of Dam:Sunday Silence
2015 SELECT SALE
Price(JPY):33,000,000
Fierce Impact

Cantala S・G1
SELECT SALE GRADE RACE WINNER
Sire:Deep Impact
Dam:Keiai Gerbera
Sire of Dam:Smarty Jones
2014 SELECT SALE
Price(JPY):66,000,000
Hush Writer

Newcastle Gold Cup・G3
SELECT SALE GRADE RACE WINNER
Sire:Rulership
Dam:Star of Sapphire
Sire of Dam:Tapit
2015 SELECT SALE
Price(JPY):23,000,000

SELECT SALE GRADE RACE WINNER

Danon McKinley

Falcon S.・G3
SELECT SALE GRADE RACE WINNER
Sire:Maurice
Dam:Homecoming Queen
Sire of Dam:Holy Roman Emperor
2022 SELECT SALE
Price(JPY):220,000,000

SELECT SALE GRADE RACE WINNER

Forever Young

Saudi Derby・G3
SELECT SALE GRADE RACE WINNER
Sire:Real Steel
Dam:Forever Darling
Sire of Dam:Congrats
2022 SELECT SALE
Price(JPY):98,000,000

SELECT SALE GRADE RACE WINNER

Matenro Sky

Nakayama Kinen・G2
SELECT SALE GRADE RACE WINNER
Sire:Maurice
Dam:Red la Vita
Sire of Dam:Special Week
2019 SELECT SALE
Price(JPY):36,000,000

SELECT SALE GRADE RACE WINNER

Fierce Impact

VRC Makybe Diva Stakes・G1
SELECT SALE GRADE RACE WINNER
Sire:Deep Impact
Dam:Keiai Gerbera
Sire of Dam:Smarty Jones
2014 SELECT SALE
Price(JPY):66,000,000

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