(9th Dec 19)

Stunning Sunday for Japan at Hong Kong

Japan took three of four valuable and prestigious titles at Sha Tin in Hong Kong on December 8th and proves again that the Japanese-bred horses are superior at mile to mile and half division in the world. And it is worth noting that two of Japanese winners at 2019 Hong Kong International Races were bought at JRHA Select Sale.
Hong Kong Verse, the opening card of the day over 2400m, was won by Glory Vase(JPN) trained by Tomohito Ozeki. The four-year-old colt by Deep Impact(JPN), bred by Lake Villa Farm, was bought by Silk Horse Club for 52 million yen, US$520,000, at the yearling session of JRHA Select Sale in 2016 . The total earning by Glory Vase has come up to US$3.16 million. The runner -up was another Japanese-trained Lucky Lilac(JPN), four-year-old filly by Orfevre(JPN) and Deirdre(JPN), another Japanese challenger in the race finished fourth. Hence, three out of first four finishers in Hong Kong Vase were Japanese.
Hong Kong Mile, the richest turf mile race in the world, which carries the total purse of $25 million, was won by Admire Mars(JPN) trained by Yasuo Tomomichi. The three-year-old colt by Daiwa Major(JPN), bred by Northern Farm, was bought by Riichi Kondo for 52 million yen, HS$456,141, at the yearling session of JRHA Select Sale in 2017. This is his third Graded Stakes with premire grade, after G1/Asahi Hai Futurity in December 2018 and G1/NHK Mile Cup in May 2019, and his bankroll has reached at US$4.35 million. Normcore(JPN), another JRHA graduate in Hong Kong Mile, finished good fourth.
And Japan collected the feature race of the day, Hong Kong Cup, which carries the total purse of HK$28 million, as Win Bright(JPN), five-year-old horse by Stay Gold(JPN) trained by Yoshihiro Hatakeyama, completed the double of G1/Queen Elizabeth ⅡCup in April and G1/Hong Kong Verse in December in a single season. His sire Stay Gold is the winner of G1/Hong Kong Case in 2001.

(6th Dec 19)

JRHA graduates at HKIR

Japan is represented by nine top class Japanese-bred racehorses at Hong Kong International Races on December 8th at Sha Tin Racecourse, and four of them are JRHA graduates,
Deiedre(JPN), trained by Mitsuru Hashida, who captured G1/Nassau Stakes at Goodwood in August, in addition to her domestic success, will try to grab her third stakes with the premier grade in G1/Hong Kong Verse. The five-year-old mare by Harbinger was bought for 21 million yen, US$169,355 at the exchange rate of the sales day, at the yearling session of JRHA Select Sale in 2015.
She is joined by Glory Verse(JPN), trained by Tomohito Ozeki, in the 2400m race, which carries HK$20 million purse. The four-year-old colt by Deep Impact(JPN), who finished second in G1/Tenno Sho Spring at Kyoto in April, was bought for 52 million yen, US$520,000, at the yearling session of JRHA Select Sale in 2016.
Admire Mars(JPN) trained by Yasuo Tomomichi, raises Japanese flag in G1/Hong Kong Mile, the richest turf mile race in the world. The winner of G1/Asahi Hai Futurity and G1/NHK Mile Cup was bought for 52 million yen, HS$456,141, at the yearling session of JRHA Select Sale in 2017.
And Normcore(JPN), who was bought for 22 million yen, US$220,000, at the yearling session of JRHA Select Sale in 2016, will also represent Japan in Hong Kong Mile. The four-year-old filly by Harbinger has won G1/Victoria Mile at Tokyo in May.
Hat Trick(JPN) and Satono Crown(JPN), both of which are JRHA graduates, won G1/Hong Kong Mile in 2005 and G1/Hong Kong Vase in 2016 respectively.

(1st Apr 19)

Team Japan collected one gold, three silver, and one bronze medals at Dubai

It was great day for Godolphin and Japan put up brave fight against the world at Meydan on March 30th, to prove that the quality of Japanese-breds is high enough to compete at international events.
Almond Eye(JPN), four-year-old filly by Lord Kanaloa(JPN), one of star fillies on the night, won G1/Dubai Turf over 1,800m easily and cemented her status as an international superstar, fighting off the facts that it was her first foray outside of Japan and first start under floodlights. It is widely expected Almond Eye will make her European campaign later this year.
Vivlos(JPN), six-year-old mare by Deep Impact, who is the winner of this race in 2017 and finished second in twelve months ago, finished second again this year to Almond Eye. This was the swan song for the mare trained by Yasuo Tomomichi, and she moves to breeding shed at Northern Farm.
Deirdre(JPN), who was bought for 21,000,000yen, approximately US$169,355, at yearling session of JRHA Sale in 2015, ran bravely as well and finished fourth. The five-year-old mare by Harbinger will go straight from Dubai to Hong Kong, where she will be in the field of G1/Queen Elizabeth 2 Cup on April 28th at Sha Tin.
In G1/Dubai Golden Shaheen over 1,200m dirt track at Meydan, Matera Sky, American-bred horse by Speightstown, finished creditable second to X Y Jet, speed star from the United States. The Hideyuki Mori's trainee will travel to the United States later the year to run G1/Breeders Cup Sprint at Santa Anita in November.
Cheval Grand(JPN), seven-year-old horse by Heart's Cry(JPN), who is the winner of G1/Japan Cup in 2017, was runner-up to Godolphin's Old Persian in G1/Dubai Sheema Classic, and Suave Richard(JPN), five-year-old horse by Heart's Cry(JPN) who was bought for 155,000,000yen, approximately US$1,519,608 at foal session in 2014 JRHA Sale, finished third, while Rey de Oro(JPN) Rey was beaten sixth.
And Derma Louvre(JPN), three-year-old colt by Pyro who was bought for 12,000,000yen, US$105,264 at yearling session of JRHA Sale in 2017, made good effort in G2/UAE Derby and finished fourth.
Please come and visit JRHA Sale at Northern Horse Park to find your runners to participate the international events. The sale in 2019 is scheduled on July 8 and 9th.

(29th Mar 19)

Four JRHA graduates compete at Meydan on Dubai World Cup Day

Ten runners will represent Japan at Meydan on March 30th. All of them didn't prep at Super Saturday on March 9th at Meydan and go straight to the races on Dubai World Cup night.
Flag bearer of delegation is Almond Eye(JPN), world record setting winner of G1/Japan Cup in November, who is entered in G1/Dubai Turf. The reigning Japanese Horse of the Year is joined by Vivlos(JPN), winner of Dubai Turf in 2017, and Deirdre(JPN), third finisher in Dubai Turf in 2018, in the race over 1,800m turf course at Meydan.
While Japanese representatives in Dubai Turf is trio of ladies, Japanese team for G1/Dubai Sheema Classic is formed by three strong males. Rey de Oro(JPN), G1/Japanese Derby winner in 2017 and added G1/Tenno Sho Autumn in his tally in 2018, Suave Richard, winner of G1/Osaka Hai in 2018, and Cheval Grand, winner of G1/Japan Cup in 2017, are entered in the race over 2,400m turf course.
K.T.Brave(JPN), Matera Sky, Derma Louvre(JPN), Nonko no Yume(JPN) are solo challengers in G1/Dubai World Cup, G1/Golden Shaheen, G2/UAE Derby, and G2/Godolphin Mile respectively.
Three out of ten Japanese runners at Dubai on Saturday are JRHA graduates.
While Suave Richard was expensive horse, as he was bought for 155,000,000yen, US$1,519,608 at the exchange rate of sales day, at foal session in 2014 JRHA Sale, another two horses were bought for reasonable price respectively. Deirdre was bought for 21,000,000yen, US$169,355, at yearling session of JRHA Sale in 2015 and Derma Louvre was bought for 12,000,000yen, US$105,264 at yearling session of JRHA Sale in 2017.
In addition, Yoshida(JPN), representing the United Sates in G1/Dubai World Cup, was bought for 94,000,000yen, US$758,065, at yearling session of JRHA Sale in 2015.
The flight for Japanese runners left Narita Airport with Almond Eye and three more horses based at Miho Training Center near Tokyo on board at 11:50 on March 20th, stopped at Kansai Airport to collect Vivlos and five more horses based at Ritto Training Center near Osaka, and arrived at Dubai at 20:10 on same day.
All Japanese horses traveled safely and have been trained beautifully at Meydan.