Racing in Japan

[IshidaKazushi]

・Kashiwa Kinen(Japanese limited group1,dirt 1600m,for 4up,at Funabashi Race Track,May.5)

Furioso by Brian's Time won the race against La Verita by 3/4 length.
He is 7yo now.He has been activity in Japanese dirt big race since he was 2yo.
He put up a good fight against Transcend(2nd in Dubai World Cup)in February Stakes,group1 race,in this year.

Here is Furioso




・Kyoto Shimbun Hai(group2,turf 2200m,for 3yo,at Kyoto Race Track,May.7)
Cresco Grand by Tanino Gimlet(JP) won the race against Universal Bank by nose.
He will run in Japanese Derby at the end of this month.
His father,Tanino Gimlet,won Japanese Derby back in 2002.Tanino Gimlet foaled Vodka.
Vodka won Japanese Derby,Japan Cup,and many group1 races.She is very famous in Japan.She is in Ireland as a broodmare now and foaled her colt by Sea The Stars.
By the way,Tanino Gimlet's father is Brian's Time.


・Niigata Daisyoten(group3,turf 200m,for 4up,at Niigata Race Track,May.8
Sacred Valley by Tanino Gimlet won the race against Mach Velocity by neck.
He won the group race for the first time.

[IshidaKazushi]

・NHK Mile Cup(group1,turf 1600m,for 3yo,Tokyo,May.8 )

Grand Prix Boss by Sakura Bakushin O(JP),won the race against Cotillion by 1 and a half length.
He won Asahi Hai Futurity Stakes(G1)last year and was Japanese 2yo champion colt.
It is said that his next race will be St. James Palace Stakes at Ascot next month.Many Japanese fans hope him to run well next race as Sakura Bakushin O's foal because Sakura Bakushin O was died at the end of last month.Sakura Bakushin O was one of the greatest sprinters in Japan.
His mother,Rosie Mist,is Sunday Silence's daughter.He is also Sunday Silence's grandchildren.

Here is Grand Prix Boss



By the way,here is a good site about Japanese horse racing written by English.
http://www.keiblog.com/Keiblog/Keiblog/Keiblog.html
If you are interested in,please access here.

[Crystal]

Love the photos you post on facebook too Hope to see more one day of Testa Matta. Thank you again.

[IshidaKazushi]

Excuse,me.
I used wrong word where I had posted before."by"is wrong."in"is correct.

Hi Crystal,
Thank you for teaching me this site!I'm glad this topic has much views than I expected.
Of course,I want to take photos of Testa Matta's win!




This is the news about Japanese racing.
Vodka was elected Hall of Fame on May.9.By the way,she is 29th horse of Hall of Fame in Japan.
Vodka by Tanino Gimlet(JP) won Japanese Derby,Japan Cup and many big races in Japan.Tanino Gimlet is Brian's time's son and also won Japanese Derby.She is a Brian's Time's grandchild.
Her races were all dramatic whether win or lose.She was fascinated with many fans by her race.She is a recorded and memorized horse.
I wrote my blog about her.If you are interested in,please access my blog.Web adress is written in my profile.


Here is Ten-no Sho(autumn)(saddle number 14 is Vodka)

[IshidaKazushi]

・Keio Hai Spring Cup(turf 1400m,for 4up,Tokyo May.14)

Strong Return by Symboli Kris S.(US)won the race against Silport by nose.He won the group race for the first time.
As Keio Hai Spring Cup is a prep for Yasuda Kinen(G1),he will run in Yasuda Kinen.
His father,Symboli Kris S. by Kris S.(US),was born in United States and trained in Japan.He was the horse of the year in Japan in 2002 and 2003.

Here is Strong Return

[Toccet02]

Thank you so much,bayrabicano and erins isle.

・Aoba Syo(group2,turf 2400m,for 3yo,Tokyo Race Track,preps for Japanese Derby,horses within 2nd in the race are given the rights to run in Japanese Derby)

Win Variation by Heart's Cry(JP) won Aoba Syo.Shonan Parfait got 2nd.They got the right to run in Japanese Derby.
Heart's Cry won Arima Kinen against Deep Impact back in 2005.Deep Impact is one of the most famous thoroughbreds in Japan.
Heart's Cry also won Dubai Sheema Classic back in 2006 and got 3rd in King George and Queen Elizabeth Stakes.
His father is also Sunday Silence.

Here is Win Variation

By the way, has anyone else noticed the absolutely detailed and gorgeous color coordinating work on this horse's hood, bridle, and ear muffs? I remember Empire Maker always used to run in this old, faded apple green hood that didn't match the silks at all. Must have been a good luck thing but it always bugged me. I KNOW, it's the horse flesh that matters, but still, I like to see a horse and jock turnout that makes me say "wow", not "blegh".

[IshidaKazushi]

・Victoria Mile(group1,turf 1600m,for 4up filly&mare,Tokyo)

Confrontation between horse of the year and filly triple crown horse was noticeable before the race.
One is Apapane.She won all Japanese filly triple crown races last year.
The other is Buena Vista.She was the horse of the year in Japan.

In the race,Apapane won against Buena Vista by a neck.
By the way,Apapane's father,King Kamehameha by King Mambo(US),won Japanese Derby back in 2004.

Here is Victoria Mile.That side is Apapane and this side is Buena Vista.

[IshidaKazushi]

・Japanese Oaks(group1,turf 2400m,for 3yo filly,Tokyo,May.22)

Erin Court by Durandal(JP) won the race by a neck over Pure Brise with Whale Capture a nose behind in 3rd.
She won the group race for the first time.
His father,Durandal by Sunday Silence,was former Japanese short distance turf champion.He won Sprinters Stakes(G1,turf 1200m,in 2003) and Mile Championship(G1,turf 1600m,in 2003 and 2004).
His mother,Erin Bird by Bluebird(US) was the winner of Italian 1000Guineas.

Here is Erin Court(cap:black)


・Tokai Stakes(group2,dirt 1900m,for 3up,Kyoto,May.22)
Wonder Acute by Charismatic(US) won the race against Renforcer by 3/4 length.
He had already won the group race twice.This win was 3rd group race win for him.

[Shammy Davis]

Great pictures! Keep them coming.

[Sailor Kenshin]

Is Whale Capture the gray in front? Nice work.

[IshidaKazushi]

・Meguro Kinen(group2,turf 2500m,for 3up,Tokyo,May.28)

King Top Gun by Mayano Top Gun(JP) won the race against Heart Beat Song by a neck.He is 8yo now and won the group race for the first time.
His father,Mayano Top Gun by Brian's Time,won many Japanese principal races and was the Japanese horse of the year back in 1995.

Here is King Top Gun



・Kinko Sho(group2,turf 2000m,for 3up,Kyoto,May.28)
Rulership by King Kamehameha(JP) won the race against Captain Thule by 3/4 length.He had run in Dubai Sheema Classic in this year.

His father,King Kamehameha(JP) by Kingmambo(US),won Japanese Derby back in 2004 and foals Apapane,Japanese filly triple crown horse last year.
His mother,Air Groove(JP) by Tony Bin(IR),won Japanese Oaks and was the Japanese horse of the year back in 1997.


By the way,Japanese Derby is held on Sunday.Many people are looking forward to waiting the race.Of course,me,too!

to Sailor
Yes,she is Whale Capture,the grey horse.
Thank you.

[BenB]

Your pictures are reallly great.

[Bettina]

Hello,
many thanks for all the infos about racing in Japan.

Here are a few addings about the horses you mentioned in your postings.
Tesco Boy (by Nasrullah) is a close relative of the German Top Sire Surumu, their common ancestor is Suncourt (By Hyperion). Surumu's Grandson Lando (by Acatenango) should be wellknown in Japan, because he won the "Japan Cup" in 1995.

Manhattan Cafe is another Sire, who has a German Damline, he traces to Schwarzgold (by Alchimist). In Germany still regarded as the best racing Filly, won the German Derby in 1940. She left only 2 foals, luckily Fillies, they were able to continue the damline. Her family is now spread all over the world.

Regards, Bettina

[IshidaKazushi]

・Japanese Derby(group1,turf 2400m,for 3yo,Tokyo,May 29 )

Orfevre by Stay Gold(JP) won the race against Win Variation by 1 3/4 length.
He won 2 races of Japanese triple crown races.He has a chance to challenge Japanese triple crown.

Many people crowded though it rained heavily.

Here is Orfevre


to BenB
Thank you so much.

to Bettina
Thank you so much for your explanation.
In Japan,current horses which is out of German mares are run well now.

Frankly speaking,I don't know particular pedigree of thoroughbreds very well.
I would like you to write particular pedigree of thoroughbreds from now on if you can.
Perhaps,readers who read this topic wish so,too because your explanation is very clear.

[Sailor Kenshin]

What an interesting-looking horse, almost like a liver flaxen chestnut with some roaning around the 'star'.

Thanks for the picture.