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 weekend running Fukushima, Kyoto and Tokyo Racecourses, including the seasonal debut of a Group 1-winning son of Frankel (GB):
Saturday, April 20, 2019
4th-TOK, ¥9,550,000 ($85k), Maiden, 3yo, 1600m
MAQUIS (c, 3, Pioneerof the Nile–Live Well Lived, by Tiznow) was a $350K Keeneland September acquisition a handful of months after his half-brother American Patriot (War Front) took out the GI Maker's 46 Mile up the hill at the racetrack. Also a half to SW Well Humored (Distorted Humor) and to MGSP Muqtaser (Distorted Humor), the bay is out of a winning full-sister to G1 Dubai World Cup hero Well Armed and a half to GSW Witty (Distorted Humor). Maquis is twice placed from five runs, including a course-and-distance second last November (video, gate 10). B-WinStar Farm LLC (KY)
11th-FKS, Fukushima Himba S.-G3, ¥72m ($644k), 4/up, f/m, 9fT
RANDONNEE (f, 4, Blame&log=">Blame–Loure, by A.P. Indy) is one of a half-dozen winners from as many to race for her sire in Japan, having annexed three of her 10 starts, including a listed success over this trip last April (see below, gate 11). A respectable sixth and not beaten far behind Horse of the Year Almond Eye (Jpn) (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}) in last year's G1 Shuka Sho, the granddaughter of French G3 winner Loving Pride (Quiet American) also has a pair of Group 3 placings to her credit and gets leading rider Keita Tosaki for this try. B-Winchester Farm (KY)
Sunday, April 21, 2019
6th-TOK, ¥13,720,000 ($123k), Allowance, 3yo, 1600m
CAFE CROWN (c, 3, Mineshaft&hid=477524">Mineshaft–Two Trail Sioux, by Indian Charlie) was smashed at the windows to be off as the 1-5 chalk on his debut over this track and trip Jan. 27 and the $300K OBS April breezer made no mistakes, running up the score to the tune of 10 very impressive lengths (see below, gate 12). The bay colt is the most accomplished foal for his dam, winner of the GII Fleur de Lis H. and third in the GI Personal Ensign H. in 2005, who was sold for $30K with this foal in utero at KEEJAN in 2016. B-Jason Litt, Litt Family Horse Trust & Alex Solis II (KY)
11th-KYO, Yomiuri Milers' Cup-G2, ¥113m ($1.01m), 4/up, 1mT
MOZU ASCOT (h, 5, Frankel (GB)&log=">Frankel {GB}–India, by Hennessy) gets his season started and looks to improve on his close runner-up effort a year ago. Subsequently victorious in the G1 Yasuda Kinen (video, gate 10), the $275K KEESEP buyback was a troubled 13th in the G1 Mile Championship and was last seen finishing seventh to the world's top-rated racehorse Beauty Generation (NZ) (Road to Rock {Aus}) in the G1 Longines Hong Kong Mile in December. A half to 'TDN Rising Star' Kareena (Medaglia d'Oro), Mozu Ascot is out of a half-sister to the dam of MGISW To Honor and Serve (Bernardini), GISW Angela Renee (Bernardini) and SW & GISP Elnaawi (Street Sense). B-Summer Wind Farm (KY)
Not a subscriber? Click here to sign up for the daily PDF or alerts.
