In this ongoing 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 at Tokyo and Kyoto Racecourses, including the top-priced juvenile for one of 2017's first-crop stallions:
Saturday, November 4, 2017
5th-TOK, ¥13,400,000 ($117k), Newcomers, 2yo, 1300m
MR MELODY (c, 2, Scat Daddy–Trusty Lady, by Deputy Minister), bought back on a bid of $75K as a KEENOV weanling in 2015, fetched $100K as a KEESEP yearling last year and made $400K at OBSAPR this spring after breezing an eighth of a mile in :10 flat. A half-brother to GSP Trendy Lady (Unbridled's Song), the March foal is out of an unraced daughter of MGSW & MGISP Klassy Kim (Silent Screen). B-Bell Tower Thoroughbreds (KY)
RYONO TESORO (c, 2, Justin Phillip–Town Belle, by Speightstown), a $45K KEENOV purchase, was resold for $80K as a KEESEP yearling and was the most expensive of 16 first-crop juveniles for his sire when selling for $300K at BARMAR earlier this year (under-tack breeze). The first foal from a full-sister to SP Nefertiti, the bay is a maternal grandson of MGSW Clearly a Queen (Lucky North). B-Highland Yard LLC (KY)
6th-TOK, ¥13,400,000 ($117k), Newcomers, 2yo, 1600mT
SYMBOLI ATOM (c, 2, Giant's Causeway–Vacare, by Lear Fan) is the latest foal to make the races for his dam, winner of the 2006 GI QE II Challenge Cup and $2.8-million graduate of that year's FTKNOV sale. Vacare, a five-time GSW, was purchased by Narvick International for $410K carrying this foal in utero at KEENOV in 2014. Symboli Atom was retained for racing after being led out unsold on a bid of $135K at KEESEP in 2016. The female family also includes SP Captivating Moon (Malibu Moon). B-Narvick International (KY)
Sunday, November 5, 2017
4th-KYO, ¥9,550,000 ($84k), Maiden, 2yo, 1800mT
AMERICAN WORLD (c, 2, Kitten's Joy–Limonar {Ire}, by Street Cry {Ire}) makes his second trip to the post, having finished a creditable fourth over a rain-affected Kyoto turf Oct. 21 (video, post 3). The $350K KEESEP purchase, a half-brother to Sheikh Hamdan's SW & GSP Mokarris (More Than Ready), is out of a stakes-winning half to Grade I-winning turfer Talco (Fr) (Pivotal {GB}). B-St Elias Stables LLC (KY)
6th-KYO, ¥13,400,000 ($117k), Newcomers, 2yo, 1400mT
CAT TONGUE (f, 2, Tapit&log=">Tapit–Wile Cat, by Storm Cat), a half-sister to GSW & Breeders' Cup Juvenile Sprint runner-up Shumoos (Distorted Humor), cost $300K as a KEESEP yearling in 2016, while her full-sister fetched $700K at Keeneland this year. The filly's dual Grade I-winning second dam Strategic Maneuver (Cryptoclearance) is responsible for GSWs Cat Fighter (Storm Cat) and Ishiguru (Danzig). Another of Strategic Maneuver's daughters, Lynnette (Johannesburg), produced this year's GIII Royal North S. upsetter Jennifer Lynnette (Elusive Quality). B-Brushwood Stable (PA)
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