By Alan Carasso
In this continuing series, we take 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 Chukyo and Hanshin Racecourses, including a hot newcomers' event at the latter venue featuring first-starters by Candy Ride (Arg) and American Pharoah, in search of a fifth Japanese winner:
Saturday, December 14, 2019
1st-CKO, ¥9,550,000 ($88k), Maiden, 2yo, 1400m
AMERICAN NINA (f, 2, Carpe Diem–Mane Princess, by Mineshaft) was the 3-2 favorite for her 1600-meter debut at Tokyo Oct. 5, but caught a rain-affected track she may not have liked and finished sixth. The Maryland-bred, a $110K Keeneland November weanling turned $260K Keeneland September yearling, is a maternal granddaughter of SW & GISP Extended Applause (Exbourne), herself the dam of Grade III-winning turf sprinter Channel Marker (Purim). B-Catherine Jennings & Marian Kuhatschek (MD)
6th-NKY, ¥13,400,000 ($123k), Newcomers, 2yo, 1800m
SUI (f, 2, Candy Ride {Arg}–Eltimaas, by Ghostzapper) cost Carlo Vaccarezza $300K as a KEESEP yearling last fall and fetched $675K from Katsumi Yoshida after breezing an eighth of a mile in :10 flat at this year's OBS March Sale. The January foal was consigned to the latter auction by Top Line Sales. The dark bay is a half-sister to champion and three-time Grade I winner Drefong (Gio Ponti), who stands in Japan at Shadai Stallion Station, and is out of an unraced half-sister to Eclipse Award-winning juvenile colt Action This Day (Kris S.). Oisin Murphy sees fit to take the call. Machmer Hall acquired Eltimaas for $77K in foal to Mizzen Mast at KEENOV in 2013. B-Machmer Hall, Carrie Brogden & Craig Brogden (KY)
CAFE PHAROAH (c, 2, American Pharoah–Mary's Follies, by More Than Ready) gets Ryan Moore in the saddle for his debut appearance. The March foal's dual Grade III-winning dam has already been responsible for MGSW Night Prowler (Giant's Causeway) and Regal Glory (Animal Kingdom), winner of this year's GII Lake Placid S. and GIII Lake George S. at Saratoga. Emmanuel de Seroux's Narvick International went to $475K for the colt at this year's OBSMAR sale after he went a quarter-mile in :21 1/5. B-Paul P Pompa (KY)
9th-HSN, ¥19,000,000 ($174k), Allowance, 2yo, 1200mT
MOZU AUNT MO (f, 2, Uncle Mo&log=">Uncle Mo–A Footstep Away, by Giant's Causeway), an excellent runner-up on her local debut Sept. 14, graduated by three lengths over soft Kyoto turf Oct. 13 (see below, gate 6) but was well beaten by subsequent G1 Hanshin Juvenile Fillies S. winner Resistencia (Jpn) (Daiwa Major {Jpn}) in Group 3 company last time. The filly's dam, a $1.05m KEESEP yearling, has bred SW & GSP Two Thirty Five (Stay Thirsty), while her Grade III-winning second dam At the Half (Seeking the Gold) produced MGSW/MGISP Lu Ravi (A.P. Indy). Mozu Aunt Mo was a $200K KEESEP purchase. B-Springhill Farm (KY)
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