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 Hanshin and Nakayama Racecourses:
Sunday, December 3, 2017
3rd-HSN, ¥9,550,000 ($85k), Maiden, 2yo, 1400m
RELICARIO (f, 2, Malibu Moon–Unrivaled Belle, by Unbridled's Song), a half-sister to 'TDN Rising Star' & MGSP Unique Bella (Tapit), failed to handle cut in the ground when eight at Kyoto Oct. 21, but improved a few spots into fourth in an 1800m dirt test Nov. 11. The $550K KEESEP acquisition is out of the 2010 GI Breeders' Cup Ladies' Classic winner and is a granddaughter of MGSW Queenie Belle (Bertrando). Unrivaled Belle was purchased by Mandy Pope for $3.8 million at KEENOV in 2016 and produced a Tapit filly earlier this year. B-Brushwood Stable (PA)
7th-NKY, ¥13,720,000 ($122k), Allowance, 2yo, 1200m
RYONO TESORO (c, 2, Justin Phillip–Town Queen, by Speightstown) was the distant runner-up to the very impressive Mr Melody (Scat Daddy) on Tokyo debut Nov. 4 (video, gate 11) before going one better to break his maiden narrowly at the same track two weeks later (video, gate 4). A $45K KEENOV weanling, the bay was an $80K KEESEP yearling before becoming his sire's top-priced 2-year-old in training in 2017 when fetching $300K at BARMAR. B-Highland Yard LLC (KY)
SEIUN SPY (c, 2, Midshipman&log=">Midshipman–Trulips, by Elusive Quality), a $45K FTKOCT yearling turned $100K OBSMAR breezer, landed his Sept. 3 debut over the dirt course at Niigata (video, gate 1), but could not translate that form to the turf when finishing down the field when last seen in mid-October. The chestnut returns to the main track for this third go. B-James & Janice Millar (KY)
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