G1 February Stakes

Another dreary February day, another G1 February Stakes victory for Costa Nova (Lord Kanaloa). One of the rare Japanese Group 1 dirt races, the 1600-metre contest has now been won  twice in consecutive years by three horses, with Copano Rickey (Gold Allure) saluting in 2014/2015 and Café Pharoah (American Pharoah) equaling that feat in 2021/2022. The race is a "Win and You're In" for the GI Breeders' Cup Classic in the autumn. The 12-5 chance raced in midfield as Sixpence (Kizuna) cut out the running. Trapped three wide with five...

Sunday, Tokyo, Japan, post time: 15:40, FEBRUARY STAKES-G1, ¥290,980,000, 4yo/up, 1600m Field: Omega Guiness (Jpn) (Logotype {Jpn}), Happy Man (Jpn) (Danon Legend), Brian Sense (Jpn) (Hokko Tarumae {Jpn}), Perriere (Jpn) (Henny Hughes), Sixpence (Jpn) (Kizuna {Jpn}), Ramjet (Jpn) (Majestic Warrior), Long Run (Jpn) (Victoire Pisa {Jpn}), Sakura Toujours (Jpn) (Neo Universe {Jpn}), W Heart Bond (Jpn) (Kizuna {Jpn}), Lord Couronne (Jpn) (Leontes {Jpn}), Sunrise Hawk (Jpn) (Leontes {Jpn}), Costa Nova (Jpn) (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}), Natural Rise (Jpn) (Kizuna {Jpn}), Wilson Tesoro (Jpn) (Kitasan Black {Jpn}), Peptide Nile (Jpn) (King Kamehameha {Jpn}),...

Saturday, Lingfield, Britain, post time: 14:00, MIDNITE WINTER DERBY STAKES-G3, £100,000, 4yo/up, 10f 1y Field: Boiling Point (Ire) (Too Darn Hot {GB}), Chancellor (GB) (Kingman {GB}), Military Academy (GB) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}), Nebras (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), Sky Safari (GB) (Zoustar {Aus}). TDN Analysis: Cheveley Park Stud's TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard, Chancellor sets the standard after registering a stakes breakthrough in Southwell's Listed Tandridge Stakes two weeks ago. The Gosden stable has annexed this four times since 2019 and is also represented by Nebras, who heads postward returning off...

Currently the reigning Hong Kong Horse of the Year, Ka Ying Rising sits on the cusp of history. Tied with Hong Kong wunderkind Silent Witness on 17 consecutive wins by a Hong Kong-trained horse, the son of Shamexpress could set his own record in the 1400-metre G1 Queen's Silver Jubilee Cup at Sha Tin on Sunday. A last out winner of the G1 Centenary Sprint Cup in January, he faces nine rivals. Trainer David Hayes said, "I'm very excited about the opportunity to try and break Silent Witness's record. His...

Jockey Rachel King and Costa Nova (Jpn) (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}) partnered in Tokyo's G1 February Stakes on Sunday, and came away the three-quarter length winners over Sunrise Zipangu (Jpn) (Kizuna {Jpn}). King is the first female jockey to win a race at the highest tier in Japan. The February Stakes is a "Win and You're In" for the GI Breeders' Cup Classic this autumn. Positioned in the first third of the strung-out field, the 3-1 shot followed in the wake of Mitono O (Jpn) (Logotype {Jpn}). That rival carried them...

Hong Kong sprinter extraordinaire Ka Ying Rising (NZ) (Shamexpress {NZ}) headlines the HK$13-million G1 Queen's Silver jubilee Cup at Sha Tin on Sunday. Trained by David Hayes for the Ka Ying Syndicate, the likeable gelding is operating on a nine-race winning streak, and had the re-opposing Helios Express (Aus) (Toronado {Ire}) and Howdeepisyourlove (Aus) (Deep Field {Aus}) second and third when he took the G1 Centenary Sprint Cup last month over his pet distance of 1200 metres. The world's highest rated turf sprinter in 2024, the gelding will be partnered...

The 2024 Breeders' Cup Challenge Series: Win and You're In will consist of 82 races in 12 countries and host track Del Mar will run six on a schedule with several new additions, the organization announced via release Monday. In its 18th year, the Win and You're In (WAYI) program gives each winner an automatic qualifying position with fees paid into the corresponding race at the 2024 World Championships. In addition to the domestic schedule, forty-one international races will be held at premier tracks in Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, England,...