Lord Kanaloa (Jpn)

Looking for his first Group 1 tally following a productive second-place effort in the Feb. 11 G2 Kyoto Kinen, Bellagio Opera (Jpn) (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}) got up in time to land Sunday's G1 Osaka Hai at Hanshin. A winner in last season's 1800-meter Spring S., he was a well beaten 10th in the G1 Satsuki Sho (Japanese 2000 Guineas) prior to finishing fourth in the G1 Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby) over 2400 meters. He concluded his 3-year-old season with a victory in Hanshin's G3 Challenge Cup in December. Breaking sharply...

It was a stakes double for Lord Kanaloa (Jpn) on Sunday, as Ho O Emmy's (Jpn) won the G3 Fukushima Kinen, and Brede Weg (Jpn) became his latest Group 1 winner with a victory in the Queen Elizabeth Cup in Kyoto. She is the first 3-year-old filly to win the race since Mozu Katchan (Jpn) (Harbingers {GB}) in 2017, and also became the QEC victress with the fewest starts with five. Despite the presence of last year's winner Geraldina (Jpn) (Maurice {Jpn}), the Sunday Racing 3-year-old garnered favouritism at 7-5...

Dual Japanese Horse of the Year Almond Eye (Jpn) (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}) has been elected to the Japanese Horse Racing Hall of Fame, the Japan Racing Association (JRA) announced. The former Silk Racing Co., Ltd.'s colourbearer is the 35th member of the exclusive club after garnering 200 votes (96.6%) of the 207 available. Fellow Japanese Triple Crown Winner Contrail (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) gained 155 votes, one short of the minimum requirement for entry. Trainer Sakae Kunieda said, "It is a great honor to have Almond Eye selected for the...

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-pedigreed horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Wednesday's Observations features the first foal out of a dual Group 1 winner. 5.35 Navan, Mdn, €12,000, 3yo/up, c/g, 8fT BALLSBRIDGE (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}) is the first foal out of the G1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere and G1 Moyglare Stud S. heroine Happily (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), the sister to Gleneagles...

Coming into this G1 Takamatsunomiya Kinen off a seasonal bow back in January in the G3 Silk Road S., where he finished second behind Namura Clair (Jpn) (Mikki Isle {Jpn}), First Force (Jpn) (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}) found his redemption after a ninth place effort in this contest last season with a grinding, determined victory to pick up his career-first Group 1 black-type on Sunday. Breaking in good order from barrier 13 over a rain-drenched course, First Force was pushed along by Taisei Danno to hold an outside spot from mid-pack...

2022 G1 Dubai Turf dead-heater Panthalassa (Jpn) (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}) will be pointed at the $20-million G1 Saudi Cup in Riyadh on Feb. 25, www.tospo-keiba.jp reported on Tuesday. The news was revealed by the 5-year-old's trainer Yoshito Yahagi. Panthalassa, who races for Hiroo Race Co., Ltd., was originally aiming for a defence of his G1 Dubai Turf title. If his Saudi expedition goes well, Panthalassa will then head to the G1 Dubai World Cup on Mar. 25. Yahagi told Tospo-Keiba, "He is rated 121, and a one-turn left-handed 1800 meters...

The Shadai Stallion Stallion roster was headed by Epiphaneia (Jpn) (Symboli Kris S {Jpn}), who will stand for ¥18,000,000 (approx. €123,762--1 JPY=0.00687568€--0.00708US) in 2023. A trio of stallions will stand for ¥12,000,000 (€82,490)-champion and leading sire Kizuna (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}), multiple champion and Triple Crown hero Contrail (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) and Lord Kanaloa (Jpn) (King Kamehameha {Jpn}), the sire of Classic-winning filly Almond Eye (Jpn). Rounding out the eight figure sires, Kitasan Black (Jpn) (Black Tide {Jpn}) will command a ¥10,000,000 (€68,736) fee next season. The 2023 fee...

While the warmth and light was bestowed on Keeneland on Friday, the cool and dark backdrop of Dundalk played host to a red-hot prospect as Beginnings (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}) stormed to TDN Rising Star status. Ballydoyle's daughter of their celebrated 1000 Guineas and Irish 1000 Guineas heroine Winter (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) had stepped forward markedly from her debut when fourth behind the subsequent Listed Star Appeal S. winner and Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf protagonist Spirit Gal (Fr) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) over near six furlongs at Naas Sept. 15 and...

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-pedigreed horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Thursday's Observations features the second foal out of Classic heroine Winter (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). 2.00 Naas, Mdn, €16,000, 2yo, f, 5f 205yT BEGINNINGS (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}) is the second foal out of the 1000 Guineas, Irish 1000 Guineas, G1 Coronation S. and G1 Nassau S. heroine Winter (Ire) (Galileo...

Danon Scorpion (Jpn) (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn) recorded a career-high win when taking the G1 NHK Mile Cup at Tokyo Sunday. Unhurried in the early going exiting after exiting the widest stall, the colt settled in mid-division as the leaders slugged it out up front. Inching closer approaching the home turn, he reeled in late-leader and favorite Serifos (Jpn) (Daiwa Major {Jpn} in the stretch, drew even at the 100-meter marker and held off the late-closing Matenro Orion (Jpn) (Daiwa Major {Jpn}) by a neck with Kawakita Reverie (Jpn) (Drefong) a...

Dual Japanese Horse of the Year Almond Eye (Jpn) (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}) delivered her first foal shortly after midnight on Jan. 13, Silk Racing Company Limited announced. The bay foal is a colt by Shadai Stallion Station's Epiphaneia (Jpn). Bred by Northern Farm and raced by Silk Racing, the 7-year-old claimed nine Group 1 victories throughout her career. Ridden all bar one race by Christophe Lemaire and trained by Sakae Kunieda, the bay won the 2018 Japanese Fillies' Triple Crown and G1 Japan Cup. Named the Champion 3-Year-Old Filly and...

Following more Classic success, this time with his son Efforia (Jpn) in 2021, Epiphaneia (Jpn) (Symboli Kris S)'s fee has increased to ¥18,000,000 (£117,174/€139,172/$156,021), tops of the Shadai Stallion Station 2022 roster. The 11-year-old also celebrated group winners Aristoteles (Jpn) and Circle of Life (Jpn). Lord Kanaloa (Jpn) (King Kamehameha {Jpn}), the sire of Japanese Horse of the Year Almond Eye (Jpn), remains at ¥15,000,000. Kizuna (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn})'s fee has been raised to ¥12,000,000 on the back of 11 2021 black-type winners including G1 Queen Elizabeth II Cup...