Lugal (Jpn)

No G1 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes winner has ever won the G1 FWD QEII Cup over 2000 metres at Sha Tin, but on Sunday, Goliath (Ger) (Adlerflug {Ger}) will attempt to become the first. And with the absence of three-time QEII Cup hero Romantic Warrior (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}), there is no better time to try. Co-owned by Resolute Racing's John Stewart, the likeable Goliath was a 2 1/4-length victor over subsequent G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe heroine Bluestocking (GB) (Camelot {GB}) at Ascot in July. Given...

Fan favourite Namura Clair (Jpn) (Mikki Isle {Jpn}) occupied the runner-up spot in the Takamatsunomiya Kinen for the third consecutive year at Chukyo on Sunday, as Satono Reve (Jpn) fought off the best sprinters that Japan has to offer to make the breakthrough in Group 1 company. Defending champion Mad Cool (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) also featured in the 18-strong field, but it was Namura Clair, previously second to First Force (Jpn) in 2023, who headed the betting in her quest to finally to win this six-furlong heat. Last seen...

Sprinting is the order of the day at Chukyo on Sunday, as the 1200-metre G1 Takamatsunomiya Kinen drew a full field of 18. The first two home last year, Dark Angel (Ire)'s Mad Cool (Ire) and Namura Clair (Jpn) (Mikki Isle {Jpn}), lock horns again after being separated by just a neck in the 2024 edition. The former was unplaced in the G1 Chairman's Sprint Cup in April and in the G1 Sprinters Stakes behind Lugal (Jpn) (Duramente {Jpn}) in September. He found Namura Clair too good in the G2...

Kieffers Company's Do Deuce (Jpn) (Heart's Cry {Jpn}) was named the 2024 Japanese Horse of the Year and Champion Older Male, the Japan Racing Association (JRA) announced on Tuesday. The formal 2024 JRA Awards Ceremony will be held in a hotel in Tokyo at 5 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 27. The Yasuo Tomomichi trainee was poised for a big 2024 and duly delivered victories in the G1 Tenno Sho (Autumn) and the G1 Japan Cup in October and November, respectfully. He received 236 of the 256 possible votes for Horse...

Let go at odds of 28-1 while looking to collect his first victory at the highest level, Lugal (Jpn) (Duramente {Jpn}) came from just off the pace to take Sunday's G1 Sprinter Stakes at Nakayama. Cruising in a ground-saving spot just behind a free-running Puro Magic (Jpn) (Asia Express {Jpn}) with Win Greatest (Jpn) (Secret Hero {Jpn}) within striking distance, Lugal overtook the latter straightening for home and closed the leader's advantage passing the 200-meter mark. Hitting the front late, the 4-year-old had enough left in reserve to hold off...

The consistent Lugal (Jpn), by the much lamented reigning Japanese Champion Sire Duramente (Jpn), has never contested a Group 1 race, but that is all about to change in Sunday's G1 Takamatsunomiya Kinen at Chukyo over 1200 metres. Bearing the burden of favouritism in this fully subscribed 18-strong affair, the 4-year-old will leave from stall six. Never worse than fourth in his past 10 trips to the post, Lugal ran second in the G3 Keihan Hai to Toshin Macau (Jpn) (Big Arthur {Jpn}) in his sophomore finale in November, with...