Nakayama

The G1 Sprinters Stakes went to 27-1 longshot Win Carnelian at Nakayama on Sunday. His trainer Yuichi Shikato also trained his sire, Screen Hero. Booked widest of all in the car park in stall 16, the chestnut won the break and soon perched just off June Blair (American Pharoah) to his inside. That rival was in a beautiful rhythm through fractions of :22.70 for the quarter-mile and :44.90 for the half-mile. Win Carnelian moved up to the filly's throat leaving the bend and the duo were in lockstep throughout the...

A 16-strong field loaded with two past winners of the G1 Sprinters Stakes will vie for the 1200-metre feature at Nakayama on Sunday. Seventh in the 2024 edition to Lugal (Duramente) with Namura Clair (Mikki Isle) third, Satono Reve ran third in the G1 Hong Kong Sprint last December. After defeating Namura Clair in the G1 Takamatsunomiya Kinen in March, he was a good second to Hong Kong Horse of the Year Ka Ying Rising (Shamexpress) in the G1 Chairman's Sprint Prize a month later. In action during Royal Ascot,...

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 Hanshin and Nakayama Racecourses: Saturday, September 20, 2025 3rd-HSN, ¥14,250,000 ($96k), Newcomers, 2yo, 1200m KATTAPPA (c, 2, Speightstown--Smuggler's Moon, by Gun Runner) was bought back on a bid of $75,000 out of last year's Keeneland September Sale and was knocked...

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 Hanshin and Nakayama Racecourses: Sunday, September 14, 2025 6th-HSN, ¥14,250,000 ($97k), Newcomer, 2yo, 1800m WAYNY SU (c, 2, Into Mischief--Cariba, by Cairo Prince) is set to become the second starter for her Caress Stakes-winning dam, a full-sister to 'TDN Rising...

In this continuing 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: Saturday, September 6, 2025 6th-HSN, ¥14,250,000 ($96k), Newcomers, 2yo, 1400m MAGNA VICTOR (c, 2, Maxfield--Eyeinthesky, by Sky Mesa) is set to become the second starter for his dam, a MSW & GSP turf sprinter who...

The Sunday Racing silks were carried to a famous one-two at Nakayama on Sunday, but not in the order expected as Museum Mile (Jpn) (Leontes {Jpn}) toppled the unbeaten Croix du Nord (Jpn) (Kitasan Black {Jpn}) to claim the first leg of the Japanese Triple Crown, the G1 Satsuki Sho (Japanese 2,000 Guineas). It was a blistering performance from Museum Mile as he lowered the course record for the 2,000-metre distance at Nakayama in a time of 1:57.00, passing the post with a length and a half to spare over...

To the surprise of no one, pride of place in Sunday's G1 Satsuki Sho belongs to the Sunday Silence sire line with eight representatives spread throughout the 18-strong field. The late Shadai Stallion Station luminary's first foals arrived in Japan in 1992, and from that first crop was 1995 Satsuki Sho winner Genuine (Jpn). Six others followed (Ishino Sunday {Jpn}, 1996, Air Shakur {Jpn}, 2000, Agnes Tachyon {Jpn}, 2001, Nishino Sunday {Jpn}, 2003, Daiwa Major {Jpn}, 2004, and Deep Impact {Jpn}, 2005). Sunday Silence saved the best for last, with...

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 Hanshin and Nakayama Racecourses: Saturday, April 19, 2025 2nd-HSN, ¥10,600,000 ($74k), Maiden, 3yo, 1200m AALLOTTARET (f, 3, Practical Joke--Folklore, by Tiznow), the latest offspring of 2005 champion juvenile filly Folklore to make the races, cost her connections $260,000 at the...

A very impressive winner of the Listed Hyacinth Stakes going Tokyo's one-turn mile on Feb. 23, Koichi Nishikawa's Luxor Cafe (American Pharoah) was even more eyecatching when taking out Saturday's $228,217 Fukuryu Stakes (allowance) at Nakayama by five dominating lengths over the metric nine furlongs. The 40 points earned for the victory took his Kentucky Derby points total to 70, good for the automatic berth on the first Saturday in May, should connections opt to take up the assignment. Favored at 3-10 with Joao Moreira taking over from the record-setting...

A field of 11 3-year-old colts is set to face the starter for Saturday's $226,404 Fukuryu Stakes, an 1800-meter allowance contest at Nakayama Racecourse that serves as the last of four legs on the Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby and offers points on a 40-20-12-8-4 scale. Luxor Cafe (American Pharoah) currently sits in pole position in the series, having earned 30 points when proving best in the Listed Hyacinth Stakes over Tokyo's one-turn, 1600-meter configuration on Feb. 23. A full-brother to dual G1 February Stakes winner Cafe Pharoah and...

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 Nakayama Racecourses: Saturday, March 15, 2025 3rd-NKY, ¥10,600,000 ($72k), Maiden, 3yo, 1200m KNOCK SHRINE (JPN) (c, 3, Omaha Beach--Knock, by Tapit) is out of a daughter of Grade III winner Fencelineneighbor (Wild Rush) who was hammered down to...

Last Year's Japanese Derby hero Danon Decile (Jpn) (Epiphaneia {Jpn}) kicked off his redemption tour with a three-quarter length tally in the 2200-metre G2 American Jockey Club Cup at Nakayama on Sunday. He out-footed the stalking-turned-stretch leader Matenro Leo (Jpn) (Heart's Cry {Jpn}), with the closing Cosmo Kuranda (Jpn) (Al Ain {Jpn}) only a nose back in third. Favoured on Sunday, he soon secured a well-rated perch in seventh as the field sped right-handed into the first turn. Auswahl (Jpn) (Novellist {Ire}) kept a firm advantage through the first 1400...