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 Kyoto and Tokyo Racecourses, including the first two runners in the country for freshman sire Carpe Diem:
Saturday, October 5, 2019
4th-TOK, ¥13,400,000 ($125k), Newcomers, 2yo, 1600m
AMERICAN NINA (f, 2, Carpe Diem–Mane Princess, by Mineshaft), a $110K Keeneland November weanling, was pinhooked to last year's Keeneland September sale, where she fetched $260K. The first Japanese runner for her 2014 GI Claiborne Breeders' Futurity-winning sire (by Giant's Causeway), the Mar. 30 foal is out of a daughter of SW & GISP Extended Applause (Exbourne)–also runner-up to champion Silverbulletday (Silver Deputy) in the 1998 GII Alcibiades S.–whose son Channel Marker (Purim) was a Grade III-winning turf sprinter. B-Catherine Jennings & Marian Kuhtaschek (MD)
6th-KYO, ¥13,400,000 ($125k), Newcomers, 2yo, 1200mT
TRAIN BEARER (f, 2, Carpe Diem-Cabaret Starlet, by Tale of the Cat) was a $90K in utero purchase at KEEJAN in 2017, then realized that same amount when offered at KEENOV seven months after her foaling. A $150K Fasig-Tipton Saratoga yearling, the bay was hammered down for $250K at OBS March after breezing a quarter in :21 1/5. Train Bearer, out of a half-sister to Canadian Horse of the Year Arravale (Arch), is herself a half-sister to San Jose Tesoro (The Factor), a two-time winner from four starts in Japan. B-Daniel S Mallory, Amy Bayle & Allen Racing LLC (KY)
Sunday, October 6, 2019
4th-KYO, ¥13,400,000 ($125k), Newcomers, 2yo, 1800m
KAZU VENATOR (c, 2, Orb–Satyana, by Street Cry {Ire}), a $250K in utero purchase at KEENOV in 2016, hails from a female family that has crossed exceptionally well with A.P. Indy and/or his stallion sons. Out of a half to MGSW Thiskyhasnolimit (Sky Mesa), the colt's second dam, Lovely Regina (Deputy Minister), was a daughter of GISW Cara Rafaela (Quiet American), also victorious in the 1995 Alcibiades S., and later the dam of champion Bernardini (A.P. Indy). Cara Rafaela's GISP daughter Ile de France (Storm Cat) was responsible for MGISW Love and Pride (A.P. Indy). Satyana produced a Deep Impact (Jpn) filly in 2018 and a filly by King Kamehameha (Jpn) this season. B-Mishima Bokujo
11th-TOK, Mainichi Okan-G2, ¥127.7m ($1.2m), 3yo/up, 1800mT
MOZU ASCOT (h, 5, Frankel (GB)&log=">Frankel {GB}–India, by Hennessy) is one of his sire's two Group 1 winners in Japan, having turned in a spectacular effort to scoop the 2018 Yasuda Kinen at this venue (see below, gate 10). The $275K KEESEP buyback is winless in five runs since, inlcuding a sixth in defense of the Yasuda Kinen June 2, and stretches out to this distance for the first time since finishing fourth in his second career start in June 2017. Mozu Ascot's yearling half-sister by Frosted was knocked down for $575K at Fasig-Tipton Saratoga two months back. B-Summer Wind Farm (KY)
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