Graded Stakes changes (upgrades/downgrades)

[Flanders]

https://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing ... s-listings

Saratoga Derby Invitational gets G1 status in its first year eligible for grading.
Full list of upgrades and downgrades at the link. No other changes to G1 stakes.

[tachyon]

I wonder if the 1 3/16 mile Saratoga Derby Invitational could attract some Japanese 3yos who are not suited for the 3000m Kikuka Sho (Japanese St leger) in Autumn.
And if it's run in mid-Summer, that's the best timing after the Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby) in May.

[Northport]

I wonder if the 1 3/16 mile Saratoga Derby Invitational could attract some Japanese 3yos who are not suited for the 3000m Kikuka Sho (Japanese St leger) in Autumn.
And if it's run in mid-Summer, that's the best timing after the Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby) in May.

This had never occurred to me but I like where your head is at! Now we just need to will it into existence

[tachyon]

I wonder if the 1 3/16 mile Saratoga Derby Invitational could attract some Japanese 3yos who are not suited for the 3000m Kikuka Sho (Japanese St leger) in Autumn.
And if it's run in mid-Summer, that's the best timing after the Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby) in May.

This had never occurred to me but I like where your head is at! Now we just need to will it into existence

Well, I know I’m a bit biased in favor of the big races in the states (haha!) , while Japanese shippers’ main targets have been on Dubai, Europe and Hong Kong to date.
But I’m confident that the trend is changing slowly but quite steadily.
Twenty years ago, who could imagine Japanese horses would run in the US Triple Crown?
And have you ever checked out the resume of Mitsumasa Nakauchida, the trainer of the Asahi Hai Futurity Stakes winner Grenadier Guards, for example?
Mitsumasa Nakauchida worked for Robert Frankel and was riding Empire Maker in the morning when he was very young.
There seem to be more and more Japanese horsemen who have good contacts with US horsemen and the industry nowadays.
It was very unfortunate that the world had Covid-19 issues this year, but I DO think that we will see more Japanese horses coming to the states in years to come.
We are only getting closer to the goal!

[tachyon]

Here's some information about Mitsumasa Nakauchida for those who have not heard of him.

He is an up-and-coming Japanese trainer who has had many group winners over the past few years, including Danon Premium, Danon Fantasy, Ria Amelia, Grenadier Guards and so on.
He runs a beautiful website for his stable with English pages, too.
http://nakauchida.com/en/

about Nakauchida himself:
http://nakauchida.com/about_trainer_en/

........
Moved to the United States
After graduating from college in the UK, Mitsu moved to the US and worked for Champion trainer Robert Frankel as an exercise rider in Los Angeles, California. He also traveled to Kentucky, New York, and many other states with horses. Mitsu’s fondest memories of Mr. Frankel were while traveling with him to see the entire American Triple Crown and the prestigious Saratoga meeting. Mr. Frankel’s trust in Mitsu was never more evident than when he was put in charge of caring for Mr. Frankel’s beloved dog, Happy.
.......

Great Steve Haskin referred to Mitsumasa Nakauchida in his column with Bobby Frankel's comments in 2003, too, after Nakauchida rode drills of both Empire Maker and Peace Rules before the Kentucky Derby. (He was called ''the Kid' by Frankel, haha! )

''Empire Maker Breezes Six Furlongs in Final Work Before Derby, April 27, 2003''
https://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing ... fore-derby

Nakauchida always respects that great trainer and is thankful to him.
He remembers, ''Mr Frankel was always a teacher who gives (me) a second chance.''



photo: ©Satoshi Hiramatsu
https://news.yahoo.co.jp/byline/satoshi ... -00213744/

Mitsumasa Nakauchida is one to watch, if you are interested in Japanese racings.
He will probably return to the states with his horses.

[Starine]

Good stuff, Tachyon. Thanks for sharing.

[Northport]

Thanks for the info! His website is great, it's so nice when trainers have a proficient and up to date site, it makes being a nerdy fan much easier

Also interesting to see that Chuck Fipke has a horse with him, though the name was a bit of a giveaway: Galileo Impact: Deep Impact X Galileo Always, by Galileo. I'd have to guess he's the first Canadian to get a JRA owner's license? Aren't licenses notoriously hard to come by for non-Japanese based owners?

[Mylute]

> Galileo
> Deep Impact
> Galileo Impact

It actually adds up.

[tachyon]

Here's a pick of Charles Fipke as he purchased a yearling by Deep Impact for about 1.25 miilion US$ at 2016 JRHA Select Sale in Hokkaido.
You see Katsumi Yoshida (Northern Farm) on the left.


That Deep Impact filly named Stellar Impact(JPN), o/o Topliner(USA) by Thunder Gulch(USA), couldn't break her maiden in JRA in six starts, unfortunately. But she won three races after she was sent to Australia.

As for the owner's license, the JRA accepts applications for owner registration from non-Japanese residents, beginning 2009.
https://japanracing.jp/_pdf/jpn-racing/jra/owner01.pdf
https://japanracing.jp/_pdf/jpn-racing/jra/owner03.pdf

Of Americans, Mr William Galo became the first JRA owner.
Darley Japan has been doing pretty well recently.
Will we see Coolmore Japan next?

[tachyon]

Here's some information about Mitsumasa Nakauchida for those who have not heard of him.

He is an up-and-coming Japanese trainer who has had many group winners over the past few years, including Danon Premium, Danon Fantasy, Ria Amelia, Grenadier Guards and so on.
He runs a beautiful website for his stable with English pages, too.
http://nakauchida.com/en/

about Nakauchida himself:
http://nakauchida.com/about_trainer_en/

........
Moved to the United States
After graduating from college in the UK, Mitsu moved to the US and worked for Champion trainer Robert Frankel as an exercise rider in Los Angeles, California. He also traveled to Kentucky, New York, and many other states with horses. Mitsu’s fondest memories of Mr. Frankel were while traveling with him to see the entire American Triple Crown and the prestigious Saratoga meeting. Mr. Frankel’s trust in Mitsu was never more evident than when he was put in charge of caring for Mr. Frankel’s beloved dog, Happy.
.......

Great Steve Haskin referred to Mitsumasa Nakauchida in his column with Bobby Frankel's comments in 2003, too, after Nakauchida rode drills of both Empire Maker and Peace Rules before the Kentucky Derby. (He was called ''the Kid' by Frankel, haha! )

''Empire Maker Breezes Six Furlongs in Final Work Before Derby, April 27, 2003''
https://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing ... fore-derby

Nakauchida always respects that great trainer and is thankful to him.
He remembers, ''Mr Frankel was always a teacher who gives (me) a second chance.''



photo: ©Satoshi Hiramatsu
https://news.yahoo.co.jp/byline/satoshi ... -00213744/

Mitsumasa Nakauchida is one to watch, if you are interested in Japanese racings.
He will probably return to the states with his horses.

Sunday Racing announced today that Grenadier Guards would be pointed to the BC Mile in November!!

Grenadier Guards(JPN) C3. Frankel(GB) x Wavell Avenue(CAN) by Harlington(USA)
https://www.jbis.jp/horse/0001296553/