2021 Japanese Racing

tachyon · Sun Feb 21, 2021 2:48 am

Cafe Pharoah(USA) wins the G1 February Stakes!

BaroqueAgain1 · Sun Feb 21, 2021 2:49 am

That was a great race by Cafe Pharoah - he reminded me of his dad a couple of times. Probably the pricked ears in that handsome "plain bay" package.

Is this American Pharoah's 1st Group 1 winner? I heard the announcer say that CP is the first AP offspring to win a G1 in Japan.

tachyon · Sun Feb 21, 2021 2:52 am

It's his first G1 title!

BaroqueAgain1 · Sun Feb 21, 2021 2:53 am

Was the Hyacinth Stakes run already, or is it coming up next?
If I somehow missed it on TVG (or TVG didn't show it?)

, who won? TIA.

tachyon · Sun Feb 21, 2021 2:58 am

BaroqueAgain1 wrote: ↑Sun Feb 21, 2021 2:53 am Was the Hyacinth Stakes run already, or is it coming up next?
If I somehow missed it on TVG (or TVG didn't show it?) , who won? TIA.

The Hyacinth was won by La Perouse(JPN)(Pelusa) who is likely to be headed to the US later this year.
Not sure if it's going to be the Kentucky Derby, though.

https://www.jbis.jp/horse/0001269699/

tachyon · Sun Feb 21, 2021 3:32 am

-- replay of the February Stakes (English)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ndVnxBJS1rY
1st. (#3) Cafe Pharoah(USA) C4. American Pharoah(USA) x Mary's Follies(USA) by More Than Ready(USA)
2nd. (#10) Air Spinel(JPN) H8. King Kamehameha(JPN) x Air Messiah(JPN) by Sunday Silence(USA)
3rd. (#7) Wonder Lider(JPN) H8. Statue of Liberty(USA) x Astrea Peace(JPN) by Mayano Top Gun(JPN)

-- replay of the Hyacinth Stakes (Japanese)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4yxmhho_vmk
1st. (#2) La Perouse(JPN) C3. Pelusa(JPN) x Hat Shite Good(USA) by Empire Maker(USA)
2nd. (#6) Probatio(JPN) C3. Transcend(JPN) x Honor Leave(JPN) by Dance in the Dark(JPN)
3rd. (#11) Ladybug(JPN) F3. Hokko Tarumae(JPN) x Favorite Girl(JPN) by Dance in the Dark(JPN)

Mylute · Sun Feb 21, 2021 9:11 am

BaroqueAgain1 wrote: ↑Sun Feb 21, 2021 2:49 am That was a great race by Cafe Pharoah - he reminded me of his dad a couple of times. Probably the pricked ears in that handsome "plain bay" package.
Is this American Pharoah's 1st Group 1 winner? I heard the announcer say that CP is the first AP offspring to win a G1 in Japan.

AP I believe has a G1 winner on turf in France, but this will be his first internationally recognized G1W on dirt. I think Cafe Pharoah won another G1 in Japan but it is not recognized as a G1 worldwide.

ETA: I was thinking of Danon Pharoah who won the Japan Dirt Derby, a G1 only on Japan.

Harvey's Lil Goil was his first G1W overall I think, on turf.

tachyon · Mon Feb 22, 2021 6:29 am

HorseRacinginJapan has released a new guide to JRA racing!

(I didn't realize this renewal until today)
https://twitter.com/HorseRacing_JPN/sta ... 1791586306

KING OF SPORTS

-- link
https://japanracing.jp/en/about/jra/king.html
https://japanracing.jp/_pdf/jpn-racing/jra/king/01.pdf

Starine · Mon Feb 22, 2021 9:10 pm

Tachyon,

Do you know where Cafe Pharoah is likely to resurface next? I'm aware there are very few group I contests on dirt in Japan and Dubai is out... is there a possible Cafe Pharoah may start in the States?

tachyon · Mon Feb 22, 2021 10:18 pm

Starine wrote: ↑Mon Feb 22, 2021 9:10 pm Tachyon,

Do you know where Cafe Pharoah is likely to resurface next? I'm aware there are very few group I contests on dirt in Japan and Dubai is out... is there a possible Cafe Pharoah may start in the States?

I don't know.
CP's connections have not given any hint about his future plan yet.
Dubai World Cup still remains a possibility at this point, as Dubai usually issues invitation for the February Stakes winner after the race.
If he doesn't go to DWC, and if he stays in Japan, the Antares Stakes (G3, 1800m dirt at Hanshin in April) or the Kashiwa Kinen (Jpn1, Listed, 1600m dirt at Funabashi in May) might become best options for him.
We all hope for his trip to the US later this year.
The February Stakes is a ''Win and You're in'' the Breeders Cup Classic!!

Starine · Tue Feb 23, 2021 9:05 pm

Thanks, Tachyon. It would be quite exciting to see Cafe Pharoah in the Dubai World Cup. If not, I will be awaiting his American debut.

tachyon · Fri Feb 26, 2021 8:18 pm

Both Daring Tact(JPN) and Contrail(JPN) have been added to ''JRA Heroes in the Past (Hero Retsuden)'' gallery!
Congratulations!!

Daring Tact

Contrail

-- link to ''JRA Heroes in the Past (Hero Retsuden)'' gallery
https://jra.jp/gallery/ads/heroes/index.html
Daring Tact (No. 86)
Contrail (No. 87)

tachyon · Wed Mar 10, 2021 8:39 am

Starine wrote: ↑Tue Feb 23, 2021 9:05 pm Thanks, Tachyon. It would be quite exciting to see Cafe Pharoah in the Dubai World Cup. If not, I will be awaiting his American debut.

Cafe Pharoah(USA) has declined the invitation for the Dubai World Cup after all.

He will be pointed next to either the Kashiwa Kinen (Jpn1 - Listed)1600m dirt at Funabashi on May 5 or the Teio Sho (Jpn1 - Listed) 2000m dirt at Oi on June 30th.

Squeaky · Wed Mar 10, 2021 10:51 am

tachyon wrote: ↑Fri Feb 26, 2021 8:18 pm Both Daring Tact(JPN) and Contrail(JPN) have been added to ''JRA Heroes in the Past (Hero Retsuden)'' gallery!
Congratulations!!

Daring Tact

Contrail

-- link to ''JRA Heroes in the Past (Hero Retsuden)'' gallery
https://jra.jp/gallery/ads/heroes/index.html
Daring Tact (No. 86)
Contrail (No. 87)

Are they planning on racing both this year? Also, who was Almond Eye bred to this year? Thanks!

tachyon · Wed Mar 10, 2021 1:00 pm

Yes!
Daring Tact is entered for the G2 Kinko Sho (March 14th).
Contrail is slated to run in the G1 Osaka Hai (April 4th).
Almond Eye has been confirmed in foal to Epiphaneia.

CorridorZ75 · Wed Mar 10, 2021 5:50 pm

Squeaky wrote: ↑Wed Mar 10, 2021 10:51 am
tachyon wrote: ↑Fri Feb 26, 2021 8:18 pm Both Daring Tact(JPN) and Contrail(JPN) have been added to ''JRA Heroes in the Past (Hero Retsuden)'' gallery!
Congratulations!!

Daring Tact

Contrail

-- link to ''JRA Heroes in the Past (Hero Retsuden)'' gallery
https://jra.jp/gallery/ads/heroes/index.html
Daring Tact (No. 86)
Contrail (No. 87)
Are they planning on racing both this year? Also, who was Almond Eye bred to this year? Thanks!

Epiphaneia

tachyon · Sat Mar 13, 2021 12:13 am

Aww... I love this video!!
Thanks ''World Horse Racing'' for featuring Katsuhiko Sumii.!!!!
As far as I'm concerned, he was the all-time best trainer in Japan.

''31 G1 wins, and this international training icon has retired to join the church''
https://twitter.com/i/status/1370153814423183362

Sumii will remain connected to thoroughbreds, through his involvement in the ''THANKS HORSE PROJECT''...

tachyon · Sun Mar 14, 2021 4:57 am

2020 Triple Tiara winner Daring Tact(JPN)(Epiphaneia) finished second in her 2021 debut in the G2 Kinko Sho 2000m on the turf labelled yielding at Chukyo, March 14th 2021.
The race was won wire-to-wire by the 226-1 outsider GIbeon(JPN)(Deep Impact) who became the longest-priced grade stakes winner since Miraieno Tsubasa(JPN)(Dream Journey) in the G3 Diamond Stakes (325-1) run on February 2020.
Jockey Atsuya Nishimura scored his fist grade stakes win.

-- replay (Japanese)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=szNffEHzBfU

-- replay (head-on) <--- We can see how Daring Tact (white cap) drifted in the final straight
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H8M0EsgGOWo

Starine · Sun Mar 14, 2021 8:16 pm

226-1! How remarkable.

tachyon · Tue Mar 16, 2021 9:19 am

Starine wrote: ↑Sun Mar 14, 2021 8:16 pm 226-1! How remarkable.

I thought that was a poor ride by Kohei Matsuyama for Daring Tact....
Her trainer Haruki Sugiyama didn't seem to be unhappy about her seasonal debut, though.
She is on course for her trip to Hong Kong next.
We will probably see an exciting match-up between Daring Tact and Hong Kong star Golden Sixty in the QEII.