2021 Japanese Racing

tachyon · Fri Sep 24, 2021 7:36 pm

Chrono Genesis(JPN) has arrived at Chantilly today.

photo: @Jour_de_Galop

-- video from @WHR : Chstophe Lemaire's take on Chrono Genesis's chance
https://twitter.com/i/status/1437748463127564288

Oisin Murphy will ride her in the Arc.

tachyon · Thu Sep 30, 2021 10:02 am

-- from At The Races video:

''Japan's year to win the Arc? Naohiro Goda on Chrono Genesis and Deep Bond''

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7-CJoowQo0c&t=7s

Tessablue · Sat Oct 02, 2021 1:28 am

What do you think of her chances, tachyon? I've seen that the ground is expected to be very soft on Sunday, has she had success on soft footing in the past?

tachyon · Sat Oct 02, 2021 3:12 am

Tessablue wrote: ↑Sat Oct 02, 2021 1:28 am What do you think of her chances, tachyon? I've seen that the ground is expected to be very soft on Sunday, has she had success on soft footing in the past?

I like her chance, Tessablue.
I think that she is the most serious Japanese-contender for the Arc since Orfevre in 2012 and 2013.
She got beat by Mishriff in the Dubai Sheema Classic in March.
But it looks like she runs better going clockwise than anti-clockwise and she can handle soft turf.
Here below are English replays of some of her key success and her race record.

-- 2020 Arima kinen (G1)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EnFawTzHydo

-- 2021 Takarazuka Kinen (G1)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NPVyWBRHBKc

-- race record of Chrono Genesis
https://www.jbis.jp/horse/0001216129/record/

The only concern for her is that she is entered here without a prep.
If she is in her top form, I believe that she is a mare capable of coming home in the top three tomorrow.
And another Japanese Deep Bond may run well, too, if he can set the pace as he did in the Prix Foy.

Tessablue · Sat Oct 02, 2021 4:56 pm

Thank you so much for the resources, tachyon! She looks like a really good one, and I'm glad to hear that the conditions won't hinder her. Will be rooting for her tomorrow

tachyon · Sat Oct 02, 2021 6:43 pm

Tessablue wrote: ↑Sat Oct 02, 2021 4:56 pm Thank you so much for the resources, tachyon! She looks like a really good one, and I'm glad to hear that the conditions won't hinder her. Will be rooting for her tomorrow

You are welcome!
I'm not worried about the turf condition for Chrono Genesis, while I must admit that it's hard to predict what she will do at Longchamp especially if it's on ''very'' soft side tomorrow. (Snowfall may love the soft better?)
I would like to believe in Chrono Genesis' class.
There is no doubt she is the best middle distance horse currently in training in Japan.

Finally, let me add a replay of G2 Kyoto Kinen 2020 she won on the soft turf.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UsJ8bl46auw
1st. (#7) Chrono Genesis
2nd. (#1) Curren Bouquetd'or
3rd. (#5) Stay Foolish

tachyon · Sat Oct 02, 2021 7:56 pm

The Sprinters Stakes is the first group one race run on JRA in the second half of the year.

NAKAYAMA 11R
THE SPRINTERS STAKES(G1)

October 3, 2021, 1200m, Turf, Post time 15:40
INT DSN, Special Weight, 3-Year-Olds & Up, Open Class, Value of race: 252,860,000 Yen

Barrier Draw
https://japanracing.jp/_news2021/211001.html

Starine · Sat Oct 02, 2021 8:19 pm

Really cool to see video of Rose Pharoah blowing the doors off of her competition at Funabashi.

tachyon · Sat Oct 02, 2021 8:38 pm

Starine wrote: ↑Sat Oct 02, 2021 8:19 pm Really cool to see video of Rose Pharoah blowing the doors off of her competition at Funabashi.

Whoa!
Thanks for the heads-up!!

Honestly I didn't even know who she was until today.
The Australian daughter of American Pharoah may be a new star sprinter on NAR?

https://www.jbis.jp/horse/0001331622/

tachyon · Sun Oct 03, 2021 2:46 am

3yo colt Pixie Knight wins it to become first G1 winner for Maurice!!

tachyon · Sun Oct 03, 2021 2:52 am

photo: @nabecci

-- replay of the G1 Sprinters Stakes (English)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tTtyKPTN1ho

1st 4 Pixie Knight(JPN) [Maurice(JPN) x Pixie Hollow(JPN) by King Halo(JPN)] C3 55 01:07.1
2nd 12 Resistencia(JPN) [Daiwa Major(JPN) x Malacostumbrada(ARG) by Lizard Island(USA)] F4 55 01:07.4 2
3rd 1 Shivaji(USA) [First Samurai(USA) x Indian Bay(USA) by Indian Charlie(USA)] H6 57 01:07.4 HD
4th 6 Meikei Yell(JPN) F3 53 01:07.8 2 1/2
5th 16 Mozu Superflare(USA) M6 55 01:07.8 NS
6th 14 Danon Smash(JPN) H6 57 01:07.8 HD
7th 8 Bien Fait(JPN) G4 57 01:07.9 NK
8th 9 Kurino Gaudi(JPN) H5 57 01:08.0 1/2
9th 2 Mikki Brillante(JPN) H5 57 01:08.0 NK
10th 3 Loving Answer(JPN) H7 57 01:08.0 NS
11th 11 Gendarme(USA) H6 57 01:08.1 1/2
12th 7 Taisei Vision(JPN) C4 57 01:08.3 1 1/4
13th 10 Eighteen Girl(JPN) M5 55 01:08.3 HD
14th 13 A Will a Way(JPN) M5 55 01:08.4 3/4
15th 5 First Force(JPN) H5 57 01:08.6 1
16th 15 Lord Aqua(JPN) H5 57 01:09.0 2 1/2

Pixie Knight(JPN)
https://www.jbis.jp/horse/0001267989/
8-3-2-1

tachyon · Thu Oct 07, 2021 7:09 am

Chrono Genesis(JPN) has returned to Japan safely today.

She couldn't live up to our expectations in the Arc.
But we didn't think she ran a bad race and we were very proud of her.
She ran very well on the very-soft from the outside draw until the 200m mark.
Thanks for letting us see a dream!!

Mylute · Thu Oct 07, 2021 9:51 am

I'm assuming getting Chrono Genesis far out alone was an attempt to avoid an even worse bog? Don't think she ran a bad race just maybe a bit too much too early.

Northport · Thu Oct 07, 2021 3:23 pm

Mylute wrote: ↑Thu Oct 07, 2021 9:51 am I'm assuming getting Chrono Genesis far out alone was an attempt to avoid an even worse bog? Don't think she ran a bad race just maybe a bit too much too early.

Yeah. It worked for Frankie and Golden Horn in 2015, so not the worst plan in the world.

tachyon · Fri Oct 08, 2021 7:26 pm

Very few Japanese fans were unhappy with Oisin's ride.
Frankie’s triumphant way with Golden Horn was still fresh in our mind, too.
But, more importantly, we believed in our friend Oisin Murphy-san!

Oisin Murphy tweeted on Chrono Genesis after the race in Japanese.

https://twitter.com/oismurphy/status/14 ... 1379310595

クロノジェネシスはとても一生懸命に走ってくれました。
彼女が速く走るにはあまりにも馬場が重すぎました。

彼女はとても素晴らしい馬です。レース後すぐに立ち直るでしょう。また大きなレースで活躍できる事を楽しみにしてます！
彼女に乗れたことに感謝しております！

<translation to English>

Chrono Genesis ran as hard as she could for us.
But turf condition was way too heavy for her to run fast.
She is a very good horse.
Hopefully she will recover soon after the race.
I look forward to seeing her do well in big races again.
I'm grateful that I was given a ride on her.

And we look forward to seeing Oisin ride a few Japanese horses in JRA G1s in coming months

tachyon · Sun Oct 10, 2021 5:05 am

There were two G2s on JRA today, both of which turned out to be super races, one victory was very emotional and the other was eye-popping.

Firstly at Hanshin, 2016 Japanese Derby winner Makahiki(JPN)(Deep Impact) came back to the winner's circle in five years in the G2 Kyoto Daishoten 2400m turf.
After his losing streak of 17 races since his last victory in the G2 Prix Niel back in 2016, he became today the first Japanese Derby winner to win a race at the age of 8 since 1986.
Congrats to him and his connections!!!!

(Makoto Kaneko must be very happy!)

-- race record of Makahiki
https://www.jbis.jp/horse/0001171707/record/

-- replay of the Kyoto Daishoten
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kQ0FSYwMfYE

And ten minutes later at Tokyo, NHK MIle winning 3yo colt Schenell Meister(GER)(Kingman) turned the table on the this year's Yasuda Kinen winning 5yo Danon Kingly(JPN)(Deep Impact) in the G2 Mainichi Okan, by demonstrating his devastating turn of foot from back of the pack covering 1800m turf in 1:44.8. In watching the race as they came up the stretch at the 1/8 -1/16 poles, I couldn't imagine he would catch DK at the finish line.
I thought we really got to love those German-bred horses who can show the stamina on the soft as well as the ultimate speed on the very-firm.

-- race record of Schenell Meister
https://www.jbis.jp/horse/0001303553/record/

-- replay of the Mainichi Okan
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1hX2kVl5NZA

Starine · Sun Oct 10, 2021 7:26 pm

Schnell Meister is going to be a very nice outcross for a lot of Japanese mares.

tachyon · Mon Oct 11, 2021 7:59 am

Starine wrote: ↑Sun Oct 10, 2021 7:26 pm Schnell Meister is going to be a very nice outcross for a lot of Japanese mares.

Exactly!
By Kingman, out of German Oaks winner Serienholde, his stud value can be huge.
As Schnell Meister is a club-owned horse (Sunday Thoroughbred Racing), he is unlikely to retire from racing until 5.
And we may have to find more evidence in his upcoming starts before we talk about his true ability, anyway.
But I firmly believe that he has already secured his stall in the Shadai Stallion Station with his performance yesterday.

It looks like Katsumi Yoshida is a horseman who really knows what he does. :sigh:
Here's a report from racingpost dated March 15th 2018.

''Serienholde another German purchase for Japan's Yoshida brothers''
https://www.racingpost.com/bloodstock/s ... ers/323579

CorridorZ75 · Mon Oct 11, 2021 4:05 pm

Tachyon, if you ever have the time and inclination, could you list the various racing clubs in Japan and which ones are connected with the various stud farms, if any?

tachyon · Tue Oct 12, 2021 8:24 am

CorridorZ75 wrote: ↑Mon Oct 11, 2021 4:05 pm Tachyon, if you ever have the time and inclination, could you list the various racing clubs in Japan and which ones are connected with the various stud farms, if any?

CorridorZ75, I think I will try, but not today.
It will be quite a bit of work.
Maybe when I can take a long holiday!

Each racing club basically has close relationships with certain breeders.(not with studs)
For example, club-horses held by ''Sunday Thoroughbred Club'' are mainly supplied by Katsumi Yoshida's Northern Farm.
''Shadai Thoroughbred Club'' horses are mainly supplied by Teruya Yoshida's Shadai Farm.
But there are at least twenty racing clubs in Japan and each has its own characteristic.
I don't think anyone on the internet (blogs, twitter, facebook etc) ever tried to put them in one place and make a comprehensive list that includes relationships with breeders even in Japanese.