2023 Japanese Racing

[SukiSatsuki]

Breaking news!!
OMG! What an interesting move by a NAR trained horse!!

Mandarin Hero(JPN), 2020C. Shanghai Bobby(USA) x Namura Nadeshiko(JPN) by Fuji Kiseki(JPN), will run in the G1 Santa Anita Derby on April 9th. His record is 5: 4-1-0.
https://www.jbis.jp/horse/0001321663/

This is going to be the first time a NAR trained horse ships to the US to run in a stakes race over there.
I like his bold challenge!!!

-- from Tokyo City Keiba news (Japanese..)
https://www.tokyocitykeiba.com/news/58911/



-- replay of the Haiseiko Kinen 1600m dirt at Oi
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gehwKftJK40

chart
https://www.jbis.jp/race/result/2022111 ... LjMxLjAuMA..

What’s NAR

[MySaladDays]

https://japanracing.jp/en/racing/go_rac ... cecourses/

I'm assuming, perhaps wrongly, it means he's not coming from the JRA, so "not a win and your in" race that we are usually familiar with. So coming from NAR is a new move.

[tachyon]

Breaking news!!
OMG! What an interesting move by a NAR trained horse!!

Mandarin Hero(JPN), 2020C. Shanghai Bobby(USA) x Namura Nadeshiko(JPN) by Fuji Kiseki(JPN), will run in the G1 Santa Anita Derby on April 9th. His record is 5: 4-1-0.
https://www.jbis.jp/horse/0001321663/

This is going to be the first time a NAR trained horse ships to the US to run in a stakes race over there.
I like his bold challenge!!!

-- from Tokyo City Keiba news (Japanese..)
https://www.tokyocitykeiba.com/news/58911/



-- replay of the Haiseiko Kinen 1600m dirt at Oi
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gehwKftJK40

chart
https://www.jbis.jp/race/result/2022111 ... LjMxLjAuMA..

What’s NAR

-- Outline of JRA racing and racing by local governments (NAR)


-- Racing by local governments
https://japanracing.jp/en/about/local_racing.html

[tachyon]

I thought Bill Finley wrote a nice article on TDN.

-- from TDN
''Japanese Horse To Come For Santa Anita Derby''
https://www.thoroughbreddailynews.com/j ... ita-derby/

Mandarin Hero races on the National Association of Racing (NAR) circuit, comprised of regional tracks predominantly offering dirt racing and widely considered to be a cut below the Japan Racing Association circuit. Mandarin Hero will be the first NAR horse to compete in the U.S., though Marche Lorraine (Jpn) (Orfevre {Jpn}) was a four-time black-type winner at NAR tracks before upsetting the 2021 GI Longines Breeders' Cup Distaff at Del Mar.

I would basically agree with Bill Finley as he says NAR is considered to be a cut below JRA circuit.
But I would like to add that the gap between JRA and NAR in terms of the horse quality has been narrowing with the improvement of NAR horses at the top level.
We recently see more NAR horses beat JRA horses than before.

In the G1 February Stakes won by Lemon Pop(USA), 4yo filly Speedy Kick(JPN), the only NAR trained horse in the field, finished in a good sixth, for example.

[brunanas]

Heart's Cry (Sunday Silence - Irish Dance, by Tony Bin) is gone at 22. he had been pensioned in 2021. sired Admire Rakti, Just a Way, Lys Gracieux, Salios, Do Deuce, among other greats. may he rest in peace.
https://twitter.com/JRAVAN_info/status/ ... WzpWw&s=19

[Starine]

Heart's Cry (Sunday Silence - Irish Dance, by Tony Bin) is gone at 22. he had been pensioned in 2021. sired Admire Rakti, Just a Way, Lys Gracieux, Salios, Do Deuce, among other greats. may he rest in peace.
https://twitter.com/JRAVAN_info/status/ ... WzpWw&s=19

A very good racehorse and terrific sire.

[tachyon]

Heart's Cry (Sunday Silence - Irish Dance, by Tony Bin) is gone at 22. he had been pensioned in 2021. sired Admire Rakti, Just a Way, Lys Gracieux, Salios, Do Deuce, among other greats. may he rest in peace.
https://twitter.com/JRAVAN_info/status/ ... WzpWw&s=19

A very good racehorse and terrific sire.

Heart's Cry might mainly be remembered by his victory over Deep Impact in the Arima Kinen and/or his wire-to-wire success in the Dubai Sheema Classic.
But his 3rd place finish in the King George at Ascot must be unforgettable for most of the Japanese racing fans.
It once looked like he was winning but he got beat by Hurricane Run and Electrocutionist, which remains a bittersweet memory.
I remember his rider Christophe Lemaire apologized for the defeat after the race.
That was nevertheless a great effort by the son of Sunday Silence for his first start on the European turf.

-- replay of the 2006 King George
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nLEQJxE_c20

[SukiSatsuki]

Heart's Cry (Sunday Silence - Irish Dance, by Tony Bin) is gone at 22. he had been pensioned in 2021. sired Admire Rakti, Just a Way, Lys Gracieux, Salios, Do Deuce, among other greats. may he rest in peace.
https://twitter.com/JRAVAN_info/status/ ... WzpWw&s=19

A very good racehorse and terrific sire.

Heart's Cry might mainly be remembered by his victory over Deep Impact in the Arima Kinen and/or his wire-to-wire success in the Dubai Sheema Classic.
But his 3rd place finish in the King George at Ascot must be unforgettable for most of the Japanese racing fans.
It once looked like he was winning but he got beat by Hurricane Run and Electrocutionist, which remains a bittersweet memory.
I remember his rider Christophe Lemaire apologized for the defeat after the race.
That was nevertheless a great effort by the son of Sunday Silence for his first start on the European turf.

-- replay of the 2006 King George
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nLEQJxE_c20

What a legend he was. Shame they have to leave us

[tachyon]

A very good racehorse and terrific sire.

Heart's Cry might mainly be remembered by his victory over Deep Impact in the Arima Kinen and/or his wire-to-wire success in the Dubai Sheema Classic.
But his 3rd place finish in the King George at Ascot must be unforgettable for most of the Japanese racing fans.
It once looked like he was winning but he got beat by Hurricane Run and Electrocutionist, which remains a bittersweet memory.
I remember his rider Christophe Lemaire apologized for the defeat after the race.
That was nevertheless a great effort by the son of Sunday Silence for his first start on the European turf.

-- replay of the 2006 King George
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nLEQJxE_c20

What a legend he was. Shame they have to leave us

-- from Paulick Report
https://paulickreport.com/news/bloodsto ... at-age-22/

Christophe Lemaire commented:

“Very sad to hear the passing of my champ,” jockey Christophe Lemaire posted on his Instagram. “It all started with him for me in Japan. Big thoughts to Teruya Yoshida and Shadai Farm staff. Legends never die.”

-- Lemaire's instagram
https://www.instagram.com/p/CpmTN4fPkVZ/

[tachyon]

https://japanracing.jp/en/racing/go_rac ... cecourses/

I'm assuming, perhaps wrongly, it means he's not coming from the JRA, so "not a win and your in" race that we are usually familiar with. So coming from NAR is a new move.

The link below might answer to your question, MySaladDays.

— from Bloodhorse Daily (by Naohiro Goda)

https://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing ... nita-derby

In addition, Oi conducts a series of designated races carrying Santa Anita Derby Points, in which horses who earn 200 points or more in total are qualified to run in the 1 1/8-mile 3-year-old contest stateside. Mandarin Hero earned 150 points when he won the Haiseiko Kinen Nov. 16 and 60 points when he finished second in the Feb. 23 Kumotori Sho, giving him a total of 210 qualifying points.

[MySaladDays]

Thank you for the link.

[Starine]

Japan-Based Trainer Fujita Has High Hopes For Mandarin Hero In Santa Anita Derby
https://paulickreport.com/news/triple-c ... ita-derby/

[tachyon]

Japan-Based Trainer Fujita Has High Hopes For Mandarin Hero In Santa Anita Derby
https://paulickreport.com/news/triple-c ... ita-derby/

Interesting read!!
Thanks so much for sharing.
I'm thrilled with Fujita's decision.

Through his first five starts, Mandarin Hero's running style has been to come from off the pace. In the Santa Anita Derby, Fujita plans to use a jockey from the local colony.

[Mylute]

Saw on Instagram that Equinox may come over for the Breeders' Cup?

[Starine]

Japan-Based Trainer Fujita Has High Hopes For Mandarin Hero In Santa Anita Derby
https://paulickreport.com/news/triple-c ... ita-derby/

Interesting read!!
Thanks so much for sharing.
I'm thrilled with Fujita's decision.

Through his first five starts, Mandarin Hero's running style has been to come from off the pace. In the Santa Anita Derby, Fujita plans to use a jockey from the local colony.

Glad you enjoyed it. I hope the colt performs well in the Santa Anita Derby.

[tachyon]

Saw on Instagram that Equinox may come over for the Breeders' Cup?

It was interesting that Masashi Yonemoto, representative of Silk Racing, gave preference to the BC race over the Arc citing the unfavorable ground condition at Longchamp in a media interview.
Nothing is decided yet. But, if things go well, there's a chance that Equinox comes to the BC Turf.

[SukiSatsuki]

Saw on Instagram that Equinox may come over for the Breeders' Cup?

It was interesting that Masashi Yonemoto, representative of Silk Racing, gave preference to the BC race over the Arc citing the unfavorable ground condition at Longchamp in a media interview.
Nothing is decided yet. But, if things go well, there's a chance that Equinox comes to the BC Turf.

I would cry if he won

[BaroqueAgain1]

"....preference to the BC race over the Arc citing the unfavorable ground condition at Longchamp..."

This isn't the first time I've read about connections deciding against trying the Arc due to the frequent "bottomless ground."
Makes me wonder if the French classic is going to become a bit less 'classic' if Japanese, American, and even many English and Irish trainers pick other top fall races where better ground is far more likely. And where purses are higher.
Is there anything that Longchamp could do to create a firmer surface, or at least one which drains better? It was such a swamp last fall.

[Northport]

They did major renovations between 2015-2018, mostly rebuilding the grandstand, but they also did do some work (reseeding at least) on the course. I remember there had been issues with it being slippery and roots not taking hold when it first reopened. Not sure what else they can do to short of changing the ecology of the area. I havent been to Longchamp, but I have been to Versailles about 25 minutes away, the entire palace and gardens are built on marshland.

[Starine]

Japanese horses loom large in both Sheema Classic, Dubai Turf
https://www.drf.com/news/japanese-horse ... dubai-turf