Horse racing news from Japan

Almond Eye sets World Record, Arc target for 2019

 

  At Tokyo Racecourse on Sunday the 25th for the 38th Japan Cup, post time favorite Almond Eye justified the hype. The Longines clock stopped at 2:20.6 when she finished the 2400m race over Tokyo’s massive turf course. She shaved 1.5 seconds off the track record and set a new world record for 12 furlongs. She also became the second three-year-old filly, after 2012’s Gentildonna, to win the Japan Cup. From five starts this year, Almond Eye has completed a perfect season with four G1 wins, and she looks to take on the world next year. Almond Eye will be looking to deny Enable a third consecutive Prix de l’Arc de Triumph next October. 

Soul Stirring Becomes Frankel's First Classic Winner

On Sunday, May 21st, post time favorite Soul Stirring won the 78th Japanese Oaks at Tokyo Racecourse. This was the daughter of Frankel's second career G1 win. Capturing the Oaks, her trainer Kazuo Fujisawa claimed his 100th JRA graded stakes and jockey Christophe Lemaire won his second consecutive G1 this month. Lemaire is set to ride Fujisawa's Rey de Oro in the Japanese Derby this coming weekend.

Lani 6th in Dubai Prep

Lani’s Dubai World Cup prep didn’t go as planned with the temperamental grey colt finishing 6th in the G1 Al Maktoum Challenge Round 3 on Sunday.

Lani returns to Dubai

Lani, winner of last year's UAE Derby, has returned to Dubai. He received an invitation to the Godolphin Mile but will take part in the Al Maktoum Challenge Round 3 in hopes of getting a last minute invitation to the Dubai World Cup.

Satono Diamond to join Kitasan Black in Arc Bid

On January 30th, the JRA hosted the 2016 JRA Awards in Tokyo. Champion 3-year-old Satono Diamond will head to France for the G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe this October, prepping with the G2 Prix Foy in September. In April, he will have a rematch with Arima Kinen runner-up and Horse of the Year, Kitasan Black in the G1 Tenno Sho Haru. “I want to win every race,” said owner Hamjie Satomi.

Japanese super stayer, Kitasan Black was named Horse of the Year for 2016

Here is a complete list of the 2016 JRA Awards winners.

Thoughts on the Japan Cup【Part 3】

This year only three horses turned up for the Japan Cup. Since 2005 we have featured a three-part series called “Thoughts on the Japan Cup,” contemplating the current status of Japan’s flagship international race and the challenges of maintaining its appeal to foreign runners.

Thoughts on the Japan Cup【Part 2】

This year only three horses turned up for the Japan Cup. Since 2005 we have featured a three-part series called “Thoughts on the Japan Cup,” contemplating the current status of Japan’s flagship international race and the challenges of maintaining its appeal to foreign runners.

Thoughts on the Japan Cup【Part 1】

This year only three horses turned up for the Japan Cup. Since 2005 we have featured a three-part series called “Thoughts on the Japan Cup,” contemplating the current status of Japan’s flagship international race and the challenges of maintaining its appeal to foreign runners. 

Kitasan Black Wires the Japan Cup

On Sunday, favorite Kitasan Black went wire to wire to win the 36th Japan Cup by two lengths. This was jockey Yutaka Take’s 4th Japan Cup win. Sounds of Earth and Cheval Grand closed to finish second and third respectively. The four-year-old Kitasan Black will run next in the G1 Arima Kinen on the 25th of December before planning his 2017 schedule which will likely include some races abroad.