Gran Alegria Dominates Down the Stretch for Runaway Victory in Victoria Mile

Second favorite Justin Palace, ridden by Christophe Lemaire, triumphs in the Tenno Sho on April 30 at Kyoto Racecourse. (KYODO) Since making his racing debut in September 2021, Justin Palace has been ridden by six different jockeys in 10 career starts, including Christophe Lemaire in the Tenno Sho (Spring) on Sunday, April 30. So what happened in…

Six runners from the fans' top choices, including Titleholder, Efforia and Equinox, plus Queen Elizabeth II Cup (G1) winner Geraldina are expected to also be the most popular betting options Sunday in the Grade 1, $6.5 million Arima Kinen, the 67th annual Grand Prix of Japan. Staged at Nakayama, the 1 9/16-mile race boasts Japan's top purse, which…

Ikezoe credited trainer Toru Hayashi and other support staff for putting Songline, who entered the race from stall No. 13, in position to contend for a victory on Sunday. "It was a tight schedule for the filly but the staff at the stables prepared her remarkably," he told reporters. "She broke well and I decided to settle her behind Salios, who…

In short, Lemaire saved Stars on Earth's best for last. The Duramante-sired dark bay horse, the third favorite, ran a rapid 33.7 seconds over the final three furlongs. (See the race here.) Nobody was faster when it mattered most, and nobody outmaneuvered Lemaire. Stars on Earth reached the wire in 2 minutes, 23.9 seconds, becoming the 16th horse to…

Race replay plus all the details as Sodashi, the all-white Thoroughbred cult heroine of Japanese racing, masters a talent-laden field to win the G1 Victoria Mile at Tokyo racecourse - a'Win and You're In' race for the Breeders' Cup at Keeneland. Tokyo: Victoria Mile G1 ¥281.8m ($2.45m/£1.78m) 1m, turf, 4yo+ f/m Sodashi (Naosuke Sugai/Hayato…

In the speedy showcase for 3-year-olds, fourth favorite Danon Scorpion, who entered the 18-horse competition in the No. 18 post position was ready for the challenge in crunch time. The Lord Kanaloa-sired bay colt galloped past favorite Serifos under Yuichi Fukunaga with around 100 meters remaining and held on for a victory by a neck's length over…

Crown Pride, guided by Damian Lane, booked a spot in the 20-field Kentucky Derby by winning the G2 UAE Derby by 2¾ lengths in Dubai on March 26. For the first leg of America's Triple Crown races, trainer Koichi Shotani opted for to give the starting nod to the more experienced jockey. Lemaire turns 43 on May 20; Lane is 28. Lemaire, the Japan…

The Yokoyama family's success in high-profile races was also in the spotlight just a few months ago. At last year's Tenno Sho (Autumn), Takeshi Yokoyama, Kazuo's younger brother, won the October 31 race by a length over Contrail at Tokyo Racecourse. Bursting out of the 16 gate aboard second favorite 4-year-old bay colt Titleholder, Yokoyama led…

The 2000-meter Dubai World Cup concluded the day's festivities at Meydan Racecourse, with American trainer Bob Baffert's Country Grammer, ridden by Italian Frankie Dettori, securing a 1¾-length victory over Hot Rod Charlie in 2 minutes, 4.97 seconds. Country Grammer returned to competition after a nine-month layoff following the Saudi Cup in…

Channel Cat, shown winning the Grade I Man o' War in May, is among the favorites for Saturday's Grade II Red Smith Stakes at Aqueduct. Photo courtesy of New York Racing Association Nov. 19 (UPI) -- High-class graded stakes racing is spread across North America this weekend, with a turf showdown in New York, a tough mile event for fillies and mares…

Loves Only You and Marche Lorraine changed the storyline on a glorious Saturday afternoon in Southern California. Jockey Yuga Kawada, one of the premier riders on the Japan Racing Association circuit (currently No. 2 in wins and overall earnings in 2021, trailing only Christophe Lemaire in both categories) guided 5-year-old Loves Only You, the…

In what would become the battle of the favorites, Efforia (Jpn) (Epiphaneia {Jpn}) proved best on the day, winning Sunday's G1 Tenno Sho Autumn at Tokyo. With the victory in the 2000-meter test, the colt became the first 3-year-old to win the race since Symboli Kris S won the event in 2002. Sent off as the third betting choice, Efforia settled in a…

Essential Quality, shown winning the Grade I Travers, is among the favorites in a Breeders' Cup Classic field announced this week. Photo courtesy of New York Racing Association Oct. 29 (UPI) -- It's a week for looking forward as horse racing around the globe nears its annual champion-making events and youngsters get in final licks to make a case…

A 5-year-old mare who was a Group 1 winnerlast spring in Hong Kong may be the best hope for a Japan-based horse to breakthrough for the first time ever in the Breeders' Cup. Loves Only You, who has amassed $5453602 inpurse earnings with a record of 14: 6-2-3, is expected to lead seven horsesbeing shipped from Japan to the Nov. 5 and 6 championships…

TAKARAZUKA, HYOGO, JAPAN (June 25, 2021) - Top female stars Chrono Genesis (JPN), the defending champion, and undefeated Lei Papale (JPN) lead 13 runners for Sunday's US$3 million, 1 3/8-mile Takarazuka Kinen (G1) at Hanshin Racecourse. The winner of Sunday's race will receive an automatic berth and fees paid into the US$4million Longines Breeders'…

World Premiere (right): winner of the Tenno Sho (Spring) at Hanshin World Premiere produced a strong finish under Yuichi Fukunaga to win the Group 1 Tenno Sho (Spring) at Hanshin on Sunday, holding off favourite Deep Bond by three-quarters of a length. In a thrilling 83rd renewal of the most important Japanese contest for stayers, there were four…

Triple Crown winner Contrail looks tailor-made for the Osaka Hai over his favoured trip but faces a speedy rival in Gran Alegria The growing sense of anticipation among Flat racing fans in Britain this weekend is felt just as keenly in Japan where the season is also ready to burst into life. The first Grade 1 race of the turf season, the…

Almond Eye, ridden by French jockey Christophe Lemaire, established a Japan Racing Association record with an eighth Grade I victory on Sunday, November 1. The 5-year-old mare, who has 10 wins in 14 career races, captured the Tenno Sho (Autumn) crown for the second straight year, doing so in electrifying fashion at Tokyo Racecourse. The fifth…

Almond Eye: could not reach Gran Algeria Tokyo: Yasuda Kinen (Grade 1) Less than 24 hours after Pinatubo suffered a shock defeat in the 2000 Guineas, international superstar Almond Eye could only finish second in the Yasuda Kinen behind Gran Alegria (Kazuo Fujisawa/Kenichi Ikezoe). Almond Eye was once again red-hot favourite for the…

The 2006 Japan Cup was a chance at redemption for Deep Impact, whose previous exploits on the racetrack made him akin to the Secretariat of Japanese horse racing. A trip to France had not gone according to plan, and he was returning home to rebuild his reputation. In the Japan Cup, he delivered an emphatic two-length victory, and now, 13 years…

Gran Alegria, seen winning the Grade 1 Oka Sho, or Japanese 1000 Guineas, is among the favorites in Sunday's Grade 1 NHK Mile Cup at Tokyo Racecourse. Photo courtesy of Japan Racing Association May 3 (UPI) -- While American racing fixates on Churchill Downs this weekend, talented 3-year-olds also see action elsewhere around the world, from Japan to…

Just under two years ago, we ran an article about the'golden generation' of jockeys in France. Led by Christophe Soumillon (ironically, a Belgian), more and more French-based riders were being recognised internationally for their considerable talent in the saddle - and consequently getting the call for the world's greatest races. That momentum has…

Sunday's $5.4 million Arima Kinen (G1) lived up to expectations, with market leaders Satono Diamond and Kitasan Black fighting out a terrific finish in the Nakayama showpiece. The bettors sent off both at odds of 8-5, marginally favoring Satono Diamond over last-out Japan Cup (G1) winner Kitasan Black, and the upwardly mobile sophomore justified…

LEXINGTON, Ky. - Tyler Gaffalione's first Breeders' Cup victory had an inauspicious start. Riding the historically front-running Wonder Wheel, Gaffalione was in the back of the pack in Friday's $2 million Juvenile Fillies at Keeneland. "She didn't break very well," Gaffalione said. "I got pushed back a little further than I wanted to be." But…