Japanese stars odds slashed for the Cox Plate

Being acclaimed as'the world's best horse' is a huge accolade, of course, but it comes with the weight of expectation every time that horse steps out onto the track. But for Equinox, who's due to face international competition again, on home turf this time, in the Japan Cup later this month, it's a burden he's evidently carrying lightly on his big,…

Racing Victoria and Melbourne's metropolitan racing clubs all undertake their own international recruiting campaigns, but some perform the role without being on the payroll. Damian Lane is something of an unofficial scout in Japan and earlier this year he was doing his best to ensure Japanese representation in the Spring Carnival majors. The horse…

Three Japanese-trained horses featured among the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe entries when they were published in May, and while a couple of those have fallen by the wayside since, it's all systems go for their third entry, Through Seven Seas. She arrived safely in Chantilly a week ago where the finishing touches to her Arc preparation will be carried…

Carrot Farm's Tastiera (Jpn) (Satono Crown {Jpn}), who fell victim to a stinging late rush from Sol Oriens (Jpn) (Kitasan Black {Jpn}) in the G1 Satuski Sho (Japanese 2000 Guineas) Apr. 16, got first run on that favoured foe in the long Tokyo straight and found the wire a neck to the good, dashing any hope for a Triple Crown for 2023. Heart's…

Yoshito Yahagi, with 2019 Cox Plate winner Lys Gracieux, will target the Queen Elizabeth Stakes with Unicorn Lion. Picture: Sarah Matray Champion Anamoe won't need to go anywhere to be tested on racing's international stage because the world is coming to take him on at Royal Randwick. Japan's classy Unicorn Lion is the latest overseas raider…

Another big weekend of Group 1 racing in Japan and we head to Hanshin for the QEII over 2200m for fillies and mares. Originally the third leg of the fillies' triple crown, the Japanese variant of the QEII became what it is today in 1996, with some well-known globetrotters on the honour roll, none more so than Cox Plate winning superstar Lys…

Titleholder is the new Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe favourite and as short as 5-1 with several firms following the recent news about Desert Crown's unlikely participation. The big Japanese hope has leading claims and here is the lowdown on his profile. . . Last year's Japanese St Leger winner has taken his form to the next level in 2022, winning…

Godolphin pair Adayar and Hurricane Lane, the Aga Khan's superstar mare Tarnawa and dual Oaks winner Snowfall have been declared for Sunday's Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe as 15 runners stood their ground on Thursday. The Roger Varian-trained Teona, who beat Snowfall in the Prix Vermeille this month, misses the race as the ground will be…

Steve Chambers profiles Takashi Saito's Chrono Genesis, who is bidding to become the first Japanese-trained horse to win the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe on Sunday afternoon at Longchamp... Age: 5 Races: 13 Wins: 6 Trainer: Takashi Saito Jockey: Oisin Murphy Owner: Sunday Racing Co Ltd Notable Race Wins: G1Shuka Sho (2019), G1 Takarazuka Kinen (2020,…

It will be a different scene this year at the Cox Plate, with champion mare Winx now retired after an illustrious career that saw her win the race four consecutive times. The 2019 edition of the Group 1 Cox Plate will be held on the final weekend of October at Moonee Valley on a fantastic weekend of racing, that also includes the Manikato Stakes on…

Chrono Genesis: a 16-1 shot for the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe Champion jockey Oisin Murphy has described his call-up to ride top Japanese mare Chrono Genesis in the Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe as a "really huge opportunity" as he seeks his, and Japan's, first win in Europe's greatest race. Murphy, 25, was confirmed by her owners the Yoshida…

Chrono Genesis and Christophe Lemaire race to victory in the Takarazuka Kinen Top-class mare Chrono Genesis, second to the John and Thady-trained Mishriff in Dubai in March, made her first start since then a winning one when powering home in the Grade 1 Takarazuka Kinen at Hanshin on Sunday. Trained by Takashi Saito, the five-year-old was a…

Sunday rounds out the Grade 1 action for the first half of the year in Japan, and after some great racing at Tokyo in May and early June, Hanshin Racecourse will be the venue for this week's Grade 1 Takarazuka Kinen. One of two races in the year where horses are elected by votes from the fans, this year's top choice for the early summer race goes…

Mark Bird: has joined the ERA as a handicapper Japan's quest for a first win in the Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe in the great race's 100th edition reaches a crucial juncture at Hanshin on Sunday. Three of the nation's six entries line up in a race which could be fairly described as the Japanese equivalent of the King George VI and Queen…

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'…

As the grand finale of the year, Sunday's $6 million Arima Kinen (G1) fittingly recapitulated a theme of the Japanese season: distaff dominance. Chrono Genesis, the 3-2 favorite, overtook Fierement in the betting and down the stretch, then held the furious rally of 74-1 longshot Salacia in the Arima Kinen's first-ever female exacta. Lucky Lilac…

Chrono Genesis joined similarly Sunday Racing-owned stars Orfevre and Gentildonna on the Arima Kinen honour roll after landing the Grade 1 event at Nakayama on Sunday. The Takashi Saito-trained filly held the late challenge of Salacia to justify favouritism by a neck in the prestigious and unique event under Yuichi Kitamura. A limited crowd of 2542…

Almond Eye, shown winning the 2018 Japan Cup, is the favorite for Sunday's Grade 1 Tenno Sho (Autumn). Photo courtesy of Japan Racing Association Oct. 30 (UPI) -- American horse racing is virtually on pause a week out from the Breeders' Cup World Championships, but plenty of action exists around the globe with Almond Eye returning in Japan,…

Contrail looked a monster at two and could become one of the stars of the Japanese spring Unlike many other major northern hemisphere racing and breeding nations, Japan has thus far been able to keep its Graded race programme intact in the face of the coronavirus pandemic. With the sport continuing minus its passionate on-course chorus of fans,…

Lys Gracieux cruises to victory in Sunday's Grade 1 Arima Kinen in Japan. Photo courtesy of Kasumi Saito Dec. 23 (UPI) -- Lys Gracieux roared to victory over a loaded field in the Arima Kinen in Japan in the marquee event of weekend horse racing while Diamond Oops upset the apple cart in a key Florida sprint with international implications. Firenze…

Cox Plate winner Lys Gracieux has capped an amazing year for Australian jockey Damian Lane by winning the Grade One Arima Kinen at Nakayama. Having her final race before she heads to the broodmare barn, Lys Gracieux came out of the pack late to claim what was in the end a facile win over 2500 metres. The race was run at a solid pace with Aerolithe…

Much talk lately about the wonders of Japan, so it is entirely appropriate that the potential race of the season takes place on Sunday, when superstar filly Almond Eye is taken on by a field of top-class rivals, headed by Cox Plate heroine Lys Gracieux, in the $5.6 million G1 Arima Kinen at Nakayama. There is no race on earth quite like this…

Although Hong Kong is home to less than 1 percent of the world's horse population, local runners made history last year at the Hong Kong International Races by sweeping all four of the horse races, a first for the event. The four winners - Beauty Generation, Exultant, Glorious Forever and Mr Stunning - are all back this year to defend their titles…