great race and a great win for Gentildonna. really nice to see her go out in style!

Can you help me get retirements up to date, SS? Who else had their swansong in that one (aside from Just A Way)? I had the list in my head but seem to have misplaced it (the list, not my actual... oh never mind).

as far as i know just Gentildonna and Just A Way

Thought I remembered seeing a few more names were retiring...

Good enough! Thanks.

Surprisingly bad run from Gold Ship...

http://web-cache.stream.ne.jp/web/jr...501060911&ua=4

http://210.170.100.71/jair/SelectDenma.do

For Sunday Star...

Thought you might enjoy reading this:

https://www.thoroughbredracing.com/a...se-deep-impact

good stuff. thanks!

Early PPs, February Stakes @ Tokyo next weekend...

http://japanracing.jp/_news2015/pdf/150212.pdf

Awful.

Leading Japanese rider Goto found dead at home

http://www.racingpost.com/news/live....024&category=0

Good Lord.

Lemaire gets one month ban for using Twitter

http://www.racingpost.com/news/live....424&category=0

PPs, the Takamatsunomiya Kinen (G1 at Chukyo next weekend)...

http://japanracing.jp/_news2015/pdf/150318.pdf

Aerovelocity, the only foreign raider, arrives for the Takamatsunomiya Kinen...

First nominated (foreign) horses for the Tenno Sho announced... Brown Panther and Red Cadeux.

Great win for Aerovelocity!

It was!

For anyone who missed it... replay and full results:

http://web-cache.stream.ne.jp/web/jr...502070611&ua=4

http://japanracing.jp/_news2015/pdf/150329.pdf

PPs, Oka Sho (Japanese 1000 Guineas) @ Hansin on the 12th...

http://japanracing.jp/_news2015/pdf/150401.pdf

Morning line, Oka Sho...

http://japanracing.jp/_news2015/pdf/150411.pdf

Announced yesterday... Brown Panther and Red Cadeaux both out of the Tenno Sho...

PP's, Satsuki Sho (2000 Guineas)...

http://japanracing.jp/_news2015/pdf/150408.pdf

Let's Go Donki winning the Oka Sho...

http://web-cache.stream.ne.jp/web/jr...502090611&ua=4

Duramente, superstar-to-be...

http://web-cache.stream.ne.jp/web/jr...503060811&ua=4

* * *

PPs, Tenno Sho @ Kyoto on May 3 (Derby night here).....

http://japanracing.jp/_news2015/pdf/150422.pdf

Duramente looked really good

Yeah he'll be a fun one to follow!

Have been meaning to ask if you have thoughts on both Last Impact and Fame Game... (?).

These two interest me in the little bit of attention I have so far given the Tenno Sho... would love to hear your thoughts if any, my old friend. :)

the tenno sho looks really wide open. you could probably make a good score if you can figure it out. i think Fame Game has a good shot. i could also see Denim and Ruby or Win Variation take it. Heck, can you totally overlook Fenomeno to win it 3 straight years? good luck ;)

Yeah it almost always has the major pay out!

Good luck to you too. Will post picks (and I hope you do as well) as it draws closer. :)

Sad to see that Fenomeno is out.

I'm thinking I will take a chance with the very quirky Fame Game to beat the big boys (and girls).

This could change but the more I look at him, the more I like him here. (Very stressful to go against Gold Ship, Kinuza, Sounds of Earth, Demin and Ruby, Hokko Brave et al! :D )

Happy to see that both Beauty Flame and Luger are in the mix to represent HK the Yasuda Kinen. (Shifting Power, Toormore and Night of Thunder are also in the early noms for invitees). :)

Morning line, Tenno Sho...

http://japanracing.jp/_news2015/pdf/150502.pdf

Nice that Gold Ship (finally!) won this race but I am VERY happy with Fame Game (26/1!!! :D) who was 2nd!!!!!

Full results..

http://japanracing.jp/_news2015/pdf/150503.pdf

Replay...

http://web-cache.stream.ne.jp/web/jr...503080411&ua=4

nice pick with Fame Game.

what a bizarre race for Gold Ship. i thought for a moment he might be scratched when he wouldn't load in the gate and he kept kicking. then after the slow start the jock rushes him up in the middle of the race... i was thinking you dumb jock, what are you doing...he won't have anything left for the finish. but he went on to win anyway. :rolleyes:

Thanks and yeah, it was... different!

Fingers crossed that Rewarding Hero gets an invite for the Yasuda Kinen. He might after that nice 2nd to Able Friend!

PPs, NHK Mile Cup (May 10, @Tokyo)...

http://japanracing.jp/_news2015/pdf/150430.pdf

... and for the (much more exciting) Victoria Mile (May 17, @Tokyo)...

http://japanracing.jp/_news2015/pdf/150507.pdf

SS do you have any thoughts on tonight?

I just keep looking at it and it seems so completely wide open...

Am thinking about playing something small with the very good filly Albiano, the quirky Avenir Marcher and Tagano Azaghal who should be a wild longshot. Not sue what to do with Ren England (or why Daiwa Expert isn't here?!).

I guess Grand Silk and Musee Sultan will be the favorites. Being an idiot I would have thought maybe Clarity Sky...

Sometimes the comments from the connections are pretty interesting. I don't know about you but I will wait about ten years or so to use Young Man Power after reading what Masami Matsuoka had to say. :D

(Now watch, he wins). :wf

Will probably box up the first three I mentioned and leave it at that!

Good luck if you're paying, SS, Coachie, Kitan, Cardus-ie et al.

edit -

Might check the odds later and consider a win bet on Avenir Marcher... we shall see.

May. 9, 2015 05:02 PM 188A5F737081 Online Gaming Japan 11 $1.00 EX 1,5,9 / 1,2,4,5,6,7,9 $18.00
May. 9, 2015 05:02 PM E88A06ED7081 Online Gaming Japan 11 $1.00 TR BX,1,5,9 $6.00

Clarity Sky wins. Well done, Norihiro Yokoyama!

(Albiano 2nd, Avenir Marcher 4th, and my stellar pick, Tagano Azaghal, was last):

http://japanracing.jp/_news2015/pdf/150510.pdf

Be interesting to see if either Cafe Brilliant or Nuovo Record get the 1 or 2 hole...

Nuovo Record for the win

Great pick and good luck!

I hope you'll post who you're using underneath...

I am still sorting through on and off and will post tomorrow. :)

Morning line...

http://japanracing.jp/_news2015/pdf/150516.pdf

So I am thinking of playing something using Café Brilliant on top with Straight Girl, Keiai Elegant, and Little Gerda (who, for some reason and even with the favorites traditionally doing very well in this race I feel like playing across the board) underneath and with Western Merci (who I think has a great future), Nuevo Record and Dia de la Madre in the 3rd spot.

Think I will wait till evening to work out how exactly to play it and edit in. Good luck to anyone playing (Ed, Coachie, Kitan, SS of course, Herkie et al.) :)

Good for Straight Girl!

http://web-cache.stream.ne.jp/web/jr...502050811&ua=4

Disappointing. On the JRA site it announces that Shifting Power, Toormore, Night of Thunder, Beauty Flame and Luger have all withdrawn from the Yasuda Kinen so no internationals. Was especially excited to see Beauty Flame run here (Belmont night).

PPs, the Yushun Himba (at Tokyo on Sun.):

http://japanracing.jp/_news2015/pdf/150514.pdf

Sunday Star... at this very early date I am already wondering if this should be renamed the Contessa Thule show. :D

Thoughts?

nice win for Straight Girl. how bout Minaret? almost pulled off the shocker. paid $90 to show!!

One of the English language commentators, Adrian, said this in the paddock: She has a chance of winning in a dream, but in reality she has no chance!

Well I will make a ridiculously early prediction and that is that the Oaks will not be won by Lets Go Donki nor will Rouge Buck (Ginger Punch baby for anyone who cares :) ) be back to her best... this will be the good Contessa all the way and there will be no turning back on the road to greatness.

Okay I have now had too much coffee and need to calm down.

Really though I think she will dominate (and yes I know I should wait for post positions and the rest of the field :D ).

(Yeah Minaret was awesome! A complete surprise).

Barrier draw for the Yushun Himba (God I love the name Earthrise and isn't Maximum de Paris just so pretty?!:D)...

http://japanracing.jp/_news2015/150522.html