Sprinter Stakes updates (6th leg, Global Sprint Challenge)
 

From the JRA.....

Not till October 1st but hey... I'm excited.

Selected Horses - Sprinters Stakes (G1)


Selected Horses from foreign countries
Number of horse(s) : Seven as of 18 August Trained Country Horse Name Sex/Age Trainer

UK Ashdown Express (IRE) G 7 C Wall
UK Steenberg (IRE) G 7 M Tompkins
UK Les Arcs (USA) G 7 T Pitt
UK Iffraaj (GB) H 5 S Bin Suroor
UK Benbaun (IRE) G 5 M Wallace
Australia Takeover Target (AUS) G 7 J Janiak
Hong Kong Silent Witness (AUS) G 7 A Cruz

From the South China Morning Post.....

Saturday, August 26, 2006

Da Silva eyes Japan defence for Witness
MURRAY BELL

Owner Archie da Silva yesterday made the commitment the Japan Racing Association had been waiting for - that champion Silent Witness will defend his Sprinters Stakes crown at Nakayama racecourse on October 1.
The Group One race is the next leg of the Global Sprint Challenge.

Silent Witness ran third in a barrier trial over 1,200 metres on the dirt track at Sha Tin yesterday, beaten a head and a neck by Class One stablemates Regency Horse and Fokine, and more than satisfied jockey Felix Coetzee.

"I thought he went very well," Coetzee said last night. "He began very fast, a lot better than he had last preparation, which was encouraging, but he got a bit tired in the final 200 metres as his fitness gave out. He just needed that, especially as the trial was 1,200 metres. Overall, I was very happy with him."

Trainer Tony Cruz seconded Coetzee's assessment, much to Da Silva's delight.

"He'll have another trial on the turf track in September but at this stage, he looks like he'll go back to Japan for the Sprinters Stakes," Da Silva said.


Silent Witness won last year's Sprinters Stakes from a wide barrier, but contracted a mystery infection on the way home and was forced to miss his tilt at a history-making third Hong Kong Sprint in December.

He was then winless in the spring, with his best effort being a half-length second to Joyful Winner in the Queen's Silver Jubilee Trophy (Gr 1, 1,400m). Silent Witness, who was Horse of the Year in 2004 and 2005, has won 18 of his 24 starts and his bankroll of HK$58,761,896 is a Hong Kong record.

Update from the JRA.....
2006 News
August 30, 2006

Selected Horses - Sprinters Stakes (G1)
6th Leg of the Global Sprint Challenge
Sunday, 1 October 2006

Selected Horses from foreign countries
Number of horse(s) : Seven Fouras of 30 August Trained Country Horse Name Sex/Age Trainer
UK Ashdown Express (IRE) G 7 C Wall
UK Steenberg (IRE) G 7 M Tompkins
UK Les Arcs (USA) G 6 T Pitt
UK Iffraaj (GB) H 5 S Bin Suroor
UK Benbaun (IRE) G 5 M Wallace
Australia Takeover Target (AUS) G 7 J Janiak
Hong Kong Silent Witness (AUS) G 7 A Cruz

*JRA has been informed from the connections of ;

ASHDOWN EXPRESS (trained in UK),

STEENBERG (trained in UK),

IFFRAAJ (trained in UK),

that they will not run in this race.

Centaur Stakes info (the 5th leg of the Global Sprint Challenge)).....
http://japanracing.jp/_news2006/060905.html

PPs.....
http://japanracing.jp/_news2006/pdf/...ce_centaur.pdf

You ready for Takeover Target to stroke them?

Could there be any other outcome?

She Is Tosho looks interesting.....

CHUKYO 11R
THE CENTAUR STAKES (G2)
Post Time 15:45
September 10, 2006, 1200m, Turf
INT DSN, Special Weight, 3-Year-Olds & Up, Open Class, Value of race: 115,840,000 Yen


1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th total
Added Money (Yen) 60,000,000 24,000,000 15,000,000 9,000,000 6,000,000 114,000,000
Stakes Money (Yen) 1,288,000 368,000 184,000 0 0 1,840,000
Total (Yen) 61,288,000 24,368,000 15,184,000 9,000,000 6,000,000 115,840,000

Bk Hs Horse Sex
Age Weight
(Kg) Sire
Dam Dam's sire
Dam's dam Jockey
Trainer Owner
Breeder Colors
1 1 M S World(JPN) C3 55.0 Stay Gold
Top World Maruzensky
Kikuno Kotobuki Shinichiro Akiyama
Sachio Yukubo Shunji Matsuoka
Kenji Sadahiro
1 2 Golden Cast(JPN) H6 57.0 Taiki Shuttle
Return Bandam Niniski
Return to Paris Futoshi Komaki
Kojiro Hashiguchi Koji Maeda
Bandam Bokujo
2 3 Maruka Kiseki(JPN) H5 57.0 Fuji Kiseki
Flying Colors Jade Robbery
Omi Shadai Shigefumi Kumazawa
Tsutomu Setoguchi Kawacho Sangyo
Shadai Farm
2 4 Meisho Bowler(JPN) H5 58.0 Taiki Shuttle
Nice Raise Storm Cat
Nice Tradition Yuichi Fukunaga
Toshiaki Shirai Yoshio Matsumoto
Hinode Bokujo
3 5 Lord Ultima(USA) H6 57.0 Seeking the Gold
Secrettame Secretariat
Tamerett Yutaka Take
Kenji Yamauchi Lord Horse Club
Dr. William O. Reed
3 6 Sachino Sweetie(JPN) F3 53.0 Kalista Glory
Per Favore Afleet
Con Amore Naoto Suzuki
Yuji Hirai Sachihiko Sato
Shin Ikusei Bokujo
4 7 Gallant Arrow(JPN) H6 57.0 Lindo Shaver
Chorus Jo O Longleat
Gallant Chorus Hideaki Miyuki
Hiroki Sakiyama A.Tomizawa
Tomonori Fujimoto
4 8 Limitless Bid(JPN) H7 57.0 Sunday Silence
Elizabeth Rose Northern Taste
November Rose Yasunari Iwata
Tadashi Kayo Shadai Race H.
Shadai Farm
5 9 Precious Cafe(JPN) H7 57.0 Heart Lake
Air Incense Sunday Silence
Brown Ivory Kotaro Akagi
Futoshi Kojima Koichi Nishikawa
Shadai Farm
5 10 Ribbon Art(JPN) M5 55.0 Sunday Silence
Scarlet Ribbon Northern Taste
Scarlet Ink Mamoru Ishibashi
Tsutomu Setoguchi Shadai Race H.
Shadai Farm
6 11 Takeover Target(AUS) G7 59.0 Celtic Swing
Shady Stream Archregent
Merry Shade Jay Ford
Joseph Janiak Joseph Janiak
Meringo Stud Farm
6 12 Native Heart(JPN) H8 57.0 Star of Cozzene
Potomac Cherry Northern Taste
San San Hiroyuki Uchida
Noboru Sakamoto Sotatsu Ikeda
Meiwa Bokujo
7 13 Keeneland Swan(USA) H7 57.0 Distant View
To Act Roberto
Comedy Act Hirofumi Shii
Hideyuki Mori Toyomitsu Hirai
Jim Ryan & Geraldine Ryan
7 14 Cosmo Fortune(JPN) F4 55.0 Meiner Love
Grace Maria Groom Dancer
Miho Grace Koichi Tsunoda
Toru Miya Big Red Farm
Arai Farm
7 15 Eishin Hebe(JPN) M5 55.0 Eishin Washington
Eishin Open Sunday Silence
Eishin Jewely Ryota Sameshima
Kenichi Fujioka Toyomitsu Hirai
Eishin Bokujo
8 16 Ceres Dynamic(CAN) C3 55.0 More Than Ready
Jolly Ginny Broad Brush
Fleet Secretariat Ryuji Wada
Hajime Fukunaga Koji Oka
Stonyfield Farm
8 17 Win Legend(JPN) C3 55.0 Sunday Silence
Shinko Nobby Nashwan
Christabelle Yuga Kawada
Tsutomu Setoguchi Win Co. Ltd.
Shinkoh Farm
8 18 She is Tosho(JPN) M6 55.0 Sakura Bakushin O
Jane Tosho Tosho Fleet
Cornice Tosho Kenichi Ikezoe
Akio Tsurudome Tosho Sangyo
Tosho Bokujo


* * *

TT / She Is Tosho :cool:

maruka kaseki/
tt/ sachino sweetie

she is
overrated

results-
she is
tosho/
tt

Ha ha..... :D

From the JRA.....

http://japanracing.jp/_news2006/060910.html

http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,...-32343,00.html

i hope he
is not hurt.

I don't know if any of you have been following the drama surrounding Les Arcs and the Egan nightmare (forced to bow out, commections weren't gonna run in Japan without him. Chris Munce isn't exactly happy..... part of the reason he's STILL stuck in HK is because Egan had skipped out... long, long story) , but there's good news today ... Eric Saint-Martin got the mount.

http://www.sportinglife.com/racing/n...CING_Arcs.html

Silent Witness.....

The barrier trial..... (batch 1)...

http://www.hkjc.com/english/press/btrs.asp

* * *

The update.....

Fitness the only worry as Witness prepares to defend Japan title

MURRAY BELL
(SCMP)

Tony Cruz faces the possibly the greatest challenge of his training career to win the Sprinters' Stakes in Japan with fallen idol Silent Witness on the evidence of his defeat in yesterday's barrier trial at Sha Tin.
However, owner Archie da Silva has declared the return visit to Nakayama is on, saying the only issue is with fitness.

"I was actually happy with the way he performed - the way he pinged out of the barriers, went to the front, enjoyed the gallop and travelled well for Felix [Coetzee]," Da Silva said.

"He was beaten because he got a bit tired in the final stages. He's still fat, and weighs 1,280 pounds - that's a big horse. He has to lose another 20 pounds to be fit for Japan."

Silent Witness contested the first of five barrier trials over 1,200 metres on the all-weather track. He led comfortably until challenged by stablemate Floral Pegasus at the 300 metres.

Once the battle was joined, Silent Witness and Floral Pegasus had the trial to themselves and pulled seven lengths clear of the remainder. The margin in favour of Floral Pegasus was a half length.


Coetzee told Da Silva that Silent Witness "blew heavily" on pulling up.

"Felix said that the way he's working now, compared to last year when he returned from Japan, is much better," Da Silva said.

"Before it was like he was telling us to leave him alone, that he wasn't feeling well and he didn't want to do it. Now, he's jumping straight to the lead in his barrier trials. We feel it's just a fitness issue."

Da Silva said it would be a race against the clock to get Silent Witness fully fit for a defence of his Sprinters' Stakes title, hoping he could follow on from his blockbusting win in the event 12 months ago.

"I would say, at the moment, he is 85 per cent fit," Da Silva said. "He's still big and he looks big. It's now all up to Tony Cruz. He's got 16 days to do it, the race is on October 1."


Cruz was not at the track yesterday, having travelled to England for the graduation of his daughter, Antonia, from university.

:)

http://www.hkjc.com/english/news/news_2006092013939.htm

The eagle has landed..... :cool:

http://japanracing.jp/_news2006/060921.html

PP's.....

http://japanracing.jp/_news2006/pdf/..._sprinters.pdf

Mr. Les Arcs, Esquire, has arrived in Japan as well.....

http://www.sportinglife.com/racing/n...CING_Arcs.html

cheerful smile
and venus line
look good.

Finally!

The barrier draw.....


NAKAYAMA 11R
THE SPRINTERS STAKES (G1)
Post Time 15:40
October 1, 2006, 1200m, Turf
INT DSN, Special Weight, 3-Year-Olds & Up, Open Class, Value of race: 185,480,000 Yen

1 1 Venus Line(JPN) M5 55.0 Fuji Kiseki
Hokuto Pendant Park Regent
Hokuto Venus Shinichiro Akiyama
Noriyuki Hori Turf Sport
Sakai Bokujo
1 2 Tagano Bastille(JPN) C3 55.0 Brian's Time
Wien Concert Sakura Yutaka O
Sound Kagura Masaki Katsuura
Kaneo Ikezoe Ryoji Yagi
Sakurai Bokujo
2 3 Les Arcs(USA) G6 57.0 Arch
La Sarto Cormorant
Dame Sybil Eric Saint-Martin
Timothy Pitt Willie Mckay
Elk Manor Farm
2 4 Meisho Bowler(JPN) H5 57.0 Taiki Shuttle
Nice Raise Storm Cat
Nice Tradition Yuichi Fukunaga
Toshiaki Shirai Yoshio Matsumoto
Hinode Bokujo
3 5 She is Tosho(JPN) M6 55.0 Sakura Bakushin O
Jane Tosho Tosho Fleet
Cornice Tosho Kenichi Ikezoe
Akio Tsurudome Tosho Sangyo
Tosho Bokujo
3 6 Golden Cast(JPN) H6 57.0 Taiki Shuttle
Return Bandam Niniski
Return to Paris Futoshi Komaki
Kojiro Hashiguchi Koji Maeda
Bandam Bokujo
4 7 Orewa Matteruze(JPN) H6 57.0 Sunday Silence
Curly Angel Judge Angelucci
Dyna Carle Yo****omi Shibata
Hidetaka Otonashi Y.Odagiri
Northern Farm
4 8 Keeneland Swan(USA) H7 57.0 Distant View
To Act Roberto
Comedy Act Leith Innes
Hideyuki Mori Toyomitsu Hirai
Jim Ryan & Geraldine Ryan
5 9 Benbaun(IRE) G5 57.0 Stravinsky
Escape to Victory Salse
Gaijin Daragh O'Donohoe
Mark Wallace Ransley Birks Hillen
Dr T.A.Ryan
5 10 Blue Shotgun(JPN) H7 57.0 Sakura Bakushin O
Ogi Blue Venus Super Creek
Ogi Twinkle Yusuke Fujioka
Kohei Take Ogifushi Racing Club Co .Ltd.
Take Bokujo
6 11 Tamamo Hot Play(JPN) H5 57.0 Fuji Kiseki
Hot Play Northern Taste
Dyna Hot Kunihiko Watanabe
Katsumi Minai Tamamo K.
Shinsei Bokujo
6 12 Symboli Escape(JPN) H5 57.0 Sakura Bakushin O
Sweet Kenmare Kenmare
Sweet Titania Masayoshi Ebina
Takashi Kubota Symboli Stud
Symboli Stud
7 13 Takeover Target(AUS) G7 57.0 Celtic Swing
Shady Stream Archregent
Merry Shade Jay Ford
Joseph Janiak Joseph Janiak
Meringo Stud Farm
7 14 Silent Witness(AUS) G7 57.0 El Moxie
Jade Tiara Bureaucracy
Jade-Amanda Felix Coetzee
Anthony Cruz Arthur da Silva
IK Smith
8 15 Suteki Shinsukekun(USA) C3 55.0 Danzig
Autumn Moon Mr. Prospector
Lypatia Hiroki Goto
Hideyuki Mori Yoshinori Sakae
Monticule
8 16 Cheerful Smile(JPN) M6 55.0 Sunday Silence
Golden Colors Mr. Prospector
Winning Colors Yasunari Iwata
Yasuo Ikee Academy Co. Ltd.
Katsunori Shimizu


* * *

As if SW wasn't worrying me enough, there's this.....

http://www.smh.com.au/news/horseraci...337280067.html

witness and tt
have been cursed.

cheerful smile
looks the
best.

takeover target will still win.

Oooooh..... check this out!

:cool:

http://www.jra.go.jp/vi/doc/mc_guide...ss_dsl_h18.asx

Good luck to SW and TT, my favorites, but i'm going with Les Arcs, She is Tosho or Orewa.

Final training report, foreign entrees.....

TAKEOVER TARGET (AUS, 7g. bay)

-- jogged 1/2 lap, lightly cantered 1/2 lap
(exercised from 6:40 to 6:46 on dirt, ridden by Luke Pepper)

“We’ve done our best in tuning up the horse and I’m sure that he’ll give us 110%. We have faith in him and how he’ll do tomorrow. He’s a very smart horse, so as long as he breaks well, he’ll show us a great race.”

(Comments taken from Joseph Janiak)

SILENT WITNESS (AUS, 7g. bay)

--jogged 2 laps
(exercised from 6:39 to 6:55 on dirt, ridden by Wai Mo)

“Including his physical condition and form, everything has worked out as planned. All we have to do now is to wait for the race to turn out the way we’d like.”

(Comments taken from Anthony S. Cruz)

LES ARCS (USA, 6g. dark bay or brown)

-- jogged 1 1/4 lap, cantered 1/2 lap, jogged 1/2 lap, cantered 3/4 lap
(exercised from 6:38 to 6:56, ridden by Andrew Smith)

“Since the horse was fresh and full of pep, we took him out to the tracks and gave him pretty much to do this morning. I’m satisfied with the condition he’s in.”

“His noisy breathing after workout isn’t any kind of disorder to worry about (it’s not a wind problem).”

“Compared to the other horses, especially the foreign contenders, I think we’re very lucky with the draw (post position 3), and we hope that we can make the most of this advantage.”

(Comments taken from Timothy Pitt)

BENBAUN (IRE, 5g. bay)

--cantered 6F
(exercised from 6:36 to 6:45 on dirt, ridden by Steeve Gaillard)

“He’s perfectly tuned up. He’s good at sustaining his strength and physical and mental condition so we’re not worried at all.”

“If he breaks sharply we hope he’ll travel in mid division before making his move. We’re looking forward to showing a great performance.”

(Comments taken from Mark Wallace)

i have seen
god and
his name is
tony cruz.

:)

that was cool. thanks. les arcs is a fabulous looker.

She looks good.....

30/1 right now.

Silent Witness looks good too. :)

Yeah, seriously!

takeover target is at 7-1 right now? You have to love that price.

Who else do you like?

I dont like the favorite, which is silent witness right now. 7-5? thats a joke. He may win but with his recent form he will just have to beat me. Plus hes all washed out in the post parade.

I like Les Arc just like you but that price...

Orewa matteruze should put in a decent performance.

Good luck

I can't believe how low the odds were on Silent witness.

Breathtaking!

Good for Takeover Target!

Thats what i was just saying. He was all washed out too.

That price on takeover Target was a total gift. Thank you everyone.

You try to remember saying congrats with Gallant screaming on the phone!:D

CONGRATS!

Thrilled he won and that SW looked like he still had it in him.

Thanks My miss storm cat.

As for silent witness, ive NEVER seen him washed out like that before. He still ran a great race. That horse is as game as they come.

You have to give it up to the connections of Takeover Target. How many horses can say they won in Australia, Ascot and now in Japan?

oh shut up
i was screaming
cuz they showed
tony cruz.
:p

congrats to
tt and all
who had him.

i'm pleased for
sw.

she is tosho
didn't look
good,
did she?

congrats
to u.
:)

That was a fantastic win. Such an amazing story, with the price Janiak paid for him and the fact that Janiak used to be a taxi driver who lived in a caravan.

Great stuff.