Japan racing, 2014~15
 

PPs, the Sprinters' Stakes...

http://japanracing.jp/_news2014/pdf/140925.pdf

The barrier draw...

http://japanracing.jp/_news2014/141003.html

The favorites usually do well in this race and, with affection, it appears like there might be quite a few tosses... Dasher Go Go had surgery, Grand Prix Boss a fracture, Earth Sonics trainer sounds weary, Seiko Raiko had quite some time off cause of tendinitis... Red Ovals' trainer, meanwhile, has been running her on the choppy, crap track to get her ready and she sounds as though she IS ready.

I'm thinking either Robe Tissage or Red Oval on top with Straight Girl and (the very pretty :D) Snow Dragon underneath. Will wait and see how the odds are looking tomorrow night.

For anyone wondering why on earth there are no HK raiders this time around...

http://www.scmp.com/sport/racing/art...-japan-mission

I am thrilled Lucky Nine is NOT there.

Local morning line...

http://japanracing.jp/_news2014/pdf/141004.pdf

Race 9
$10 wps 5

ugh

Race 10
$1 pick 3
8,16/6,10/1,3,5
$10 wps 8

Japan 11
$2 DD 6,10/1,3
$2 ex box 6,10
$5 wps 10

I am SO glad I boxed this! The tri paid $524.and then I had Snow Dragon across the board (stupidly only for 2 dollah) so that was another $51.

PPs, Shuka Sho (Saturday night)...

http://japanracing.jp/_news2014/pdf/141008.pdf

(Interesting that the 2nd favorite wins 60 percent of the time. Just throwing that out there).

Never did get around to posting Snow Dragon winning the Sprinters Stakes (at 46/1)...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IIOaLvi1vBo

Swear to God I will laugh out loud with joy every time I hear the name Snow Dragon for the rest of my life. :D

Morning line for the Shuka Sho tonight...

http://japanracing.jp/_news2014/pdf/141018.pdf

I was thinking maybe Nuovo Record but after seeing the morning line... well I can't exactly go with a horse who has NO odds...

I think Blanc Neige, Reve D'Etoiles and Bounce Shasse will be the favorites come post time. Omega Heart Rock is 2 for 2 BUT she is coming back from a fracture... hope she does well but I think this might be a bit tough. Sang Real will probably take some cash cause of who her sister is (Buena Vista) but I'm not seeing her hit the board.

There is something about the unlikely Tagano Etoile that I do like so I think I might take a chance with her for the win, stick Nuovo Record in the 2nd spot and then use Shonan Pandora, Red Reveur or Reve D'Etoiles underneath.

I am not putting a lot of thought into this... nice group of girls and I hope we see one or two future stars here.

You playing, Sunday Star?

Good luck tonight to those who are playing and come home safe, kids.

... but of course I didn't box them... it paid 633.75 for a dollah. Shonan Pandora beat Nuovo Record and Tagano Etoile was 3rd. :wf

PPs, Tenno Sho...

http://japanracing.jp/_news2014/pdf/141023.pdf

looking forward to a great race

Are you playing the QEII Cup tonight, SS? Tough race!

Have been looking at pp's, comments by connections etc., and was thinking I might include Grace Flower who I'd imagine will be a pretty big longshot.

Having a hard time narrowing it down what with Remain Silent, Smart Layer, Shonan Pandora and Nuovo Record. Trying to figure out what to do with Blanc Neige.

Tough choice leaving out girls like Meisho Mambo and Verxina but I've already drawn a line through both.

Will do a saver on my favorite horse in the race, Whale Capture. If I were smart I'd leave it at that and just enjoy the race but I'm not, so... :D

Please feel free to share any thoughts. You too, Coachie!

Might as well add this here.... Ed Dunlop tweeted that Snow Pixie will soon be arriving at his stables. If she's anything like her sister... :)

Lachesis wins.

Full results...

http://japanracing.jp/_news2014/pdf/141116.pdf

Replay...

http://web-cache.stream.ne.jp/web/jr...405080411&ua=4

Funny/strange Japanese race :D

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uXZlJGoK78A

Mile Championship PPs, Sunday (Saturday night) @Kyoto...

http://japanracing.jp/_news2014/pdf/141112.pdf

Kinda interesting tidbit... none of the winners of the last 4 editions (A Shin Forward, Eishin Apollon, Sadamu Patek and Tosen Ra) had had a G1 win prior to the race.

Early pp's, Japan Cup...

http://japanracing.jp/_news2014/pdf/141119.pdf

Ivanhowe hasn't yet arrived but Up With the Birds and Trading Leather are there.

That is some group of locals! Should be a great race.

i like Mikki Isle, Clarente and Grand Prix Boss

Danon Shark wins.

Full results...

http://japanracing.jp/_news2014/pdf/141123.pdf

Replay...

http://web-cache.stream.ne.jp/web/jr...405080611&ua=4

Didn't play but I can tell you right now no way would I have had that horse to win.

(Kinda like I'm reverse redboarding...).

* * *

No training report for Ivanhowe as of yet (he just arrived).

<At Tokyo Racecourse>

Weather: Fine
Going: Standard (dirt course)

Up With the Birds (CAN, C4, bay)

- jogged 1/2 lap, cantered ~ galloped 800m (4F:54.8, 3F:40.3, 1F:13.6) (dirt course)
(exercised from 7:02 to 7:14, ridden by Mark Ramsammy)

"He's adapting pretty good to the new environment. We just wanted him to work easy this morning—stretch his legs a little bit. We might canter him over the turf somewhere between Wednesday and Friday, just to get a look around the course and check the footing, but he's not going to do anymore speed work.
The trainer and jockey will be here on Thursday morning and we're hoping that the jockey will sit on the horse at least once since it's his first time at the Tokyo course.
Tomorrow, the horse will only be hand-walked around the stables."

(comments taken from Mark Ramsammy)


The following horse entered in the 34th Japan Cup was transported to Tokyo Racecourse, leaving the Horse Racing School quarantine facilities in Shiroi at 10:55 and arriving at the international stables at 13:15. Comments taken from the connections upon arrival are as follows:

Trading Leather (IRE, C4, bay)

"It took 23 hours to get here from door to door, and it was straight forward. We weighed him 24 hours after arrival and he lost like only four kilos at that stage. He didn't lose a lot of weight and he's been more or less maintaining the same weight. His best weight is between 485 and 490kg's. He's been trained with this race in mind for a while and he hasn't had a busy season, so he's in good condition.
He was very fit leaving home so we're just maintaining fitness really. Tomorrow we'll just do some regular work—just jog one round on the track and probably just canter one round."

my miss storm cat, who do you like in the japan cup? my gut says harp star or spielberg. hard not to like gentildonna and just a way though. i don't give the invaders much of a shot.

looking forward to it. should be a great one.

Me too and yeah, great field... will let you know when I know! Have not really looked in detail yet but I'll get to it!

Hope you do well, my friend.

Barrier draw...

http://japanracing.jp/_news2014/141127-07.html

I'm trying to look at this with an open mind instead of being bogged down with favorites (cause there are so many!) and find some value but yes, good choices (!).

I'm looking at One and Only, Tamamo Best Play and Epiphaneia...

If it were tonight think I would put One and Only on top (please God no helicopters scaring him this time!) and use Tamamo Best Play (cough cough underrated) Harp Star and Speilberg underneath and then add in Epiphaneia in the 3rd / 4th spot. Still time to figure this out but I do think One and Only has a good shot.

Isla Bonita... that's the one I'm not sure about. Is Masayoshi Ebina back onboard (I hope)? No disrespect to Christophe Lemaire but ummm yeah... let's get the right jockey this time.

Of the raiders Trading Leather is the only one I might use (in the 3rd or 4th spot) and of the huge names I'm leaving off I think Hit the Target would be the one I throw in (instead of Gentildonna, Just a Way, Denim and Ruby, etc).

Good old Tosen Jordan... why is he running here? Will not be using Fenomeno, Uncoiled, Decipher, Lachesis (hope she takes a lot of $) or Satano Shuren (sp).

Very nice field... can't wait!

* * * * *

Morning Line...

http://japanracing.jp/_news2014/pdf/141129.pdf