February Stakes

[specialweek]

Japanese G1 racing returns Sunday at Fuchu in Tokyo with Transcend trying to do what he did in 2010/2011 winning the dirt G1 double. He has already won the JC dirt so trying to repeat the double.
He will be odds on and has drawn wide. Fujita will try and dictate the pace again and if they let him he will win. Espoir City looks the main danger to me with Testa Matta and better place chance with Iwata in the saddle. I have Silk Fortune and Danon Come On in my multiples but have left out Wonder Acute.
numbers 15,9,16,3,11

[tachyon]

TOKYO 11R

THE FEBRUARY STAKES(G1)

February 19, 2012, 1600m, Dirt
INT DSN, Special Weight, 4-Year-Olds & Up, Open Class, Value of race: 184,380,000 Yen

1 Nike Madrid(JPN) H6 57 Wild Rush Keita Tosaki
2 Tagano Lock On(JPN) C4 57 Rock of Gibraltar Hironobu Tanabe
3 Silk Fortune(JPN) H6 57 Gold Allure Kota Fujioka
4 Smile Jack(JPN) H7 57 Tanino Gimlet Genki Maruyama
5 Hiraboku Wild(JPN) H6 57 Wild Rush Hideaki Miyuki
6 Keiai Tenjin(JPN) H6 57 Agnes Digital Hiroki Goto
7 Yamanin Kingly(JPN) H7 57 Agnes Digital Cristian Demuro
8 Sei Crimson(JPN) H6 57 Eishin Sandy Hayato Yoshida
9 Espoir City(JPN) H7 57 Gold Allure Yutaka Take
10 Wonder Acute(JPN) H6 57 Charismatic Ryuji Wada
11 Danon Come On(JPN) H6 57 Symboli Kris S Yuichi Fukunaga
12 Live Concert(IRE) G8 57 Singspiel Masayoshi Ebina
13 Grand Prix Boss(JPN) C4 57 Sakura Bakushin O Hiroyuki Uchida
14 Tosho Cousin(JPN) H5 57 Kurofune Yuga Kawada
15 Transcend(JPN) H6 57 Wild Rush Shinji Fujita
16 Testa Matta(USA) H6 57 Tapit Yasunari Iwata

-- JRA race programme (new!!)
http://japanracing.jp/en/information...programme.html
http://japanracing.jp/_pdf/informati...012/120219.pdf

-- preview
http://japanracing.jp/_news2012/120214.html

-- comments from runners' connections
http://japanracing.jp/_news2012/120217-03.html

-- barrier draw
http://japanracing.jp/_news2012/120217.html

Transcend (3/5 fav)


Wonder Acute (6/1)

[tachyon]

Espoir City (7/1)


Silk Fortune (12/1)


Danon Come On (13/1)


Grand Prix Boss (17/1)

[tachyon]

I think that Transcend will become the first horse to win the February Stakes back-to-back, although I will be happy if Wonder Acute finally gets his first G1 title for his sire.
I DO like your picks, specialweek. But I will pass on Espoir City this time, but will use Wonder Acute, Silk Fortune, Danon Come On, Testa Matta and Tagano Lock On for the bottom of exotics.

[tachyon]

Testa Matta(USA) (32/1)


Yamanin Kingly (41/1)


Tosho Cousin (52/1)

[Cesario]

Might take a chance here with Tagano Lock On. If they let Transcend have the lead it will be over though.

[tachyon]

Danon Come On has received an invitation to the Godolphin Mile.
Will he do well today so that he could accept it?

[tachyon]

Testa Matta(USA) wins it.

[tachyon]

replay
high http://www.jra.go.jp/JRADB/asx/2012/...201050811h.asx
low http://www.jra.go.jp/JRADB/asx/2012/05/201201050811.asx

from youtube (full version)

1st 8 16 Testa Matta(USA) (Tapit x Difficult, by Concern) H6 57.0 1:35.4
2nd 2 3 Silk Fortune(JPN) (Gold Allure x Silk Esperanza, by Alwuhush) H6 57.0 1:35.7 2
3rd 5 10 Wonder Acute(JPN) (Charismatic x Wonder Heritage, by Pleasant Tap) H6 57.0 1:35.8 3/4
4th 6 11 Danon Come On(JPN) H6 57.0 1:35.8 NS
5th 5 9 Espoir City(JPN) H7 57.0 1:36.0 1
6th 1 2 Tagano Lock On(JPN) C4 57.0 1:36.4 2 1/2
7th 8 15 Transcend(JPN) H6 57.0 1:36.6 1 1/2
8th 3 6 Keiai Tenjin(JPN) H6 57.0 1:36.7 NK
9th 4 7 Yamanin Kingly(JPN) H7 57.0 1:36.8 1/2
10th 6 12 Live Concert(IRE) G8 57.0 1:36.9 1/2
11th 3 5 Hiraboku Wild(JPN) H6 57.0 1:37.1 1
12th 7 13 Grand Prix Boss(JPN) C4 57.0 1:37.1 NS
13th 7 14 Tosho Cousin(JPN) H5 57.0 1:37.2 3/4
14th 2 4 Smile Jack(JPN) H7 57.0 1:38.1 5
15th 4 8 Sei Crimson(JPN) H6 57.0 1:38.2 3/4
16th 1 1 Nike Madrid(JPN) H6 57.0 1:38.3 NK

[drjohnh]

Testa Matta(USA) wins it.

well he was on your list, hope he did you some good
do you think he might go to dubai?

[tachyon]

well he was on your list, hope he did you some good
do you think he might go to dubai?

No, today I only played on trifectas with Transcend on top....
I don't think that Dubai has been on Testa Matta's agenda.
But his connections can change their mind at any time. Let's see.

[equine]

Hi Tachyon,
Thank you for posting all the info and videos on Japanese racing. You are providing every one quite a a glimpse of racing in Japan.
I was hoping to reply to your thread on the Hyacinth stakes and how proud I was of Genten finishing second despite how much work he had to do from so far back but I am unable to locate the Siblings and off spring of famous horses thread.

[tachyon]

Hi equine,
I am glad to hear that you enjoyed the video of the Hyacinth Stakes in which Genten finished runner-up.
Yes!! Genten came really flying in the final furlong after he had still been chasing 14 horses from the second last position in the upper stretch. That was impressive.
The Hyacinth stakes is always considered as one of the most competitive events for 3yos on dirt at this time of year in Japan, even if this race is ungraded. His connections must be happy with his effort.
Genten was already a black-type performer when he finished third in the G2 Daily Hai Nisai Stakes last year on 1600m turf.
He can run on either surface, and I just guess (and hope) that his next start will be in the G3 Falcon Stakes, 1400m turf at Chukyo, on Mar 17th.
His trainer Yoshito Yahagi had commented a month ago that Genten's goal in this spring would be the G1 NHK Mile Cup 1600m turf at Tokyo, on May 6th.

[tachyon]

Hi equine,
Genten is now slated to run in the UAE Derby in Dubai!!!
(this news was posted by Uma (the poster) in ''siblings and offspring of well-known..'' thread.)

[equine]

Hi equine,
I am glad to hear that you enjoyed the video of the Hyacinth Stakes in which Genten finished runner-up.
Yes!! Genten came really flying in the final furlong after he had still been chasing 14 horses from the second last position in the upper stretch. That was impressive.
The Hyacinth stakes is always considered as one of the most competitive events for 3yos on dirt at this time of year in Japan, even if this race is ungraded. His connections must be happy with his effort.
Genten was already a black-type performer when he finished third in the G2 Daily Hai Nisai Stakes last year on 1600m turf.
He can run on either surface, and I just guess (and hope) that his next start will be in the G3 Falcon Stakes, 1400m turf at Chukyo, on Mar 17th.
His trainer Yoshito Yahagi had commented a month ago that Genten's goal in this spring would be the G1 NHK Mile Cup 1600m turf at Tokyo, on May 6th.

Thanks to you and Uma about Genten running on the UAE Derby on the world Cup
card. Considering the distance of the race, huge amount of travel time, week long quarantine, and the Tapeta surface, and the extreme climate change from.cold to hot, I.m wondering if anyone might have any insight as to why Genten.s connections would prefer to run in Dubai instead of the G1 mile on the turf May 6 at Tokyo.

I.m not questioning their decision. It.s just my desire to understand how horses are managed and decisions made internationally compared to U.S. trainers.

[tachyon]

Thanks to you and Uma about Genten running on the UAE Derby on the world Cup
card. Considering the distance of the race, huge amount of travel time, week long quarantine, and the Tapeta surface, and the extreme climate change from.cold to hot, I.m wondering if anyone might have any insight as to why Genten.s connections would prefer to run in Dubai instead of the G1 mile on the turf May 6 at Tokyo.

I.m not questioning their decision. It.s just my desire to understand how horses are managed and decisions made internationally compared to U.S. trainers.

Although Genten's connections were mentioning the NHK Mile for his goal, he is not yet qualified for that G1 race as of today. He still has to increase his earnings by winning (or placing) in stakes/graded events before the G1 NHK Mile on May 6 so that he could confirm his starting gate in that race.
I would guess that the invitation from Dubai came as a pleasant surprise for Genten's connections when his entry for the NHK Mile was still uncertain. And, more importantly, Genten's trainer Yoshito Yahagi, like many other Japanese trainers nowadays, is a horseman who is very motivated to send his horses to overseas racings. Actually he also takes his other trainee Makani Bisty(JPN) H5 to the G3 Dubai Gold Cup.
As for the tapeta surface, if a horse handles both turf and dirt, it might not be irrational to imagine that he/she could love the synthetic, in my opinion.
All in all, this might be a bold but a very interesting move, even if the long quarantine and the travel time could take a toll and he never raced beyond 1600m (UAE Derby is 1900m).

I wish Genten good luck!

[Cesario]

I'm not saying he is going to win but I don't see why they wouldn't take a chance if they can. As Tachy mentioned he might not qualify for the NHK cup so why not. Victoire Pisa and Transcend were high quality horses who both had never run on Tapeta before last year, and they finished one-two. I'm not at all comparing him to those two stars but I do think he can give a good account of himself if he can indeed handle the surface.

[equine]

Although Genten's connections were mentioning the NHK Mile for his goal, he is not yet qualified for that G1 race as of today. He still has to increase his earnings by winning (or placing) in stakes/graded events before the G1 NHK Mile on May 6 so that he could confirm his starting gate in that race.
I would guess that the invitation from Dubai came as a pleasant surprise for Genten's connections when his entry for the NHK Mile was still uncertain. And, more importantly, Genten's trainer Yoshito Yahagi, like many other Japanese trainers nowadays, is a horseman who is very motivated to send his horses to overseas racings. Actually he also takes his other trainee Makani Bisty(JPN) H5 to the G3 Dubai Gold Cup.
As for the tapeta surface, if a horse handles both turf and dirt, it might not be irrational to imagine that he/she could love the synthetic, in my opinion.
All in all, this might be a bold but a very interesting move, even if the long quarantine and the travel time could take a toll and he never raced beyond 1600m (UAE Derby is 1900m).


I wish Genten good luck!

Tachyon, do you have any knowledge of the quarantine specifics: ie location, if there is a training track and if the horses are allowed to train, the length of time in quarantine, or any other related info you can think of?

You are such a fountain of knowledge, I appreciate your patience with me.

[tachyon]

Tachyon, do you have any knowledge of the quarantine specifics: ie location, if there is a training track and if the horses are allowed to train, the length of time in quarantine, or any other related info you can think of?

For horses going from Japan to Dubai, pre-export quaratine period has to be 5 days at this time.
There are a few quarantine facilities in Japan. As for Genten, they say he will get in the quarantine stable at Ritto Training Center on Mar 15th and leave form Kansai International Airport on Mar 21st. In the quarantine stable at Ritto, he is allowed to work at training track. But, of course, he has to be isolated form other horses.
After landing at Dubai, I guess that he will have to be quarantined for 48 hours.
Finally, when he comes back from Dubai to Japan, import quarantine period will be 5 days followed by 3 weeks of inspection period.
......I hope someone will correct me, if I am wrong....

[equine]

For horses going from Japan to Dubai, pre-export quaratine period has to be 5 days at this time.
There are a few quarantine facilities in Japan. As for Genten, they say he will get in the quarantine stable at Ritto Training Center on Mar 15th and leave form Kansai International Airport on Mar 21st. In the quarantine stable at Ritto, he is allowed to work at training track. But, of course, he has to be isolated form other horses.
After landing at Dubai, I guess that he will have to be quarantined for 48 hours.
Finally, when he comes back from Dubai to Japan, import quarantine period will be 5 days followed by 3 weeks of inspection period.
......I hope someone will correct me, if I am wrong....

Thank you for those details! May I please ask a few more questions?
Is Ritto where Genten is normally trained, or where he might have gone when he first came into Japan last year.

I'm curious about the distance, times and transport modes. Is Kansai airport near the Ritto training center. How long of a flight is it to Dubai? Do the horses fly non stop or are there layovers or stops for fuel along the way? Once they arrive in Dubai, how far do the horses need to travel to the quarantine center, and are they quarantined on the racetrack property or another facility?