imaufo
11-04-2003, 09:37
From: InJapan2 Sent: 11/04/2003 11:00 AM
The Japanese classics start on Sunday with the Okasho, the equivalent of the 1000 Guineas, the first leg of the fillies' triple crown. 1600m.
Pretty hard race, but I'm guessing the favourite (for the win) will be Admire Groove. She is one of the best bred fillies on the planet, costing over A$3 million as a yearling, being by Sunday Silence out of Air Groove.
http://www006.upp.so-net.ne.jp/simulation/grerk1.jpg
Admire Groove, the top-priced filly at the 2000 JRHA Selected Sale, made very impressive debut at Kyoto on November 10th, when she won 14 runners' maiden of 1,800m on turf.
By Sunday Silence out of Air Groove, the Horse of the Year in Japan, Admire Groove was bought at 2000 JRHA Selected Sale for 230,000,000yen, approximately US$2,129,629 at the exchange rate of the sales day, by Riichi Kondo.
Trained by Mitsuru Hashida and ridden by Yutaka Take, Admire Groove was settled at the fifth position in the field and delivered strongest challenge on the homestretch, to win by one and half length.
Yutaka Take said after the race, "she is still green, but I am sure she is the horse with class."
http://www006.upp.so-net.ne.jp/simulation/grerk3.jpg
Fans of international racing would know Air Groove as the mare that race Pidulski to a pretty short margin in the Japan Cup. She was also the first mare (or at least the first mare in ages) to win the Emperor's Cup, and of course she won the Oaks, and a few other G1s.
http://www43.tok2.com/home/namara/bg/groove.jpg
She was probably the best mare of the past 10 years (her vs. Hishi Amazon), and was easily Tonybin's best horse in Japan. She comes into this race having never raced over less than 1800m, and never having raced against fillies only. She has won 3 from 3, including winning the males trial for the 2000 guineas last start. The problem is going to be the 1600m, but she's obviously the class horse who will go on to bigger and better things, and of course, she has Take on board.
Another one of the favourites, will be Yamakatsu Lilly, who like Admire Don, is showing that Timber Country can get a decent turf horse every now and then (although Admire Don is an even better horse on dirt, but he still won a G1 on turf). She has Ando Katsumi on board, and this guy has won 5 Group races in the past 5 weeks!! That factor alone will make her popular, but I don't like her.
Probably the favourite "banker" for quinellas will be Still in Love. Again, by Sunday Silence, who surprisingly only has 3 fillies in this year (albeit all with good chances), she was beaten for the first time last start, but had a shocking ride, and all the press is talking her up saying she should have won easily (I agree, but SW doesn't I don't think). She is best suited to the 1600m - not a major Oaks chance I would think, so this is her big shot, and she should be thereabouts.
Then there is Meine Nouvelle, the filly with the wonderful Oaks bloodlines being by Brian's Time out of a Zabeel mare. She will be up against it over the 1600m, but she should be really motoring home. I really think the only horse that can beat her in the Oaks is Admire Groove, and if she was to lose here, she'll be better odds in the Oaks, which is good, but I'd still like to see her do well.
I'll be boxing Admire Groove, Still in Love, Meine Nouvelle, and also the other SS filly Chunee (?), with the Italian Demuro on her.
SW, any thoughts?
The Japanese classics start on Sunday with the Okasho, the equivalent of the 1000 Guineas, the first leg of the fillies' triple crown. 1600m.
Pretty hard race, but I'm guessing the favourite (for the win) will be Admire Groove. She is one of the best bred fillies on the planet, costing over A$3 million as a yearling, being by Sunday Silence out of Air Groove.
http://www006.upp.so-net.ne.jp/simulation/grerk1.jpg
Admire Groove, the top-priced filly at the 2000 JRHA Selected Sale, made very impressive debut at Kyoto on November 10th, when she won 14 runners' maiden of 1,800m on turf.
By Sunday Silence out of Air Groove, the Horse of the Year in Japan, Admire Groove was bought at 2000 JRHA Selected Sale for 230,000,000yen, approximately US$2,129,629 at the exchange rate of the sales day, by Riichi Kondo.
Trained by Mitsuru Hashida and ridden by Yutaka Take, Admire Groove was settled at the fifth position in the field and delivered strongest challenge on the homestretch, to win by one and half length.
Yutaka Take said after the race, "she is still green, but I am sure she is the horse with class."
http://www006.upp.so-net.ne.jp/simulation/grerk3.jpg
Fans of international racing would know Air Groove as the mare that race Pidulski to a pretty short margin in the Japan Cup. She was also the first mare (or at least the first mare in ages) to win the Emperor's Cup, and of course she won the Oaks, and a few other G1s.
http://www43.tok2.com/home/namara/bg/groove.jpg
She was probably the best mare of the past 10 years (her vs. Hishi Amazon), and was easily Tonybin's best horse in Japan. She comes into this race having never raced over less than 1800m, and never having raced against fillies only. She has won 3 from 3, including winning the males trial for the 2000 guineas last start. The problem is going to be the 1600m, but she's obviously the class horse who will go on to bigger and better things, and of course, she has Take on board.
Another one of the favourites, will be Yamakatsu Lilly, who like Admire Don, is showing that Timber Country can get a decent turf horse every now and then (although Admire Don is an even better horse on dirt, but he still won a G1 on turf). She has Ando Katsumi on board, and this guy has won 5 Group races in the past 5 weeks!! That factor alone will make her popular, but I don't like her.
Probably the favourite "banker" for quinellas will be Still in Love. Again, by Sunday Silence, who surprisingly only has 3 fillies in this year (albeit all with good chances), she was beaten for the first time last start, but had a shocking ride, and all the press is talking her up saying she should have won easily (I agree, but SW doesn't I don't think). She is best suited to the 1600m - not a major Oaks chance I would think, so this is her big shot, and she should be thereabouts.
Then there is Meine Nouvelle, the filly with the wonderful Oaks bloodlines being by Brian's Time out of a Zabeel mare. She will be up against it over the 1600m, but she should be really motoring home. I really think the only horse that can beat her in the Oaks is Admire Groove, and if she was to lose here, she'll be better odds in the Oaks, which is good, but I'd still like to see her do well.
I'll be boxing Admire Groove, Still in Love, Meine Nouvelle, and also the other SS filly Chunee (?), with the Italian Demuro on her.
SW, any thoughts?