Go Zenno

[imaufo]

ZENNO ROB ROY completed G1 Hat Trick <26th Dec 04>


Zenno Rob Roy capped off his successful 2004 campaign with the victory of G1/Arima Kinen over 2,500m grass gallop at Nakayama Racecourse near Tokyo on Sunday December 26th.

The even money favorite Zenno Rob Roy, ridden by Olivier Peslier, delivered the strongest challenge on the homestretch and captured the year-end championship race in Japan, which carried the total purse of $3.3 million.

Tap Dance City, the winner of G1/Japan Cup in 2003, finished second by half a length. The winning time, 2 minutes 29.5 seconds, is a second off Symboli Kris S's track record set in 2003.

Zenno Rob Roy, who previously won G1/Emperor's Cup Autumn in October and G1/Japan Cup in November, has become the second horse to complete the hat trick of the major Graded One Stakes in Autumn, after T.M.Opera O who achieved it in 2000, and is awarded to receive the 200,000,000yen bonus.

Zenno Rob Roy has now every chance to be elected as the Japanese Horse of the Year in 2004, which will be announced by JRA shortly.

Zenno Rob Roy, four-year-old colt by Sunday Silence out of Mining mare Roamin Rachel, was bred at Shiraoi Farm in Hokkaido and bought by Shinobu Osako at 2000 JRHA Select Foal Sale for 90,000,000yen, approximately $833,333.
It is reported that Zenno Rob Roy is kept in training in 2005.



Japan Cup


http://www.jair.jrao.ne.jp/library/journal/v12n6/photo_05.jpg

Zenno Rob Roy at the winning presentation of the Japan Cup, jockey Olivier Peslier with his family on the left, and Mr. Motohiro Osako, second son of owner Shinobu Oosako on the right.

(Photo credit: Newmarket Inc.)



In the Japan Cup, Zenno Rob Roy rose to fans' expectations and rock-bottom odds with a piece-of-cake win 3-lengths going, turning the race into a battle for second place as he passed the 200-meter mark.

Hokkaido star Cosmo Bulk, was a different horse in the hands of new partner Christophe Lemaire. The 3-year-old colt sired by Zagreb (USA) went to and fro with France's Policy Maker (IRE) before moving ahead for a second-place finish by a neck. Delta Blues swept up on the outside to catch and pass Policy Maker (IRE) in the final strides to finish third.

Zenno Rob Roy clocked 2 minutes, 24.2 seconds over 2,400 meters of fast turf.

Following the top four over the wire in the Japan Cup were Narita Century, Phoenix Reach (IRE), Lune d'Or (FR) from France, Er Nova, Hishi Miracle, Heart's Cry, Ireland's Powerscourt (GB), Tosen Dandy, Higher Game, Magnaten (USA), Warrsan (IRE) from the U.K., and Hookipa Wave

Zenno Rob Roy, by Sunday Silence and out of Roamin Rachel, is now 6 for 14 with over 781 million yen in earnings. Also bred at Shiraoi Farm the 4-year-old is owned by Shinobu Oosako. The colt gave French jockey Olivier Peslier his second win of the Japan Cup after Jungle Pocket in 2001 and trainer Kazuo Fujisawa his first. The Japan Cup win alone was worth 250 million yen



http://www.jair.jrao.ne.jp/library/journal/v12n6/photo_07.jpg







ZENNO ROB ROY won Emperor's Cup <31st Oct 04>

Another triumph by JRHA Select Sale's graduate was performed at Tokyo on October 31st, as the prestigious Emperor's Cup ran there.

Zenno Rob Roy, trained by Kazuo Fujisawa and ridden by Olivier Peslier, delivered the strongest challenge on the homestretch and dominated the strong field of 17 runners.

The 4-y-o son of Sunday Silence, out of Mining mare Roamin Rachel, previously finished 2nd in the Japanese Derby, 4th in the Japanese St Leger, and 3rd in the Arima Kinen at three, and runner-up to Ingrandire in the Spring version of Emperor's Cup and finished 4th in the Takarazuka Kinen earlier this year.

This is his 6th attempt at the stakes with premier grade and captured his first G1 victory.

This is Kazuo Fujisawa's third successive victory in the Autumn version of Emperor's Cup, after winning the last two eiditions of this race by Symboli Kris S.Zenno Rob Roy, bred by Shiraoi Farm, was consigned at the JRHA Select Sale in 2000 and bought by Shinobu Osako of T.M.International Co.Ltd for 90,000,000yen, approximately $833,333 at the exchange rate at that time.

Zenno Rob Roy will take aim at the Japan Cup on November 28th at Tokyo next.




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[imaufo]

http://www.jair.jrao.ne.jp/library/journal/v12n6/cover.jpg

In the Japan Cup at the Tokyo Racecourse on November 28, 2004, No.9 Zenno Rob Roy [by Sunday Silence (USA), out of Roamin Rachel (USA)] coming in first, and No.10 Cosmo Bulk [by Zagreb (USA), out of Iseno Tosho] coming in second, race intensively with each other just before the wire.

Olivier Peslier on No.9 and Christophe Lemaire on No.10, both French jockeys, finished first and second.

(Photo credit: Kiichi Yamamoto)

[imaufo]

Zenno Rob Roy challenges abroad


Connections of Zenno Rob Roy, Japan's horse of the year for 2004, recently announced plans to take the 2004 horse of the year abroad to race.

Targeted is the Aug. 16 International Stakes at York, a 2,000-meter G1 event over turf. The race has served as a showplace for some of the U.K. and Europe's top mid-distance runners, including Giants Causeway. Trainer Kazuo Fujisawa, 53, says he plans to race Zenno Rob Roy in the June 26 Takarazuka Kinen (G1) at Hanshin and depart for England on July 19.

Yutaka Take will take the reins at York, while Kent Desormeaux of the U.S. is scheduled to ride in the Takarazuka. Desmormeaux rode Zenno Rob Roy for his winning run as a 3-year-old in the Kobe Shimbun Hai (JPN-G2).

First place in the International Stakes is worth some 53 million yen. Rob Roy would shoulder a weight of 59.5 kg. Olivier Peslier, who has been Rob Roy's main rider, was already contracted for the race. Owner Shinobu Oosako asked that Take be given the ride.

Fujisawa said the York racecourse had similarities with the Tokyo course and believed it would be a course Japanese horses would take to well.

Zenno Rob Roy is currently spelling at a farm in the Miho vicinity but is expected to be shipped to the Fantast Club in Monbetsu, Hokkaido, for training soon.

Plans are for the horse to again take on the big three G1 races in Japan this fall, the Tenno Sho (Autumn, JPN-G1) at Tokyo Oct. 30, the Japan Cup (G1), also at Tokyo, Nov. 27, and the Arima Kinen (JPN-G1) at Nakayama Dec. 25.



JRA

[imaufo]

Zenno Rob Roy to make his class tell

By HOTSPUR (J A McGrath)

(Filed: 16/08/2005)



Jockey Olivier Peslier will be an interested observer as Zenno Rob Roy, the high-class Japanese visitor, starts his European campaign in today's intriguing Juddmonte International Stakes at York, a race that truly lives up to its name.

Late last year, Peslier won three big races on the five-year-old - including the Japan Cup - for a total prizemoney haul of £2.8 million, and so impressed was the Frenchman that he declared the son of Sunday Silence an ideal type for the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.

Imagine his disappointment when he discovered he had been replaced by Yutaka Take in the Juddmonte. "Of course, I would love to ride him, but it is 'Team Japan' when they come to Europe. Zenno Rob Roy is a very good horse, and if he is in good form, he will be very hard to beat," Peslier explained.

Take, who adopts movie star status in his native Japan, is not so popular in these parts, but he can hold his own when riding at the highest level. Incredibly for a horse, who has had 16 starts in Japan, Zenno Roy Roy has never been partnered by Take in a race.

As far as Peslier is concerned, the horse will have no problem with the distance - a mile and a quarter - despite many of his best performances being over longer trips. "He loves getting back in the field, and then passing horses," Peslier pointed out. "But he has the speed to run well at a distance such as this," he added.

From personal observation, I believe Zenno Rob Roy has the class to win today's Juddmonte International. He is a high-class racehorse, who has a golden opportunity to make his mark in Europe at the first time of asking.

The Sir Michael Stoute-trained Maraahel is the obvious home-trained danger. Very much an improver, and well-regarded by his trainer, the colt finished an honourable second to Bandari in the Hardwicke Stakes at York's Royal Ascot meeting and he should be suited by the conditions of this race.

Doyen has been struggling to find form since his purple patch last year, while New Morning, the winner of the Brigadier Gerard Stakes, was disappointing in Ireland last time. Norse Dancer remains an equine enigma, while the Ballydoyle representative Ace is still an under-achiever for one, who has earned placings in decent races.

This leaves the Italian-trained Electrocutionist, winner of five of his six starts and the mount of Mick Kinane, who won this race aboard Giant's Causeway in 2000. There is no doubt that this colt is one of the untapped talents in Europe. Three of his victories have been achieved by a margin of six lengths. He is the biggest danger to Zenno Rob Roy.

Stoute has Distinction, his Melbourne Cup hope, ready to saddle up again, this time in the Lonsdale Cup. Obviously, connections are not concerned about the release of weights for Australia's big race on Sept 1. His win in the Goodwood Cup was very determined, and he will be hard to beat again.

The Geezer looks likely to start favourite for the Daily Telegraph Great Voltigeur Stakes but I prefer Melrose Avenue.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/main.jhtml?xml=/sport/2005/08/16/shhots16.xml

[Nicolas]

Electrocutionist got the win ans is maybe the next Ribot for Italy......

One of the best race of the year in Europe with 4 horses on the same line near the post.... Mick Kinane is definitively riding at his best despite his age (but we know that's not a factor in this sport) and Zenno Rob Roy make some ground to take second . Fantastic finish !! I was just a little sad that Olivier Peslier didn't get the ride after three great victories with the horse. Not fair from the owner.... :cool:

[imaufo]

Electrocutionist zaps Zenno Rob Roy in Juddmonte International thriller

http://www.thoroughbredtimes.com/todaysnews/photos/Electrocutionist.RP.jpg


ELECTROCUTIONIST

Racing Post photo

Italian-based Electrocutionist collared reigning Japanese Horse of the Year Zenno Rob Roy in the final strides to score a neck win in the $833,428 Juddmonte International Stakes (Eng-G1), the highlight of three group events at York on Tuesday, opening day of the three-day Ebor meeting.

A Kentucky-bred Red Ransom colt owned by New York real estate developer and United States Ambassador to Finland Earle Mack, Electrocutionist rallied from last in the seven-horse field to complete the about 1¼ miles in 2:07.47 over a good course.

"I probably gave him a shade too much to do; he was just struggling to pick up on the ground," jockey Mick Kinane told England’s Channel 4. "I always thought I was going to get to them, but just at the two pole I hit a bit of a flat spot. Once I got to the Japanese horse's quarters I always knew I'd get there. I loved this horse when I rode him last week and I was very pleasantly surprised with the feel he gave me."

Zenno Rob Roy hung on for second, with Maraahel a head back in third. Ace, the 9-to-4 favorite, finished fourth, followed by Norse Dancer, Doyen, and New Morning.

Electrocutionist, who was bred by Compagnia Generale and is out of the Arazi mare Elbaaha (GB), had never previously raced outside Italy. He won the Premio Carlo d’Alessio (Ity-G2) and Gran Premio di Milano (Ity-G1) in starts this year for trainer Valfredo Valiani.

Also on the card, 2000 St. Leger (Eng-G1) victor Millenary charged from last to first to capture the $226,475 Lonsdale Cup (Eng-G2) by 2½ lengths over Distinction.

The eight-year-old son of Rainbow Quest out of the Dancing Brave mare Ballerina (Ire), finished the two-mile test in 3:22.71. Distinction, who was exiting a win in the Goodwood Cup (Eng-G2) on July 28 and was sent off as the 8-to-11 favorite in the eight-horse field, finished 1½ lengths in front of third-place finisher Songlark.

With the victory, achieved under Richard Quinn, Millenary improved his record to 11 wins in 33 career starts for owner Neil Jones. Trainer Sir Michael Stoute said that he would start next in the 2¼-mile Doncaster Cup (Eng-G2) on September 8 and the two-mile Jockey Club Cup (Eng-G3) at Newmarket on October 15 before being retired to stand at stud next year.

Kinane also scored with Hard Top in the other group race on the card, the $244,593 Great Voltigeur Stakes (Eng-G2) for three-year-olds.

The Ballymacoll Stud homebred by Darshaan annexed the first stakes win of his career as he defeated Group 3 winner and favorite The Geezer, unplaced in the Epsom Derby (Eng-G1) in June, by a half-length in 2:32.04 for the 1 1/2-mile event.

Hard Top, who has won two of three lifetime starts, is out of the Sadler’s Wells mare Well Head.

http://www.thoroughbredtimes.com/todaysnews/newsview.asp?recno=56765&subsec=3

[imaufo]

KIWI SPOT: The 2004 Japanese horse of the year Zenno Rob Roy will stand this season in New Zealand, becoming the first group 1 winner by the champion stallion Sunday Silence to stand there.

Java Thoroughbreds arranged for Zenno Rob Roy to stand at the Matamata property owned by Ross and Jo Mackie which formerly traded as Millfield Stud.

Produced from the Mining mare Roamin Rachel, Zenno Rob Roy scored his big win in the 2004 Japan Cup (Jpn-I) the year he was Horse of the Year and champion older male. In his sole start overseas, he ran second in the 2005 Juddmonte International Stakes (Eng-I). He retired with earnings of $10 million.

The unraced Sippin' Bourbon, a half-brother to US superhorse Smarty Jones, will stand at Ilala Stud in the Hunter Valley for $5500.

johnhollysenior@yahoo.com.au