imaufo
08-11-2002, 23:05
1st November 2002
JRA Handicapper's View
Japanese- trained horses aimed at the Japan Cup 2002
We would like to introduce the Japanese horses that are going to participate in coming Japan Cup 2002. The Tenno Sho -Autumn (JPN G1, 2000m, Nakayama Racecourse) was held on October the 27th. This was the last race of a series of races leading to the Japan Cup. All possible contenders are now undergoing the final training and tuning up for the Japan Cup on November the 24th.
The Horse of the Year in 2001, our ace Jungle Pocket (4-y-o, c, by Tony Bin out of Dance Charmer by Nureyev) had been thought of highly with two victories in the Japanese Derby in the spring and the Japan Cup 2001 in the autumn. He was rated at 123 at the end of last year. This year, Jungle Pocket ran twice: Hanshin Daishoten (JPN G2, 3000m, Hanshin Racecourse) and the Tenno Sho -Spring (JPN G1, 3200m, Kyoto Racecourse). He finished second in both races, but had to abandon the Takarazuka Kinen (G1, 2200m, Hanshin Racecourse) and the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes in the U.K., because of leg problems. He recuperated on a farm in Hokkaido for the summer, returning to Ritto Training Center on September the 27th. He has re-gained his old form, and handles his work well. Dare to say that his weak point is that he hasn't won a race on a clockwise course since his 2-y-o summer. We will watch him closely to see how he handles Nakayama Racecourse. His rating this year is 117 as of the Tenno sho -Spring.
Tenno Sho -Autumn of this year was an exciting race with some standout runners.
The winner was Symbori Kris S (3-y-o, c, by Kris S out of Tee Kay by Gold Meridian), the only 3-y-o starter. His Trainer Kazuo Fujisawa has been the leading for seven consecutive years. Last year Symbori Kris S made an impact debut, and this year, he ran second in the Japanese Derby. He won strongly in his first race after a summer lay off. The race was the trial for the JPN St Leger. Although, he didn't run in the JPN St Leger, but instead, took on the 4-y-o & up's in the autumn Tenno Sho. His rating for this year is 119 after the Tenno Sho -Autumn.
Narita Top Road (6-y-o, h, by Soccer Boy out of Floral Magic by Affirmed) was the victor of JPN St Leger in 1999, and he has been at the top level since then. During this his 6-y-o season, he has three victories in G2 races, a third place in the Tenno Sho -Spring, and he came from behind in the home stretch to finish second in the Tenno Sho -Autumn. The rating of this horse is 117 after that. He will be suited for the distance of Japan Cup than that of the Tenno Sho -Autumn.
Sunrise Pegasus (4-y-o, c, by Sunday Silence out of Higashi Brian by Brian's Time) was the third in the Tenno Sho -Autumn and is rated at 116. He has a reputation as a good finisher with a late kick for the distances of 2000 to 2200m. Air Shakur (5-y-o, h, by Sunday Silence out of I Dream a Dream by Well Decorated) placed fourth and is rated at 114. He hadn't been in a race for 4 months, so we expect him to run better than this time at the Japan Cup. The favorite of the Tenno Sho -Autumn was T.M. Ocean (4-y-o, f, by Dancing Brave out of River Girl by Rivlia) and was regarded as our best 4-y-o filly; however; she finished a disappointing 13th. We feel that she wasn't in her best of that race. Her highest rating is 110 after her victory in the Sapporo Kinen (JPN G2).
Out of other races, we have the winner of the Mainichi Okan (trial for the Tenno Sho -Autumn). Magnaten (6-y-o, g, by Danzig and Magic Night by Le Nain Jaune) won, making the going and showing outstanding speed. He might have to overcome the distance of the Japan Cup because his longest runs have been around 1600m. His rating is 113.
The winner of the JPN 2000 Guineas of this year No Reason (3-y-o, c, by Brian's Time out of Ambrosine by Mr. Prospector), is one of the more outstanding runners and is equal to Symbori Kris S. Bad luck has plagued him; he suffered a bone fracture during the Japanese Derby and his jockey fell coming out of the starting gate during the JPN St Leger this autumn. We expect him to be in top form for the Japan Cup. His rating is 115 after his victory in the JPN 2000 Guineas.
Invited Horses as of November 1
(Japan Cup)
Horse Name Age Country Owner Trainer
Sarafan 5g USA Gary Tanaka N. Drysdale
Storming Home 4c GB Maktoum al Maktoum B. W. Hills
Ange Gabriel 4c France Mme Henri Devin E. Libaud
Bright Sky 3f France Ecurie Wildenstein E. Lellouche
Falbrav 4c Italy Scuderia Rencati SRL L. d'Auria
New Golan 4c GB Exors of the late Lord Weinstock Sir M. Stoute
New Paolini 4c Germany Frau Carde Ostermann Richter A. Wohler
(Japan Cup Dirt)
Horse Name Age Country Owner Trainer
Abreeze 7g USA Alvin Haynes, Letty McLaughlin
Neal McLaughlin K. McLaughlin
Gateman 5g GB Kennet Valley Thoroughbreds M. Johnston
New Reba's Gold 5h USA Creston Farms D. Hendricks
New Pappus 5g Germany Stall Mauritus M. Hofer
New Red Sun 6h Hong Kong Choi Chee Ming A.S.Cruz
From JRA.
JRA Handicapper's View
Japanese- trained horses aimed at the Japan Cup 2002
We would like to introduce the Japanese horses that are going to participate in coming Japan Cup 2002. The Tenno Sho -Autumn (JPN G1, 2000m, Nakayama Racecourse) was held on October the 27th. This was the last race of a series of races leading to the Japan Cup. All possible contenders are now undergoing the final training and tuning up for the Japan Cup on November the 24th.
The Horse of the Year in 2001, our ace Jungle Pocket (4-y-o, c, by Tony Bin out of Dance Charmer by Nureyev) had been thought of highly with two victories in the Japanese Derby in the spring and the Japan Cup 2001 in the autumn. He was rated at 123 at the end of last year. This year, Jungle Pocket ran twice: Hanshin Daishoten (JPN G2, 3000m, Hanshin Racecourse) and the Tenno Sho -Spring (JPN G1, 3200m, Kyoto Racecourse). He finished second in both races, but had to abandon the Takarazuka Kinen (G1, 2200m, Hanshin Racecourse) and the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes in the U.K., because of leg problems. He recuperated on a farm in Hokkaido for the summer, returning to Ritto Training Center on September the 27th. He has re-gained his old form, and handles his work well. Dare to say that his weak point is that he hasn't won a race on a clockwise course since his 2-y-o summer. We will watch him closely to see how he handles Nakayama Racecourse. His rating this year is 117 as of the Tenno sho -Spring.
Tenno Sho -Autumn of this year was an exciting race with some standout runners.
The winner was Symbori Kris S (3-y-o, c, by Kris S out of Tee Kay by Gold Meridian), the only 3-y-o starter. His Trainer Kazuo Fujisawa has been the leading for seven consecutive years. Last year Symbori Kris S made an impact debut, and this year, he ran second in the Japanese Derby. He won strongly in his first race after a summer lay off. The race was the trial for the JPN St Leger. Although, he didn't run in the JPN St Leger, but instead, took on the 4-y-o & up's in the autumn Tenno Sho. His rating for this year is 119 after the Tenno Sho -Autumn.
Narita Top Road (6-y-o, h, by Soccer Boy out of Floral Magic by Affirmed) was the victor of JPN St Leger in 1999, and he has been at the top level since then. During this his 6-y-o season, he has three victories in G2 races, a third place in the Tenno Sho -Spring, and he came from behind in the home stretch to finish second in the Tenno Sho -Autumn. The rating of this horse is 117 after that. He will be suited for the distance of Japan Cup than that of the Tenno Sho -Autumn.
Sunrise Pegasus (4-y-o, c, by Sunday Silence out of Higashi Brian by Brian's Time) was the third in the Tenno Sho -Autumn and is rated at 116. He has a reputation as a good finisher with a late kick for the distances of 2000 to 2200m. Air Shakur (5-y-o, h, by Sunday Silence out of I Dream a Dream by Well Decorated) placed fourth and is rated at 114. He hadn't been in a race for 4 months, so we expect him to run better than this time at the Japan Cup. The favorite of the Tenno Sho -Autumn was T.M. Ocean (4-y-o, f, by Dancing Brave out of River Girl by Rivlia) and was regarded as our best 4-y-o filly; however; she finished a disappointing 13th. We feel that she wasn't in her best of that race. Her highest rating is 110 after her victory in the Sapporo Kinen (JPN G2).
Out of other races, we have the winner of the Mainichi Okan (trial for the Tenno Sho -Autumn). Magnaten (6-y-o, g, by Danzig and Magic Night by Le Nain Jaune) won, making the going and showing outstanding speed. He might have to overcome the distance of the Japan Cup because his longest runs have been around 1600m. His rating is 113.
The winner of the JPN 2000 Guineas of this year No Reason (3-y-o, c, by Brian's Time out of Ambrosine by Mr. Prospector), is one of the more outstanding runners and is equal to Symbori Kris S. Bad luck has plagued him; he suffered a bone fracture during the Japanese Derby and his jockey fell coming out of the starting gate during the JPN St Leger this autumn. We expect him to be in top form for the Japan Cup. His rating is 115 after his victory in the JPN 2000 Guineas.
Invited Horses as of November 1
(Japan Cup)
Horse Name Age Country Owner Trainer
Sarafan 5g USA Gary Tanaka N. Drysdale
Storming Home 4c GB Maktoum al Maktoum B. W. Hills
Ange Gabriel 4c France Mme Henri Devin E. Libaud
Bright Sky 3f France Ecurie Wildenstein E. Lellouche
Falbrav 4c Italy Scuderia Rencati SRL L. d'Auria
New Golan 4c GB Exors of the late Lord Weinstock Sir M. Stoute
New Paolini 4c Germany Frau Carde Ostermann Richter A. Wohler
(Japan Cup Dirt)
Horse Name Age Country Owner Trainer
Abreeze 7g USA Alvin Haynes, Letty McLaughlin
Neal McLaughlin K. McLaughlin
Gateman 5g GB Kennet Valley Thoroughbreds M. Johnston
New Reba's Gold 5h USA Creston Farms D. Hendricks
New Pappus 5g Germany Stall Mauritus M. Hofer
New Red Sun 6h Hong Kong Choi Chee Ming A.S.Cruz
From JRA.