Yasuda Kinen - 6 June, 2004 - Form comments

3 June 2004

Yasuda Kinen - 6 June, 2004

Form comments

Island Fashion United States representative from M. Polanco's stable, Island Fashion is aiming at her first 1600m Gr.1 victory.  The four-year-old filly by Petionville took two Gr.1 victories at three, winning the 2000m Gr.1 Alabama Stakes and 1400m Gr.1 La Brea Stakes.  She then went on to win the 1400m Gr.1 Santa Monica Handicap on January 25 in her seasonal debut, and finished runner-up to Southern Image in the Gr.1 Santa Anita Handicap on March 6 prior to finishing 4th to Azeri in the Gr.1 Apple Blossom Handicap on April 3 last time out.
Self Flit Very useful performer. Won the Hong Kong Classic Mile in February 2003 and a month later made a bold bid in the Hong Kong Derby where he made the running before Elegant Fashion proved too strong close home. Successful in the Sha Tin Trophy last October having had the run of the race and ran up to expectations when over 7Ls behind in 5th to Falbrav in the International Gr.1 Hong Kong Cup in December (4Ls behind 3rd placed Elegant Fashion and 3.5Ls off Bright Sky in 4th). Made the running but finished 1L 3rd to Elegant Fashion in the Chairman's Trophy on penultimate run and was 6th last time out in the Gr.1 Champions Mile. Races prominently and best over a mile, acts on any going.
Balance of Game Balance of Game snatched four graded stakes victories in his four career seasons, including last year's Gr.2 Mainichi Okan, a prep race for the Gr.1 Tenno Sho, in track-record time. The five-year-old horse by Fusaichi Concorde then skipped the Tenno Sho and ran in the Gr.1 Mile Championship in November when he finished a creditable 4th. After a four-month spell, he came back on turf in the Gr.2 Osaka Hai to finish 4th last time out on April 4.
Dantsu Judge Dantsu Judge acted well from 1200m to 2200m. The five-year-old horse by Warning landed the Gr.3 Lord Derby Challenge Trophy in his first graded success last April, but had since been winless until taking the December Stakes.  The brown horse finished third in the Gr.3 Nakayama Kim Pai in his seasonal debut on January 5 before taking the Gr.2 America Jockey Club Cup three weeks later.  Finished 7th in the Gr.2 Kyoto Kinen on February 21 carrying 128 lb. The horse came back to trainer Yamauchi's barn on April 30 after a freshening vacation.
Eagle Cafe Winner of the 2000 NHK Mile Cup (Gr.1), Eagle Cafe also took the 2002 Japan Cup Dirt (Gr.1) under Frankie Dettori. Purchased at the 1997 Barretts March Sale for US$375,000, the seven-year-old veteran by Gulch captured two Gr.1 races on both turf and dirt.  The bay horse has been winless since the Japan Cup Dirt, and finished a disappointing 12th in the Gr.3 Kyoto Kim Pai in his seasonal debut in January.  He finished 7th in the Gr.1 February Stakes one month later.  Finished further back in 8th in the Gr.3 Antares Stakes last time out.
Fine Motion Unbeaten in her first six starts, including the Gr.1 Shuka Sho and Gr.1 Queen Elizabeth II Commemorative Cup. The champion 3yo filly of 2002 finished 5th in the Arima Kinen two years ago before kicking off as runner-up in the Gr.3 Queen Stakes in August last year after an eight-month spell.  Despite coming 7th in the Gr.2 Mainichi Okan in October, she improved a lot to obtain an excellent second in the Gr.1 Mile Championship before landing the Gr.2 Hanshin Himba Stakes in December last time out.
Joten Brave Landed four graded stakes during his six years' career including the 2001 Gr.2 Milers Cup in record time, but has been winless since the 2002 Gr.3 Epsom Cup.  The seven-year-old by Dancing Brave had a 16-month spell following the Epsom Cup, before making his reappearance in the Gr.3 Fuji Stakes last October when he finished back in 16th.  Earlier this season, the bay horse did not show any impressive performances, finishing 11th in the Gr.3 Kyoto Kim Pai in his seasonal debut, 14th in the Gr.3 Tokyo Shimbun Hai on February 1, and 7th in the Gr.2 Nakayama Kinen. However he improved a lot to finish 4th in the Gr.3 Lord Derby Challenge Trophy in April, and 5th in the Gr.2 Keio Hai Spring Cup on May 16.
Lohengrin The five-year-old son of Singspiel came third in the 2002 Gr.1 Takarazuka Kinen before snatching two graded stakes victories in a row in the Gr.2 Nakayama Kinen and Gr.2 Milers Cup last year. He then went on to gain a creditable third to Agnes Digital in this race last June before traveling to race in France in August, when he finished 10th in the Gr.1 Prix du Jacques le Marois. On his next outing there, Lohengrin improved a lot to finish second to Nebraska Tornado in the Gr.1 Prix du Moulin de Longchamp a month later.  He made his reappearance on Japanese turf in the Gr.1 Tenno Sho (Autumn) but was beaten in 13th.  The Masanori Ito trainee traveled overseas again last December, when he was 1 1/4 L third to Lucky Owners in the Hong Kong Mile. Failed to defend his title in the Gr.2 Nakayama Kinen in February, finishing third after completing the early five furlongs in 57.6 seconds. In his most recent start, he came second to My Sole Sound in the Gr.2 Milers Cup on April 17.
Meiner Morgen Winless since the Port Island Stakes last October until most recently, Meiner Morgen kicked off the 2004 season in the New Year Stakes finishing runner-up. The four-year-old son of Mt. Livermore was then beaten into 13th in the Gr.3 Tokyo Shimbun Hai, and failed to recover in Kochi Stakes in March when he finished 16th.  However, he seemed to act best landing his first graded stakes in the Gr.3 Lord Derby Challenge Trophy in April last time out.
Meisho Bowler After unbeaten in four starts at two, Meisho Bowler was placed second in the Gr.1 Asahi Hai Futurity Stakes in December.  The three-year-old colt by Taiki Shuttle then sidelined for three months before running second in the 2000m Gr.2 Yayoi Sho in March, and was well-beaten in third behind Daiwa Major in the Gr.1 Satsuki Sho (Japanese 2000 Guineas) a month later.  In his most recent start in the Gr.1 NHK Mile Cup he was driven well to obtain a third place.
Mejiro Meyer A five-year-old son of world-class sprinter Sakura Bakushin-Oh, Mejiro Meyer captured his first graded stakes victory in the Gr.3 Kisaragi Sho in 2002.  The chestnut horse usually settles close to the pace and acts well consistently this season.  Finished a disappointing 16th in the Shinshun Stakes in his 2004 seasonal debut, but improved a lot to come third in Iwashimizu Stakes two weeks later. Finished second in the Ikaruga Stakes in February and runner-up again in the Mukogawa Stakes in March.  He then took his 4th win in the 1600m Dotombori Stakes in early April before prevailing in the 1800m Australia Trophy on April 24.
Mideon Bit Taking his first graded stakes triumph in the Gr.3 Tanabata Sho last July, the seven-year-old was affected by the lack of pace and beaten into 13th when contesting the Gr.3 Niigata Kinen a month later.  Made his reappearance in the Gr.2 Keio Hai Spring Cup after an eight-month spell, but could not unleash his acceleration in the stretch to finish 18th last time out on May 16.  Has been targeted for this race.
My Sole Sound Winner of the 2002 Chunichi Shimbun Hai (Gr.3) and 2003 Kyoto Kinen (Gr.2), My Sole Sound snatched victory in the 1600m Gr.3 Kyoto Kim Pai in his seasonal debut on January 5 before finishing 4th in the Gr.2 Nakayama Kinen over 1800 metres a month later.  In his most recent start, the five-year-old horse by Tamamo Cross came back to the winner's circle in the Gr.2 Milers Cup in April.  A mile should suit him.
Ogon Sunday After winning the upper-class stakes Ireland Trophy last October, Ogon Sunday finished runner-up in the Oro Cup a month later prior to coming 11th in the Gr.2 Hanshin Himba Stakes in December.  She made her reappearance in the Gr.2 Keio Hai in her seasonal debut finishing 6th to Win Radius in May last time out.  The five-year-old mare by Marvelous Sunday has impressive late speed and the long stretch at Tokyo should suit her.
Telegnosis Successful in the Gr.1 NHK Mile Cup in May 2002, but was then winless for a year until recovering gamely to claim the Gr.2 Keio Hai Spring Cup last season carrying 130 lb.  The Tony Bin five-year-old horse was sent to race in France in the Gr.1 Prix du Jacques le Marois last August, when he finished third to Six Perfections. A month later, he came 13th in the Gr.1 Prix du Moulin de Longchamp.  He then finished 14th on his reappearance on Japanese track in the Gr.1 Mile Championship in November, before traveling to Hong Kong for the Mile in December, when he came 7th behind Lucky Owners.  Attracted much attention when he narrowly failed to defend his title in the Keio Hai Spring Cup, finishing runner-up to Win Radius on May 16 last time out.
Tsurumaru Boy Tsurumaru Boy always shows an impressive turn of foot in the closing stages especially on good to firm ground. The six-year-old horse by Dance In The Dark captured his second graded win in the 2002 Gr.2 Kinko Sho but has been winless since.  Last season, he was runner-up in the Gr.1 Takarazuka Kinen in June before taking a four-month vacation.  He made his reappearance in the Gr.1 Tenno Sho (Autumn) to finish second to Symboli Kris S. However, he showed nothing in the Japan Cup on very soft going finishing back in 15th.  The bay horse rounded off the season with a 4th in the Arima Kinen.  He came back to Ritto Training Center on February 26 after a refreshing vacation and finished 6th on his reappearance in the Gr.2 Osaka Hai last time out.
Utopia Acted impressively on dirt to win the NAR Gr.1 Zennihon Nisai Yushun in 2002, as well as the Gr.3 Unicorn Stakes and NAR Gr.1 Derby Grand Prix last year. Utopia shows good efforts up to 2000 meters on turf as well.  The four-year-old colt by Forty Niner finished third to My Sole Sound in the Gr.3 Kyoto Kimpai in January before managing only 8th in the Gr.1 February Stakes.  Affected by the weight he carried, the chestnut colt could run only 7th in the Gr.3 Lord Derby Challenge Trophy on April 4 last time out.
Win Radius Winning the Clover Sho on his second start in track-record time in 2000, the brown six-year-old by Sunday Silence took his first graded stakes success in the Gr.3 Tokyo Shimbun Hai in February this year.  In the Gr.3 Lord Derby Challenge Trophy in April, the Kazuo Fujisawa trainee finished a creditable third after holding off a spirited challenge from defending champion Telegnosis, and he notched his second graded stakes victory in the Gr.2 Keio Hai Spring Cup on May 16 last time out.