JRA Best Bets - Sunday, 29th January 2023

JRA racing across three cards on Sunday with two Grade 3 events the highlights. At Chukyo the feature is on turf over 1200m with the running of the Silk Road Stakes where the promising Mad Cool steps up to stakes class for the first time. Meanwhile Tokyo will host the Negishi Stakes over 1400m on dirt where the equally promising Lemon Pop, who just loves the Tokyo dirt circuit, returns from a break.

Mad Cool.
Mad Cool. Picture: Japan Bloodhorse Breeders' Association

Here are the best for the day.

Tokyo Race 9 - #3 Fate 

Talented colt well back in grade. Made debut three back with an effortless maiden win, scoring by five lengths, but in the two subsequent runs has been thrown into far stiffer grade. Two back was a solid fifth in the Grade 2 Nisai Stakes at Tokyo then tackled the Grade 1 Hopeful Stakes last two. There was settled just off the speed but was outclassed, finishing 15thbehind Dura Erede.

The three-year-old is coming right back in class today and is very well placed on his debut win over the same journey. He has drawn ideally today and can return to winning form back against easier opposition.

Chandeleur has also been lining up in tougher and looks the main danger. Two starts back he was runner-up at Listed level before a close-up fourth in this grade latest. He'll be on speed from the low draw and expected to feature.

Kokura Race 11 - #12 Dogma 

Honest four-year-old who looks hard to hold out again. Was a close-up fifth behind the talented Mad Cool two back, the resumed with a fast finishing win this journey last time. Settled midfield from the wide draw and gave a start in the straight but wound up powerfully to score in a good form race.

Today he takes on a tougher assignment but the track and trip suits and he can only be fitter for the run. Should be winding up strongly in the run home again.

Seungli is long overdue for a win and appeals as the main threat. The mare doesn't win out of turn and has drawn a wide gate but the last run was strong, finishing third in a hot form race behind Mad Cool. She should be finding the line strongly again here.

Chukyo Race 11 - #8 Mad Cool 

Promising galloper who has won his last four runs. The four-year-old placed at his first two starts then has hit top gear, not only winning four straight but improving his rating at each run. He resumed this time in with a fast finishing win over the same journey, digging deep to score with authority.

That has since turned out a hot form race and he looks capable of taking another step up again today.

Namura Clair is already proven at stakes level and looks the biggest danger fresh. He is coming off a close-up fifth in the Grade 1 Sprinters Stakes before a break and does go very well fresh. He is nicely placed in this class and should feature if anywhere near his top.

Tokyo Dirt Race 11 - #13 Lemon Pop 

Smart galloper resuming. Was a fresh-up winner when last resuming then raced in this grade last time out and just missed, finishing a nose behind Gilden Mirror. Overall he has raced nine times for six wins and three minors, and boasts three wins from four tries fresh. At the course he has won six of seven and has also recorded four from six at the trip.

The entire has continuously improved his rating, the latest a strong figure capable of measuring up to this level. With any luck from the wide gate he looks hard to beat again today fresh.

Battle Cry has been in sparkling form and looks the main danger. He has won three of four this campaign, the latest scoring at Listed level. He is Grade 3 placed and expected to feature again this time.

 


 
Racing and Sports



Chukyo

Sunday, 29th January 2023

11
15:35
(local)

THE SILK ROAD STAKES (G3)

Age: 4yo and up Type: OPEN
JPY ¥78,090,000
1200m TURF GOOD
11
15:35
(local)
JPY ¥78,090,000
1200m GOOD

THE SILK ROAD STAKES (G3)

Age: 4yo and up Type: OPEN
FP Silk Horse, Age & Sex
Sire & Dam
Jockey
Trainer
SP
WT
1st 2. NAMURA CLAIR (JPN) 4yo F
MIKKI ISLE (JPN) - SUN QUEEN (USA)
S HAMANAKA
KODAI HASEGAWA
$4.8
56.5kg
Mutsuhiro Namura
2nd 9. FIRST FORCE (JPN) 7yo H
LORD KANALOA (JPN) - RUSH LIFE (JPN)
TAISEI DANNO
MASAYUKI NISHIMURA
$35.7
57.5kg
Koji Yasuhara
3rd 8. MAD COOL (IRE) 4yo H
DARK ANGEL (IRE) - MAD ABOUT YOU (IRE)
KOUTA FUJIOKA
Manabu Ikezoe
$2.5
56kg
Sunday Racing Co. Ltd.

Sales Information

4th 15. TOSHIN MACAU (JPN) 4yo H
BIG ARTHUR (JPN) - YUKINO MERMAID (JPN)
KATSUMA SAMESHIMA
MIZUKI TAKAYANAGI
$5.8
58.5kg
5th 7. MARIA'S HEART (USA) 7yo M
SHANGHAI BOBBY (USA) - MARIA'S DANCE (USA)
HAYATO YOSHIDA
K TAKE
$49.7
55.5kg

Sales Information

6th 1. SHINE GARNET (JPN) 6yo M
ORFEVRE (JPN) - VELVET ROBE (USA)
MIRAI IWATA
TORU KURITA
$17.2
55kg
7th 14. WIN MARVEL (JPN) 4yo H
I'LL HAVE ANOTHER (USA) - COSMO MARVELOUS (JPN)
KOHEI MATSUYAMA
MASASHI FUKAYAMA
$8.2
59kg
8th 10. SHONAN VANILLA (JPN) 7yo M
ORFEVRE (JPN) - SHONAN SALIRE (JPN)
TAIGA TSUNODA
YASUO TAKEICHI
$93.4
53kg
9th 4. EIGHTEEN GIRL (JPN) 7yo M
JOHANNESBURG (USA) - CENTER GRAN TASSE (JPN)
N YOKOYAMA
YUZO IIDA
$69.1
56kg
10th 5. SHIGERU PINK RUBY (JPN) 5yo M
MAURICE (JPN) - MOONLIGHT BAY (JPN)
R WADA
KUNIHIKO WATANABE
$17.2
55kg
11th 12. KAISER MELANGE (JPN) 8yo H
SAKURA ORION (JPN) - SAKURA JULEP (JPN)
KIWAMU OGINO
E NAKANO
$432
55kg
12th 13. KIR LORD (JPN) 8yo G
LORD KANALOA (JPN) - KIRSCHWASSER (JPN)
Y FUKUNAGA
Y TAMURA
$9.9
58kg
13th 6. LEI HALIA (JPN) 5yo M
LORD KANALOA (JPN) - LIGHTLY TUNE (JPN)
YOSHIHIRO FURUKAWA
TOSHIAKI TAJIMA
$144.9
55kg
14th 11. T M SPADA (JPN) 4yo F
RED SPADA (JPN) - TOSHI THE COZZENE (JPN)
SEINA IMAMURA
T IGARASHI
$32.6
55kg
15th 3. GROOVE IT (JPN) 7yo H
LORD KANALOA (JPN) - SPECIAL GROOVE (JPN)
Y IWATA
MIKIO MATSUNAGA
$29.8
58.5kg