Panthalassa (JPN, H6, by Lord Kanaloa) dominated from wire to wire in the Saudi Cup (G1, dirt, 1,800m) in February for his second G1 title, which followed a victory in the Dubai Turf (G1, 1,800m) last year. But the son of Lord Kanaloa was not at his best in the Dubai World Cup (G1, dirt, 2,000m) in March, disappointing to tenth. He was given a lengthy rest before his intended trip overseas for the Sussex Stakes (G1, 1,600m) on August 2. In early June, however, he was diagnosed with desmitis of the right foreleg, requiring at least three months to recover and thereby ruling out a trip to the U.K. He is reported to have made progress since then and is preparing to make his comeback sometime during the fall. Panthalassa's stablemate Bathrat Leon (JPN, H5, by Kizuna), winner of the 1351 Turf Sprint (G3, 1,351m) in February and fourth last year in the Sussex Stakes in Britain, is slated to return from a summer break this fall with a race in Japan, cancelling a plan to return to the Sussex Stakes.
The Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (G1, 2,400m) on October 1, which last year had seven Japanese runners nominated and four in the final lineup, this year has just three nominees: Saliera, Through Seven Seas and Dura Erede.
Saliera (JPN, F4, by Deep Impact) is the half-sister to 2019 Asahi Hai Futurity Stakes winner Salios. After winning her two-year-old debut at Tokyo Racecourse over 1,800m in November 2021, she sustained a splint in her left foreleg and was sidelined for sixth months, but then she scored her second victory in an allowance (1 Win Class, Tokyo, 2,000m). The Deep Impact filly secured her berth in the G1 Shuka Sho, the final leg of the fillies' Triple Crown, with a runner-up effort in the Rose Stakes (G2, 2,000m) in September, but unfortunately had to withdraw due to weight-loss concerns associated with transportation. After a victory in her four-year-old debut in the Shirafuji Stakes (Listed, 2,000m) in January this year, most recently she finished third in her first test at 2,500 meters, the Meguro Kinen (G2, 2,500m) on May 28, where she broke from an outside draw and closed in strongly to trail the winner by a head and 3/4 length. She is expected to pass up France and instead start in the Niigata Kinen (G3, 2,000m) on September 3.
Through Seven Seas (JPN, M5) is a daughter of Dream Journey, a multiple G1 winner and full brother to Orfevre, two-time runner-up in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe. She broke her maiden in her two-year-old debut and scored another win in the second start of her three-year-old campaign. After she finished ninth in her G1 debut, the Yushun Himba (Japanese Oaks, G1, 2,400m), she turned in a runner-up effort in the Shion Stakes (G3, 2,000m), but then disappointed to 11th in her fall G1 challenge, the Shuka Sho (G1, 2,000m). Although winless in three starts during her four-year-old campaign, the late developer landed her third career win this past January with an impressive late kick in the Hatsufuji Stakes (3 Wins Class, 2,000m). In March, she validated the win with her first grade-race victory in the Nakayama Himba Stakes (G3, 1,800m), demonstrating a good turn of speed to win by a comfortable margin. In her latest start, facing a mixed field of G1 winners in the Takarazuka Kinen (G1, 2,200m) on June 25, she encountered traffic after tracking eventual winner Equinox early on, but Through Seven Seas closed powerfully with the fastest finishing speed to for a neck second. Her connections are eager to run her in the Arc, which would require the five-year-old mare to leave Japan on September 15.
Dura Erede (JPN, C3, by Duramente) debuted in June last year and finished fifth and second in his first two career starts on turf, both at 1,800 meters, and then in August 2022 he broke his maiden in his third start, this time on dirt at 1,700 meters. Back on turf and coming off a fourth in the Tokyo Sports Hai Nisai Stakes (G2, 1,800m) in November, he was sent to post 14th favorite in the year-end Hopeful Stakes (G1, 2,000m) and turned in an upset victory, stalking the pacesetter in second before finally winning their duel by a nose. Opting to pass up the three-year-old Triple, the Satsuki Sho (Japanese 2000 Guineas, G1, 2,000m) in April, the Duramente colt flew to Dubai for the UAE Derby (G2, dirt, 1,900m), where he finished second. Despite plans to run in the Kentucky Derby, he had to return to Japan with a minor strain in his fetlock joint. In his comeback start, the Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby, G1, 2,400m) on May 28, Dura Erede stumbled out of the gate and unseated his rider, but he survived the incident without injury and was able to run in the Takarazuka Kinen, where he pressed the pacesetter in second and took a brief lead just before 200-meter pole but then failed to sustain his bid, finishing 10th.
Ushba Tesoro (JPN, H6, by Orfevre), who claimed the Dubai World Cup in March following a five-race winning streak in Japan, including the Tokyo Daishoten (G1, dirt, 2,000m) and the Kawasaki Kinen (dirt, 2,100m), became only the second Japanese Dubai World Cup winner since Victoire Pisa in 2011. Since returning to Japan, the son of Orfevre has been taking a long rest before heading back overseas. Having raced on turf 22 times through April last year, he was scheduled for the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe this coming fall, but due to his more recent successes on dirt, his connections have changed course and decided to send him to the United States for the Breeders' Cup Classic (G1, dirt, 2,000m) at Santa Anita Park on November 4. He will prep for his overseas challenge with the Nippon TV Hai (dirt, 1,800m) at NAR's Funabashi Racecourse on September 27.
Last year's Dubai Sheema Classic (G1, 2,410m) winner Shahryar (JPN, H5, by Deep Impact) will fly to the United States for the Breeders' Cup Turf (G1, 2,400m). The 2021 Tokyo Yushun champion, who was given a rest after failing to defend his 2022 Dubai Sheema Classic title with a fifth-place finish this past March, will make his comeback in the Sapporo Kinen (G2, 2,000m) on August 20 before departing for the United States.
Last year's Yasuda Kinen (G1, 1,600m) victor Songline (JPN, M5, by Kizuna) had to cancel her intended start in the Breeders' Cup Mile last autumn due to an epiglottic inflammation. This year, although unable to defend her 1351 Turf Sprint title in February, finishing 10th, the Kizuna mare bounced back to claim her second G1 title in the Victoria Mile (1,600m) on May 14 and then she successfully defended her Yasuda Kinen title by a comfortable 1-1/4 lengths. Songline will make her fall debut in the Mainichi Okan (G2, 1,800m) on October 8 and then set out for the United States to run in the Breeders' Cup Mile (G1, 1,600m) on November 4.
Japan has succeeded in taking home two Breeders' Cup titles so far—the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf by Loves Only You and the Breeders' Cup Distaff by Marche Lorraine, both in 2021. Ushba Tesoro, Shahryar and Songline each will aim to become Japan's third Breeders' Cup winner. So far, however, only two of five Japan-trained starters in the Breeders' Cup Classic have finished as high as sixth place. Moreover, Trailblazer finished fourth as the only Japanese starter in the Turf in 2012 and Vin de Garde was 12th as the only Japanese entrant in the Mile in 2021.
Breakup (JPN, H6, by Novellist) is scheduled to fly to Australia for the Caulfield Cup (G1, 2,400m) on October 21 and the Melbourne Cup (G1, 3,200m) on November 7. The son of Novellist landed his first graded title late last year in the Copa Republica Argentina (G2, 2,500m) but then he finished 16th in the following Arima Kinen (G1, 2,500m). This year, he proved consistent over long distances in his first two starts, finishing third in the Hanshin Daishoten (G2, 3,000m) and fourth in the Tenno Sho (Spring) (G1, 3,200m). In his latest start, he stepped down in distance in the Takarazuka Kinen but disappointed to 12th.
Silver Sonic (JPN, H7, by Orfevre) will also be nominated to run in the Melbourne Cup as one of his options for the fall. The son of Orfevre registered back-to-back graded wins in the Stayers Stakes (G2, 3,600m) last December and the Red Sea Turf Handicap (G3, 3,200m) in February, and he was third in his latest start, the Tenno Sho (Spring).
2022 Horse of the Year Equinox (JPN, C4, by Kitasan Black) won this year's Dubai Sheema Classic, covering the 2,410-meter course in a track-record 2:25.65. It was his third G1 victory, including the Tenno Sho (Autumn) and the Arima Kinen last fall. The Kitasan Black colt became the highest ranked thoroughbred with a rating of 129 in the World's Best Racehorse Rankings issued by the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities. Equinox, who became the third Japanese thoroughbred to claim the top spot against the world's best, along with Just a Way in 2014 and A Shin Hikari in 2016, came back in the Takarazuka Kinen and claimed his fourth consecutive G1 victory with a stunning come-from-behind performance. His main target this coming fall is expected to be the Japan Cup (G1, 2,400m) on November 26.
Other spring G1 winners scheduled to return this summer or fall include:
• Lemon Pop (USA, H5, by Lemon Drop Kid), victor in the February Stakes (G1, dirt, 1,600m), who made his first overseas challenge in the Dubai Golden Shaheen (G1, dirt, 1,200m) but disappointed to 10th. The U.S.-bred chestnut will make his comeback start in the Mile Championship Nambu Hai (dirt, 1,600m) on October 9.
• First Force (JPN, H7, by Lord Kanaloa), who notched his first G1 title this year in the Takamatsunomiya Kinen (1,200m) before it was announced in June that he will retire from racing and stand as a stallion at Allow Stud.
• Jack d'Or (JPN, H5, by Maurice), winner of the Osaka Hai (G1, 2,000m) in April, finished fifth in his first mile start, the Yasuda Kinen in June. He will make his comeback start in the Sapporo Kinen then head towards his main target this fall, the Tenno Sho (Autumn).
• Liberty Island (JPN, F3, by Duramente) won the Oka Sho (Japanese 1000 Guineas, G1, 1,600m) in April and then claimed the second gem of the fillies' Triple Crown, the Yushun Himba, by an overwhelming six lengths. She will head directly to the Shuka Sho (G1, 2,000m) on October 15 in an effort to emulate past Triple Crown fillies such as Almond Eye and Daring Tact.
• Irogotoshi (JPN, H6, by Vincennes) captured his first graded victory in his fourth start over obstacles, this year's Nakayama Grand Jump (J-G1, 4,250m), becoming the first horse to do so in just four career starts. He appears primed to notch another victory in the season's other G1 steeple chase, the Nakayama Daishogai (J-G1, 4,100m) on December 23. In the meantime, he is expected to return from a break in the Kokura Summer Jump (J-G3, 3,390m) on August 26.
• Sol Oriens (JPN, C3, by Kitasan Black), this season's Satsuki Sho champion, was just a neck short of winning the second jewel of the Triple Crown, the Tokyo Yushun. Fans are still hoping the Kitasan Black colt can claim the last of the three-year-old titles in the Kikuka Sho (Japanese St. Leger, G1, 3,000m) on October 22 after his prep in the St. Lite Kinen (G2, 2,200m) on September 18.
• Justin Palace (JPN, C4, by Deep Impact), who claimed his third graded and first G1 title in the Tenno Sho (Spring), finished a respectable third from racing off the pace in 12th in the Takarazuka Kinen.
• Champagne Color (JPN, C3, by Duramente) registered an upset victory as the ninth pick in this year's NHK Mile Cup (G1, 1,600m). Thereafter he made his first challenge against older foes in the Yasuda Kinen and ran in sixth position before falling behind to finish 14th. The colt will make his fall debut in the Fuji Stakes (G2, 1,600m) on October 21 and then probably head to the Mile Championship (G1, 1,600m) on November 19.
• Tastiera (JPN, C3, by Satono Crown), after a runner-up effort behind Sol Oriens in the Satsuki Sho, turned the tables on the same rival to win by a neck in the Tokyo Yushun. The son of two-time G1 winner Satono Crown will aim for his second classic title in the Kikuka Sho.
Titleholder (JPN, H5, by Duramente), the Best Older Colt or Horse of 2022, attempted to defend his title in the Tenno Sho (Spring) but was pulled up before the final corner due to lameness in his right foreleg. Nothing abnormal was found after a thorough inspection but the son of Duramente has been given a break since. The five-year-old bay will commence his fall campaign with the All Comers (G2, 2,200m) on September 24, prior to the Japan Cup and then the Arima Kinen on December 24.
Last year's Tokyo Yushun winner Do Deuce (JPN, C4, by Heart's Cry) was scratched from the Dubai Turf with lameness in his left foreleg and was given all spring and summer to recover, so he is now training towards the Tenno Sho (Autumn) and then likely the Japan Cup and/or the Arima Kinen.
