kateinabox

It was a fun day! The people were very very nice. And truly seemed in awe of this magnificent animal.

Red Alert Day runs today in Japan! In the Santa Anita Trophy (S3, local racing grading lower than JPN3) at Ohi Racecourse in Tokyo. He drew post #10 in a 16 horse field. 1800m on dirt!

Also, more than likely if Eishin Flash, Dream Journey or Rose Kingdom win they too will probably all say no... wanting to try for the fall series as well. Those races are stallion makers in Japan, even if you just win one or two of them. Rose Kingdom (who was moved to 1st when Buena was disqualified in the Japan Cup) has to prove he can actually WIN the Japan Cup! grr. Out of the three though, Eishin Flash might be the only one who would consider it. His owner Toyomitsu Hirai loves going to Keeneland to buy racehorses. He might be in a more international spirit than say Rose Kingdom would. Dream Journey is at the end of his career. They don't know when they will retire him but this COULD be his last race. If he wins, they might try for a fall G1 but he will definitely retire at the end of the year, so international travel for him is probably unlikely.

As awesome as that would be, the answer is probably 100% no. They want to win the "Fall Triple Crown" with her. It is a 3 race series in the fall, the Emperor's Cup Fall (10/30, G1, 2000m), Japan Cup (11/27, G1, 2400m), and the Arima Kinen (12/25, G1, 2500m). It is a rare thing for older horses to do. She ALMOST did it last year. She won the Emperor's Cup, was disqualified from 1st to 2nd in the Japan Cup (I am still angry about THAT), and she was 2nd by a NOSE to Victoire Pisa (2011's Dubai WC winner) in the Arima Kinen. Her connections want another shot at it. A mare has never won it before and only like two males have ever been able to pull off the 3 race win. The world's richest horse, TM Opera O in 2000 and Zenno Rob Roy in 2004.