farewell Gentildonna, Just a Way : Sun 28 Dec, 06:25 UK time

[wit]

JRA:

…The Arima Kinen is a national sporting event in Japan that reaches far beyond the usual fan base, much like the Grand National does in Britain, the Kentucky Derby in the United States, the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe in France and the Melbourne Cup in Australia.

Tomorrow’s 59th Arima Kinen (The Grand Prix) will not only see off the JRA’s 2014 season but also a couple of horses who carved out their own piece of Japanese racing history in Just a Way and Gentildonna.

The two 5-year-olds will run in the 2,500-meter race at Nakayama Racecourse this weekend for the first time. The Arima Kinen is the people’s race in Japan, with arguably the highest turnover in the world alongside the Grand National.

The first 10 horses in the maximum field of 16 are chosen by the fans. This year’s top vote-getter ahead of six-time Grade 1 champion Gentildonna was Gold Ship, the winner of the 2012 race. Just a Way, the No. 1 ranked thoroughbred in the world, was fifth.

While Oka Sho (Japanese 1000 Guineas) champion Harp Star (third), Satsuki Sho (Japanese 2000 Guineas) winner Isla Bonita (fourth), Tenno Sho (Autumn) champion Spielberg (ninth) and Kikuka Sho (Japanese St. Leger) winner Toho Jackal (10th) have backed out from the top 10, the set for Dec. 28 still looks impressive with 10 horses who have won at the top level including newly crowned Japan Cup champion Epiphaneia.

http://japanracing.jp/_news2014/141223-02.html

HKJC simulcast page here:

http://racing.hkjc.com/racing/overseas/ … 41228/S1/1

[eddie case]

Not much in hand but a perfectly timed run from Keita Tosaki.

[wit]

indeed – with Mr Buick’s long-priced arriving just a bit too late.

1 – Gentildonna (Keita Tosaki)
2 – To The World (William Buick)- 3/4 LENGTH
3 – Gold Ship (Yasunari Iwata)- NOSE
4 – Just A Way (Yuichi Fukunaga)-NECK

replay here:
http://racing.hkjc.com/racing/video/pla … 1&lang=eng

[Author]

Posts