KatieRich Stables' May Day Ready, intended runner for the ¥140.2 million (approx. US$903,000) Hanshin Juvenile Fillies (G1) at Kyoto Racecourse Dec. 8, arrived safely at Narita International Airport Nov. 20. The Joseph Lee trainee spent her quarantine period at the Japan Racing Association's Shiroi Racing School and moved to Kyoto Nov. 26. She appears to be enjoying her new surroundings.
The leading Japanese contender is Brown Ratchet, owned by Sunday Racing and trained by Takahisa Tezuka. The filly by Kizuna is a half sister to Forever Young, who finished third in the May 4 Kentucky Derby (G1) and Nov. 2 Breeders' Cup Classic (G1). While the brother has been racing very well at dirt tracks, the sister is unbeaten in two turf races so far. She broke her maiden going 1,800 meters (approx. 1 1/8 miles) at Nakayama Sept. 16 and won the Artemis Stakes (G3) at 1,600 meters (approx. one mile) at Tokyo Oct. 26. Christophe Lemaire, who rode her in both starts, regards her very highly and said after the Artemis Stakes that she is a young horse with the highest quality.
Another talented filly in the field is Run For Vow. The filly by Lord Kanaloa, who was bought at the Chiba 2-Year-Old Sale by Yoshiro Kubota for ¥41 million (approx. US$264,000) won the Nov. 9 Daily Hai Nisai Stakes (G2) at the same course and distance as the Hanshin Juvenile Fillies while beating colts.
