IN any annual review looking back at 2020, it is difficult, if not impossible, to reflect and not rue the damaging effect Covid-19 has had on any and every industry. Thus far, Japan has largely escaped the level of virulence that so many other countries have and continue to experience.
Racing in Japan in both the JRA and the lower-level competition in the NAR have escaped relatively unscathed.
A convincing argument can be made that racing in the land of the rising sun has excelled and is continuing to thrive in the new social landscape.
The first decision by the sport’s governing body was taken at the end of February when it was declared that racing would take place behind closed doors.
Varying and intermittent degrees of restrictions have been introduced, as clustered outbreaks of the virus occurred in the vicinity of racecourses.
Restrictions
At the height of the restrictions imposed by the Racing Association, horses trained in the east of Japan were only permitted to race in tracks located in the east and likewise for the western trained horses. Jockeys were not allowed to switch racing venues on a single race weekend.
At the time of writing, Japan is once again experiencing record spikes in the amount of positive Covid-19 cases predominantly in metropolitan areas. Despite this, racecourses have begun to allow a minute number of fans to attend JRA tracks and facilities.
While social difficulties are obvious to see, racing fans in Japan have enjoyed, from the comfort of their own homes, arguably the best year of JRA racing in living memory.
With the cancellation of many of large sporting events, viewership and betting turnover, specifically in the midweek NAR meeting, have seen notable increases in betting turnover.
Hail the dominant three-year-old champions
CONTRAIL entered 2020 with a mass of hype and expectation following a juvenile season that was capped off with a facile win in the Group 1 Hopeful Stakes. Without a prep-run, Contrail decimated the Satsuki Sho (Japanese 2000 Guineas) before annihilating all before him to claim the colts’ Triple Crown.
In the female ranks, Daring Tact entered the new year very much as an unknown commodity, just a narrow November maiden winner. The daughter of Epiphaneia, improving with every run, completed the Triple Tiara crown, becoming the first unbeaten filly to do so in JRA history.
Such are the sporting sentiments in Japanese racing circles, that the two three-year-old champions went on to meet each other in the Japan Cup, with Almond Eye added to the mix.
A special note must be made to the connections of Contrail, in deciding to run in the most captivating race of the year. By Deep Impact, Contrail is the hottest stallion prospect in Japan, so a decision based on protecting his unbeaten record would have been a logical path.
THERE are very few superlatives that have not been used when speaking about the all-conquering Almond Eye. A Triple Crown winner as a three-year-old culminating in a dominant Japan Cup win in record time.
Unbeaten in five starts in that season, the daughter of Lord Kanaloa seemed almost invincible within the JRA ranks.
Although a few chinks began to appear in her armour in 2019, Almond Eye returned in 2020 to rightly claim her throne as the one of, or the greatest horse, to race in Japan.
Breaking the record for the most Group 1 wins, Almond Eye’s swansong came in the Japan Cup. Competing against both Contrail and Daring Tact, Almond Eye employed her usual tactics and authority to power home a convincing winner.
REALISTICALLY, the competition for leading freshman sire was always going to be dominated by Maurice (Screen Hero) and Duramente (King Kamhameha). Both covering a large but similar number of mares in their first season, with a quality not often afforded to unproven sires.
At the time of writing, with one weekend of racing remaining in the JRA for 2020, the pair are separated on prize money by a just a maiden winner and a few placings, Maurice holding the narrow advantage.
Both stallions have received substantial price increases for the 2021 season. Duramente will stand for €80,000 (€62,500 in 2020), while Maurice has had his fee doubled from his 2020 cost to €63,000 in 2021.
Obviously, the duo have been the standout performers from the new sires list, but the substantial increase in fees seem completely unjustified. Neither stallion has yet produced a group winner and their fee is now on a par with Kizuna and Epiphaneia who have a far superior record of producing quality racehorses.
Lemaire retains jockeys’ title
FRENCH-born jockey Christophe Lemaire has sealed a third consecutive jockeys’ championship in Japan.
He is currently on 202 winners, a 37-winner lead over Yuga Kawada in second with one weekend of racing remaining in the season.
In 2018, Lemaire set the record for the most winners ridden in a season partnering 215 wins.
Based on prize money, Yoshito Yahagi is set to become the champion trainer for 2020. Contrail was the most prolific at the highest level under his care.