Japan hosts one of its key seasonal classics, the G1 Kakarazuka Kinen Cup. Carrying a $2 million purse, the race is open to horses aged three and older and will be run over one mile and three-eighths on turf.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Last year, Given\u2019s Star Radius was sent off the punters choice, and he didn\u2019t let them down defeating ASR\u2019s Path of Time and Frankster\u2019s Megaforma (Vale Frankster). It\u2019s great to have Hall of Famer and EOY award winner Franks Star Forty returning to Japan for the first time since he successfully defended his Japan Classic title here last November. Let\u2019s peruse the field of 11 runners for Sunday\u2019s classic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
1. REALMRIPPER (ENG) <\/strong>5M confessor2 M.Perez (5\/1) <\/p>\n\n\n\n Given saddles up Realmripper (Frankel) for GR Simsters. He put together a mid-season hat-trick in his 3yo campaign, breaking his maiden before adding two allowance wins. His first try in stakes company came in the O\u2019Neal over 12f, where he never featured, but he bounced back by dropping to 11f when saluting the judge first in another allowance. He ended that season with a second in the Crown Chief Turf Route. As a 4yo, he opened in strong style, winning the Storming Buda Turf Stayer and then earning his first graded success in the G3 Grand Prix at the same track and trip, matching his career best SP of 118. Stayed in Germany for the G2 The M-Class and led into the straight before being run down late. At his first attempt in elite company, he was a credible third in the Mihali the Great Stakes where he stalked the pace but was unable to improve his position late. He was midfield in a return to Surrey for the Judgemont International, then recorded another G2 second in Japan. A minor placing in the G1 Singapore Cup in China followed before he dropped back to allowance grade to win his final run of the season. This campaign, he was runner-up in the G2 Kyoto Handicap behind Tepidity and then produced a solid run when unplaced in UAE\u2019s $3 million Sand Castle Golden Turf Classic. Lacks the credentials of some of his opposition today but from master stable. Honest and warrants attention.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 2. NEARTIC SEA (JPN) <\/strong>4M <\/strong>Santiago B.F.Abman (24\/1)<\/p>\n\n\n\n Fernando saddles up Neartic Sea (Just A Way) for URC. Progressive type who impressed on debut, winning a URC-restricted maiden over 8.5f. As a 3yo, never a factor when tried dirt for the first time in URC\u2019s Arkansas Derby. His best season effort came later in China when he broke through in allowance grade for a stylish win recording an SP of 108 after some mixed form at that level. This season, he has been steadily stretching out in trip, beginning with a fast-finishing second over 11f on a bog track in Thailand before another runner-up effort over 12f. Staying at his home track, he scored a solid 1.5-length win over 14f, then led throughout last start to absolutely bolt in by 20 lengths over the gruelling two miles. Staying at home is a plus, and connections will be hoping it\u2019s horses for courses. Despite that outstanding latest win, he faces a massive class rise here and looks outclassed at this level over 11f. Others appeal more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 3. TARTON ERUPTION (SAF) <\/strong>5G tarton41 M.Kiprusoff (6\/1)<\/p>\n\n\n\n Naskippy saddles up Tarton Eruption (Erupt) for Hoosier. A multiple G1 winner who has spent his past ten starts at the elite level, he showed early promise with two wins over the sprint course as a juvenile. His strong 3yo campaign included two allowance wins and a first stakes success in Germany\u2019s Ninja Turf Route over 9f. Stepping up to the G2 Usain Bolt, he proved he belonged in that grade by finishing runner-up, then ended the season with a brilliant late surge to win the Jolly Summer Cup at his home track as the rank outsider in his first open G1 attempt. He was never a factor in the Mr Met Cap first-up at four but improved sharply when crossing to Australia for the Sydney Cup, beating all bar one home. After a credible run in California\u2019s G1 Movieland Turf Cup where he finished third, he broke through again in the G1 Windy City Turf Classic over 10f. He then ran respectably, though unplaced, over the mile and a half in the Arc de Comicdog before an impressive 4.25-length victory in the $1 million Vic Champion Stakes, his third G1 win. A runner-up finish in the King Kong Cup closed his 4yo season. Lightly raced this campaign with just the pair of runs. He failed to live up to expectations in the Mr Met Cap for the second year running before the slow pace of the G1 Aussie Queen proved his undoing last time out when best of the backmarkers. He may encounter that same scenario here, but he is all quality and if he can overcome what looks to be an unfavorable speed map, look for him to be doing his best work late.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 4. MAND A BB (GB) <\/strong>4M cjt8 G.D.Mate (41\/1)<\/p>\n\n\n\n Corza saddles up Mand A BB (Frankel) for EWC. By the dominant Frankel and out of a stakes-winning mare, he failed to win as a juvenile before breaking through in a wet-track maiden claimer over 8f. His 3yo campaign was patchy in claiming company, with his best result a restricted 8.5f win at Berkshire. Since changing ownership for the fourth time late last season, he has had four allowance runs for Corza and looks to have improved with more distance. He closed well from the rear for a minor placing, then struggled when dropped back to 9.5f. His two most recent starts are clearly his best: a 12f second in Ireland, followed by a last-to-first win over 10.5f on a bog track. That was a fantastic win last time out, and the trainer has found his ideal distance range, but this is a G1 classic and is hopelessly outclassed. No!<\/p>\n\n\n\n 5. TEPIDITY (ENG) <\/strong>5G moorside B.Collins (7\/1) <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n RWhisper saddles up Tepidity (New Approach). This G2-winning gelding broke his maiden over this trip at Berkshire as a 3yo. He then made it a hatrick of wins, winning back to back allowance races before having a throw at the stumps in the G1 Vicky Derby where he finished down the track. Dropping back to 10.5f for NZ\u2019s G3 Northern Beer Cap, he ran soundly without threatening. Resuming at four, he settled too far back but finished well for second in the Exclusive Carson Turf Challenge on a wet track, then returned to New Zealand and again ran well on an off track when just missing the placings in the G3 Great Beer Cap. He opened his stakes account in the gruelling two-mile Southern Cup, then dropped back in trip and again finished on for a minor placing. Gelded after that campaign, he looked to have improved, going close with an eye-catching second in NZ\u2019s G3 Lipstick Gold Cup before failing to fire on another bog track in a G2 in Turkey. He opened this season with his first graded win in the G2 Kyoto Handicap over this course and distance, posting a career-best SP of 117. Last start, he raced more prominently than usual and ran a brave second in the G1 The Good Day in Paris. He clearly relishes this trip and will stalk the pace here. He is right in the mix if he reproduces his best.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 6. IDK WAR ON PUTIN (JPN) <\/strong>6G ace11 <\/strong>S.Fairchild (8\/1)<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ace saddles up IDK War on Putin (Declaration of War) for ESR. He broke through as a juvenile over 6.5f and continued to progress, adding a pair of allowance wins during his 3yo season. Although he went winless in five turf starts as a 4yo, he was unbeaten in two dirt runs over 9f and 10f. His first stakes win came last season at this track over 9f on a bog track, and he backed that up by taking out the G2 Kakarazuka Tinen Cup, the consolation race to this event, over 10f. He then caused an upset when coming from well back to win the G1 Judgemont International over 10.5f at Surrey. He failed to fire next start on another bog track in the Eclipse and struggled in his first North American run, finishing last in the 12f Breeders Bowl Turf. Resuming at six, he relished the return to his home track, winning the King of Hvar Crown over 10f with a career-best SP of 116. He again finished strongly last start to beat all bar one runner in the G1 Aussie Queen. With an excellent record at this track, commands respect.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 7. FRANKS STAR FORTY (GB) <\/strong>6M dkstables29 <\/strong>D.Givins (4\/1)<\/p>\n\n\n\n Stockswami saddles up Franks Star Forty (Frankel). Superlatives are running out for this runner. 7-time G1 winner and over $16.7 million in earnings. Unplaced as a juvenile, he broke his maiden first up at three over 9f and continued to improve as he rose in trip and class, finishing his three-year-old season with a hat-trick of allowance wins. His four-year-old campaign began with a dominant 7.5-length win in the restricted local championship stakes at Berkshire. After finishing just outside the placings in the G3 Great Beer Cap, he won the G2 Kakarazuka Tinen Cup at this track, a consolation to this race. Stepping to elite level and 12f for the first time, he captured the G1 Sword Swallower Stakes with a career-best SP of 121. He has since raced exclusively in G1 company over 12f, highlighted by wins in the Ark De ComicDog and the Japan Classic. His winning streak ended with a runner-up finish in the New Zealand Darby, but he quickly rebounded with back-to-back victories in the $3 million Sand Castle Golden Turf Classic and the Grand Brazilian. He then bounced back from a forgive run on a wet Surrey track to again win the Ark De ComicDog and Japan Classic. Lightly raced this season, he has had only two starts: he never threatened in the John Scott Appreciation Stakes and was unable to reel in Given\u2019s Sammy Doubles Down in the Sand Castle Golden Turf Classic last time out. Unbeaten in Japan. Already reached our Hall of Fame and back-to-back end-of-year award winner, this son of Frankel will be very hard to beat if he returns to his best and has been installed as the 4\/1 morning line favorite. <\/p>\n\n\n\n 8. EUPHORIC NOVA (GB) <\/strong>5M kellygreen <\/strong>S.Ausilo (9\/1) <\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n Francua saddles up Euphoric Nova (Frankel) for ESR. He broke through as a juvenile at his first attempt over 6.5f, then showed his quality with a hat-trick of allowance wins midway through his 3yo season. Stepping into open and graded company later that year, he outran his odds to finish midfield before again making late ground for a similar result in the Scotch Whiskey Turf Route. At four, he resumed with a runner-up effort over 11f before returning to the winners\u2019 stall in style, posting a career-best SP of 117 in a 10f allowance. He came from well back for second in the Barbs Back Home Turf Route, his first stakes placing, then failed to feature in the G3 Coupe in Paris before storming home to win Denmark\u2019s G3 Her Majesty Margrethe II Cup over 10.5f. His first elite-level test in New Zealand\u2019s G1 Osmonds Memorial was below his best, but he rebounded with a stylish second in the G2 Cities Cup before ending the season unplaced in Turkey. Racing in stakes grade this campaign, he returned to winning form last start in NSW\u2019s Arcadia Jack Turf Memorial over 10.5f. He will likely settle well back and finish strongly. Not the roughest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 9. CITY OF CRUSHERS (KY) <\/strong>5G givenpraise O.A.Haack (5\/1)<\/p>\n\n\n\n Given saddles up City of Crushers (Tapit) for GR Simsters. Dual acceptor for Given stables. He began his career on dirt with two modest runs before switching to turf, where he broke through over 9f. His talent became clear late in his three-year-old season, when he made his first start as a gelding and led throughout to demolish an allowance field by more than 16 lengths. He again tried to make all at stakes level but was caught late, then returned to allowance company for another dominant win. His first stakes success came in the Her Pigeon Turf Route over 10f, followed by minor placings in the Sky Turn to Black Turf Route and the G3 Chicago Handicap. He earned his first graded win in the Winchester Park Handicap in Oklahoma when stepping back up to 11f. His last four runs have all been at G1 level. He performed well in Argentina\u2019s Grand Carlos, finishing second, before ending the season with another placing in the Los Angeles Turf Cup. He opened his five-year-old campaign with a front-running masterpiece and his first Grade 1 in the Murray the Snowbird Annual Voyage. He looked the winner briefly in the Sand Castle Golden Turf Classic before fading late to finish just outside the placings. Last start was the first time outside the top four on turf. In a race devoid of any speed, I think he could prove very hard to run down.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 10. GOLDEN NAY WONDER (ENG) <\/strong>5G fdllodged J.Dawg (7\/1)<\/p>\n\n\n\n Fdllodged saddles up Golden Nay Wonder (New Approach) for DUR. Despite multiple graded placings, this gelding has only two career wins. He showed little as a juvenile but broke through late in his 3yo season, leading throughout for a 6.5-length maiden win and posting an SP of 112, before ending the campaign with another dominant victory on a bog track. He acquitted himself well at his first stakes attempt, closing from midfield to finish second, but then failed to place in the G3 Great Beer Cap and disappointed badly in his local championship stakes at Berkshire. He restored some confidence for his connections with a strong second in the Our Colony Turf Special over 9f and was just outside the placings in the Flagship Affirm Turf Route. Stepping up in both class and distance for the G1 Canada Turf on another bog track, he never threatened, and he followed with an unplaced run in the G1 Coxless before adding another stakes minor placing in the Savage Frontier over 9.5f. He began his 5yo season unplaced in the Kegasus Upper Deck Turf Extravaganza, though beaten only 1.75 lengths, showing he can be competitive at this level. He then placed second in the G2 Sanka High and ran on well for third last start in the G1 Manha Manha Challenge. His two runs at 11f or beyond suggest this trip may be slightly beyond his best, but he remains one to keep safe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 11. K\u2019S KRUSHER (KY) <\/strong>6G stax <\/strong>J.Caves (8\/1)<\/p>\n\n\n\n Michaelb saddles up K\u2019s Krusher (Midnight Storm) for DUR. The most experienced runner in the field, he makes his 34th start today. Claimed for $150K in late 2024, he made an immediate impact for his new trainer, leading throughout to win an allowance by more than 10 lengths to round out his 4yo season. He followed that with his first stakes win in the Shore Lunch Turf Challenge over 11f. On his graded debut, he was outclassed in the G3 Grand Prix, then ran well without placing in the G3 Great Beer Cap. His only start at this level came in Ireland\u2019s Tattersalls Gold, where he beat only one home, though the bog track offers some excuse. He finished last season with back-to-back impressive wins in the Red Polish Turf Route and New Zealand\u2019s G2 Cities Cup over 10.5f, his biggest success to date. He began this campaign well with a win in the Aberdasher Turf Stayer over 11f, then ran just outside the placings in both the Firm Idea Turf Stayer and the G3 Great Beer Cap. Last start, he disappointed as a market fancy when unplaced in a Swedish allowance. Needs to find more on latest offerings to be a serious factor here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Veeman\u2019s Selections<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n (1ST<\/sup>) 9 \u2013 City of Crushers <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n (2ND<\/sup>) 7 \u2013 Franks Star Forty<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n (3RD<\/sup>) 5 \u2013 Tepidity<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n (4TH<\/sup>) 1 \u2013 Realmripper<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Japan hosts one of its key seasonal classics, the G1 Kakarazuka Kinen Cup. Carrying a $2 million purse, the race<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":235694,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"colormag_page_container_layout":"default_layout","colormag_page_sidebar_layout":"default_layout","footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-75348","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-previews"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/75348","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/235694"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=75348"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/75348\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":75355,"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/75348\/revisions\/75355"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=75348"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=75348"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=75348"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}