3 minute read

Nakayama, Hanshin and Chukyo are the venues for the weekends Group races.

Saturday will see the running of the Laurel Sho Nakayama Himba Stakes over 1800m.  Donna Attraente holds the call on 4.7 and we have a soft spot for Ria Amelia who is on 6.9.  Satono Diamond is 7.9 and the fourth of the runners in single figures is Arusha who will have Lemaire on board and they are on 8.9.  It looks pretty open between those runners.

Sunday at Hanshin there's the Hochi Hai Fillies Revue G2 for the 3yo fillies over 1400m.  Another race that is quite open and it has Victoire Pisa's daughter Opal Moon on top on 4.3.  Yoka Yoka who is by Squirtle Squirt, about whom we know nothing, is on 4.8.  Umbrella Date is by Eishin Flash and is on 9.4 and the fourth of the runners in single figures is Minni Isle, a daughter of Mikki Isle and she is on 9.9.

At Chukyo the Kinko Sho G2 for 4y+ over 2000m has 10 starters with Daring Tact the odds-on favourite,  Glory Vase is on 5.1 and Bravas 7.7.

News this week that trainer Katsuhiko Sumii is to retire.  He's best known in Australia for training the 2006 Melbourne Cup quinella of Delta Blues and Pop Rock plus he's trained almost a who's-who of Japanese horses in the last 20 years including Vodka, Victoire Pisa, Rulership and Epiphanea who between them captured top trophies including Dubai World Cups and Japan Cups.  He said his most memorable win was Victoire Pisa in the Dubai World Cup just after the Tohoku earthquake and tsunami, when all the Japanese in Dubai wore a badge on their sleeves saying "hope".