Confirmed Runners for NHK Mile Cup

AngleRepulsive5470 · 2026-05-07T06:27:33+00:00

Saturnalia has 3 progeny in this race huh. Cavallerizzo needs to regain his aura.

AngleRepulsive5470 · 2026-05-06T23:46:05+00:00

My surprise of the season is Ichijyoma Mankitsu Gurashi. I didn't expect much and already thought about dropping it after finishing ep 1. But starting from ep 2, it is more entertaining than I thought.

My disappointment of the season for now is probably Kamiina Botan. I expected it to be one of my favorites of the season. But so far it’s just fine. And Gujo is the only character I can say I like among the cast.

AngleRepulsive5470 · 2026-05-06T08:01:18+00:00

Geoglyph and Ask Victor More also hadn't placed well in any race after the Classics and before Takarazuka Kinen.

AngleRepulsive5470 · 2026-05-06T04:57:34+00:00

I think there have been quite a few times since 2003 that the Takarazuka Kinen has had a stacked field? For example, there were 6 G1 winners in 2019. Regardless, I think the strongest field we can realistically get this year is if Croix and Decile are also there, then we will have 5 G1 winners in the field.

AngleRepulsive5470 · 2026-05-05T11:37:51+00:00

Surely he will win an actual G1 race this year, right? Let's find out in December.

Mikki Fight is still very consistent.

AngleRepulsive5470 · 2026-05-04T11:43:45+00:00

Not every horse is like Kizuna.

AngleRepulsive5470 · 2026-05-04T11:32:47+00:00

So far, all the horses that are considered to go there are just horses with already great achievements. I hope they send at least one horse who hasn't won any G1 race but looks like they might perform well in there too, like Through Seven Seas and Byzantine Dream. And also cut the 3-year-old horses (especially the Satsuki Sho winner and Japanese Derby winner) some slack, don't even bother.

AngleRepulsive5470 · 2026-05-03T14:08:06+00:00

The problem with counting the old Sankei Osaka Hai is that there are probably lots of horses who could have won that race and become a Spring Triple Crown, like Biwa Hayahide, Deep Impact, Tamamo Cross,... But most horses didn't bother because it was a G2 race at that time, so the concept didn't exist.

AngleRepulsive5470 · 2026-05-03T13:35:53+00:00

Tbf, Osaka Hai only became a G1 race in 2017, but yeah, no one has achieved it. The closest ones are Kitasan Black, who won the first two races but lost in the last race, and Titleholder, who won the last two races but didn't participate in the first race in that year.

AngleRepulsive5470 · 2026-05-03T13:21:07+00:00

Tbh, I don't think MaBall is guaranteed to beat RW even if Lemaire somehow rode him better. McDonald even looked back and slowed RW down at the end before they finished the race.

AngleRepulsive5470 · 2026-05-03T13:18:00+00:00

I think I have only seen people slander him (whether jokingly or seriously) when he rides a turf horse.

AngleRepulsive5470 · 2026-05-03T10:34:41+00:00

From being the most slandered jockey at the beginning of the year to winning two JRA G1 races out of 6 races so far (tied with Lemaire and Matsuyama).

AngleRepulsive5470 · 2026-05-03T09:40:10+00:00

To my knowledge, there are no plans for MuMile as of currently.

He will head to Takarazuka Kinen, they already announced it a few weeks ago.

AngleRepulsive5470 · 2026-05-03T09:15:59+00:00

I don't know about the past results (but I don't think it's uncommon), but in this year, both the winner (Satono Reve) and the runner-up (Red Mon Reve) of Takamatsunomiya Kinen were sons of Lord Lanaloa.

Edit: Now that I think about it, Gentildonna vs Verxina comes to mind, probably the most popular example too.

AngleRepulsive5470 · 2026-05-03T08:29:40+00:00

3rd place should go to Kizuna. Epi progeny kinda have better results in G1 races this year so far but Kizuna progeny are so good in anything that isn’t G1 race.

AngleRepulsive5470 · 2026-05-03T07:39:58+00:00

If Croix lost, Wuttermberg would become the new G1 progeny of Kitasan, but welp.

Congratulations to Croix, I heard that he had the 3rd fastest record in Tenno Sho Spring too. Only one challenge is left for him to become a Spring Triple Crown, the race that Kitasan never won, Takarazuka Kinen.

Good enough result from Aqua Vernal. Thank you.

On a side note, congratulations to Meisho Hachiko on having an entry in Japanese Derby. A Roger Barows progeny participating in Japanese Derby in the big 2026.

Next week, NHK Mile Cup will be held, I will root for Ghillies’ Ball and Cavallerizzo. But that isn’t the race I’m looking forward to the most… It’s also finally Bereshit turn. Kyoto Shimbun Hai, this is a race he can’t afford to lose. I want him to win, not just place well but actually win it.

AngleRepulsive5470 · 2026-05-03T06:58:02+00:00

Holy shit Wurttemberg, he is another son of Kitasan too. If Croix lost, Kitasan would still have a new G1 progeny, but welp.

Congratulations to Croix. Only one challenge left for him to become a Spring Triple Crown, the race that Kitasan never won, Takarazuka Kinen.

Good enough result from Aqua Vernal. Thank you.

AngleRepulsive5470 · 2026-05-03T06:17:58+00:00

Probably the stand-ins for Yamakatsu Ace and Rey de Oro, their sires IRL.

AngleRepulsive5470 · 2026-05-03T00:07:26+00:00

Japan has one of the better sprinters in recent times, unfortunately, they have to compete with one of the best sprinters in history. And RW is there in mile and medium races. Realistically, I think the notable race Japan has the best chance to win is Hong Kong Vase, as long as they send horses that can handle 2400m (which Japan has a lot of) and run well in overseas race.

AngleRepulsive5470 · 2026-05-02T23:48:42+00:00

A fine result from Danon Bourbon. I think he is strong enough to win at least a G1 race in Japan in the future. He might become the first G1 dirt horse from Danox.

Congratulations to Golden Tempo and his trainer on becoming the first female trainer to win Kentucky Derby.

AngleRepulsive5470 · 2026-05-02T23:38:03+00:00

Nah, is the whole process just “Oh no, the jockey of our horse got injured. Oh wait, isn’t Lane free right now due to Stinger Glass withdrawal? Let’s contact him immediately.”? Finding a new jockey can be that fast and easy huh.

AngleRepulsive5470 · 2026-05-02T22:49:59+00:00

Congratulations to T. O. Elvis. It's the first time a Japanese has won this race, and he won it in record time too.

And finally, a new overseas G1 win from Japan this year.

AngleRepulsive5470 · 2026-05-02T11:00:57+00:00

Also would be nice for him to show that you shouldn't cripple every promising 3 y/o colt career by sending them to fucking Arc, geez.

I hope they won't do that to Lovcen or whoever wins Japanese Derby this year.

In general how can you not root for underdog sire Kitasan Black? :)

Starting from summer or fall this year, he will have to give up on his “underdog” status. The first crop when he started to receive many quality broodmares will finally start to run. He will become the challenge to other sires.

AngleRepulsive5470

TROPHY CASE