Osaka Hai (Group 1)

AS the appearance of the famed cherry blossoms marks the beginning of spring in Japan, the Group 1 Osaka Hai signifies the beginning of a racing bonanza in the Japan Racing Association (JRA).

Restricted to older horses, the Osaka Hai is run over 2,000 metres at Hanshin Racecourse. The illustrious list of previous winners include Kitasan Black, Kizuna and Orfevre.

The most anticipated horse in training in Japan is Triple Crown and four-time Group 1 winner, Contrail. A sensational three-year-old campaign was brought to a close when Contrail had his unbeaten record broken by the brilliant Almond Eye in the Japan Cup in November.

With Almond Eye retired to the paddocks and confirmed in-foal, Contrail seemed poised to continue his dominance in the JRA as a four-year-old.

A total of 13 runners went to post for the €2,000,000 contest. On all known form, the perceived main dangers to Contrail were Group 1-winning sprinter Gran Alegria, trying the trip of 2,000 metres for the first time, and dual classic runner-up, Salios.

However deteriorating ground conditions and run in a deluge of rain proved an ideal combination for a shock result which was delivered in the form of the diminutive four-year-old filly Lei Papale.

Modest fractions

In the hands of leading jockey Yuga Kawada, despite an awkward start, Lei Papale was jostled along to take up front-running responsibilities. Appearing in her element, Kawada set modest fractions in the atrocious conditions.

Contrail assumed his usual tactics of racing in rear of mid-division before making an exaggerated swooping forward manoeuvre as the field approached the five-furlong marker. Entering the home straight, distress signs quickly became evident as Kawada continued to stretch the field. Contrail challenged briefly but the game Lei Papale had all-comers easily covered, powering clear in the final 100 metres, she returned a comprehensive 12/1 winner.

Also clearly relishing conditions, Mozu Bello stayed-on stoutly to relegate Contrail to third, nearly five lengths behind the winner. Gran Alegria finished a further neck behind in fourth.

Unraced as a juvenile and unbeaten in five races as a three-year-old, Lei Papale has been patiently campaigned, methodically progressing through the class ranks of the JRA. Trained by Tomakazu Takano, the daughter of Deep Impact signed-off her 2020 campaign with an impressive performance in a December Group 3 suggesting the step up to the highest level was imminent.

While running out a comfortable and an absolutely deserved winner, Lei Papale firmly remains as an unknown commodity, largely having avoided any competition with the elite runners of her generation.

Excuses for Contrail are easy to find with the much lauded colt carrying noticeable condition in the parade ring from his six-month absence (+16kg since his previous run). Inclement weather and ground conditions offer another excuse as races run in such conditions are very much a rarity in Japan.

Although this reasoning can be quickly countered by comparing the proximity of Salios to Contrail at the finish. The one-and-a-half-length gap is nearly identical to the distance separating the pair in both the Guineas and the Derby in 2020.

Contrail will now likely be aimed for the Takarazuka Kinen at the end of June. Lei Papale could follow the same path but also has the Group 1 Yasuda Kinen as an option over the reduced distance of a mile.

THE Japanese Racing Association have announced that a total of €1.5 million from a Government run scheme was awarded to 165 JRA-licenced individuals.

These included 13 jockeys, 19 trainers, 112 training assistants and 21 stable staff. At the time of writing, 163 have returned or are in the process of repaying the funds.

This Government programme was designed to assist and aid businesses whose income streams have been significantly and adversely affected as a direct result of the pandemic and its associated restrictions.

Despite continuing to race behind closed doors, racing in Japan has been one industry that has thrived in the current social climate. In 2020, betting turnover (+3.5%) and social media interactions recorded 10-year highs. A record number of races were run in the JRA in 2020 with all scheduled fixtures going ahead.

The JRA have not released the names of the persons involved, citing privacy laws in Japan.

In addition to the 165 individuals, an Osaka-based tax accountant and known racehorse owner, has been named as one of the main protagonists in the investigation. He is believed to have encouraged and actively participated in the applications for the relief payment for over 100 of the parties. The accountant is reported to have received a 10% commission of money received as handling fees.

Further increasing the public backlash for the JRA, it was published that the JRA had failed to act upon advice by its own labour union in October 2020 regarding the use of the Government relief scheme.

In February 2021, Farming Minister Kotaro Nogami instructed the JRA to investigate the allegations fully. The JRA is under the regulatory supervision of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries.