Japan: Lord Kanaloa sets Chuykyo Racecourse record

Lord Kanaloa, Japan’s champion sprinter or miler in 2012, won his fourth consecutive race in Sunday’s Grade 1 Takamatsunomiya Kinen at Chuyko Racecourse in Japan, setting a course record in the race over about six furlongs.

Ridden by Yasunari Iwata, Lord Kanaloa, 5, was timed in 1:08.1, recording his third consecutive Group 1 or Grade 1 win in the $2,195,000 Takamatsunomiya Kinen.

Iwata had Lord Kanaloa toward the back of the 17-runner field for the first quarter-mile. Racing wide throughout, Lord Kanaloa was seventh with a quarter-mile to go. He emerged between horses to challenge for the lead in the final furlong, winning by 1 1/4 lengths over Dream Valentino. Hakasun Moon was third.

The course at Chuyko has an uphill finish, making the winning time even more impressive. Lord Kanaloa, who is by King Kamehameha, was sent off as the 3-10 favorite.

Trained by Takayuki Yasuda for Lord Horse Club, Lord Kanaloa, 5, won the Grade 1 Sprinters Stakes at Nakayama Racecourse last September and the Group 1 Hong Kong Sprint at Sha Tin in December. Both races were run over about six furlongs Lord Kanaloa won his 2013 debut in the Grade 3 Hankyu Hai over about seven furlongs at Hanshin Racecourse on Feb. 24.

Kingsbarns may miss English 2000 Guineas

Kingsbarns, the winner of the Group 1 Racing Post Trophy for 2-year-olds at Doncaster, England, last fall, may miss the English 2000 Guineas on May 4, trainer Aidan O’Brien said on Sunday.

O’Brien told the press in Ireland that Kingsbarns has been battling a foot infection in recent days that prevented the undefeated colt from having a workout at The Curragh in Ireland on Sunday. Kingsbarns is the 4-1 favorite with British bookmakers for the English Derby on June 1.

By Galileo, Kingsbarns won two starts in 2012, with the Racing Post Trophy his only stakes appearance.