Pyromancer leads Japanese-based Triple Crown nominees

Feb 09, 2026 Kellie Reilly/Brisnet.com

Pyromancer wins the 2025 Zen-Nippon Nisai Yushun

Godolphin's Pyromancer wins the Zen-Nippon Nisai Yushun (Photo by Tomoya Moriuchi/Horsephotos.com)

One year after Godolphin won its long-coveted Kentucky Derby (G1) with U.S.-based Sovereignty, Sheikh Mohammed’s global colossus could have another high-profile contender with Japanese homebred Pyromancer. The unbeaten colt leads the list of 39 Japanese-trained horses nominated to the Triple Crown.

Pyromancer currently tops the Japan Road leaderboard with 20 points, thanks to his victory in the Dec. 17 Zen-Nippon Nisai Yushun. But he is expected to reappear on the Euro/Mideast Road in the March 28 UAE Derby (G2).

Several other Japanese-based Triple Crown nominees are likewise eyeing points on the Euro/Mideast scoreboard, including those set for Saturday’s Saudi Derby (G3) – Best Green, who was third to Pyromancer in the Zen-Nippon Nisai Yushun; Wonder Dean; the filly Tokai Ma Cherie; and Keiai Agito.

Note that one of the prime threats in the Saudi Derby, Satono Voyage, was not nominated to the Triple Crown by the early deadline. As the winner of the Japan Road kickoff, last November’s Cattleya S., he was a notable absentee from the nominations list. His connections could still add him by the late nomination deadline, April 6.

For the Japanese hopefuls who’d like to qualify for the Kentucky Derby at home, the Japan Road offers two more opportunities in the Feb. 22 Hyacinth S. at Tokyo and the March 28 Fukuryu S. at Nakayama.

Let’s highlight 10 of the most intriguing Triple Crown nominees in Japan. (You can find the European and Dubai-based nominees here.)

Pyromancer – Unbeaten colt with 20 points on Japan Road

As his name suggests, Pyromancer is a son of Pyro, who was prominent on the 2008 Derby trail at Fair Grounds. Pyro turned the Risen Star (G3)/Louisiana Derby (G2) double before winding up eighth in the Run for the Roses. Pyromancer is out of a mare by Hard Spun, the runner-up in the 2007 Derby, and his maternal grandmother is by Sunday Silence, the 1989 Derby-winning Hall of Famer and game-changing sire.

Trained by Keiji Yoshimura, Pyromancer is a perfect 3-for-3 so far. He won his first two starts going about 1 1/8 miles at Kyoto before his successful stakes debut in the Zen-Nippon Nisai Yushun. The acid test will come in the UAE Derby at Meydan.

Best Green – 6 points on Japan Road

Best Green suffered his first loss in the Zen-Nippon Nisai Yushun, where he placed third as the favorite behind Pyromancer. But trainer Junji Tanaka believes that the colt wasn’t able to put his best foot forward that day, and he’ll have the chance to make amends in Saturday’s Saudi Derby.

An impressive winner of his first four starts, Best Green hails from the male line of breed-shaper Sunday Silence, via a dirt-oriented branch. His sire, Smart Falcon, is by the Sunday Silence stallion Gold Allure. Best Green’s mother is by Pyro.

Arcadia Cafe – 3 points on Japan Road

As a half-brother to past Japan Road winners Cafe Pharoah and Luxor Cafe, Arcadia Cafe has sparked hopes of following in their hoofsteps. He broke his maiden smartly in his second try at Tokyo, but settled for third to the exciting Satono Voyage in the Cattleya.

The Hyacinth would be a logical target for Arcadia Cafe, considering that both Cafe Pharoah and Luxor Cafe captured that listed stakes back over Tokyo’s metric mile. Arcadia Cafe races for the same connections as well, owner Koichi Nishikawa and trainer Noriyuki Hori.

Bred in Kentucky by the Coolmore-affiliated Orpendale/Chelston/Wynatt and Westerberg Ireland, Arcadia Cafe is by perennial leading sire Into Mischief. His prolific mother, Mary’s Follies, is also responsible for U.S. champion turf mare Regal Glory in addition to Japanese champion Cafe Pharoah and still-active Grade 3 winner Luxor Cafe, who will run in Saturday’s $20 million Saudi Cup (G1).

Danon Bourbon – Kentucky-bred debut romper

A $450,000 Keeneland September yearling purchase, Danon Bourbon delivered a front-running tour de force in a newcomers’ race at Kyoto last October. He went straight to the early lead in the about 1 1/8-mile test, drew off turning for home, and opened up by 10 lengths under a hand ride.

Danon Bourbon is from the first crop of $2 million-earner Maxfield, who would have been a key player in the 2020 Kentucky Derby if not for an injury. Maxfield is himself by 2007 Derby champion Street Sense. Danon Bourbon boasts further classic heft from his maternal grandfather, Tapit.

Bred by Blue Heaven Farm in Kentucky, Danon Bourbon has massive upside for owner Danox Co. Ltd. and trainer Manabu Ikezoe.

American Call – American Pharoah colt resilient in debut

American Call is one of several nominees bred by Japan’s iconic Northern Farm, which produced globetrotting champion and 2024 Derby near-misser Forever Young.

A son of Triple Crown star American Pharoah, American Call proved that he had strength of character, along with physical talent, when prevailing as the favorite in a Hanshin newcomers’ race. He reared at the break, then used up extra energy to catch up and track the leader.

Just when American Call struck the front turning for home, he was challenged by Savoire Faire. A fierce stretch battle ensued as they pulled 10 lengths clear of the rest. American Call had every reason to tire after his tough beginning, but he outdueled Savoire Faire and edged away late in the about 1 1/8-mile contest. Savoire Faire came back to break his maiden by daylight.

Campaigned by Sunday Racing Co., American Call is trained by Koshiro Take. He is out of the Tapit mare Evening Call, who is herself a half-sister to Grade 1 winner Constellation.

Rock Ptarmigan – Form connects with Pyromancer

A debut winner on turf over the summer, U. Carrot Farm’s Rock Ptarmigan failed to progress on that surface. But he rediscovered himself recently on the switch to dirt.

The Koichi Ishizaka trainee controlled the pace in a 1 1/8-mile affair at Hanshin and gamely repelled the bid of Wonder Dean. That’s a key piece of form, since Wonder Dean was coming off a rallying second to Pyromancer in a Kyoto allowance.

Rock Ptarmigan is reportedly bound for the UAE Derby, which should give him the opportunity to take on Pyromancer himself.

Rock Ptarmigan was bred by another historic powerhouse, the Shadai Corp.’s Shiraoi Farm. His sire, Irish classic winner Siskin, could be transmitting the dirt aptitude of his male line. Siskin is by U.S. Grade 1 hero First Defence, who is in turn a son of Unbridled’s Song and the brilliant sprinter Honest Lady. Rock Ptarmigan’s female line descends from the all-time great turf mare Dahlia.

Mac Lir – Two-time winner with a form boost

Northern Farm-bred Mac Lir sports noteworthy form. The Silk Racing Co. colorbearer displayed sharp acceleration in his maiden win over a metric mile at Tokyo, where he burst clear by three lengths. The runner-up, Finger, has gone on to win his next two starts, including the Bluebird Cup with implications for the Japanese dirt classics.

Mac Lir followed up with an allowance score going about 1 1/8 miles at Nakayama. Heavily backed as the 7-10 favorite, the Takahisa Tezuka trainee rallied to a two-length decision.

With his pedigree, Mac Lir could prove to be versatile in terms of distance and surface. He’s by the great sprinter/miler Lord Kanaloa out of a royally-bred Galileo mare, from the family of current Group 1 star Hawk Mountain. (Although Hawk Mountain looms prominently on the Euro/Mideast leaderboard after winning two scoring races, he was not nominated to the Triple Crown, and his classic hopes lie in Europe.)

Krautrock – Unbeaten son of Nadal

Another originating from Northern Farm, Krautrock, is by Nadal, the unbeaten winner of a division of the Arkansas Derby (G1) in 2020. Krautrock is a perfect 2-for-2 so far, both times justifying favoritism in about 1 1/8-mile events at Nakayama.

Trained by Yukihiro Kato, Krautrock dominated his debut by eight lengths in pace-tracking style. He had to overcome adversity next time out in an allowance, when he crumpled out of the gate in an awkward start and found himself last early. Jockey Keita Tosaki did well to help Krautrock regroup, and he launched a sustained rally to prevail by 1 3/4 lengths.

Libeccio – 2-for-2 on dirt

As a son of Japanese dirt champion Le Vent Se Leve and a Gold Allure mare, Libeccio was bred to be a dirt performer. So his 10th-place effort in his career debut on the grass can be forgiven and forgotten, especially since he’s come back to win both of his dirt starts.

Libeccio resurfaced to wire an about 1 1/8-mile maiden at Chukyo by 2 1/2 lengths. Cutting back to a metric mile at Tokyo in his latest, he again used his early speed to win decisively.

Like Mac Lir, Libeccio is a Silk Racing runner who was bred by Northern Farm. But he has a different trainer, Haruki Sugiyama.

Itterasshai – Five-length maiden winner

After Itterasshai blew the start on debut at Tokyo, he closed furiously to finish third over a metric mile. Next time out at Nakayama, the Makoto Saito pupil made no mistake. He broke well, secured a forward position in the about 1 1/8-mile maiden, and galloped by five lengths.

Itterasshai is from the first crop of the Into Mischief stallion Mischevious Alex, who won the 2020 Gotham (G3). He stuck to his one-turn specialty rather than stretching out on the Derby trail, and ultimately scored his signature win in the 2021 Carter H. (G1) back at Aqueduct. Itterasshai gets stamina from his mother, who’s by Japanese classic-winning champion Deep Sky.

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