Coming into this G1 Takamatsunomiya Kinen off a seasonal bow back in January in the G3 Silk Road S., where he finished second behind Namura Clair (Jpn) (Mikki Isle {Jpn}), First Force (Jpn) (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}) found his redemption after a ninth place effort in this contest last season with a grinding, determined victory to pick up his career-first Group 1 black-type on Sunday.
Breaking in good order from barrier 13 over a rain-drenched course, First Force was pushed along by Taisei Danno to hold an outside spot from mid-pack and contentedly tracked pacesetters from that position. Taking closer order with 600 metres to the wire, he unfurled his closing kick from between rivals the length of the stretch and collared Travesura (Jpn) (Dream Journey {Jpn}) in the last 100 to pull away for a length score. Namura Clair followed the winner into the straight and showed good acceleration to reach contention to claim runner-up honors in the final strides before the line.
“I thought our gate number turned out for the better as the track today seemed to work better for those on the outside. The trip went smoothly for us, much better than I had expected. I was able to give him a short breather before the fourth corner and he responded well at the homestretch,” commented jockey Taisei Danno, who also picked up his first Group 1 victory here and his fourth Group win. Conditioner Masayuki Nishimura would also make personal history claiming his career-first Group 1 victory since opening his yard in 2015, here.
First Force is out of MSP Rush Life, who claims five winners from eight to race including his accomplished half-brother A Day In The Life (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}). Their dam is herself a half-sister to millionaire SW Tagano Dangerous (Jpn) (End Sweep) as well as to the dam of SP Single Up (Jpn) (Kinshasa no Kiseki {Aus}). This is the extended female family of Japanese champion older mare Louisiana Pit (Jpn), MGSW Meisho Naruto (Jpn) (Heart's Cry {Jpn}), and MGSP Epicharis (Jpn) (Gold Allure {Jpn}). Rush Life's more recent offspring on course include 5-year-old Alcione (Jpn) (Duramente {Jpn}), who went undefeated in six starts last season. The dam also has a 3-year-old filly Sterilize (Jpn) (Mikki Rocket {Jpn}) as well as a 2-year-old colt by Black Tide (Jpn). She is last reported due to Shuji (Jpn) for 2023.
Sunday, Chukyo, Japan
TAKAMATSUNOMIYA KINEN-G1, ¥329,400,000, Chukyo, 3-26, 4yo/up, 1200mT, 1:08.20, sf.
1–FIRST FORCE (JPN), 128, h, 7, by Lord Kanaloa (Jpn)
1st Dam: Rush Life (Jpn) (MSW-Jpn, $733,670), by Sakura Bakushin-Oh (Jpn)
2nd Dam: Friend Lei (Jpn), by Danehill
3rd Dam: Martin Miyuki (Jpn), by Maruzensky (Jpn)
1ST GROUP 1 WIN. O-Koji Yasuhara; B-Mishima Bokujo (Jpn); T-Masayuki Nishimura; J-Taisei Danno; ¥173,780,000. Lifetime Record: GSW-Jpn, 25-4-5-1, ¥313,847,000. *Half to A Day In The Life (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}), GSW-Jpn, $1,222,321. Werk Nick Rating: A++. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Click for the free Equineline.com pedigree.
2–Namura Clair (Jpn), 123, f, 4, Mikki Isle (Jpn)–Sun Queen, by Storm Cat. O-Mutsuhiro Namur; B-Tanikawa Farm (Jpn); ¥69,080,000.
3–Travesura (Jpn), 128, h, 8, Dream Journey (Jpn)–Jaja Machan (Jpn), by Admire Cozzene (Jpn). 1ST GROUP 1 BLACK TYPE. O-Teruya Yoshida; B-Shadai Farm (Jpn); ¥43,540,000.
Margins: 1, HF, HF. Odds: 31.30, 4.40, 41.10
Also ran: Naran Huleg (Jpn), Grenadier Guards (Jpn), Lotus Land, Aguri (Jpn), Vento Voce (Jpn), Kir Lord (Jpn), Win Marvel (Jpn), Daddy's Vivid (Jpn), Meikei Yell (Jpn), Pixie Knight (Jpn), Divination (Jpn), Toshin Macau (Jpn), Water Navillera (Jpn), Opal Charme (Jpn), Buon Voyage (Jpn).
Click for the JRA chart and Video.
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