Runner-up to Sol Oriens in the Satsuki Sho (G1) (Japanese 2000 Guineas) last month, Carrot Farm Co. Ltd.'s Tastiera turned the tables on that rival Sunday when winning the $4,947,000 Tokyo Yushun (G1) (Japanese Derby), reaching the pinnacle of the nation's total of 7,708 3-year-olds, at Tokyo Racecourse.
After breaking from stall 12, Tastiera was positioned well in fifth and two-wide while Pax Ottomanica set a moderate pace and maintained a huge lead into the stretch. Hitting the straight in fourth under Damien Lane, Tastiera responded well to steadily close in, inheriting the lead from the pacesetter 200 meters out while repelling a determined challenge from Bellagio Opera from an inner route. He fiercely dueled Sol Oriens and Hearts Concerto on his outside to reach the wire a neck ahead of Sol Oriens.
‟It's a very special, great feeling especially for Hori Stables and Carrot Farm with whom I've had success with. It was definitely the position, and credit to the horse—he's so versatile, he could jump quick put himself in a good position and relax. It's just a great sense of achievement,” said Lane, who was riding for trainer Noriyuki Hori.
Heavy favorite Sol Oriens broke well and sat in sixth, just behind Tastiera, while Hearts Concerto, who was off slow and near the rear earlier, steadily made headway in the backstretch to catch up and enter the straight alongside Sol Oriens. Although unable to tag the winner, Sol Oriens held off Hearts Concerto by a nose for second place after a fierce battle to the line, while being denied the possibility of a Triple Crown triumph by the winner.
As a first-crop progeny by Shadai Stallion Station resident stallion Satono Crown, who was third in the 2015 Japanese Derby for Hori, Tastiera became the first Grade 1 winner for his sire. After breaking his maiden last November, Tastiera was fourth in the Kyodo News Hai (G3) and went on to land his first graded win in the Yayoi Sho Deep Impact Kinen (G2) in March before finishing second, 1 1/4 lengths behind Sol Oriens in the Japanese 2000 Guineas in April. The bay colt would not be denied Sunday.
Sunday's win marks trainer Hori's second Japanese Derby title following Duramente's victory in 2015. Lane, who has ridden under a short-term license since April 15, became the first foreign-based jockey since Mirco Demuro (2003, Neo Universe) to win the Japanese Derby.
Tastiera was bred by Northern Farm. He is the first foal from the Manhattan Cafe mare Partitura.
His name conjures a sense of suspense, so when Drumroll (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) was denied a short head by Teutates (Ire) (Churchill {Ire}) after a pulsating tussle for Sunday's G3 Heider Family Stables Gallinule S. at The Curragh, it was only right that the drama would play out further as an inquiry was announced. Once the head-on had revealed the extent of the interference caused by the first-past-the-post to Ballydoyle's full-brother to Saxon Warrior (Jpn), the writing was on the wall and the result was duly amended in his favour.
Runner-up to the stable's G1 Irish 2000 Guineas hero Paddington (GB) (Siyouni {Fr}) in the Listed Tetrarch S. here at the start of the month, Drumroll tracked the leading pair early before engaging Teutates passing two out. Bumped twice late on as the line neared, the 4-5 favourite had done enough to convince the officials that he would have prevailed with a clear run and, drumroll, he was able to add further gravitas to his illustrious family's record.
“He's progressing and a mile and a quarter looks a good trip for him,” commented Aidan O'Brien, who was to go on to a four-timer on the card. “The Irish Derby is a possibility. He's still a bit of a baby and ran a bit green.”
Pedigree Notes
The aforementioned Saxon Warrior, who is establishing his name at stud having won the G1 2000 Guineas and G1 Racing Post Trophy, started his career here with a 'TDN Rising Star' performance. The dam Maybe (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), who also excelled at this venue when taking the G1 Moyglare Stud S. and G2 Debutante S., is also responsible for the listed-placed Pavlenko (Jpn)–again by Deep Impact–and More Beautiful (War Front).
Maybe is a full-sister to Promise To Be True (Ire), who like her captured the G3 Silver Flash S. and who was also second in the G1 Prix Marcel Boussac, and to Fluff (Ire) who produced the stable's promising 3-year-old colt Continuous (Jpn) (Heart's Cry {Jpn}) who took the G3 Prix Thomas Bryon and dead-heated for third in the G2 Dante S. Her listed-winning dam Sumora (Ire) (Danehill) is kin to the G1 Oaks and G1 Preis der Diana heroine Dancing Rain (Ire) by Danehill's son Danehill Dancer (Ire) and she went on to produce the dual Group 2 winner Magic Lily (GB) from a mating with Galileo's son New Approach (Ire). Also related to the G1 Derby-winning sire Dr Devious (Ire), Maybe's yearling colt is by Kingman (GB).
Sunday, The Curragh, Ireland HEIDER FAMILY STABLES GALLINULE S.-G3, €60,000, Curragh, 5-28, 3yo, 10fT, 2:09.07, gd.
1–DRUMROLL (IRE), 131, c, 3, by Deep Impact (Jpn) 1st Dam: Maybe (Ire) (Ch. 2yo Filly-Eur, G1SW-Ire, SW & G1SP-Eng, $469,223), by Galileo (Ire) 2nd Dam: Sumora (Ire), by Danehill 3rd Dam: Rain Flower (Ire), by Indian Ridge (Ire) 1ST BLACK TYPE WIN, 1ST GROUP WIN. O-Mrs J Magnier/M Tabor/D Smith/Westerberg; B-Maybe Syndicate (IRE); T-Aidan O'Brien; J-Ryan Moore. €12,000. Lifetime Record: 3-2-1-0, $31,049. *Full to Saxon Warrior (Jpn), MG1SW-Eng, GSW & MG1SP-Ire, $1,481,978. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
*2–Teutates (Ire), 131, g, 3, Churchill (Ire)–War Goddess (Ire), by Champs Elysees (GB). 1ST BLACK TYPE, 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. O-Eclipse Thoroughbreds & Albert Frassetto; B-Whisperview Trading Ltd (IRE); T-Donnacha O'Brien. €36,000.
3–Kingswood (GB), 131, c, 3, Roaring Lion–All At Sea (GB), by Sea The Stars (Ire). 1ST BLACK TYPE, 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. (€130,000 Ylg '21 GOFOR). O-Glyn Davies & Mrs J Davies; B-Miss K Rausing (GB); T-John O'Donoghue. €6,000.
Margins: (SHD), HF, 5HF. Odds: 0.80, 22.00, 4.00.
Also Ran: Young Ireland (Ire), Save Your Love (Ire), Mister Mister (Ger). Scratched: Pivotal Trigger (GB).
*Teutates finished first, but was disqualified and placed second.
Carrot Farm's Tastiera (Jpn) (Satono Crown {Jpn}), who fell victim to a stinging late rush from Sol Oriens (Jpn) (Kitasan Black {Jpn}) in the G1 Satuski Sho (Japanese 2000 Guineas) Apr. 16, got first run on that favoured foe in the long Tokyo straight and found the wire a neck to the good, dashing any hope for a Triple Crown for 2023. Heart's Concerto (Jpn) (Heart's Cry {Jpn}) was a strong third at longshot odds, but the race was marred by the death of Carrot Farm's second betting choice Skilfing (Jpn) (Kitasan Black {Jpn}), who suffered a cardiac event in the late stages and collapsed past the winning post.
The Derby was run at just a steady tempo, as Pax Ottomanica (Jpn) (Victoire Pisa {Jpn}) set the pace in advance of fellow outsider Ho O Biscuits (Jpn) (Mind Your Biscuits). Tastiera, somewhat surprisingly no better than the fourth most-fancied runner, assumed a prominent spot beneath the visiting Damian Lane after beginning a beat slowly and raced two wide and with the benefit of cover entering the back straight.
Pax Ottomanica was slipped a bit of rein and had stretched his advantage to a good half-dozen lengths passing the 1400-metre peg, but those doing the chasing were being ridden patiently, waiting for the speed to come back to them. Pax Ottomanica opened up by as many as 10 lengths entering the final three furlongs, but Tastiera was given his cue by Lane three deep off the home corner, with odds-on Sol Oriens just behind and to his left, right on his flank. Pax Ottomanica held bravely, clearly advantaged by the easy tempo, but was collared by Tastiera just inside the furlong, and although Sol Oriens was in the clear with every chance from there, the wire arrived in time for Tastiera. Dura Erede (Jpn) (Duramente {Jpn}) stumbled at the start and lost jockey Ryusei Sakai.
A Trip Down Memory 'Lane'
Just 29 years old, Bunbury, Western Australia, native Damian Lane is perennially among the top riders in Victoria and is the latest big name to make a big impression on short-term contracts in Japan. Sunday's Derby marks the jockey's fifth top-level success in the country, two of which came aboard Carrot Farm's Horse of the Year Lys Gracieux (Jpn) (Heart's Cry {Jpn}) in the G1 Takarazuka Kinen and G1 Arima Kinen either side of a stirring score in the 2019 G1 Cox Plate at Moonee Valley for Yoshito Yahagi.
The first of his 13 Japanese group victories came astride Carrot Farm's Mer de Glace (Jpn) (Rulership {Jpn}) in the 2019 G3 Niigata Daishoten, and Lane was once again in the irons for a one-length tally in that year's G1 Caulfield Cup, a week prior to the Cox Plate. Lane's relationship with Japanese horsepeople also resulted in his landing the ride aboard Crown Pride (Jpn) (Reach the Crown {Jpn}), whom he duly piloted to take out the 2022 G2 UAE Derby. Prior to that, he won the 2017 G1 Toorak H. and G1 Mackinnon S. with the Japanese part-owned Tosen Stardom (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}), while he also guided Win Marilyn (Jpn) (Screen Hero {Jpn}) to salute in last year's G1 Longines Hong Kong Vase.
Of his first Japanese Classic, Lane said: ‟It's a very special, great feeling especially for Hori Stables and Carrot Farm with whom I've had success. It was definitely the position [today], and credit to the horse–he's so versatile, he could jump quick, put himself in a good position and relax. It's just a great sense of achievement.”
Lane, who closed Sunday's card with a last-gasp success atop Heat on Beat (Jpn) (King Kamehameha {Jpn}) in the G2 Meguro Kinen, rides Serifos (Jpn) (Daiwa Major {Jpn}) in next Sunday's G1 Yasuda Kinen. The duo teamed to win last year's G1 Mile Championship S.
Pedigree Notes
Tastiera is the first elite-level scorer for his sire, who was acquired in utero in a private transaction and subsequently fetched ¥58 million ($573,040) from prominent owner Hajime Satomi at the 2013 JRHA Select Sale. Also trained by Noriyuki Hori, the dark bay was third to stablemate Duramente (Jpn) in the 2015 Tokyo Yushun and recorded the first Group 1 of his career in the Longines Hong Kong Vase at the tail end of his 4-year-old season. He also annexed the G1 Takarazuka Kinen in 2017 and was retired to Shadai Stallion Station at the end of the following campaign. Satono Crown, a brother to 2011 G1 Cheveley Park Stud S. heroine Lightening Pearl (Ire), has been represented by 29 individual winners to date, including Tosen Laurier (Jpn) and Uvarovite (Jpn), each victorious at the listed stakes level.
On behalf of Shadai Farm, bloodstock agent Patrick Barbe spent $90,000 for Tastiera's Florida-bred fourth dam Crafty Wife (Crafty Prospector) at the Due Process Dispersal at Fasig-Tipton Kentucky in 1989. She was exported to Japan, was bred to Northern Taste and the result was Kyoei Forte (Jpn), a stakes-placed winner of nearly $1.5 million. Second dam Fortepiano was a full-sister to the listed-placed Sound Axis (Jpn) and foaled Partitura to the cover of 2001 Kikuka Sho hero Manhattan Cafe (Jpn) (Sunday Silence) in 2014.
Partitura is the dam of a 2-year-old filly by Bricks and Mortar, a yearling filly by 2017 Derby winner Rey de Oro (Jpn) and was most recently covered by Kitasan Black (Jpn).
Sunday, Tokyo, Japan TOKYO YUSHUN (JAPANESE DERBY)-G1, ¥609,070,000, Tokyo, 5-28, 3yo, c/f, 2400mT, 2:25.20, fm.
1–TASTIERA (JPN), 126, c, 3, by Satono Crown (Jpn) 1st Dam: Partitura (Jpn), by Manhattan Cafe (Jpn) 2nd Dam: Fortepiano (Jpn), by French Deputy 3rd Dam: Kyoei Forte (Jpn), by Northern Taste 1ST GROUP 1 WIN. O-Carrot Farm; B-Northern Farm; T-Noriyuki Hori; J-Damian Lane; ¥327,349,000. Lifetime Record: 5-3-1-0, ¥482,329,000. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Werk Nick Rating: B. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Sol Oriens (Jpn), 126, c, 3, Kitasan Black (Jpn)–Skia (Fr), by Motivator (GB). O-Shadai Race Horse; B- Shadai Farm; ¥127,814,000.
3–Hearts Concerto (Jpn), 126, c, 3, Heart's Cry (Jpn)–Nasuno Sibelius, by Unbridled's Song. O-Green Farm; B-Hashimoto Farm; ¥78,907,000.
Margins: NK, NO, NO. Odds: 7.30, 0.80, 24.60.
Also Ran: Bellagio Opera (Jpn), Nocking Point (Jpn), Ho O Biscuits (Jpn), Season Rich (Jpn), Phantom Thief (Jpn), Shazzan (Jpn), Hrimfaxi (Jpn), Satono Glanz (Jpn), Metal Speed (Jpn), Pax Ottomanica (Jpn), Top Knife (Jpn), Gruner Green (Jpn), Shonan Bashitto (Jpn), Skilfing (Jpn). DNF: Dura Erede (Jpn) (lost rider). Click for the JRA chart.
