Classic winner Efforia (Jpn) (Epiphaneia {Jpn}), who was claiming his third Group 1 ring, took the lead in the lane and fended off a stubborn Deep Bond (Jpn) (Kizuna {Jpn}) to win the G1 Arima Kinen at Nakayama on Sunday. Last year's winner, Chrono Genesis (Jpn) (Bago {Fr}), who was making her final start, was third. The Carrot Farm-owned winner attracted the most votes to gain entry to the race, where the 10 horses that accrue the most votes from the public compete and the field is completed by horses with the highest earnings.
In between horses once the gates flew, the 3-year-old settled in midfield just behind Chrono Genesis. Panthalassa (Jpn) (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}) cut out fractions on the front end many lengths clear, until coming back to the field in the final half-mile. The even-money favourite passed Chrono Genesis shortly before the third and final turn, while Panthalassa's advantage had shrunk to just three-quarters of a length.
With only 1 1/2 furlongs to cover, Efforia began to unwind, with G2 Prix Foy victor Deep Bond (Jpn) (Kizuna {Jpn}) to his inside, closely tracked by Chrono Genesis. Deep Bond clawed his way to the lead inside the final 100 metres, but Efforia was going the better of the two late on, just getting the best of that foe by three-parts of a length. Chrono Genesis finally got going, but it was too little too late, and she was a half-length back in third, the same margin ahead of early stretch leader Stella Veloce (Jpn) (Bago {Fr}).
“He wasn't in the same perfect condition today as in the Tenno Sho (Autumn) in which he was 120%, but his potential proved he still could give a remarkable performance even with the added distance–2500 meters was the longest he's ever run. Unlike in the Derby, he was relaxed and positioned well and was able to show his true strength,” said jockey Takeshi Yokoyama.
Flawless barring a second in the G1 Japanese Derby, Efforia first captured a Sapporo newcomer's heat last August, before adding a Tokyo allowance-both over 2000 metres of grass-in November of 2020. Back in action on Valentine's Day, he added the G3 Kyodo News Hai (Tokinominoru Kinen) and the Apr. 30 G1 Satsuki Sho (Japanese 2000 Guineas), before his Derby blip on May 30. Resuming on Halloween, the colt defeated 2020 Japanese Triple Crown hero Contrail (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) in the 2000-metre G1 Tenno Sho (Autumn), prior to stepping out on Sunday.
Pedigree Notes
Epiphaneia continues to consolidate his position in the Japanese sire ranks, and Efforia is one of three Group 1 winners for the rising star. Besides 2020 Japanese Triple Tiara winner Daring Tact (Jpn), the 11-year-old also has 2021 G1 Hanshin Juvenile Fillies victress Circle of Life (Jpn), and G2 American Jockey Club Cup scorer Aristoteles (Jpn), second in the G1 Kikuka Sho and the stakes winner Orthoclase (Jpn), twice placed at Group 1 level.
The second foal out of the winning Katies Heart, who did her best work around nine furlongs on the dirt, Efforia is followed by the placed Vangaurd's Heart (Jpn) (Harbinger {GB}), a yearling filly by Maurice (Jpn) and a weanling filly by Satono Crown (Jpn). His dam, a daughter of the Listed Prix du Cercle and Remembrance Day S. victress Katies First, was bred back to Epiphaneia this spring. Katies's First, in turn, was a half-sister to Japanese Champion 2-Year-Old and 3-Year-Old Filly Hishi Amazon (Theatrical {Ire}), who also was named the Japanese Champion Older Mare. Sleepless Night (Jpn) (Kurofune), winner of the G1 Sprinters S. in her native land and also a champion sprinter in Japan, is also under the third dam.
Sunday, Nakayama, Japan
ARIMA KINEN-G1, ¥574,800,000, Nakayama, 12-26, 3yo/up, 2500mT, 2:32.00, fm.
1–EFFORIA (JPN), 121, c, 3, Epiphaneia (Jpn)
1st Dam: Katies Heart (Jpn), by Heart's Cry (Jpn)
2nd Dam: Katies First, by Kris (GB)
3rd Dam: Katies (Ire), by Nonoalco
O-Carrot Farm; B-Northern Farm (Jpn); T-Yuichi Shikato;
J-Takeshi Yokoyama. ¥303,360,000. Lifetime Record: 7-6-1-0.
Werk Nick Rating: A+++. *Triple Plus*. Click for the
eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Deep Bond (Jpn), 126, c, 4, Kizuna (Jpn)–Zephyranthes (Jpn),
by King Halo (Jpn). (¥17,820,000 Ylg '18 JBBAJUL). O-Shinji
Maeda; B-Murata Farm (Jpn); ¥120,960,000.
3–Chrono Genesis (Jpn), 121, m, 5, Bago (Fr)–Chronologist
(Jpn), by Kurofune. O-Sunday Racing; B-Northern Farm (Jpn);
¥75,480,000.
Margins: 3/4, HF, HF. Odds: 1.10, 19.90, 1.90.
Also Ran: Stella Veloce (Jpn), Titleholder (Jpn), Aristoteles (Jpn), Akai Ito (Jpn), Mozu Bello (Jpn), You Can Smile (Jpn), Kiseki (Jpn), Win Kiitos (Jpn), Shadow Diva (Jpn), Panthalassa (Jpn), Persian Knight (Jpn), Melody Lane (Jpn), Asamano Itazura (Jpn).
Click for the JRA chart & video or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
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