Geogylph, a Japan-bred son of former U.S. champion sprinter Drefong, captured the first jewel in Japan's Triple Crown when taking the Satuki Sho (Japanese Two Thousand Guineas) (G1) Sunday at Nakayama Racecourse.
Ask Victor More set the early pace as Geoglyph rated in midpack alongside Danon Beluga and just behind stablemate Equinox.
Switching to an outside path after the third turn to make a smooth and strong wide bid into the straight, Geoglyph chased and fought for the lead with Equinox into the last furlong. He weakened briefly before finding another gear to overtake his Equinox, then gained a short lead near the finish before surging strongly to win by one length.
Do Deuce was another 1 ¼ lengths back in third in the field of 18 3-year-olds.
Geogylph, the 9-1 fifth wagering choice, finished 2,000 meters (about 1 1/4 miles) in 1:59.7 on good to firm turf.
After debuting in June last year, Geoglyph notched two consecutive wins, including the Sapporo Nisai Stakes (G3,) and capped off his 2-year-old season with a fifth in the Asahi Hai Futurity Stakes (G1) in December. He commenced the current season with a second to Danon Beluga in the Kyodo News Hai (G3) on February 13.
“His start was good and we were able to sit in an ideal position which was crucial in winning today,” said winning rider Yuichi Fukunaga. “I already knew that he was in good form when I rode him during workouts and had every belief that, although the colt was fifth pick, he was capable of winning today. The colt has the strength to sustain his speed so I geared him wide launching an early bid before the fourth turn. I'm just glad I was able to do my job. In the upcoming (Japanese) Derby, we'll have to see if he can handle the 400-meter added distance.”
Breaking from the widest post, Equinox turned the first turn three-wide around seventh and gradually made headway to enter to the stretch in third. The Kitasan Black colt stretched well to inherit the lead passing the 200 meter pole but was challenged and finally pinned by the eventual winner before the wire while holding the rest of the field.
Race favorite Do Deuce broke smoothly but was reserved in second to third from the rear and made headway after the third corner to launch his bid entering the lane with the widest move still near the rear.
The Heart's Cry colt under Yutaka Take unleashed a strong closing kick from there and although with too much ground to make up, pinned second favorite Danon Beluga before the wire for third.
Geogylph is the first top-level winner for Japan-based stallion Drefong, a Kentucky-bred son of Gio Ponti. U.S. champion sprinter of 2016 after winning the King's Bishop Stakes (G1) and Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1), Drefong began stud duty in 2018 at Shadai Stallion Station and was Japan's leading freshman sire of 2021.
Geoglyph is trained by Tetsuya Kimura, who gained his first classic win, for owner Sunday Racing Co. Bred by Northern Farm, his dam is the King Kamehameha mare Aromatico.
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