Tag: Ballon d’Or

Japanese DWC Night Team Continues To Grow

An already stiff Japanese challenge for the Dubai World Cup program at Meydan Mar. 30 was further fortified Wednesday when it was announced that Mikio Matsunaga-trained duo of Matenro Sky (Jpn) (Maurice {Jpn}), upset winner of the G2 Nakayama Kinen Feb. 25, and the 3-year-old colt Ballon d'Or (Jpn) (New Year's Day) have accepted invitations to the G1 Dubai Turf and G2 UAE Derby, respectively. Netkeiba was first to report the news.

The 5-year-old Matenro Sky broke through at the stakes level in the Listed Rigel S. going a mile at Hanshin last December and was posting a career-high in the Nakayama Kinen (see below), besting $4.3-million 2-year-old in training purchase Dobune (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}), with G1 Satsuki Sho (Japanese 2000 Guineas) winners Geoglyph (Jpn) (Drefong, 2022) and Sol Oriens (Jpn) (Kitasan Black {Jpn}, 2023) third and fourth.

 

 

Past winners of the Nakayama Kinen that have gone on to international glory include Victoire Pisa (Jpn), Nuovo Record (Jpn), Neorealism (Jpn), two-time victor Win Bright (Jpn) and Panthalassa (Jpn). The outstanding Duramente (Jpn) won the 2016 Nakayama Kinen.

Shadai Farm's Ballon d'Or was beaten five lengths into third by recent G3 Saudi Derby winner Forever Young (Jpn) (Real Steel {Jpn}) on Kyoto debut last October and has since won two of four starts on the dirt. A six-length maiden winner at second asking, the $650,000 JRHA Select Foal purchase won a Hanshin allowance in December before finishing third in the valuable Bluebird Cup at Funabashi in January. He exits a sixth behind Ramjet (Jpn) (Majestic Warrior) in the 1600-metre Listed Hyacinth S. Matsunaga won the 2016 UAE Derby with the American-bred Lani (Tapit).

According to Netkeiba, the veteran Norihiro Yokoyama will ride both horses.

The deep Japanese contingent also includes defending champion Ushba Tesoro (Jpn) (Orfevre {Jpn}) and 2023 UAE Derby hero Derma Sotogake (Jpn) (Mind Your Biscuits) for the G1 Dubai World Cup; Liberty Island (Jpn) (Duramente {Jpn}) and 2022 winner Shahryar (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) for the G1 Dubai Sheema Classic; Do Deuce (Jpn) (Heart's Cry {Jpn}) in the Dubai Turf; Forever Young in the Derby; and G3 Riyadh Dirt Sprint hero Remake (Jpn) (Lani) for the G1 Dubai Golden Shaheen.

 

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Godolphin Homebred Looks To Keep Hyacinth S. All In the Family

A field of 11–ten males and a single American-bred filly–head to the post for Sunday's $243,343 Listed Hyacinth S. going a one-turn 1600 meters at Tokyo Racecourse. The race serves as the third of four legs on the Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby and will award the winner 30 points towards a berth in the field at Churchill Downs on the first Saturday in May.

Sheikh Mohammed's worldwide Godolphin operation won the 2022 Hyacinth with their homebred Combustion (Jpn) (Discreet Cat) and is represented Sunday afternoon by that colt's full-brother Unquenchable (Jpn). The chestnut defeated Logi Adelaide (Jpn) (Drefong) to win his maiden at second asking over this course and distance Oct. 27 and checked in a good third behind Amante Bianco (Jpn) (Henny Hughes) in the first leg of the local series, the Cattleya Sho (allowance) last November, picking up three Derby points. Unquenchable, a latest second to the talented American-bred Sonic Star (Into Mischief) over track and trip Jan. 27, is favored at just north of 2-1 and has the services of Christophe Lemaire from gate 11.

Logi Adelaide proceeded to run second in his next start Nov. 4, but put it all together when romping home by seven lengths as the 2-5 chalk Nov. 26.

Ballon d'Or (Jpn) (New Year's Day) is the only member of Sunday's field to already have earned black-type via his close third-place finish behind Ammothyella (Jpn) (Bricks and Mortar) and Ecoro Gaia (Speightstown) in the Listed Bluebird Cup at Funabashi Racecourse Jan. 17. The bay was purchased for over $650,000 as a foal at the 2021 JRHA Select Sale.

Sunday's winner will leap-frog to the top of the standings on the Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby, with just the Mar. 23 Fukuryu S. (allowance) at Nakayama remaining. The current leader, Forever Young (Jpn) (Real Steel {Jpn}), runs in next Saturday's G3 Saudi Derby, while second-placed Amante Bianco was second in the Feb. 14 Kumotori Sho, an allowance race at Ohi Racecourse that was outside the Derby series.

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