Tag: Christophe Lemaire

Japanese Arc Raiders Please Connections In Final Works

Several of Japan's G1 Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe challengers galloped on Wednesday morning, led by Classic winner and three-time Group 1 victor Titleholder (Jpn) (Duramente {Jpn}). Successful in the G1 Japanese St Leger back in October of 2021, the 4-year-old is riding a three-race winning streak, having taken the G2 Nikkei Sho, G1 Tenno Sho (Spring) and G1 Takarazuka Kinen in March, May and June this term, respectively. Carrying the silks of Hiroshi Yamada, the son of five-time winner Mowen (GB) (Motivator {GB}) has not raced since.

“We gave him a grass gallop this morning,” said trainer Toru Kurita. “There were two horses in front of him and he was waiting behind and he adapted himself very well to the ground.

“They went approximately a mile and a quarter, went slowly at the beginning and then quickened in the final four furlongs. The horse came close to joining the other ones in front. It was a good workout.

“It is very difficult to put a number on it [how much he can improve], but I can feel that the horse is getting better–he is improving and coming right for the race.”

Another contender from the Land of the Rising Sun is this year's G1 Japanese Derby hero Do Deuce (Jpn) (Heart's Cry {Jpn}). He has already tested the waters at group level in France and was fourth in the G2 Prix Niel on Sept. 11.

“In the beginning of the race three weeks ago he felt fine, but then I also felt that he was tired when we came to the final furlong,” said Japanese riding legend Yutaka Take.

“He hadn't run in quite some time but this morning [Wednesday], I didn't ride him when he worked but I saw him, and I saw that he moved really well and that he had improved since that last run in Longchamp.

“I've had the opportunity to ride very good horses in the race and Do Deuce is going to be one of them. He's only three and he is still improving.

“To win the Arc has always been a dream and it's always been an objective of mine. While I'm still riding it remains very high on my agenda in my career.”

Another Japanese Arc contender out for a spin on Wednesday was Stay Foolish (Jpn) (Stay Gold {Jpn}), who has already proved himself twice against overseas competition when taking the G3 Red Sea Turf H. on the $20-million G1 Saudi Cup undercard in February, and again in Dubai, when winning the G2 Dubai Gold Cup on Mar. 26. Returned to his native land, the 7-year-old was unplaced in Titleholder's Takarazuka Kinen in June but was a close second in the G2 Grand Prix de Deauville on Aug. 28.

“Stay Foolish has a different profile compared to the horses that have run the Classic races like Do Deuce, who has run in the Derby, and Titleholder, who has run in the Group 1s in Japan,” Christophe Lemaire explained.

“He's a horse who has improved a lot with age, especially over the longer trips. He's maybe not as strong as a Derby winner but he has got a lot of experience.

“It was a very good workout this morning on ground that I would call good to soft, I was very happy with the way he cantered and galloped.

“In fact, he actually gave me the feeling I had before the run in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. It was important for me to connect with the horse and feel that's switched on to see how he moves and it was perfect.”

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Mendelssohn Represented By First Japanese Winner

Coolmore America's Mendelssohn, a son of the much-missed sire of sires Scat Daddy, was represented by his first Japanese winner and 16th overall from his first crop when the 2-year-old filly Celadonite (Jpn) turned in a professional debut effort over 1400 meters on the dirt Saturday at Chukyo Racecourse.

Drawn widest in a field of 10 in a rare sex-restricted event for first-time starters, the early April foal jumped alertly and was part of the early mix, then eased back to sit a midfield trip in the clear while racing several paths away from the inside. Gradually working her way into contention on the turn, Celadonite was poised to strike three deep on the swing for home, accelerated nicely when asked by Christophe Lemaire with a little more than an eighth of a mile to race and stayed on well to record a 1 1/4-length victory as the 19-10 second favorite (see below, SC 10). It was the 1,600th winner on the JRA circuit for the French reinsman.

 

 

Celadonite, who races in the colors of the Silk Racing syndicate, is the third winner from four to race for his dam Celadon (Gold Halo {Jpn}), whose best produce to date is the hard-knocking Copano Kicking (Spring At Last), a three-time Group 3 winner on the dirt in Japan who added a thrilling success in the $1.5-million Riyadh Dirt Sprint in 2021. Fourth in the latter event this term, he was an intended runner in the G1 Dubai Golden Shaheen, but suffered a career-ending injury in the days leading up to the race.

Celadon was acquired by Indian interests in 2015 and was exported to that country in foal to Elusive Quality. She produced two winners from two to race in India, but was returned to the U.S. in 2019, where she was covered by Mendelssohn and subsequently sent to Japan. She was barren to Drefong for 2021 and slipped her foal by champion dirt horse Le Vent Se Leve (Jpn) this season.

Mendelssohn, the half-brother to Into Mischief and Beholder, has 12 winners stateside, including the stakes-placed Miracle. His other winners have come in France, Ireland and Saudi Arabia. He is also the sire of the juvenile colt Tomodachi, a $1.3-million purchase by Japan's joint-second leading trainer Mitsu Nakauchida at this year's OBS April Sale.

 

 

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Team Rest Of The World Looking Forward To Shergar Cup

A few days out from the Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup, five jockeys, including the entire Rest of the World Team, were on hand to answer questions from the media at Ascot Racecourse. Held on Aug. 6, four teams (GB & Ire, Rest of the World, Europe, and Ladies) will compete across eight races gathering points, with awards handed out for the top team and top rider. Rest of the World Team Captain Christophe Lemaire was joined by the Australian-based pair of Kerrin McEvoy and Jason Collett, as well as Japan's Takeshi Yokoyama. Ladies team member Emma-Jayne Wilson (Canada), was also on hand.

Lemaire, a five-time champion jockey in Japan, said, “I think it has been 10 years since I last had a ride at Ascot. I have had a month off and there is no better place to get back in the saddle than here. Every time you race here, there is an excitement because you know it is an important occasion–you are competing against the best horses and the best jockeys in front of a great atmosphere.

“I am really looking forward to the Shergar Cup. We have a strong team made up of experience, with myself and Kerrin, and then the two young guns in Jason and Takeshi. I think it will be a nice combination as we try to win the title, and Kerrin's experience will be very important. He is a top-class jockey and has enjoyed a lot of success in England.”

Formerly Godolphin's number two rider back in the early 2000s, McEvoy is competing in his third Shergar Cup, and said, “It is exciting to be back. I haven't ridden here since 2019, when I did a little stint while William [Buick] was injured. This is a great part of the world to visit, let alone ride horses.”

New Zealander Jason Collett is competing in his first Shergar Cup, and was also experience Ascot Racecourse for the first time. The 31-year-old said, “This is my first time at Ascot and, I have to say, it is something else with the grandstand and everything. This place obviously has a bit of history, so it is pretty awesome to be here.”

Takeshi Yokoyama, who comes from a family of Group 1-winning jockeys, earned five Group 1 victories last year headed by Japanese Classic success on Efforia (Jpn) (Epiphaneia {Jpn}) and Titleholder (Jpn) (Duramente {Jpn}).

Yokoyama said via translator, “This is my first time at Ascot and my first time in the UK. I am really excited to be here and am appreciative of the invitation. Riding in the Shergar Cup will be a new experience for me. It is a big honour to represent Japan and hopefully I can learn a lot.”

Wilson, the most successful female jockey of all time in Canada, said, “I was supposed to come back for the Shergar Cup in 2020 but obviously the pandemic shut everything down. I think it must be five years since I last rode here, so it feels great to be back.

“I love this event and the novelty of it all. The international element is amazing and it is something you don't find unless you are in a competition like this. The team aspect creates a special camaraderie.”

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No Astral Projection Here, As ‘Stars’ Lands Japanese Oaks

Chances for a 2022 Japanese Fillies' Triple Crown are alive and well after G1 Japanese 1000 Guineas heroine Stars On Earth (Jpn) (Duramente {Jpn}) delivered the Classic double in the G1 Yushun Himba (Japanese Oaks) for Shadai Race Horse and trainer Mizuki Takayanagi at Tokyo Racecourse on Sunday.

Sent off as the 5-1 third choice, the bay broke well from the widest gate in 18, but was stuck wide as the field strung out in the wake of Nishino Love Wink (Jpn) (Epiphaneia {Jpn}). Sitting in eighth, Christophe Lemaire had his filly relaxed on the backstretch and she remained there entering the second and final turn.

Wheeling into the straight with plenty of horse, Lemaire cut Stars On Earth loose and she immediately began to pick up with a quarter-mile to travel while out in the centre of the course. The pacesetter still maintained her advantage, but Nishino Love Wink was starting to flag and several rivals were ready to pounce.

Flashing the greatest turn of foot, Stars On Earth grabbed the lead inside the final furlong and fended off a late run from Stunning Rose (Jpn) (King Kamehameha {Jpn}) by 1 1/4 lengths. It was the same margin back to Namur (Jpn) (Harbinger {GB}) in third. Favoured Circle of Life (Jpn) (Epiphaneia {Jpn}), the champion juvenile filly in Japan last year was a 2-1 shot, but she broke slowly and never engaged, trailing in 12th of 18.

“I am really thrilled to have won in front of a big crowd today– it's really not fun to win with an empty stand so I appreciate all you fans for coming,” said Lemaire, who was winning his first Group 1 of 2022 and third Oaks after Soul Stirring (Jpn)        (Frankel {GB}) in 2017 and Japanese Fillies Triple Crown victress Almond Eye (Jpn) (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}) one year later.

“The filly was in great condition coming into the race but it requires a lot of effort to start from an outside draw, so I was easy with her in early. She stayed calm and responded really well in the closing stages so I was happy. It was her first attempt at 2400 meters but her pedigree showed that she should be up in terms of stamina so I thought it shouldn't be a problem. She's already won at 1600 meters and shown to handle 2400 meters, so I think she has a pretty good chance to win her third Group 1 triple over 2000 meters.”

Never off the board in six previous starts, Stars On Earth broke her maiden at second asking last October and ran third in the Akamatsu Sho to Namur locally in November. She resumed with a runner-up performance to Lilac (Jpn) (Orfevre {Jpn}) (11th) in the G3 Fairy S. at Nakayama in January and filled the bridesmaid role again in the G3 Daily Hai Queen Cup here on Feb. 12. The Japanese 1000 Guineas, where she defeated Water Navillera (Jpn) (Silver State {Jpn}) (13th) was only her second victory on Apr. 10.

 

Pedigree Notes

Stars On Earth joins Titleholder (Jpn) as a dual Group 1 winner by Duramente, and the duo are half of the sire's tally of four stakes winners. The late Smart Strike was a highly successful sire Stateside and he is the grandsire of 144 black-type winners so far, 57 graded/group winners and an even dozen Grade/Group 1 winners. Since the start of the year, the former Lane's End stalwart has seven black-type winners, led by GI Kentucky Derby hero Rich Strike (Keen Ice) and GIII Robert B. Lewis S. and GI Santa Anita Derby runner-up Messier (Empire Maker). Also the damsire of 2009 Kentucky Derby scorer Mine That Bird (Birdstone), Smart Strike's Japanese triumphs span G1 Yasuda Kinen winner Strong Return (Jpn) (Symboli Kris S {Jpn}), Group 2 winner Epos (Jpn) (Just A Way {Jpn}) and G1 Oka Sho runner-up Red Oval (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) just to name a handful.

The second foal, runner and winner for her dam, who won once as a 3-year-old over 2000 metres in England, Stars On Earth is followed by a 2-year-old colt by Daiwa Major (Jpn). A homebred for Teruya Yoshida, Southern Stars, a half-sister to Lemaire's 2017 Japanese Oaks winner Soul Stirring and G3 Artemis S. victress Schon Glanz (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}), was covered by Mikki Isle (Jpn) last spring.

Stars On Earth's second dam is the American champion grass mare Stacelita (Fr) (Monsun {Ger}), who gained a similar honour in France from 9 1/2-11 furlongs. A winner of the G1 Prix de Diane (French Oaks), GI Beverly D. S., GI Flower Bow Invitational S., G1 Prix Vermeille, G1 Prix Saint-Alary and G1 Prix Jean Romanet, Stacelita is out of German listed winner Soignee (Ger) (Dashing Blade {GB}).

 

Sunday, Tokyo, Japan
YUHUN HIMBA (JAPANESE OAKS)-G1, ¥306,220,000, Tokyo, 5-22, 3yo, f, 2400mT, 2:23.90, fm.
1–STARS ON EARTH (JPN), 121, f, 3, Duramente (Jpn)
                1st Dam: Southern Stars (GB), by Smart Strike
                2nd Dam: Stacelita (Fr), by Monsun (Ger)
                3rd Dam: Soignee (Ger), by Dashing Blade (GB)
O-Shadai Race Horse; B-Shadai Farm (Jpn); T-Mizuki
Takayanagi; J-Christophe Lemaire; ¥168,154,000. Lifetime
Record: 7-3-3-1. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the
   eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Stunning Rose (Jpn), 121, f, 3, King Kamehameha (Jpn)
                1st Dam: Rosa Blanca (Jpn), by Kurofune.
                2nd Dam: Rosebud (Jpn), by Sunday Silence
                3rd Dam: Rose Colour (Jpn), by Shirley Heights (GB)
1ST GROUP 1 BLACK TYPE. O-Sunday Racing; B-Northern Farm
(Jpn); ¥52,280,000.
3–Namur (Jpn), 121, f, 3, Harbinger (GB)
                1st Dam: Sambre et Meuse (Jpn), by Daiwa Major (Jpn)
                2nd Dam: Vite Marcher (Jpn), by French Deputy
                3rd Dam: Kyoei March (Jpn), by Dancing Brave
1ST GROUP 1 BLACK TYPE. O-Carrot Farm; B-Northern Farm
(Jpn); ¥32,140,000.
Margins: 1 1/4, 1 1/4, 1. Odds: 5.50, 27.20, 6.10.
Also Ran: Pin High (Jpn), Presage Lift (Jpn), Rouge Eveil (Jpn), Art House (Jpn), Nishino Love Wink (Jpn), Erika Vita (Jpn), Belle Cresta (Jpn), Lilac (Jpn), Circle of Life (Jpn), Water Navillera (Jpn), Sea Glass (Jpn), Love Pyro (Jpn), Personal High (Jpn), Ho O Vanilla (Jpn). SCR: Sound Vivace (Jpn).
Click for the JRA chart & video or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.

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