While a locally trained winner of the G1 Saudi Cup in Emblem Road (Quality Road) will go down as a great moment in the annals of the newest international race meeting, the prevailing story could just be the dominance by Japanese runners on the undercard. Fresh off big showings at the Breeders' Cup and Hong
Kong International races, Japan brought a formidable squad to Riyadh and was rewarded with victories in the G3 Red Sea Turf H., G3 Neom Turf Cup, G3 Riyadh Cup and G3 1351 Turf Sprint. The nation was also second and third in the G3 Saudi Derby behind America's Pinehurst (Twirling Candy). Japan has long fielded runners for the G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, but has strengthened its challenges for other important international events in recent years and is now reaping the rewards.
All four Japanese winners were ridden by Christophe Lemaire. The richest race on the card, bar the Saudi Cup, was the $2.5-million Red Sea Turf H., won by Lemaire and Stay Foolish (Jpn) (Stay Gold {Jpn})–yet another international winner for charismatic trainer Yoshito Yahagi. On the engine from the moment the bell sounded, the 7-year-old entire ground his rivals into submission on the front end with Sonnyboyliston (Ire) (Power {GB}) 4 1/4-lengths back in second at the line, 1 3/4 lengths to the good of Godolphin's Siskany (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}).
Edging over to the fence to save every scrap of ground in this turf marathon, Lemaire and Stay Foolish were under minimal pressure from G1 Prix du Cadran victress Princess Zoe (Ger) (Jukebox Jury {Ire}) into the first bend, and Siskany was poised in the garden seat in third on the fence. Nayef Road (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), who'd half-reared at the start, was also among the first flight farther off the fence.
Stay Foolish was able to maintain a steady rhythm heading toward the backstretch, as Nayef Road took over second and Siskany was third with Princess Zoe to his immediate outside in fourth. Inching a bit farther in front down the backside, the bay continued to hold the advantage under a mostly motionless Lemaire as noses pointed toward home. Nayef Road began sending out distress signals and started to drop back while Siskany came with his bid at the 600-metre mark. Princess Zoe appeared to be winding up three deep just off the top pair and Sonnyboyliston snuck up the inside leaving the turn. However, Lemaire had done a beautiful job of conserving his mount's energy, and Stay Foolish lifted again to shake off his pursuers and glide down the lane an easy victor. Sonnyboyliston bested a game Siskany for third and Baron Samedi (GB) (Harbour Watch {Ire}) ran fourth, another two lengths back. Princess Zoe tired to 10th.
“I have been a trainer for a long time and this is one of my happiest moments,” said Yahagi, who trained a pair of Breeders' Cup winners last November including GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf heroine Loves Only You (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}), whom he also sent out to victory in the G1 Longines Hong Kong Cup. “I thought before he could win, absolutely. I knew he was training well so we had some confidence before the race. He is a one-paced sort of horse so this distance of 3000m must help him. To lead was one of our tactics and I depend on Christophe [Lemaire] to decide what is best in the race; I trust him. It is a great day for Japanese racing, proving how strong it is.”
“Once again I took the lead and he was very comfortable in front,” said Lemaire. “He used his stamina. What a performance. He was quickly away so we didn't stop. I am really, really happy. He's an easy horse, he likes to gallop. He doesn't have a big turn of foot; that's why I took the lead. The ground is good, inside the rail is good. When they are good they keep going.
“We don't have many long-distance races in Japan. Two thousand metres, 2200m is a little bit short for him and today he dominated the race. Running free like this he was unbeatable.
“We're happy to win these races, international races are very important. We want to provide a good image of horse racing in Japan. Once again they [the Japanese runners] have shown that they are true competitors and big challengers internationally.”
Ben Coen, aboard Sonnyboyliston, said, “He ran well off top weight after not having a run in nearly five months. I'm very happy with him. He jumped and got a nice position, travelled around well and hit the line well, so I am looking forward to the rest of the year with him.”
“I jumped well and travelled to a point, but the short side of two miles in this ground meant it probably just quickened a bit away from her,” said Princess Zoe's rider Joey Sheridan. “She didn't disgrace herself and she pulled up fine which is the main thing. The Gold Cup trip on that ground is ok, but on the short side of two miles, she didn't disgrace herself and I'm sure Tony [Mullins, trainer] will have her ready for the Gold Cup.”
Although his scores have been few and far between, Stay Foolish did win at first asking all the way back in December of his 2-year-old year and was then third in the G1 Hopeful S. of 2017. Successful in the 2018 G2 Kyoto Shimbun Hai, he has performed with credit for many seasons in Japan and was second on Valentine's Day in the 2021 G2 Kyoto Kinen. He failed to finish the 2000-metre G2 Sapporo Kinen last August and was off the board in three more Japanese starts, all at group level in 2021. Prior to Saturday's front-running heroics, he was fifth to fellow Japanese shipper Glory Vase (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) in the G1 Longines Hong Kong Vase going 2400 metres at Sha Tin on Dec. 12.
More international challenges beckon for Stay Foolish, who is a possibility for Flemington's G1 Melbourne Cup over 3200 metres in November.
“Looking forward, I hope we can go to Australia for the Melbourne Cup later in the year,” Yahagi added.
Pedigree Notes
The late Stay Gold sired 56 black-type winners, with Stay Foolish one of 39 at the group level. Led by dual G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe runner-up Orfevre (Jpn), the bay has 10 Group 1 winners to his credit. Stay Foolish is one of two black-type winners out of King Kamehameha (Jpn) mares for the stallion, with the other being the dual Group 1 winner Indy Champ (Jpn).
A winner of the Listed Turquoise S. over 1600 metres in her native land, Kauai Lane (Jpn) also ran third in the 1800-metre G3 Hokkaido Shimbun Hai Queen S. At stud, she sports a consistent record of seven winners from seven foals to make the races, with Stay Foolish her best progeny to date. Her latest foals are fillies–a juvenile by Just a Way (Jpn) and a yearling by Kizuna (Jpn). One of four black-type winners out of G3 Prix de la Grotte victress and G1 Irish Oaks third Silver Lane, Kauai Lane returned to the latter sire last spring.
Silver Lane, carrying subsequent quintuple Japanese black-type winner and sire Black Hawk (GB) (Nureyev), was knocked down for $750,000 to Charlie Gordon-Watson, agent for Watership Down Stud at the 1993 Keeneland November Sale. Sent to Japan several years later, she bred two more black-type winners there for the stud. Her King Kamehameha filly of 2006 who would become Kauai Lane, changed hands for ¥35,000,000 at the JRHA Sale of Yearlings and Weanlings. Third dam Strait Lane is responsible for three-time Grade I winner and sire Hawkster (Silver Hawk), as well as the stakes winner Silver Kite (Silver Hawk), who was third in the G1 Prix de la Salamandre.
Saturday, King Abdulaziz (Riyadh), Saudi Arabia
LONGINES RED SEA CUP-G3, $2,500,000, King Abdulaziz, 2-26, 4yo/up, 3000mT, 3:06.08, gd.
1–STAY FOOLISH (JPN), 132, h, 7, Stay Gold (Jpn)
               1st Dam: Kauai Lane (Jpn) (SW & GSP-Jpn, $908,075),
                               by King Kamehameha (Jpn)
               2nd Dam: Silver Lane, by Silver Hawk
               3rd Dam: Strait Lane, by Chieftain
O-Shadai Race Horse Co. Ltd.; B-Shadai Farm (Jpn); T-Yoshito
Yahagi; J-Christophe Lemaire; $1,500,000. Lifetime Record:
GSW & G1SP-Jpn, 30-3-5-7, $4,341,647. Click for the
  eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Werk Nick Rating: A+++.
  *Triple Plus*.
2–Sonnyboyliston (Ire), 136, g, 5, Power (GB)–Miss Macnamara
(Ire), by Dylan Thomas (Ire). (€26,000 Ylg '18 TATSEP).
O-Kildare Racing Club; B-Ms. Diane O'Neill (Ire); T-Johnny
Murtagh; J-Ben Coen; $500,000.
3–Siskany (GB), 131, g, 4, Dubawi (Ire)–Halay (GB), by Dansili
(GB). 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. O/B-Godolphin (GB); T-Charlie
Appleby; J-James Doyle; $250,000.
Margins: 4 1/4, 1 3/4, 2.
Also Ran: Baron Samedi (GB), Dubai Future (GB), Mirinaque (Arg), Skazino (Fr), Desert Fire (Ire), Glycon (Fr), Princess Zoe (Ger), Louganini (GB), Fabilis (GB), Derevo (GB), Nayef Road (Ire). Click for the Racing Post chart and VIDEO. Click for the free Equineline.com catalog-style pedigree.
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