The Weekly Wrap: The Derby Sire

Coming into 2021, there was little Frankel (GB) hadn't yet accomplished in his rise to the top of the stud ranks. In four crops of racing age he could already claim a world's highest-rated horse, a champion middle-distance horse and champion 2-year-old, Group 1-winning milers and stayers, and an Oaks winner.

This weekend, the Juddmonte sire exceeded even his own lofty standards by siring Godolphin's Irish Derby winner Hurricane Lane (Ire), and thus giving him victory in both the English and Irish Derbys following on the heels of Adayar (Ire) at Epsom–a feat Frankel's sire Galileo (Ire), who has become synonymous with Derby success, has thus far been able to accomplish only once with two different horses, Anthony Van Dyck (Ire) and Sovereign (Ire) in 2019. Since the turn of the century, the only other sire to have done so is Montjeu (Ire) in 2005 with Motivator (GB) and Hurricane Run (Ire).

While the last four weeks have seemingly answered any lingering questions about Frankel's scope as a sire, they have also reignited the what-could-have-beens of his racing career. Could he himself have excelled at a mile and a half? Doing so at Epsom or The Curragh in June seems a much greater question mark, given his early exuberance, but as he settled into the finished product and got the mile and a quarter at York and Ascot with ease, it is difficult to imagine that he didn't have a G1 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth S. or G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe victory within him. Now, we'll have to rely on his sons and daughters to fill those voids, and Adayar and Hurricane Lane could be among those to get the chance. Charlie Appleby, trainer of both horses, noted after the Irish Derby that future targets for both colts would depend upon how Adayar performs against older horses in the July 24 King George. While Adayar has remained ensconced at Moulton Paddocks since his blue riband win, Hurricane Lane has given him a significant boost, having himself been third at Epsom.

As it had been when Adayar and Essential Quality (Tapit) won Classics for Godolphin on opposite ends of the Atlantic on June 5, Saturday was another red-letter day for the royal blue transatlantically, with Maxfield (Street Sense) easily winning the GII Stephen Foster H. at Churchill Downs. He forms part of an enviable squad that Godolphin America will have for that country's marquee middle-distance races this summer and autumn, joining Essential Quality and G1 Dubai World Cup winner Mystic Guide (Ghostzapper), who makes his return in Saturday's GII Suburban H. at Belmont Park. Godolphin's stallion arm, Darley, will have some serious ammunition to add to its stud ranks on both sides of the Atlantic in the coming years. While Appleby has already left the door cracked open for 4-year-old campaigns for both his Derby winners, they will surely eventually take up residence at either Dalham Hall or Kildangan Stud, and likely alongside Palace Pier (GB) (Kingman {GB}) and Space Blues (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}). And while Godolphin and Appleby's 3-year-old ranks have been fast off the blocks this year, the divisional ranks are far from decided within Moulton Paddocks, with talented Dubawi (Ire) colts like Master Of The Seas (Ire), Highland Avenue (Ire) and Naval Crown (GB) still in with a chance to make their mark at the highest level.

Big Day For Night Of Thunder

Those sons of Dubawi will have lofty footsteps to follow in thanks to Night Of Thunder (Ire). The standout young Darley sire reached an important milestone this weekend, with the progressive 4-year-old filly Thundering Nights (Ire) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}) giving him his first European Group 1 winner in Sunday's G1 Pretty Polly S. at The Curragh. Victorious over the Group 1-winning Albigna (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}) in last summer's G3 Snow Fairy Fillies S. at The Curragh, Thundering Nights was beaten a head in the GII New York S. at Belmont Park just three weeks ago, and bested the highly regarded Santa Barbara (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) on Sunday. Thundering Nights is owned by Shapoor Mistry, whose Manjri Farm is one of the most renowned studs in India. Thundering Nights's dam, Cape Castle (Ire) (Cape Cross {Ire}), was exported to India in foal to Dawn Approach (Ire) after being bought by Mistry for 32,000gns-the same price Night Of Thunder cost as a yearling–at the Tattersalls February Sale in 2017 while carrying Thundering Nights. Thundering Nights was herself offered as both a foal and yearling and failed to sell for €17,000 and €19,000.

The G1 2000 Guineas and G1 Lockinge S. winner Night Of Thunder burst onto the scene as a freshman sire in 2019 with seven stakes winners in his first season, equaling a 19-year-old record. His upward trajectory continued last year, with three of his first-crop 2-year-old stakes winners adding black-type success at three and eight additional members of that crop winning stakes races. Night Of Thunder's fee was hiked to €75,000 from €25,000 for 2021, so without a Group 1 winner upon the completion of his first crop's 3-year-old season it was crucial that he achieved that feat this year. He accomplished it Down Under on May 29 with the New Zealand-bred Kukeracha (NZ)'s win in the Queensland Derby, with Thundering Nights continuing the momentum up north.

Night Of Thunder remains his sire crop's leader across most parameters, with Gleneagles (Ire) closing the gap on the heels of a highly productive first half of 2021. Gleneagles has 14 overall stakes winners compared to Night Of Thunder's 17, but one more stakes winner (six) in 2021 alone. Novemba (Ger) became his first Classic winner in the May 30 G2 German 1000 Guineas, while Loving Dream (GB) burst onto the scene with victory in the G2 Ribblesdale S. at Royal Ascot and 2-year-old filly Velocidad (GB) won the G2 Airlie Stud S. at The Curragh on the weekend.

Japan's Arc Dreams Alive

Chrono Genesis (Jpn) (Bago {Fr}) looked the real deal when winning Hanshin's G1 Takarazuka Kinen for the second consecutive year on Sunday. It was the fourth Group 1 win for the 5-year-old mare since her victory in the 2019 G1 Shuka Sho, and she is firmly on course to be the latest Japanese challenger in the G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe on Oct. 3. Can she at last break her country's hoodoo in the race they most want to win? Her sire, Bago, won the 2004 Arc, she has won over 2400 metres and looks versatile ground-wise. In the realm of racing, however, the Arc is still eons away, and with more immediate implications is the fact that Chrono Genesis and her compatriot Loves Only You (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}), second and third in the G1 Dubai Sheema Classic in March, have both flattered the winner, Mishriff (Ire) (Make Believe {GB}), with Group 1 wins since. Mishriff returns in Saturday's G1 Eclipse S.

Also from the Takarazuka Kinen, it is also worth noting the excellent second-place performance of Unicorn Lion (Ire) (No Nay Never). An 850,000gns Tattersalls October Book 1 yearling purchase by JS Company, Unicorn Lion was his sire's most expensive first-crop yearling and while the 5-year-old has been slow to come to hand, he has shown marked improvement in 2021, earning a first black-type win in the G3 Naruo Kinen earlier this month and holding on valiantly after setting the pace on Sunday.

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Chrono Genesis Wins Her Second Takarazuka Kinen, Earns Spot In Breeders’ Cup Turf

Sunday Racing's 5-year-old mare Chrono Genesis (JPN) took the lead in deep stretch and won Sunday's $3 million, 1 3/8-mile Grade 1 Takarazuka Kinen at Hanshin Racecourse in Takarazuka, Japan by 2 ¾ lengths and earned an automatic berth and fees paid into the $4 million Grade 1 Longines Breeders' Cup Turf through the Breeders' Cup Challenge Series.

The Breeders' Cup Challenge Series is an international series of 84 stakes races whose winners receive automatic starting positions and fees paid into a corresponding race of the Breeders' Cup World Championships, which will be held at Del Mar racetrack in Del Mar, California, on Nov. 5-6.

As part of the benefits of the Challenge Series, Breeders' Cup will pay the entry fees for Chrono Genesis, to start in the Longines Breeders' Cup Turf, which will be run at 1 ½ miles on the Del Mar turf course. Breeders' Cup also will provide a travel allowance of $40,000 for all starters based outside of North America to compete in the World Championships.

The odds-on favorite in the 62nd Takarazuka Kinen, Chrono Genesis, a bay daughter of Bago (FR) out of the Kurofune mare Chronologist (JPN), covered the 1 3/8 miles in 2:10.9 over a course listed as good to firm. Trained by Takashi Saito and ridden for the first time by Christophe Lemaire, Chrono Genesis improved her record to eight wins in 15 starts. She also became the third horse this year to earn a “Win and You're In” berth into the Longines Breeders' Cup Turf, joining Cool Day (ARG), who won the Gran Premio International Carlos Pellegrini (G1) at Palermo in Argentina, and Love (IRE), who captured Prince of Wales's Stakes (G1) at Royal Ascot.

Facing 12 rivals, Chrono Genesis broke well from post seven and settled around fifth while eyeing the 7-2 second choice Lei Papale (JPN), a 4-year-old filly who came into the race unbeaten in six starts. Though surrounded by horses entering the lane, Chrono Genesis waited until finding an open space 300 meters out and exerted a powerful burst of speed with the fastest last 3-furlong drive. She overtook 27-1 Unicorn Lion (IRE) and Lei Papale before reaching the wire with a comfortable 2-1/2-length margin.

“The mare was in very good condition and looked great at the paddock,” said winning rider Lemaire, who replaced the injured Yuichi Kitamura, Chrono Genesis's regular rider, for this race. “We were able to race in good position behind Lei Papale. She stretched really well and was able to run the last 200 meters easily.”

Seventh-pick Unicorn Lion and Lei Papale broke smoothly from the first two stalls and immediately surged out to take the front. Continuing to lead the field with Unicorn Lion setting the pace and Lei Papale pressing the pace in second, the two dueled strongly entering the lane. Though overtaken by Chrono Genesis 100 meters out, Unicorn Lion and Lei Papale held off the rest of the field by two lengths to finish second and third, respectively.

In winning back-to-back Takarazuka Kinen titles, Chrono Genesis became the first horse to do so since Gold Ship (JPN) in 2013 and 2014. Coming off a close runner-up effort in the Dubai Sheema Classic (G1) in March, this win marked her fourth Group 1 and sixth group-stakes victory. Along with her Takarazuka Kinen and Grade 1 Arima Kinen titles last year, she became the fifth horse and the first mare to win three Grand Prix races. Her career earnings surpassed a billion yen to become the fifth mare to do so after Vodka (JPN), Buena Vista (JPN), Gentildonna (JPN), and Almond Eye (JPN).

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Chrono Genesis Takes On Males In ‘Win And You’re In’ Takarazuka Kinen

Top female stars Chrono Genesis (JPN), the defending champion, and undefeated Lei Papale (JPN) lead 13 runners for Sunday's US$3 million, 1 3/8-mile Takarazuka Kinen (G1) at Hanshin Racecourse. The winner of Sunday's race will receive an automatic berth and fees paid into the US$4million Longines Breeders' Cup Turf (G1) through the Breeders' Cup Challenge Series.

The Breeders' Cup Challenge Series is an international series of 84 stakes races whose winners receive automatic starting positions and fees paid into a corresponding race of the Breeders' Cup World Championships, which will be held at Del Mar racetrack in Del Mar, California, on Nov. 5-6.

As part of the benefits of the Challenge Series, Breeders' Cup will pay the entry fees for the Takarazuka Kinen winner to start in the Longines Breeders' Cup Turf, which will be run at 1 ½ miles on the Del Mar turf course. Breeders' Cup also will provide a travel allowance of US$40,000 for all starters based outside of North America to compete in the World Championships. The Challenge winner must be nominated by the pre-entry deadline of Oct. 25 in order to receive the rewards.

The Takarazuka Kinen, the fourth Breeders' Cup Challenge race to be held in Japan this year, will be run in a clockwise direction. The race will be televised live on TVG.

Sunday Racing's 5-year-old Chrono Genesis, trained by Takashi Saito, won last year's race by 6 lengths as the 4-1 second choice. A gray daughter of Bago (FR) out of the Kurofune mare Chronologist (JPN), Chrono Genesis has seven wins and has finished out of the money just once in 14 starts. Last year's Takarazuka Kinen triumph was her second Group 1 win, following her October 2019 victory in the Shuka Sho at Kyoto against 3-year-old fillies. Her third Group 1 came last December at Nakayama where she captured the 1 ½-mile Arima Kinen by a neck. In her lone start this year, Chrono Genesis had a rough trip in the closing stages of the 1 ½-mile Longines Dubai Sheema Classic (G1) at Meydan battling in between Loves Only You (JPN) and Mishriff (IRE) to the wire, and finishing second to Mishriff by a neck.

“She got bumped quite badly last time in the Dubai Sheema Classic and it was an unlucky race for her, but she still ran well,” said Saito to JRA.com. “Having returned and completed quarantine at Miki Horseland Park, she then went to Northern Farm Shigaraki to settle back in on her return. She came back to the stable on June 2, and in her first piece of work after that, she seemed a little heavy, but soon got switched on in her usual way of doing things.”

Christophe Lemaire has the mount aboard Chrono Genesis from post seven.

Lei Papale, owned by U Carrot Farm and trained by Tomokazu Takano, has won all six of her races, three of them over the Hanshin course. A 4-year-old bay daughter of Deep Impact (JPN), Lei Papale is coming off a spectacular wire-to-wire win by 4 lengths in the 1 ¼-mile Osaka Hai (G1) at Hanshin on April 4 at 12-1. That victory was her second triumph of the year against males. She closed out 2021 by taking the 1 ¼-mile Challenge Cup (G3) at Hanshin on Dec. 5. “She would certainly be one of the main threats to Chrono Genesis,” said Takano. “There was some concern with the ground last time, but she went straight to the front and ran very cleverly to go on and win well. I put a lot of that down to the jockey's efforts. After that, the horse had a break at Northern Farm Shigaraki, and she has recovered from her last race quite quickly and looks to be in good condition.” Her regular jockey Yuga Kawada will once again be in the saddle breaking from post two.

Takashi Suzuki's 5-year-old mare Curren Bouquetd'or (JPN), finished third in the demanding 2-mile Tenno Sho (Spring) (G1) over the Hanshin course, beaten 2 ¾ lengths. Trained by Sakae Kunieda, Curren Bouquetd'or, a bay daughter of Deep Impact (JPN) has just two wins in 15 starts, but has seven second-place finishes, including the 2019 Yushun Himba (Japanese Oaks) (G1) and 2019 Japan Cup (G1). “Last time she pressed on at the end to try and win the race, but just got caught and had to settle for third,” said Kunieda. “It was her first time over 3,200 meters, and she did pull a bit. The shorter distance will suit, and she showed she can handle the Hanshin track in that last run.” Curren Bouquetd'or will be ridden by Keita Tosaki from post 10.

Another runner coming out of the Tenno Sho is Hideko Kondo's 4-year-old homebred Aristoteles (JPN). Trained by Hidetaka Otonashi, Aristoteles, a son of Epiphaneia, finished fourth in the Tenno Sho as the 7-2 second choice. Last October, he finished second by a neck to Contrail (JPN) in the Kikuka Sho (Japanese St. Leger) (G1). He opened 2021 with a victory in the 1 3/8-mile American Jockey Club Cup (G2) at Nakayama on Jan. 21. Yutaka Take, a four-time winner of the Takarazuka Kinen, has the mount from post nine.

Tatsue Ishikawa's Kiseki (JPN) and Capital System Co.'s Mozu Bello (JPN), finished second and third, respectively, behind Chrono Genesis in last year's race. Trained by Yasuyuki Tsujino, the 7-year-old Kiseki, by Rulership (JPN), a four-time winner, returns from Hong Kong, where he finished a solid fourth, beaten 2 ¾ lengths, in the 1 ¼-mile FWD Queen Elizabeth II Cup (G1) at Sha Tin on April 25. Kiseki, who also finished second in the 2019 Takarazuka Kinen, won the 2017 Kikuka Sho (Japanese St. Leger) (G1). Kiseki will be ridden by Yuichi Fukunaga from post 13.

At odds of 68-1, the 5-year-old Mozu Bello closed from 10th to second place behind Lei Papale in the Osaka Hai. Trained by Naoyuki Morita and ridden by Kenichi Ikezoe from post 11, Mozu Bello is a bay son of Deep Brillante (JPN) out of the Harlan's Holiday mare Harlan's Rudy. Mozu Bello has also won four races, but his last triumph came in January 2019 when he won the Nikkei Shinshun Hai (G2) at Kyoto.

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Chrono Genesis Defends Title In Takarazuka Kinen

Japan stages a pair of 'all-star' races each season, the G1 Takarazuka Kinen in early summer and the G1 Arima Kinen at year's end, giving fans a chance to vote for their favourite runners. The last four runnings of these events have been won by females–Lys Gracieux (Jpn) completed the double in 2019, while Chrono Genesis (Jpn) (Bago {Fr}) repeated the feat last year. The latter, who scored by six lengths last June, is back to defend her title in the final top-level test of the first half of the season, which offers the winner a fees-paid berth into the GI Breeders' Cup Turf at Del Mar in November.

Winner of half of her 14 career trips to the post, the gray mare was a sound third to Almond Eye (Jpn) (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}) in the G1 Tenno Sho (Autumn) over 2000 metres last November before taking the 12 1/2-furlong Arima Kinen by a neck Dec. 27. She was most recently beaten a neck into second by Mishriff (Ire) (Make Believe {GB}) in the Mar. 27 G1 Dubai Sheema Classic (2410m), the form of which was franked when Loves Only You (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) returned to take the G1 FWD QE II Cup in Hong Kong.

“She got bumped quite badly last time in the Dubai Sheema Classic and it was an unlucky race for her, but she still ran well,” her trainer Takashi Saito said. “She came back to the stable on June 2, and in her first piece of work after that, she seemed a little heavy, but soon got switched on in her usual way of doing things.”

Further female power comes in the form of Lei Papale (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}), who has yet to taste defeat in her six career trips to the post to date. Winner in Group 3 company at the tail end of her 3-year-old season, the bay got the litmus test in the G1 Osaka Hai over a rain-affected turf course at Hanshin Apr. 4, but she proved more than equal to the task in scoring by four lengths from Mozu Bello (Jpn) (Deep Brillante {Jpn}), with the likes of Triple Crown hero Contrail (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) and champion Gran Alegria (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) left further back in her wake.

Aristoteles (Jpn) (Epiphaneia {Jpn}) finished first or second in his first seven starts, then put a real scare into Contrail in the G1 Kikuka Sho (3000m), going down to a narrow defeat in that final leg of the Triple Crown last October. A Group 2 winner to begin this season, he exits a fourth in the May 2 G1 Tenno Sho (Spring) over two miles of this course. Kiseki (Jpn) (Rulership {Jpn}), winless since the 2017 Kikuka Sho, was runner-up in this event in each of the last two seasons.

Unicorn Lion (Ire) (No Nay Never) cost 850,000gns at Tattersalls October in 2017 and enters the Takarazuka Kinen on a two-race winning streak, including a 19-1 upset of the G3 Naruo Kinen at Chukyo June 5.

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