The hitherto unbeaten Ascoli Piceno was crowned champion Japanese two-year-old filly in 2023, though Stellenbosch didn't have much to find with the favourite on their Hanshin Juvenile Fillies running when she'd finished best of all from the rear of the field to be beaten just a neck at the line.

This time Joao Moreira's mount always had Ascoli Piceno in her sights having recovered quickly from a slow start to race on the immediate inside of her old rival, with the pair finding a slot in mid-division as Shonan Manuela (Jpn) (Just A Way {Jpn}) led the field in the early stages. Swinging wide on the home turn, Stellenbosch quickly moved ahead of Ascoli Piceno and again impressed with her strength at the finish as she powered home to claim brief leader Etes Vous Prets (Jpn) (Too Darn Hot {GB}) in the final 100 metres. Ascoli Piceno tried to match strides with the winner but was still three quarters of a length behind at the line, with another half a length back to the fast-finishing Light Back (Jpn) (Kizuna {Jpn}) in third.

It was a third victory in the Oka Sho for trainer Sakae Kunieda, who was previously successful in 2010 with Apapane (Jpn) (King Kamehameha {Jpn}) and in 2018 with the brilliant Triple Tiara heroine Almond Eye (Jpn) (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}), while Brazilian-born Moreira was celebrating his first win in the Classic.

“She didn't jump very well, but she did nothing wrong during the race–she was very impressive,” said Moreira. “When we were approaching the home turn, we were trapped but as we passed by the 500-metre marker, we were able to split horses. She went up front a little bit too early and I was worried she couldn't sustain her speed all the way to the end but, as with all good horses, she has proved to be capable and has given me my second Group 1 win in Japan which will be in my heart forever.”

Stellenbosch shares her sire with Daring Tact (Jpn), who also completed the Triple Tiara in 2020, while Liberty Island (Jpn) (Duramente {Jpn}) became the seventh filly to win all three legs in 2023. The next leg, the G1 Yushun Himba (Japanese Oaks), takes place at Tokyo Racecourse on Sunday, May 19.

Prior to filling the runner-up spot in the Hanshin Juvenile Fillies, Stellenbosch won two of her first three starts last year, making a successful debut over nine furlongs at Sapporo in July before bouncing back from her first defeat to double her career tally over a mile at Tokyo in November.

It was overnight glory for Stellenbosch and magic man Joao Moreira in the Japanese Oka Sho (1000 Guineas)!#ステレンボッシュ #競馬 #桜花賞 @netkeiba pic.twitter.com/qLZVWiwIUb

— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) April 7, 2024

Pedigree Notes

Stellenbosch is one of three Classic winners and four Group 1 winners for Epiphaneia, who won the G1 Kikuka Sho (Japanese St Leger) himself in 2013. He later doubled his tally at the top level when also winning the Japan Cup the following year. As well as the Triple Tiara heroine Daring Tact, Epiphaneia is also responsible for the G1 Satsuki Sho (Japanese 2,000 Guineas) winner Efforia (Jpn), who subsequently struck in the G1 Tenno Sho (Autumn) and G1 Arima Kinen in a brilliant three-year-old campaign in 2021. Circle Of Life (Jpn) was the champion two-year-old filly for Epiphaneia the same year when the G1 Hanshin Juvenile Fillies was her standout victory.

Last year's Hanshin Juvenile Fillies runner-up Stellenbosch is the first winner and first runner out of the winning Bloukrans (Jpn), who did her best work at around 10 furlongs on turf. Bloukrans is in turn out of a half-sister to the late Deep Impact (Jpn), the Japanese Triple Crown winner who quickly rose to become one of the world's most influential stallions. Deep Impact and Stellenbosch's grandam, Land's Edge (Jpn), were both out of the blue hen Wind In Her Hair (Ire), herself a Group 1 winner in Germany and runner-up in the G1 Oaks at Epsom.

Sunday, Hanshin, Japan
OKA SHO (JAPANESE 1000 GUINEAS)-G1, ¥304,040,000, Hanshin, 4-7, 3yo, f, 1600mT, 1:32.20, fm.
1–STELLENBOSCH (JPN), 121, f, 3, by Epiphaneia (Jpn)
            1st Dam: Bloukrans (Jpn), by Rulership (Jpn)
            2nd Dam: Land's Edge (Jpn), by Dance in the Dark (Jpn)
            3rd Dam: Wind in Her Hair (Ire), by Alzao
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN. 1ST GROUP WIN. 1ST GROUP 1 WIN. O-Katsumi Yoshida; B-Northern Farm (Jpn); T-Sakae Kunieda; J-Joao Moreira; ¥166,628,000. Lifetime Record: 5-3-2-0, ¥215,468,000. Werk Nick Rating: A++. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Ascoli Piceno (Jpn), 121, f, 3, by Daiwa Major (Jpn)–Ascolti (Jpn), by Danehill Dancer (Ire). O-Sunday Racing; B-Northern Farm (Jpn); ¥63,608,000.
3–Light Back (Jpn), 121, f, 3, by Kizuna (Jpn)–In The Spotlight (Ire), by Exceed And Excel (Aus). 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. (¥242,000,000 Ylg '22 HOKJUL). O-Kazuhiro Masuda; B-Lake Villa Farm (Jpn); ¥38,804,000.
Margins: 3/4, NK, HF. Odds: 3.30, 2.50, 13.60.
Also ran: Sweep Feet (Jpn), Etes Vous Prets (Ire), Wide Latour (Jpn), Sekitoba East (Jpn), Queen's Walk (Jpn), Teumessa (Jpn), Hawaian Tiare (Jpn), Ipheion (Jpn), Chicago Sting (Jpn), Cervinia (Jpn), Mask All Win (Jpn), Cecile Plage (Jpn), Corazon Beat (Jpn), Shonan Manuela (Jpn), Catfight (Jpn). Click for the JRA chart & video.

The post Strong Finish Carries Stellenbosch To Oka Sho Glory appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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Bred by Northern Farm, the colt won his two juvenile starts for trainer Yuichi Shikato in 2020, and then strode to victories in the G3 Tokinorminoru Kinen, and the G1 Satsuki Sho (Japanese 2000 Guineas) in succession at three. Second by only a nose to subsequent globetrotter Shahryar (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) in the G1 Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby), the bay was back on top in the G1 Tenno Sho (Autumn) and sealed his dual championship honours with a 3/4-length victory in the G1 Arima Kinen that December.

Winless in three starts as a 4-year-old last year, Efforia made his 5-year-old bow in the G2 Kyoto Kinen on Sunday and retires with a record of 11-6-1-0 and $6,884,415 in earnings.

Out of the three-time winner Katie's Heart, Efforia is a half-brother to two winners, while his dual French listed-winning second dam Katie's First (Kris {GB}) is a half-sister to three-time Japanese champion Hishi Amazon (Theatrical {Ire}) and three other stakes winners. My Katies (Jpn) (Sunday Silence), a half-sister to Katie's Heart, foaled fellow Japanese Horse of the Year and sire Admire Moon (Jpn) (End Sweep).

The post Japanese Horse Of The Year Efforia Retired To Stand At Shadai appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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The remaining stallions and 2023 fees are: Saturnalia and Maurice (¥8Mil: €54,989)); Drefong and Rey D'oro (¥7Mil: €48,115); Bricks and Mortar (¥6Mil: €41,241); Poetic Flare (¥5Mil: €34,368); Mind Your Biscuits (¥4Mil: €27,493); Orfevre, Nadal, Harbinger and Rulership (¥3.5Mil: €24,056); Chrysoberyl, Real Steel and Le Vent Se Leve (¥3Mil: €20,619); Admire Mars, Satono Diamond, Siskin, New Year's Day and Mikki Isle (¥2.5Mil: €17,182); Suave Richard and Danon Kingly (¥2Mil: €13,746); Isla Bonita and Satono Crown (¥1.5Mil: €10,309); Satono Aladdin (¥1Mil: €6,873); Red Falx and Logotype (¥500,000: €3,436).

For more information, click here.

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Bred by Northern Farm and raced by Silk Racing, the 7-year-old claimed nine Group 1 victories throughout her career. Ridden all bar one race by Christophe Lemaire and trained by Sakae Kunieda, the bay won the 2018 Japanese Fillies' Triple Crown and G1 Japan Cup. Named the Champion 3-Year-Old Filly and Japanese Horse of the Year that year, she returned at four to win the G1 Dubai Turf at Meydan. Third in the G1 Yasuda Kinen later in 2019, she signed off with a G1 Tenno Sho Autumn title and was the champion older horse in the UAE from 7-9 ½ furlongs.

Kept in training at five, Almond Eye added the G1 Victoria Mile to her haul in May of 2020, and was second to Gran Alegria (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) in the G1 Yasuda Kinen a month later. Taking her second Tenno Sho Autumn in November of that year, she retired with a 1 1/4-length victory over Japanese Triple Crown Winner Contrail (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) and Japanese Fillies' Triple Crown Winner Daring Tact (Jpn) (Epiphaneia {Jpn}) in the Japan Cup, her second.

Out of the Queen Elizabeth II Commemorative Cup winner Fusaichi Pandora (Jpn) (Sunday Silence), who later placed in that race when it was promoted to Group 1 status, Almond Eye is a half-sister to the Japanese listed-placed Unakite (Jpn) (Johannesburg). This is the extended family of blue hen mare Sex Appeal (Buckpasser) and her sons and successful sires El Gran Senor (Northern Dancer) and Try My Best (Northern Dancer).

The post Champion Almond Eye Foals a Colt appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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In between horses once the gates flew, the 3-year-old settled in midfield just behind Chrono Genesis. Panthalassa (Jpn) (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}) cut out fractions on the front end many lengths clear, until coming back to the field in the final half-mile. The even-money favourite passed Chrono Genesis shortly before the third and final turn, while Panthalassa's advantage had shrunk to just three-quarters of a length.

With only 1 1/2 furlongs to cover, Efforia began to unwind, with G2 Prix Foy victor Deep Bond (Jpn) (Kizuna {Jpn}) to his inside, closely tracked by Chrono Genesis. Deep Bond clawed his way to the lead inside the final 100 metres, but Efforia was going the better of the two late on, just getting the best of that foe by three-parts of a length. Chrono Genesis finally got going, but it was too little too late, and she was a half-length back in third, the same margin ahead of early stretch leader Stella Veloce (Jpn) (Bago {Fr}).

“He wasn't in the same perfect condition today as in the Tenno Sho (Autumn) in which he was 120%, but his potential proved he still could give a remarkable performance even with the added distance–2500 meters was the longest he's ever run. Unlike in the Derby, he was relaxed and positioned well and was able to show his true strength,” said jockey Takeshi Yokoyama.

Flawless barring a second in the G1 Japanese Derby, Efforia first captured a Sapporo newcomer's heat last August, before adding a Tokyo allowance-both over 2000 metres of grass-in November of 2020. Back in action on Valentine's Day, he added the G3 Kyodo News Hai (Tokinominoru Kinen) and the Apr. 30 G1 Satsuki Sho (Japanese 2000 Guineas), before his Derby blip on May 30. Resuming on Halloween, the colt defeated 2020 Japanese Triple Crown hero Contrail (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) in the 2000-metre G1 Tenno Sho (Autumn), prior to stepping out on Sunday.

Pedigree Notes

Epiphaneia continues to consolidate his position in the Japanese sire ranks, and Efforia is one of three Group 1 winners for the rising star. Besides 2020 Japanese Triple Tiara winner Daring Tact (Jpn), the 11-year-old also has 2021 G1 Hanshin Juvenile Fillies victress Circle of Life (Jpn), and G2 American Jockey Club Cup scorer Aristoteles (Jpn), second in the G1 Kikuka Sho and the stakes winner Orthoclase (Jpn), twice placed at Group 1 level.

The second foal out of the winning Katies Heart, who did her best work around nine furlongs on the dirt, Efforia is followed by the placed Vangaurd's Heart (Jpn) (Harbinger {GB}), a yearling filly by Maurice (Jpn) and a weanling filly by Satono Crown (Jpn). His dam, a daughter of the Listed Prix du Cercle and Remembrance Day S. victress Katies First, was bred back to Epiphaneia this spring. Katies's First, in turn, was a half-sister to Japanese Champion 2-Year-Old and 3-Year-Old Filly Hishi Amazon (Theatrical {Ire}), who also was named the Japanese Champion Older Mare. Sleepless Night (Jpn) (Kurofune), winner of the G1 Sprinters S. in her native land and also a champion sprinter in Japan, is also under the third dam.

Sunday, Nakayama, Japan
ARIMA KINEN-G1, ¥574,800,000, Nakayama, 12-26, 3yo/up, 2500mT, 2:32.00, fm.
1–EFFORIA (JPN), 121, c, 3, Epiphaneia (Jpn)
                1st Dam: Katies Heart (Jpn), by Heart's Cry (Jpn)
                2nd Dam: Katies First, by Kris (GB)
                3rd Dam: Katies (Ire), by Nonoalco
O-Carrot Farm; B-Northern Farm (Jpn); T-Yuichi Shikato;
J-Takeshi Yokoyama. ¥303,360,000. Lifetime Record: 7-6-1-0.
Werk Nick Rating: A+++. *Triple Plus*. Click for the
   eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Deep Bond (Jpn), 126, c, 4, Kizuna (Jpn)–Zephyranthes (Jpn),
by King Halo (Jpn). (¥17,820,000 Ylg '18 JBBAJUL). O-Shinji
Maeda; B-Murata Farm (Jpn); ¥120,960,000.
3–Chrono Genesis (Jpn), 121, m, 5, Bago (Fr)–Chronologist
(Jpn), by Kurofune. O-Sunday Racing; B-Northern Farm (Jpn);
¥75,480,000.
Margins: 3/4, HF, HF. Odds: 1.10, 19.90, 1.90.
Also Ran: Stella Veloce (Jpn), Titleholder (Jpn), Aristoteles (Jpn), Akai Ito (Jpn), Mozu Bello (Jpn), You Can Smile (Jpn), Kiseki (Jpn), Win Kiitos (Jpn), Shadow Diva (Jpn), Panthalassa (Jpn), Persian Knight (Jpn), Melody Lane (Jpn), Asamano Itazura (Jpn).
Click for the JRA chart & video or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.

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Near the tail of the field as Dark Page (Jpn) (Dark Angel {Ire}) zipped through a solid half-mile in :46.40, she began to make up ground with 1000 metres remaining. Camped six deep as the field reached the stretch, she spun even wider out into the centre of the course for her bid, and overhauled the leaders in the final 25 metres for a half-length win. A trio of horses had briefly appeared to have the race at their mercy late, but Lovely Your Eyes (Jpn) (Logotype {Jpn}) settled for second, with G3 Fantasy S. victress Water Navillera (Jpn) (Silver State {Jpn}) third, the same margin back. Race favourite Namur (Jpn) (Harbinger {GB}) closed resolutely with a rails run, but could not master the top three and was a neck behind in fourth.

“She was great today, she had a good break, and we had a smooth trip,” said Mirco Demuro. “We went wide at the stretch, but the track was really good on the outside and the horses (in previous races of the day) seemed to stretch well along that path. My filly has closed well over the smooth track, so I trusted her to make it and indeed she exhibited strong finishing speed. I was certain in the last 200 meters that she would win. I've ridden her since her debut, and she really takes it in her stride in new surroundings and unfamiliar tracks so she has plenty of energy to use in the race. I'm sure she can further extend her distance in future races so I'm really looking forward that too.”

Third in a Niigata newcomers' race over 1800 metres when unveiled in August, the bay graduated cut back to 1600 metres at Nakayama on Sept. 20. She captured her first black-type race, the G3 Artemis S. at Tokyo on Oct. 30.

Pedigree Notes
Already one of five black-type winners (four group) for her 11-year-old sire, Circle of Life joins MG1SWs and Classic scorers Daring Tact (Jpn) (2020 Japanese Fillies Triple Crown Winner) and Efforia (Jpn) (2021 Japanese St. Leger Winner) as Group 1 progeny of the Shadai resident.

The fourth foal, fourth runner and third winner out of the triple winner Sea Breeze Life, Circle of Life has yearling and weanling Declaration of War half-siblings. After producing a colt in 2020 and a filly this term, the dam returned to Declaration of War this spring. Circle of Life's third dam, Star My Life (Storm Cat), was a half-sister to American Horse of the Year and MG1SW Lady's Secret (Secretariat). She was purchased for $350,000 out of the Keeneland July Sale in 1995 by Iida prior to winning one of six starts in her adopted country, a 1000-metre dirt maiden in 1997.

Sunday, Hanshin, Japan
HANSHIN JUVENILE FILLIES-G1, ¥125,140,000, Hanshin, 12-13, 2yo, f, 1600mT, 1:33.10, fm.
1–CIRCLE OF LIFE (JPN), 119, f, 2, by  Epiphaneia (Jpn)
          1st Dam: Sea Breeze Life (Jpn), by Admire Japan (Jpn)
          2nd Dam: Precious Life (Jpn), by Taiki Shuttle
          3rd Dam: Star My Life, by Storm Cat
1ST GROUP 1 WIN. O-Masatake Iida; B-Chiyoda Farm (Jpn);
T-Sakae Kunieda; J-Mirco Demuro. ¥66,288,000. Lifetime
Record: 4-3-0-1. Werk Nick Rating: A+++. *Triple Plus*. Click
   for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Lovely Your Eyes (Jpn), 119, f, 2, Logotype (Jpn)
          1st Dam: Open Your Eyes (Jpn), by Victoire Pisa (Jpn)
          2nd Dam: Ave (GB), by Danehill Dancer (Ire)
          3rd Dam: Anna Amalia (Ire), by In the Wings (GB)
1ST GROUP 1 BLACK TYPE. (¥10,000,000 Wlg '19 JRHAJUL).
O-Yasuyuki Iuchi; B-Shadai Farm (Jpn); ¥26,368,000.
3–Water Navillera (Jpn), 119, f, 2, Silver State (Jpn)
          1st Dam: Shining Sayaka (Jpn), by King Halo (Jpn)
          2nd Dam: Shinsei Akari (Jpn), by Mayano Top Gun (Jpn)
          3rd Dam: Pink No Onepeace (Jpn), by Tosho Boy (Jpn)
1ST GROUP 1 BLACK TYPE. O-Masato Yamaoka; B-Fushikida
Farm (Jpn); ¥16,184,000.
Margins: HF, HF, NK. Odds: 4.10, 50.20, 5.60.
Also Ran: Namur (Jpn), Namura Clair (Jpn), Belle Cresta (Jpn), Sternatia (Jpn), Statistics (Jpn), Anegohada (Jpn), Kimiwa Queen (Jpn), Saku (Jpn), Sea Cruise (Jpn), Toho la Vie En (Jpn), Dark Page (Jpn), Tana the Wing (Jpn), Personal High (Jpn), Namura Lycoris (Jpn), Hinokuni (Jpn). Click for the JRA chart & video or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.

The post Epiphaneia Filly Lands Group 1 at Hanshin appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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A trio of exciting newcomers will cover their first mares at Shadai in 2022–2020 Japanese Triple Crown winner Contrail (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}), G1 2000 Guineas hero Poetic Flare (Ire) (Dawn Approach {Ire}), and 2019 Japanese Champion Dirt Horse and G1 Champions Cup winner Chrysoberyl (Jpn) (Gold Allure {Jpn}). Fees for Poetic Flare and Chrysoberyl have been set at ¥6,000,000 and ¥3,000,000, respectively. Contrail's fee will be announced after his run in Sunday's G1 Japan Cup.

Responsible for the G1 Victoria Derby victor Hitotsu (Aus), Maurice (Jpn) (Screen Hero {Jpn})'s fee has been reduced to ¥7,000,000. That is the same price that Japanese Classic winners Rey de Oro (Jpn) (King Kamehameha {Jpn}) and Saturnalia (Jpn) (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}) will command, with the former having first yearlings in 2022 and the latter welcomes his first foals next year. 2019 U.S. Horse of the Year Bricks and Mortar (Giant's Causeway), whose first foals are yearlings in 2022, will hold court for ¥6,000,000. The last son of Sunday Silence on the Shadai roster, Daiwa Major (Jpn), will stand for a private fee.

For the complete Shadai 2022 roster, please see below.

The post Epiphaneia Leads Shadai 2022 Roster appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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“We were able to race in an ideal position and I didn't insist on the inner course as I knew that he can handle it even if we had to turn a little wider. While the COVID-19 crisis is still lingering, the number of spectators is gradually increasing and I am grateful that we were able to win the race in front of many fans,” commented Takeshi Yokoyama.

Winner of this season's G3 Kyodo News Hai over 1,800 meters in February, the bay returned to annex his fourth consecutive score in the 2,000-meter G1 Satsuki Sho (Japanese 2,000 Guineas) in April. In his most recent start, he faced loss for the first time, finishing second in the G1 Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby) in May.

“I cried with joy for the first time in my life, as I was very disappointed following the result of the Derby [last time], admitted Yokoyama. “He's a talented and smart horse, so I decided to believe in his ability and ride him without thinking too much.”

Out of the Heart's Cry (Jpn) mare Katies Heart (Jpn), the colt is trained by Yuichi Shikato, who was capturing his third JRA Group 1 title of the season. With the victory in Sunday's Tenno Sho (Autumn), Takeshi Yokoyama became the third generation horseman to win the race, his grandfather and former jockey Tomio, who won the title in 1969 and his father and active jockey Norihiro, who accomplished the feat in 2009.

Sunday, Tokyo, Japan
TENNO SHO AUTUMN-G1, ¥290,800,000, Tokyo, 10-31, 3yo/up, 2000mT, 1:57.90, fm.
1–EFFORIA (JPN), 123, c, 3, Epiphaneia (Jpn)
1st Dam: Katies Heart (Jpn), by Heart's Cry (Jpn)
2nd Dam: Katies First, by Kris (GB)
3rd Dam: Katies (Ire), by Nonoalco
O-Carrot Farm; B-Northern Farm; T-Yuichi Shikato; J-Takeshi
Yokoyama; ¥153,360,000. Lifetime Record: 6-5-1-0. Click for
the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*
2–Contrail (Jpn), 128, c, 4, Deep Impact(Jpn)–Rhodochrosite, by
Unbridled's Song. O-Shinji Maeda; B-North Hills; ¥60,960,000.
3–Gran Alegria (Jpn), 123, m, 5, by Deep Impact (Jpn)–Tapitsfly,
by Tapit. O-Sunday Racing; B-Northern Farm; ¥38,480,000.
Margins: 1, NK, 1 3/4; Odds: 2.40, 1.50, 1.80.
Also Ran: Sanrei Pocket (Jpn), Hishi Iguazu (Jpn), Potager (Jpn), Persian Knight (Jpn), Last Draft (Jpn), You Can Smile (Jpn), Muito Obrigado (Jpn), World Premiere (Jpn), Curren Bouquetd'or (Jpn), Mozu Bello (Jpn), Kaiser Minoru (Jpn), Tosen Surya (Jpn), Cadenas (Jpn).
Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Click for the JRA chart and video.

The post Efforia Earns Landmark Win in Tenno Sho Autumn appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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Second choice on the board at 27-10, the bay rated in fourth against the fence past the stands the first time as World Revival (Jpn) (Epiphaneia {Jpn}) cut out the first 1000 metres in 1:00.30. That rival ceded the lead to Titleholder (Jpn) (Duramente {Jpn}) as the field hit the far turn, and Efforia was keeping close tabs on the vanguard in an ideal stalking position.

Asked for his best a quarter-mile from home, he shifted off the fence, split horses and took command with 350 metres remaining. Flicking his ears in late stretch, Efforia coasted across the wire three lengths to the good of Titleholder, who was a neck in front of Stella Veloce (Jpn) (Bago {Fr}). Admire Hadar (Jpn) (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}) was another neck back in fourth. Favoured Danon the Kid (Jpn) (Just A Way {Jpn}), who was notably warm in the preliminaries, could only finish 15th racing just behind the pacesetters and tiring late.

“It's such a great feeling,” commented jockey Takeshi Yokoyama, whose father Norihiro had won the same race with Seiun Sky (Jpn) (Sheriff's Star {GB}) in 1998, the year the younger Yokoyama was born. “I was fortunate to have been able to ride this colt since his debut and although I knew the colt, coming here undefeated, would be heavily backed and the pressure would be great, I believed that if I put my concentration on using whatever skills I had as a rider and bring out the best performance from my horse, that we would have a great chance of winning. The pace wasn't that fast, so we were able to cruise along in a good position but we were a little tight going into the stretch and I couldn't be sure of my win until the end.”

Efforia captured his first two starts over this trip in August of his 2-year-old year and in November at Sapporo and Tokyo, respectively. He exited winter quarters in great style on Valentine's Day with a win in the G3 Kyodo News Hai Tokinominoru Kinen at Tokyo.

Pedigree Notes

The second Group 1 winner and Classic scorer for his sire after 2020 Japanese Fillies' Triple Crown heroine Daring Tact (Jpn), Efforia is also among three group winners and four overall black-type winners. Of broodmare sire Heart's Cry's six black-type winners, five are by Lord Kanaloa (Jpn) including G1 Blue Diamond S. hero Tagaloa (Aus), with just Efforia being by a different sire line so far.

Katies Heart, who won three times in Japan, first foaled the placed Rioja (Jpn) (Rulership {Jpn}) in 2016 and, after no reported foal a year later after being bred to Dunkirk, produced Efforia. In 2019, she had a colt by Harbinger (GB) and her 2020 produces is a filly by Maurice (Jpn). She was covered by Satono Crown (Jpn) last term.

Sunday, Nakayama, Japan
SATSUKI SHO (JAPANESE 2000 GUINEAS)-G1, ¥247,760,000, Nakayama, 4-18, 3yo, c/f, 2000mT, 2:00.60, gd.
1–EFFORIA (JPN), 126, c, 3, Epiphaneia (Jpn)
                1st Dam: Katies Heart (Jpn), by Heart's Cry (Jpn)
                2nd Dam: Katies First, by Kris (GB)
                3rd Dam: Katies (Ire), by Nonoalco
1ST GROUP 1 WIN. O-Carrot Farm; B-Northern Farm (Jpn);
T-Yuichi Shikato; J-Takeshi Yokoyama. ¥136,432,000. Lifetime
Record: 4-4-0-0. Werk Nick Rating: A+++. *Triple Plus*. Click
   for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Titleholder (Jpn), 126, c, 3, Duramente (Jpn)–Mowen (GB), by
Motivator (GB). (¥20,000,000 Wlg '18 JRHAJUL). O-Hiroshi
Yamada; B-Okada Stud (Jpn); ¥51,552,000.
3–Stella Veloce (Jpn), 126, c, 3, Bago (Fr)–Oh My Baby (Jpn), by
Deep Impact (Jpn). (¥60,000,000 Wlg '18 JRHAJUL). O-Tsuyoshi
Ono; B-Northern Farm (Jpn); ¥31,776,000.
Margins: 3, NK, NK. Odds: 2.70, 16.00, 13.30.
Also Ran: Admire Hadar (Jpn), Yoho Lake (Jpn), Gratias (Jpn), Deep Monster (Jpn), Red Belle Aube (Jpn), Victipharus (Jpn), Elusive Panther (Jpn), Chevalier Rose (Jpn), World Revival (Jpn), Lagom (Jpn), Lupus Tesoro (Jpn), Danon the Kid (Jpn), Asamano Itazura (Jpn).
Click for the JRA chart & video or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.

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Bred by Northern Racing and raced by Silk Racing Co. Ltd., Almond Eye now resides at Northern Farm on Hokkaido after retiring at the end of 2020. The Sakae Kunieda trainee captured the Japanese Fillies' Triple Crown in 2018, as well as that year's G1 Japan Cup and earned the first of her Horse of the Year titles. She was also named the Japanese Champion 3-Year-Old Filly.

At four, Almond Eye traveled to Dubai for a victory in the G1 Dubai Turf and also captured the G1 Tenno Sho (Autumn) on her home soil. Kept in training in 2020, she padded her resume with Group 1 wins in the Victoria Mile, another Tenno Sho (Autumn) and a second Japan Cup en route to Horse of the Year and Champion Older Mare honours. In the 2020 Japan Cup, she defeated Japanese Triple Crown hero Contrail (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) and Daring Tact.

The post Japanese Champion Almond Eye In Foal to Epiphaneia appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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