Tag: Europe

Titleholder Takes Kikuka Sho in Wire-to-Wire Fashion

The Japanese Classics came to a close on Sunday at Hanshin with the G1 Kikuka Sho (Japanese St. Leger), and it was Titleholder (Jpn) (Duramente {Jpn})'s time to shine as he led at every call to win going away by five lengths as the 7-1 fourth choice. He is the first winner to lead from start to finish in the Kikuka Sho since Seiun Sky (Jpn) (Sheriff's Star {GB}) in 1998.

Allowed to bowl along as soon as the gates sprung, the Hiroshi Yamada colourbearer soon established an easy rhythm while several lengths in front of the chasing pack. Very relaxed throughout, he covered the first half-mile in :47.20 and the mile in 1:39.70. His pursuers closed the gap approaching the final bend through2000 metres in 2:05.40, but the dark bay skipped away again and had built up enough of a cushion to successfully hold off the closing trio of 4-1 third choice Orthoclase (Jpn) (Epiphaneia {Jpn}), Divine Love (Jpn) (Epiphaneia {Jpn}), and 2-1 second pick Stella Veloce (Jpn) (Bago {Fr}). At the line, only a head separated Orthoclase from Divine Love. It was a nose back to Japanese Derby third Stella Veloce in fourth. Favoured Red Genesis (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) failed to land a blow and finished 13th after racing near the tail of the field throughout.

“We had a terrible race last time out so I was determined to win it this time and I'm glad it panned out,” said jockey Takeshi Yokoyama. “I personally thought that the distance was maybe too much to ask from this colt, but he showed otherwise and performed well above my expectations, so I'm ashamed for doubting him in anyway. As far as the race, I concentrated in keeping him comfortable in a long race like this—he's an honest horse, in a way too honest and always gives his full effort—so knowing that once in front he would settle, I let him go as he liked and didn't try to hold him back too much. He has a lot to look forward to in the future but it would require a little skill as a rider to conserve his energy depending on the situations.”

A winner at first asking over 1800 metres at Nakayama last October, Titleholder ran second in the G3 Tokyo Sports Hai Nisai S. that November prior to a fourth upped to 2000 metres in the Dec. 26 G1 Hopeful S. He resumed with a win over that distance in the G2 Hochi Hai Yayoi Sho Deep Impact Kinen on Mar. 7 and was second to Efforia (Jpn) (Epiphaneia {Jpn}) in the G1 Satsuki Sho (Japanese 2000 Guineas) on Apr. 18. Only sixth in the G1 Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby) on May 30, the colt was given a lengthy break and returned to run 13th in the 2200-metre G2 Asahi Hai St. Lite Kinen on Sept. 20.

 

Pedigree Notes

A son of the late Duramente, who won the first two legs of the Japanese Triple Crown, Titleholder is one of two black-type winners for the 9-year-old and the first top-level winner. He is also the first Group 1 winner for Motivator (GB) as a broodmare sire and one of 10 black-type winners overall.

Although she never earned black-type, millionaire Mowen did run fifth in the G3 Daily Hai Queen Cup at three and fourth at listed level later that year. She also had the versatility to win over 1200 metres on the dirt that year and up to 2600 metres on the turf as a 4-year-old before being retired for broodmare duties. Her first foal is the winning Melody Lane (Jpn) (Orfevre {Jpn}) and, after producing a dead foal in 2017, Titleholder is her last known offspring, as she has missed to the covers of Gold Ship (Jpn), Victoire Pisa (Jpn), and Duramente (Jpn) in 2018, 2019 and 2020, respectively. Under the winner's fourth dam is G1 1000 Guineas heroine On The House (Fr) (Be My Guest), who also won the G1 Sussex S.

 

Sunday, Hanshin, Japan
KIKUKA SHO (JAPANESE ST. LEGER)-G1, ¥270,970,000, Hanshin, 10-24, 3yo, c/f, 3000mT, 3:04.60, fm.
1–TITLEHOLDER(JPN), 126, c, 3, Duramente (Jpn)
                1st Dam: Mowen (GB), by Motivator (GB)
                2nd Dam: Top Table (GB), by Shirley Heights (GB)
                3rd Dam: Lora's Guest (Ire), by Be My Guest
1ST GROUP 1 WIN. (¥20,000,000 Wlg '18 JRHAJUL). O-Hiroshi
Yamada; B-Okada Stud (Jpn); T-Toru Kurita; J-Takeshi
Yokoyama. ¥150,079,000.  Lifetime Record: 8-3-2-0. Werk
   Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Orthoclase (Jpn), 126, c, 3, Epiphaneia (Jpn)–Marialite (Jpn),
by Deep Impact (Jpn). O-Carrot Farm; B-Northern Farm (Jpn);
¥56,594,000.
3–Divine Love (Jpn), 121, f, 3, Epiphaneia (Jpn)–Deep Love
(Jpn), by Deep Impact (Jpn). O-Yoshiro Kubota; B-Northern
Farm (Jpn); ¥34,297,000.
Margins: 5, HD, NO. Odds: 7.00, 4.40, 16.30.
Also Ran: Stella Veloce (Jpn), Deep Monster (Jpn), Veloce Oro (Jpn), Arrivo (Jpn), Air Sage, Asamano Itazura (Jpn), Victipharus (Jpn), Sefer Rasiel (Jpn), Road to Fame (Jpn), Red Genesis (Jpn), Monte Dio (Jpn), Gratias (Jpn), Weiss Meteor (Jpn), North the World (Jpn), World Revival (Jpn).
Click for the JRA chart & video or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.

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Flaming Rib A Stakes First For Ribchester At Doncaster

Tom Dascombe trainee Flaming Rib (Ire) (Ribchester {Ire}) became the first winner for his freshman sire (by Iffraaj {GB}) when registering a one-length win in Saturday's Listed Virgin Bet Doncaster S. at Doncaster's Town Moor venue.

Flaming Rib bagged a trio of nursery handicaps–at Thirsk, York and Chester–in his three most recent outings and continued on an upward trajectory with a first black-type triumph in this straight dash. The 13-8 second choice was sharply into stride and claimed an immediate lead. Holding sway throughout, he was not for catching once stoked up passing the quarter-mile marker and ran on strongly under a late drive to comfortably hold Deodar by a length for a career high, becoming the first black-type winner for his freshman sire (by Iffraaj {GB}).

“He's been great and has won four on the bounce now,” said assistant trainer Colin Gorman. “He's been straightforward and has improved as the year has gone on. He's rated 108 now and it takes a fair bit to get a 2-year-old to that rating. He's very tough and, as [jockey] Pierre-Louis [Jamin] said after the Chester run, he manages to pick up twice in a race. In our book, the horses that do that are good horses. He puts his head down and battles it out as well. He will get seven furlongs, but I don't know if we need to [step up in trip] as he does it well as it is. I'd say that will be it for the year and he could be a Commonwealth Cup horse [next year].”

Flaming Rib is the first foal out of the unraced Suddenly (Ger) (Excelebration {Ire}), herself kin to G2 Grand Prix de Deauville victor and G1 Deutsches Derby runner-up Savoir Vivre (Ire) (Adlerflug {Ire}) and to the dual stakes scorer Sussudio (Fr) (Nayef). His second dam, the stakes-winning Soudanine (Ger) (Monsun {Ger}), is a full-sister to G2 Hansa-Preis and G2 Grosser Preis der Badischen Wirtschaft victor Simoun (Ger) as well as being kin to stakes-winning G3 Prix des Reservoirs runner-up Soignee (Ger) (Dashing Blade (GB). The latter's progenyis headed by MG1SW distaffer Stacelita (Fr) (Monsun {Ger}), herself the dam of G1 Yushun Himba-Japanese Oaks heroine Soul Stirring (Jpn) (Frankel {GB}) as well as being the second dam of this year's Listed Flying Scotsman S. victor and G1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere runner-up Noble Truth (Fr) (Kingman {GB}). Soudaine's full-sister Suisun (Ger) produced the G3 Preis des Winterfavoriten winner Silvaner (Ger) (Lomitas {GB}) while her half-sister Suivi (Ger) (Darshaan {GB}) has the G1 Grosser Preis von Bayern heroine Sunny Queen (Ger) (Camelot {GB}) to her credit. Suddenly has also produced a yearling filly by Dawn Approach (Ire).

Saturday, Doncaster, Britain
VIRGIN BET DONCASTER S.-Listed, £34,500, Doncaster, 10-23, 2yo, 6f 2yT, 1:15.60, sf.
1–FLAMING RIB (IRE), 127, c, 2, by Ribchester (Ire)
1st Dam: Suddenly (Ger), by Excelebration (Ire)
2nd Dam: Soudaine (Ger), by Monsun (Ger)
3rd Dam: Suivez (Fr), by Fioravanti
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN. (€40,000 RNA Wlg '19 GOFNOV; 35,000gns Ylg '20 TATOCT). O-Dolan, Dooley, Owen; B-Kildaragh Stud (IRE); T-Tom Dascombe; J-Pierre-Louis Jamin. £19,565. Lifetime Record: 9-5-1-2, $123,677.
2–Deodar (GB), 127, g, 2, Bated Breath (GB)–Tested (GB), by Selkirk. O-Juddmonte; B-Juddmonte Farms (East) Ltd (GB); T-Ralph Beckett. £7,418.
3–Mohi (GB), 127, c, 2, Acclamation (GB)–Minalisa (GB), by Oasis Dream (GB). (72,000gns RNA Wlg '19 TATFOA; 60,000gns Ylg '20 TATOCT). O-Al Mohamediya Racing; B-C J Mills (GB); T-Clive Cox. £3,712.
Margins: 1, NO, 1HF. Odds: 1.63, 1.50, 11.00.
Also Ran: Parisiac (Ire), Gold Medal (GB), Kit Gabriel (Ire), Mot And The Messer (Ire). Click for the Racing Post result. Video, sponsored by TVG.

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Galileo’s Star of India A New Rising Star at Leopardstown

He may have been niggled along earlier than ideal, but Coolmore and Westerberg's hitherto unraced Star of India (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) produced a finishing burst stamped with class and outpointed his rivals in style to earn 'TDN Rising Star' status in Saturday's Irish Stallion Farms EBF (C & G) Maiden over seven furlongs at Leopardstown. The 5-1 chance broke well to track the leaders in fourth and required mild urging to remain in contact rounding the home turn. Making eyecatching headway out wide in the straight, he quickened in some style to seize control approaching the furlong marker and powered away from toiling rivals in the closing stages to easily acoount for Sir Antonino (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) by an impressive 2 1/4 lengths.

“[Clerk of the Course] Paddy Graffin said to me 'he's nice' leaving the parade ring and anytime Paddy says that to me they win, so he might be a good omen,” revealed winning rider Seamus Heffernan. “He's a grand staying type of horse and they went a good gallop there. He stayed on going well and I liked him.”

Star of India is the eighth of nine foals and sixth scorer produced by stakes-winning G3 Cornwallis S. and GIII Senorita S. third Shermeen (Ire) (Desert Style {Ire}), herself a full-sister to the dual stakes-winning G2 Flying Childers and G3 Molecomb S. placegetter Mister Manannan (Ire). The April-foaled bay is a full-brother to this term's G3 Hampton Court S. runner-up Roman Empire (Ire) and a half-brother to G1 Phoenix S.-winning sire Sudirman (Henrythenavigator) and a weanling colt by No Nay Never.

2nd-Leopardstown, €16,500, Mdn, 10-23, 2yo, c/f, 7fT, 1:30.07, gd.
STAR OF INDIA (IRE), c, 2, by Galileo (Ire)
1st Dam: Shermeen (Ire) (SW & GSP-US, GSP-Eng, $191,892), by Desert Style (Ire)
2nd Dam: Cover Girl (Ire), by Common Grounds (GB)
3rd Dam: Peace Carrier (Ire), by Doulab
1ST-TIME STARTER. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, €9,735. O-Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith, Susan Magnier & Westerberg; B-Barronstown Stud (IRE); T-Aidan O'Brien. Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.

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Dark Angel’s Angel Bleu On Top In The Criterium International

Marc Chan's 2-year-old colt Angel Bleu (Fr) (Dark Angel {Ire}) backed up a win in Goodwood's July 27 G2 Vintage S. in July with a career high in this month's G1 Qatar Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere at ParisLongchamp and doubled his elite-level tally with a game victory in Saturday's G1 Criterium International at Saint-Cloud. The Listed Pat Eddery S. runner-up had earlier collected wins at Salisbury and Pontefract and, in the absence of late scratching Glounthaune (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}), went postward as the 17-10 second choice for the one-mile test. Steadied to race off the tempo at the tail of the six-runner field, he was angled to the outside off the home turn and kept on strongly once launching his challenge with 350 metres remaining to deny the rallying Lagardere third Ancient Rome (War Front) by a head.

“He really is extraordinary and you don't get horses like this very often,” said Ralph Beckett. “We haven't had one like him and I'd say the softest part of him is his tooth enamel. He's danced every dance and I thought [racing manager] Jamie McCalmont summed it up very well earlier in the week when he said it's a privilege to be involved with him. It really is a privilege, horses like this don't come along very often and I'm very proud of him. He had a tough race in the Lagardere and he really does have the most extraordinary constitution. Any horse that can do what he's done has to have a fantastic constitution. Soft ground is very important to him and the form book tells you that. Whatever happens next, he's done it twice inside a month in a different country, which takes a lot of doing.”

Looking ahead to Classic targets for next year, the trainer added, “If I was going to bet on it, at this stages I'd say he's likely to turn up at Longchamp [for the G1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains] rather than Newmarket [for the G1 2000 Guineas]”

Angel Bleu, half-brother to a yearling colt by Siyouni (Fr) and one of nine Group 1 winners for his sire (by Acclamation {GB}), is the first of two foals produced by a full-sister to MG1SW sire Highland Reel (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). His dam Cercle de La Vie (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), a daughter of G2 South Australian Oaks runner-up Hveger (Aus) (Danehill), is also a full-sister to G1 Caulfield S. hero Cape of Good Hope (Ire), MG1SP G2 Great Voltigeur S. and G2 Hardwicke S. victor Idaho (Ire) and G3 Ballysax S. victor Nobel Prize (Ire). The February-foaled bay's G1 Australia Oaks-winning third dam Circles of Gold (Aus) (Marscay {Aus}) threw MG1SW Australian champions Elvstroem (Aus) (Danehill) and Haradasun (Aus) (Fusaichi Pegasus). Circles of Gold is the leading performer for Olympic Aim (NZ) (Zamazaan {Fr}), whose descendants include MG1SW sire Starspangledbanner (Aus) (Choisir {Aus}) and G1 Schweppes Thousand Guineas victrix Amicus (Aus) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}).

Saturday, Saint-Cloud, France
CRITERIUM INTERNATIONAL-G1, €250,000, Saint-Cloud, 10-23, 2yo, c/f, 8fT, 1:44.40, vsf.
1–ANGEL BLEU (FR), 126, c, 2, by Dark Angel (Ire)
1st Dam: Cercle de la Vie (Ire), by Galileo (Ire)
2nd Dam: Hveger (Aus), by Danehill
3rd Dam: Circles of Gold (Aus), by Marscay (Aus)
(€120,000 Ylg '20 ARDEAY). O-Marc Chan; B-Pan Sutong Racing Bloodstock (FR); T-Ralph Beckett; J-Frankie Dettori. €142,850. Lifetime Record: GSW-Eng, 7-4-1-1, €492,051. Werk Nick Rating: B. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Ancient Rome, 126, c, 2, War Front–Gagnoa (Ire), by Sadler's Wells. O-Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith, Susan Magnier & Westerberg; B-Orpendale, Chelston & Wynatt (KY); T-Andre Fabre. €57,150.
3–Purplepay (Fr), 122, f, 2, Zarak (Fr)–Piedra (Ire), by Lawman (Fr). (€100,000 Ylg '20 ARQSEP). O-Jean-Pierre-Joseph Dubois; B-Mme Lisa Lemiere Dubois (FR); T-Cedric Rossi. €28,575.
Margins: HD, 1 1/4, HD. Odds: 1.70, 1.20, 4.30.
Also Ran: Aikhal (Ire), Toimy Son (Fr), Oscula (Ire). Scratched: Glounthaune (Ire). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by TVG.

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