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Japanese Superstar Fukunaga To Hang Up The Saddle At Saudi Cup

Yuichi Fukunaga, one of the most decorated jockeys in Japanese racing history, paid an emotional tribute to his fans ahead of his retirement rides at the Saudi Cup.

The 46-year-old had his final rides on the Japan Racing Association (JRA) circuit at Tokyo Racecourse earlier this month but will close the chapter on his storied career when he partners Remake (Jpn) (Lani) in the G3 Riyadh Dirt Sprint presented by Sports Boulevard and Ecoro Ares (Unified) in the G3 Saudi Derby presented by Boutique Group on Saturday.

The veteran rider will concentrate fully on his training career upon his retirement from the saddle and told fans of how that new ambition outweighed his desire to continue riding.

“I have found other things I really want to do as my job,” he said. “I never felt I did not like being a jockey. The attraction of becoming a trainer outweighed the motivation to continue my riding career because I have had enough as a jockey. As a trainer, I can be more deeply involved with horses.”

Fukunaga will retire with a spectacular list of achievements. As an established rider, he has collected 45 Grade/Group 1 wins which include 34 on the JRA circuit, six at the National Association of Racing (NAR) level and five overseas.

Those were the American Oaks on Cesario (Jpn) (Special Week {Jpn}) in 2005, three times in Hong Kong on Eishin Preston (Green Dancer) and the Dubai Duty Free on Just A Way (Jpn) (Heart's Cry {Jpn}) in 2014. In 2022, he won the G1 February S. on Saturday's G1 Saudi Cup entrants Cafe Pharoah (Jpn) (American Pharoah) and Satsuki Sho (Japanese 2000 Guineas) on Geoglyph (Jpn) (Drefong), having helped Contrail (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) land the Japanese Triple Crown in 2020.

He continued, “I'd like to thank all the racing fans for supporting and cheering the horse racing in Japan, I never thought I wanted to quit as a jockey in these 27 years. I am very grateful to all the people involved in my jockey life. I will go to the next stage as a trainer, and I do hope I can train horses that many people want to cheer.”

Fukunaga added, “I want to express my gratitude to the connections for the chances to ride in Saudi Arabia for my final rides. Hopefully I can show their best runs and bring the best results to all the fans in Japan.”

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Jersey Des Brosses Brings 370k At Tattersalls Cheltenham February Sale

Wildcard Jersey Des Brosses (Fr) (No Risk At All {Fr}) (lot 32) brought a sale-topping bid of £370,000 from Gordon Elliott Racing to lead the way during Thursday's Tattersalls Cheltenham February Sale.

The price was the highest for a 4-year-old since 2019. Second on his debut at Oldtown last weekend to fellow sales horse Jingko Blue (Fr) (Great Pretender {Ire}) (lot 36) who made £225,000 from JP McGrath Bloodstock, Jersey Des Brosses was consigned by Colin Bowe's Milestone Stables.

Elliott, bidding online, said, “He looked the standout horse in the sale, and I'd say a summer's grass is what he wants as he's a horse with plenty of improvement in him.

“He's one we're looking forward to for next year. We'd seen him in Colin's and liked him. We'll have to get him home and get him sold now.”

A pair of winning Walk In The Park (Ire) geldings from Monbeg Stables brought £290,000 and £250,000 apiece, as Mt Fugi Park (Ire) (lot 8) caught the eye of Stroud Coleman Bloodstock on behalf of Jonjo O'Neill Racing, and Highflyer Bloodstock bought Leader In The Park (Ire) (lot 28), respectively.

A total of 40 lots of 52 offered (77%) sold for a gross of £4,298,000, the third highest aggregate ever reached at the sale. The average rose 30% to £107,450 and the median rose by 29% to £77,500.

Matt Prior, Tattersalls Head of Sales, said, “To have six horses fetch over £200,000, 15 sell for over £100,000 and a record-breaking turnover is a fantastic result and shows the continuing desire by owners and trainers to buy the very best NH prospects at the Tattersalls Cheltenham sales.

“A top-price of £370,000 given for the 4-year-old Jersey Des Brosses is a fabulous result for trainer Colin Bowe and owner Walter Connors, who are always such strong supporters of Tattersalls, and it is a great start to this year's trade in 4-year-old point-to-pointers.”

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Godolphin Duo Pose Threat In Balanchine S.

You've heard of Creative Flair (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire})? How about Summer Romance (Ire) (Kingman {Ire}), Magic Lily (GB) (New Approach {Ire}), Poetic Charm (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) or Promising Run (Hard Spun)? What do they have in common? Godolphin, for one, and they are all the winning alums from the past five years of the G2 Ballanchine S. at Meydan Racecourse.

Either of the 4-year-old blue-clad torchbearers that are drawn into Friday's edition could carry on that tradition. Out of With The Moonlight (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) and Tranquil Lady (Ire) (Australia {GB}), both of whom are trained by Charlie Appleby, the former will probably serve as the prima based on the European markets. Despite a last place in the 2022 G1 Epsom Oaks behind the winner, Tuesday (Ire) Galileo {Ire}) and her new stablemate, Tranquil Lady (sixth), the filly did find success in the GIII Saratoga Oaks later that summer. After an autumn break, she won the G2 Cape Verdi S. three weeks ago over this very turf course and will have the services of William Buick once more.

“With The Moonlight has come forward since the Cape Verdi and the step back up in distance is going to suit,” said Appleby. “She has a penalty to carry, but is clear on ratings and has already won at the track this season. She looks the one they all have to beat.”

Tranquil Lady is obviously no understudy. Lest we forget, she was a 2.7-million gns Tattersalls December purchase by Godolphin, and even though the former Joseph O'Brien trainee has not been seen since she won the G3 Prix de Flore S. at Saint-Cloud on Oct. 22, she's no nap, as James Doyle gets the call for the first time.

“This will be her first start for us, so we are on a slight learning curve, but we are confident that she will run a nice race,” the trainer said. “We will potentially see her at her best over further and this will be our first opportunity to get a handle on her ahead of the forthcoming season.”

With six other longshots at the bar for this year's Balanchine, it could be Lyrical Poetry (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) or even Katoucha (Fr) (Almanzor {Fr}) that could rise to the occasion. If not, it will be Godolphin once more that poses in the winner's enclosure on Friday.

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Masked Marvel Share Brings 50k At Auctav February Sale

A 1/50th share in prominent jumps stallion Masked Marvel (GB) (lot 18) made €50,000 as a private sale to Trotting Bloodstock during Auctav's February Sale on Wednesday.

The stallion has sired G1 Grand Steeple Chase de Paris winner Sel Jem (Fr), as well as numerous other black-type winners across Europe.

Trotting Bloodstock's Florent Fonteyne said, “I bought Masked Marvel's share for a client who is an established breeder who owns young NH broodmares.”

Fonteyne also snapped up lot 13, 10 shares in young stallion Van Beethoven for €22,000. The Scat Daddy 7-year-old is standing his third season at Karwin Farm.

Fonteyne added, “Van Beethoven is a nice horse in his third year of breeding. This purchase, made with a partner, was an excellent opportunity. I have a broodmare myself who is stationed up there, and I am happy to support Karwin Farm.”

The broodmare Kourouka (Fr) (No Risk At All {Fr}) (lot 7), carrying to Masked Marvel, was also acquired by Fonteyne's Trotting Bloodstock for €22,000. She will be covered by Goliath Du Berlais (Fr).

Fonteyne said, “I spotted this broodmare as soon as she came out of the catalogue because of her pedigree. A daughter of No Risk At All and out of a dam by Martaline (GB), Kourouka is also a sister to Kapkiline (Fr) (Kapgarde {Fr}) who belongs to a friend of mine and whom I follow closely for a long time. The fact that she is in foal to Masked Marvel was another plus.”

Other lots of note included a share in Nirvana Du Berlais (Fr) (lot 1), which made €48,000 from Julien Dubois; and a breeding right to Harry Angel (Ire) (lot 19) was bought by Oliver St. Lawrence for €38,000.

“My client and I have faith that Harry Angel could be a decent stallion,” said St. Lawrence. “We were keen to have a breeding right in him. He's a stallion for the future, and we hope his [first] 3-year-olds will prove it further.”

Arnaud Angéliaume, Managing Director Auctav, said, “At the beginning of the year, our customers' expectations were focused on breeding. We have therefore put together a catalogue to meet this demand with a majority of stallion shares and breeding rights, in particular with stallions that are difficult to reach directly today and which have been the most sought after. We are pleased that Auctav's clientele is growing with, once again, new clients who have placed their trust in us with a first lot for sale for some, and a first purchase for others.”

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