King Kamehameha’s Jun Light Bolt Crowned At Chukyo

In a dramatic finish to Sunday's G1 Champions Cup at Chukyo, Jun Light Bolt (Jpn) (King Kamehameha {Jpn}) collared G2 UAE Derby hero Crown Pride (Jpn) (Reach The Crown {Jpn}) by a neck just before the wire.

Sent off at 6-1 in this 1800-metre contest, the 5-year-old entire settled one off the rail in midpack as Red Soldado (Jpn) (Majestic Warrior) dashed to the front. That rival, setting an uncontested pace, got away with middling fractions on the backstretch, with the first 1000 metres covered in 1:02.40. As a result, the field was keeping closer order and racing room was at a premium as they approached the far turn.

Still on the engine 400 metres from home, Red Soldado was facing a stiff challenge from Crown Pride to his outside. Jun Light Bolt, meanwhile, was within striking distance, and was asked by pilot Yukito Ishikawa shortly after the quarter pole. Rumbling home ominously well, the dark bay set his sights on new leader Crown Pride, as 1-2 favourite T O Keynes (Jpn) (Sinister Minister) was winding up to his inside. The Yasuo Tomomichi runner hit a superior gear however, and thrust his neck in front three jumps from the line. The stalking Hapi (Jpn) (Kizuna {Jpn}) was 1 1/4 lengths back in third, another neck behind T O Keynes, who had covered extra ground in the race.

“I can't find any other word to describe this other than 'happy',” said Ishikawa, who was winning his first Group 1 race in Japan. “I tried to feel the horse's rhythm and was confident that if we can find an open space after entering the lane, he would burst out. The colt responded so well that I knew we could win. Though I have yet to feel my first Group 1 win, I would like to savor this joy from now on.”

Although a four-time winner and listed-placed over the turf, the Northern Farm-bred reinvented himself when trying the dirt for the first time in July, running second in the Listed July S. at Fukushima. He earned his first black-type score outright in the Listed BSN Sho at Niigata in August, and continued his upward trajectory with a three-quarter-length score in the G3 Sirius S. going 1900 metres over this strip on Oct. 1.

 

Pedigree Notes

The deceased King Kamehameha has left 94 stakes winners and 65 group winners, with Jun Light Bolt his 15th at the highest level. Four of his stakes winners are out of Special Week (Jpn) mares, including G1 Asahi Hai Tuturity S. victor Leontes (Jpn), and G3 Falcon S. scorer Tagano Grandpa (Jpn), besides Sunday's winner.

Despite never finding the winner's circle, Special Groove (Jpn) (Special Week {Jpn}) has done the job as a broodmare, with a pair of stakes winners among her quintet of scorers to show from six runners of racing age. Jun Light Bolt's year-older half brother Groove It (Jpn) (Lord Kanaloa {GB}) won at Group 3 level in Japan, and his juvenile half-sister Pure Groove (Jpn) (Drefong) has plenty of time to build on her first two starts. Special Groove foaled colts by Drefong and Lord Kanaloa (Jpn) in 2021 and 2022, respectively.

Third dam Air Groove (Jpn) (Tony Bin {Ire}) was named Japanese Horse of the Year in 1997, and at stud she left fellow Japanese champion Admire Groove (Jpn) (Sunday Silence), herself the dam of Japanese Champion 3-Year-Old Colt and late sire Duramente (Jpn) (King Kamehameha {Jpn}). Another of Air Groove's progeny is Shadai stallion Rulership (Jpn) (King Kamehameha {Jpn}), who won the G1 Queen Elizabeth II Cup.

 

Sunday, Chukyo, Japan
CHAMPIONS CUP-G1, ¥232,920,000, Chukyo, 12-4, 3yo/up, 1800m, 1:51.90, gd.
1–JUN LIGHT BOLT (JPN), 126, h, 5, by King Kamehameha (Jpn)
                1st Dam: Special Groove (Jpn), by Special Week (Jpn)
                2nd Dam: Sonic Groove (Jpn), by French Deputy
                3rd Dam:  Air Groove (Jpn), by Tony Bin (Ire)
1ST GROUP 1 WIN. (¥120,000,000 Ylg '18 JRHAJUL). O-Junji
Kawai; B-Northern Farm (Jpn); T-Yasuo Tomomichi; J-Yukito
Ishikawa; ¥123,444,000. Lifetime Record: 25-7-5-2. *1/2 to
Groove It (Jpn) (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}), GSW-Jpn, $969,081. Click
   for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Werk
   Nick Rating: A+++. *Triple Plus*. Click for the
   eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Crown Pride (Jpn), 121, c, 3, Reach the Crown (Jpn)–Emmy's
Pride(Jpn), by King Kamehameha (Jpn). 1ST GROUP 1 BLACK
   TYPE. O-Teruya Yoshida; B-Shadai Farm (Jpn); ¥48,984,000.
3–Hapi (Jpn), 123, c, 3, Kizuna (Jpn)–Queen Pirates (Jpn), by
King Kamehameha (Jpn). 1ST GROUP 1 BLACK TYPE. O-Toshio
Terada; B-North Hills (Jpn); ¥30,492,000.
Margins: NK, 1 1/4, NK. Odds: 6.90, 13.30, 14.90.
Also Ran: T O Keynes (Jpn), Shamal (Jpn), Sunrise Hope (Jpn), Smashing Hearts (Jpn), Notturno (Jpn), Auvergne (Jpn), Tagano Beauty (Jpn), Red Galant (Jpn), Gloria Mundi (Jpn), Sakura Allure (Jpn), Badenweiler (Jpn), Sunrise Nova (Jpn), Red Soldado (Jpn).
Click for the JRA chart & video.

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Sinister Minister Colt Runs to Billing in Champions Cup

Favoured to become the first Group 1 winner for his sire in the G1 Champions Cup, T O Keynes (Jpn) (Sinister Minister) followed the money and crossed the wire six lengths to the good of 2020 winner and Japanese Champion Dirt Horse Chuwa Wizard (Jpn) (King Kamehameha {Jpn}) at Chukyo on Sunday.

Priced at 2-1, the 4-year-old colt rated kindly in sixth as Group 1-winning white mare Sodashi (Jpn) (Kurofune {Jpn}), making her dirt bow, opened up to lead past the winning post and into the first turn. Positions were unchanged on the backside and the chestnut was poised to pounce exiting the final bend. Sodashi was swarmed by rivals inside the quarter-mile marker and T O Keynes found a gap at the perfect time to take the lead shortly thereafter. He sped away from his rivals to win comfortably, with Chuwa Wizard, who was second in the G1 Dubai World Cup earlier this year, closing from off the pace to take second, 3/4 of a length in front of stalker Another Truth (Jpn) (I'll Have Another). Sodashi faded to 12th.

“Though the JBC Classic result was disappointing due to the slow start, he broke smoothly today, thanks to the gate practice he went through at the stable,” said Kohei Matsuyama. “I was able to ride him in good rhythm and he responded remarkably well turning the fourth corner, so everything was perfect. I think he's a very strong horse and I'm glad I was able to bring out his strong performance.”

Second in the Listed Betelgeuse S. at Hanshin last December, the colt ran sixth in the G1 Tokyo Daishoten at Oi just nine days later on Dec. 29. He opened 2021 with a win in the muddy Nagoyajo S. in March and claimed his first group victory with a score in the G3 Antares S. on Apr. 18. He stretched his winning streak to three when taking the June 30 Listed Teio Sho, and, given a break, ran fourth in the Listed JBC Classic at Kanazawa on Nov. 3.

Pedigree Notes
One of 11 black-type winners-three at the group level–for his sire, T O Keynes has become the most decorated runner for the 2006 GI Toyota Blue Grass S. hero.
T O Keynes is the fourth foal and fourth of five winners for his placed dam. Maxim Café has since produced colts by Copano Rickey (Jpn) in 2019 and 2021, with the juvenile christened Copano Austin (Jpn). She is a half-sister to black-type winner and G3 Leopard S. third Tamano Brunette (Jpn) (Deep Sky {Jpn}).

Sunday, Chukyo, Japan
CHAMPIONS CUP-G1, ¥194,860,000, Chukyo, 12-5, 3yo/up, 1800m, 1:49.70, gd.
1–T O KEYNES (JPN), 126, c, 4, Sinister Minister
                1st Dam: Maxim Café (Jpn), by Manhattan Café (Jpn)
                2nd Dam: Cafe Pinoko (Jpn), by Jade Robbery
                3rd Dam: Pinochet, by Storm Cat
1ST GROUP 1 WIN. O-Tomoya Ozasa; B-Yanagawa Farm (Jpn);
T-Daisuje Takayanagi; J-Kohei Matsuyama. ¥103,402,000.
Lifetime: 15-8-2-2. Werk Nick Rating: A++. Click for the
   eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Chuwa Wizard (Jpn), 126, h, 6, King Kamehameha (Jpn)–
Chuwa Blossom (Jpn), by Durandal (Jpn). O-Shinobu Nakanishi;
B-Northern Farm (Jpn); ¥40,972,000.
3–Another Truth (Jpn), 126, g, 7, I'll Have Another–Kyoei Truth
(Jpn), by Fuji Kiseki (Jpn). 1ST GROUP 1 BLACK-TYPE.
O-Normandy Thoroughbred Racing; B-Okada Stud (Jpn);
¥25,486,000.
Margins: 6, 3/4, NK. Odds: 2.30, 3.60, 114.40.
Also Ran: Inti (Jpn), Sunrise Nova (Jpn), Auvergne (Jpn), Meisho Hario (Jpn), Suave Aramis (Jpn), Air Spinel (Jpn), Casino Fountain (Jpn), Cafe Pharoah, Sodashi (Jpn), K T Brave (Jpn), Clincher (Jpn), Sunrise Hope (Jpn), Danon Pharaoh (Jpn).
Click for the JRA chart & video or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.

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‘Wizard’ Works His Magic in Champions Cup

Chuwa Wizard (Jpn) (King Kamehameha {Jpn}) posted a mild upset as the 12-1 fourth choice in the G1 Champions Cup at Chukyo on Sunday. The 1800-metre race was the second group win for the 5-year-old entire.

The Northern Farm-bred sat in between horses in midpack while Air Almas (Majestic Warrior) and Inti (Jpn) (Came Home) duked it out on the front end. The first 1000 metres was covered in 1:00.30. Gradually improving three deep on the bend, Chuwa Wizard was within striking distance in fifth at the quarter pole. However, he had more to give and inched up to Inti, passed that foe in deep stretch and burst away to win. Inti was relegated to third late by Gold Dream (Jpn) (Gold Allure {Jpn}), who was 2 1/2 lengths behind Chuwa Wizard. A neck separated second and third, with last year’s winner and heavy favourite Chrysoberyl (Jpn) (Gold Allure {Jpn}) only fourth another three-quarters of a length behind after stalking in third for much of the trip.

“The horse was in very good condition and felt really good,” said pilot Keita Tosaki. “With Chrysoberyl traveling in front, I was able to feel his response while marking the race favorite. As it takes time for him to accelerate, I urged him to go early and the horse responded with great strength.”

A winner at first asking in February of 2018, by the end of that season he signed off with a victory in the Listed Nagoya Grand Prix over 2500 metres that December from eight starts as a 3-year-old. At four in six starts, Chuwa Wizard took the Listed Diolite Kinen and G3 Heian S. in consecutive starts and was back in the winner’s circle two starts later in the Listed JBC Classic. He ran fourth in the 2019 edition of this race to Chrysoberyl to end his season on Dec. 1. The Listed Kawasaki Kinen went his way on Jan. 29, and he rolled a pair of threes going 2000 metres, both to Chrysoberyl, in the June 24 Listed Teio Sho in the slop and last out in the Nov. 3 Listed JBC Classic on Nov. 3. His next start is likely to be the $20-million 1800-metre Saudi Cup in February

Pedigree Notes
The 12th Group 1 winner and one of 80 black-type winners for his late sire, Chuwa Wizard is one of two winners from four to run out of the four-time winner Chuwa Blossom. A half-sister to SW Iron Tailor (Jpn) (Gold Allure {Jpn}) and to the dam of Japanese Champion Dirt Horse and G1 Champions Cup hero Le Vent Se Level (Jpn) (Symboli Kris S.), she has a yearling colt by Maurice (Jpn) and a Lord Kanaloa (Jpn) weanling.
Sunday, Chukyo, Japan
CHAMPIONS CUP-G1, ¥194,800,000 (US$1,869,840/£1,391,206/€1,542,494), Chukyo, 12-6, 3yo/up, 1800m, 1:49.30, gd.
1–CHUWA WIZARD (JPN), 126, h, 5, King Kamehameha (Jpn)
                1st Dam: Chuwa Blossom (Jpn), by Durandal (Jpn)
                2nd Dam: Autumn Breeze (Jpn), by Timber Country
                3rd Dam: September Song (Jpn), by Real Shadai
1ST GROUP 1 WIN. O-Shinobu Nakanishi; B-Northern Farm
(Jpn); T-Ryuji Okubo; J-Keita Tosaki. ¥103,360,000. Lifetime
Record: 18-10-3-4. Werk Nick Rating: A+++. *Triple Plus*.
   Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Gold Dream (Jpn), 126, h, 7, Gold Allure (Jpn)–Mon Vert
(Jpn), by French Deputy. O-Katsumi Yoshida; B-Northern Farm
(Jpn); ¥40,960,000.
3–Inti (Jpn), 126, h, 6, Came Home–Kitty (Jpn), by Northern
Afleet. O-Shigeo Takeda; B-Kiyoshige Yamashita (Jpn);
¥25,480,000.
Margins: 2HF, NK, 3/4. Odds: 12.30, 8.90, 56.50.
Also Ran: Chrysoberyl (Jpn), Mozu Ascot, Cafe Pharoah, Air Spinel (Jpn), Time Flyer (Jpn), Arctos (Jpn), Air Almas, Clincher (Jpn), Sunrise Nova (Jpn), Another Truth (Jpn), Satono Titan (Jpn), Meisho Wazashi (Jpn), Yoshio (Jpn).
Click for the JRA chart & video or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.

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