“The plan was to keep him in about fifth to sixth from the pace, but the competition to position him forwardly was intense and the going was soggy so I didn't force him to move up front,” jockey Hiroyuki Uchida said. “He came out of the last turn smoothly and responded incredibly well. While waiting for the right moment and watching out for the other runners, I just drove him to the line hoping to reach it first. It's his third win here at Tokyo–he enjoys the wide and spacious course–and we're looking forward to seeing him develop with every race he runs this season.”

Pedigree Notes:
Champagne Color is the fifth Group 1 winner by the late stallion Duramente (Jpn) (King Kamehameha {Jpn}) and out of the unraced Memorial Life (GB) (Reckless Abandon), a half-sister to G2 Queen Mary S. winner Ceiling Kitty (GB) (Red Clubs {Ire}), herself the dam of Chesham S. winner Arthur Kitt (GB) (Camelot {GB}); and Listed winner Eartha Kitt (GB) (Pivotal {GB}), who is the dam of last year's G2 Gimcrack S. winner Noble Style (GB) (Kingman {GB}).

Sunday, Tokyo, Japan
NHK MILE CUP-G1,¥253,400,000, Tokyo, 5-7, 3yo/c&f, 1600mT, 1:33.80, gd.
1–CHAMPAGNE COLOR (JPN), 126, c, 3, by Duramente (Jpn)
1st Dam: Memorial Life (GB), by Reckless Abandon (GB)
2nd Dam: Baldovina (GB), by In Tale of the Cat
3rd Dam: Baldwina (Fr), by Pistolet Bleu (Ire)
FIRST GROUP 1 WIN. O-Yoichi Aoyama; B-Shadai Farm (Jpn);
T-Tsuyoshi Tanaka; J-Hiroyuki Uchida; ¥133,780,000. Lifetime:
5-3-0-1, ¥165,487,000. Werk Nick Rating: C+. Click for the
eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Click for the free
Equineline.com pedigree.
2–Umbrail (Jpn), 121, f, 3, by Lord Kanaloa (Jpn)–L'Archetto
(Jpn), by Falbrav (Ire). O-Sunday Racing; B-Northern Farm (Jpn);
¥53,080,000.
3–Obamburumai (Jpn), 126, c, 3, Discreet Cat–Pink Gerbera
(Jpn), by Deep Impact (Jpn). O-Koji Oka; B-Sunday Hills (Jpn);
¥33,540,000.
Margins: HD, 1 1/4, 1 1/4. Odds : 21.20, 11.90, 5.10
Also ran: Danon Touchdown (Jpn), Carro Veloce(Jpn), Moryana (Jpn), Mississippi Tesoro (Jpn), Navona (Jpn), Eeyan (Jpn), Tamamo Black Tie (Jpn), Sing That Song (Jpn), Dolce More (Jpn), Session (Jpn), Yurisha (Jpn), Shomon (Jpn), All Parfait(Jpn), From Dusk. Scratch: Cruzeiro do Sul (Jpn).
Click for the JRA chart and Video.

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Racing for Three H Racing Company, the Rulership (Jpn) colt was undefeated at two, where he parlayed his G3 Saudi Arabia Royal Cup victory into a sparkling win in the G1 Asahi Hai Futurity S. at Hanshin in December. Named the Japanese Champion 2-Year-Old Colt, he is on a retrieval mission, as he lost his unbeaten tag to Eeyan (Jpn) (Silver State {Jpn}) in the G2 New Zealand Trophy going out too quickly first up at Nakayama in April.

“He was leading out in the New Zealand Trophy last time, but the pace was a bit too quick in the backstraight and it became difficult for him to maintain his lead at the end, so he eventually had to settle for seventh place. Since that race, things have gone smoothly with him, and he's been working well uphill with stablemate Sodashi (Jpn) (Kurofune),” said trainer Naosuke Sugai.

That rival has now won three in a row since cutting back to 1600 metres and will have Keita Tosaki at the controls from gate six. “He drew inside in the New Zealand Trophy, but he started well and wanted to get on with things and had plenty of room turning for home,” said trainer Daishi Ito of Eeyan. “He was driven out well in the closing stages to go on and win. Even though he hasn't won at Tokyo, he ran well enough there on his debut, and I don't see a problem with the course.”

A group winner at two and three, Obamburumai (Jpn) (Discreet Cat) enters this test coming off a victory in the 1600-metre G3 Arlington Cup at Hanshin. Trainer Keiji Yoshimura said, “He got into the race well last time, and although I wasn't sure about how he might finish off, he came with a good late run and caught the others just before the line. Thinking about Tokyo with him, this kind of run seems to suit him.”

Adding some intrigue is Keio Hai Nisai S. runner-up From Dusk (Bolt D'Oro), who was third in the Listed Crocus S. in January. The Susumu Fujita runner breaks from stall one. He will be making his first start since a trip overseas to run ninth in the G3 Saudi Derby in Riyadh in February.

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“It was a great feeling to have won in front of a big crowd like this. It was a close victory and I knew that the horses on the outside route were all coming up with a lot of force, so although I felt we had won crossing the wire, I had to be sure by watching the replay,” said winning jockey Yuga Kawada. “Danon Scorpion was in perhaps his best condition coming into this race so I had a lot of confidence [despite a wide draw]. He was in good rhythm and balance so I had no worries.”

With a pair of wins at two, including the Listed Hagi S., he concluded the 2021 season with a third in the G1 Asahi Hai Futurity Stakes (1,600m). He was seventh in his 3-year-old debut in the G3 Kyodo News Hai in February but bounced back to win the Apr. 16 G3 Arlington Cup.

Pedigree Note:

Danon Scorpion is out of Canadian Horse of the Year Lexie Lou, winner of the 2014 Queen's Plate, the first jewel in Canada's Triple Crown. A $5,577 yearling purchase at the Canadian Thoroughbred Horse Society, Lexie Lou also earned Champion 3-year-old Filly honors in 2014, the same season she annexed the Woodbine Oaks. Lexie Lou retired with 10 wins from 24 starts and earnings of more than $1.9 million. Nine of her wins came in stakes races, including the GII Dance Smartly S., GII Nassau S., and GIII Autumn Miss S. She also ran second to Kentucky Derby winner California Chrome in the 2014 GI Hollywood Derby. Offered at the Keeneland November sale in 2016, she realized a $1-million final bid from K I Farm.

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“He ran solo in his last piece of work on the woodchip course over five furlongs, but he went quickly,” said trainer Mitsumasa Nakauchida of the G1 Racing Company runner. “He looks good, and I can see the difference from when he was a 2-year-old. I think the distance of the race will be fine for him, and racing left-handed at Tokyo shouldn't be a problem either.”

Third in that feature was Danox Company Ltd.'s Danon Scorpion (Jpn) (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}). Successful in the G3 Arlington Cup at Hanshin in April, the colt is a son of Canadian Horse of the Year and three-time Classic victress Lexie Lou (Sligo Bay {Ire}), a $1-million purchase by K I Farm out of the 2016 Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale.

Conditioner Yakayuki Yasuda said, “He is in good condition, and he's like Lord Kanaloa in the way that he races in a relaxed way. He is looking well in his coat, and hopefully things will go smoothly now right up to the race. A mile is probably his best distance, so I think he can run well.”

Lending strong American flavour to Sunday's event is American-bred transplant Jean Gros (More Than Ready), who hit a career high with an Apr. 9 defeat of Group 3 winner Matenro Orion (Jpn) (Daiwa Major {Jpn}) in the G2 New Zealand Trophy S. over this trip at Nakayama. A full-brother to dual graded winner Tom's Ready (More Than Ready) who was also third in the GI Forego S., the Susumu Fujita silksbearer was a $130,000 Keeneland September RNA turned $265,000 OBSMAR 2-year-old acquisition by Hideyuki Mori after breezing a furlong in :10 flat. Mori and Take combined to win the 1997 edition of this race with Seeking the Pearl (Seeking the Gold), who would also strike in the G1 Prix Maurice de Gheest one year later. Jean Gros and his veteran reinsman exit lucky gate 13.

Mori said, “He is developing well, and although quite a small horse, he is getting bigger gradually. If another horse doesn't want to make the running, I think he's capable of going forward and making his own pace.”

One of five members of the fairer sex signed on, Sonnet Phrase (Jpn) (Epiphaneia {Jpn}) is extremely light on starts, but after breaking her maiden at Niigata in August, she did finish second to Serifos in the Daily Hai Nisai S. in November. The Carrot Farm runner would be the first filly or mare to take this race since Aerolithe (Jpn) (Kurofune) in 2017 and she leaves from stall two.

Said trainer Takahisa Tezuka, “The Tokyo mile should suit her, and there's no reason why she can't do well with the ability she has. The pace should be strong this time, and it'll be a full field of eighteen horses, but unless we try, we won't know. I would like her to show her potential here.”

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Second choice in the wagering at 5-2 behind Group 1 winner Grenadier Guards (Jpn) (Frankel {GB}), the Sunday Racing colourbearer broke well from one of the widest draws and punched the breeze out in the centre of the course while unhurried early. Up front, Pixie Knight (Jpn) (Maurice {Jpn}) led under minimal pressure from Ho O Amazon (Jpn) (King Kamehameha {Jpn}), with Grenadier Guards and Gray in Green (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) just off the leading duo. The first 1000 metres was covered in :56.90. On the bend, Schnell Meister rallied sharply and was within shouting distance of the leaders with a quarter mile to travel. A furlong from home, he still had a couple lengths to find, but unleashed a powerful turn of foot to collar Songline (Jpn) (Kizuna {Jpn}) by a nose at the line. Grenadier Guards was third, 2 1/2 lengths back. Bathrat Leon (Jpn) (Kizuna {Jpn}) dumped the rider at the break.

A winner of a Sapporo newcomers' affair in September over 1500 metres and the 1600-metre Hiiragi Sho at Nakayama over a mile on Dec. 19, Schnell Meister ran second in his 3-year-old bow, the G2 Hochi Hai Yayoi Sho Deep Impact Kinen upped to 2000 metres on Mar. 7.

Pedigree Notes
Out of G1 Preis der Diana heroine Serienholde, Schnell Meister is the fourth Group 1 winner by his Juddmonte sire and first in Japan. Kingman's total of black-type winners now stands at 35, with 17 of that number successful at the group level. Broodmare sire Soldier Hollow now has two stakes winners total, both of group class, with Schnell Meister joining G2 Oaks d'Italia heroine Nepal (Ger) (Kallisto {Ger}).

Since foaling Schnell Meister, Serienholde has a yearling colt by Lord Kanaloa (Jpn) and she was bred to Duramente (Jpn). The third dam, Salde (Ger) (Alkalde {Ger}), threw several top performers, among them German highweight Saldenschwinge (Ger) (In the Wings {GB}), group winner and MG1SP Saldentigerin (Ger) (Tiger Hill {Ire})-herself the dam of Group 1 winner Salomina (Ger) (Lomitas {GB})–and stakes winners Salden Licht (GB) (Fantastic Light) and Saldennahe (Ger) (Next Desert {Ire}), as well as the MG1SP Saltas (Ger) (Lomitas {GB}).

Sunday, Tokyo, Japan
NHK MILE CUP-G1, ¥204,960,000, Tokyo, 5-9, 3yo, c/f, 1600mT, 1:31.60, fm.
1–SCHNELL MEISTER(GER), 123, c, 3, Kingman (GB)
                1st Dam: Serienholde (Ger) (G1SW-Ger, $379,079),
                                by Soldier Hollow (GB)
                2nd Dam: Saldenehre (Ger), by Highest Honor (Fr)
                3rd Dam: Salde (Ger), by Alkalde (Ger)
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN. 1ST GROUP WIN. 1ST GROUP 1 WIN.
O-Sunday Racing; B-Northern Farm (Ger); T-Takahisa Tezuka;
J-Christophe Lemaire. ¥108,822,000. Lifetime Record: 4-3-1-0.
Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Werk Nick
   Rating: C+.
2–Songline (Jpn), 121, f, 3, Kizuna (Jpn)–Luminous Parade (Jpn),
by Symboli Kris S. O-Sunday Racing; B-Northern Farm (Jpn);
¥43,092,000.
3–Grenadier Guards (Jpn), 126, c, 3, Frankel (GB)–Wavell
Avenue, by Harlington. O-Sunday Racing; B-Northern Farm
(Jpn); ¥26,564,000.
Margins: NO, 2HF, HF. Odds: 2.70, 15.90, 2.40.
Also Ran: Rickenbacker (Jpn), Lord Max (Jpn), Time to Heaven (Jpn), Another Lyric (Jpn), Land of Liberty (Jpn), Ho O Amazon (Jpn), Rooks Nest (Jpn), Veil of Nebula (Jpn), Pixie Knight (Jpn), Shock Action (Ire), City Rainbow (Jpn), Raymond Barows (Jpn), Gold Chalice (Jpn), Gray in Green (Jpn). DNF: Bathrat Leon(Jpn).
Click for the JRA chart or video or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.

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