Keita Tosaki settled Justin Milano in fifth place in the early stages as Meisho Tabaru (Jpn) (Gold Ship {Jpn}) took the field along at a fierce gallop, racing a few lengths clear of the chasing pack. Jantar Mantar (Jpn) (Palace Malice), who was crowned champion Japanese two-year-old colt in 2023, raced in third for much of the race and was the first to make his bid for glory when surging past Meisho Tabaru early in the straight.

However, Jantar Mantar was unable to sustain his run and lost two places close home as both Justin Milano and Cosmo Kuranda (Jpn) (Al Ain {Jpn}) went by him, with Tosaki's mount digging deep to get the verdict by a neck. Jantar Mantar was half a length further back in third, while the disappointment of the race was G1 Hopeful S. winner Regaleira (Jpn) (Suave Richard {Jpn}), who could finish only sixth having been sent off favourite in her bid to become the first filly to win the race for 76 years.

It was a second victory in the Satsuki Sho for Justin Milano's trainer Yasuo Tomomichi after that of Unrivaled (Jpn) (Neo Universe {Jpn}) in 2009, while Tosaki had also tasted success in the race just once before with 2018 winner Epoca d'Oro (Jpn) (Orfevre {Jpn}).

“Given the condition of the track, I thought that it would be better to race toward the front,” said Tosaki. “He broke well and we were able to settle in that position naturally. The pace was fast but Justin Milano ran in his own rhythm. His response weakened a bit at the third corner, but he regained his focus after the fourth corner and stretched well to win the race. He's a smart horse with a lot of potential. He's easy to ride and I think he can handle the longer distance.”

The next leg of the Japanese Triple Crown is the G1 Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby), which is run over 2400 metres and was won by Justin Milano's sire, Kizuna (Jpn), back in 2013. The 2024 edition of the Tokyo Yushun will be run at Tokyo Racecourse on Sunday, May 26.

Justin Milano is already a dual winner at Tokyo having won both his previous starts at that track. He made a winning debut as a two-year-old there in November before returning in February with victory in the G3 Kyodo News Hai (Tokinominoru Kinen), beating Jantar Mantar by a length and a half.

Epsom Derby entrant Justin Milano got up late on in the Grade One Satsuki Sho earlier this morning! #ジャスティン・ミラノ #日本の競馬 pic.twitter.com/A3FS9jDjk7

— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) April 14, 2024

Pedigree Notes

Justin Milano is a third Group 1 winner for Shadai Stallion Station resident Kizuna, who won only once at the top level himself when landing the 2013 Tokyo Yushun, though he did perform with credit when travelling to Europe later in his three-year-old campaign, winning the G2 Prix Niel before finishing a creditable fourth behind Treve (Fr) (Motivator {GB}) in the G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe. His standout performer before Justin Milano was Songline (Jpn), who notably won back-to-back renewals of the G1 Yasuda Kinen in 2022 and 2023, while another daughter, Akai Ito (Jpn), won the G1 Queen Elizabeth II Cup in 2021.

Justin Milano's dam, Margot Did (Ire) (Exceed And Excel {Aus}), showed her best form at up to seven furlongs in Britain, with her biggest success coming over five in the 2011 G1 Nunthorpe S. at York. Justin Milano is the second Group 1 winner and third black-type performer she has produced at stud. Magic Attitude (GB) (Galileo {Ire}) became her dam's first top-level winner in the 2020 GI Belmont Oaks Invitational S., while her first foal was the G2 Prix de Sandringham winner Mission Impassible (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), who also filled the runner-up spot in the GI Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup S. as a three-year-old.

Margot Did's own dam, Special Dancer (GB) (Shareef Dancer), was a winner in Italy at up to a mile and a half, as well as being a half-sister to the G1 Hong Kong Gold Cup runner-up Floral Dynamite (Aus) (Danehill) and the G3 Meld S. winner Cajarian (Shahrastani).

Sunday, Nakayama, Japan
SATSUKI SHO (JAPANESE 2000 GUINEAS)-G1, ¥417,520,000, Nakayama, 4-14, 3yo, c/f, 2000mT, 1:57.10 (NTR), fm.
1–JUSTIN MILANO (JPN), 126, c, 3, by Kizuna (Jpn)
        1st Dam: Margot Did (Ire) (Hwt. Filly-Eng at 5-7f, G1SW-Eng, $425,664), by Exceed And Excel (Aus)
        2nd Dam: Special Dancer (GB), by Shareef Dancer
        3rd Dam: Caraniya (Ire), by Darshaan (GB)
1ST GROUP 1 WIN. O-Masahiro Miki; B-Northern Farm (Jpn);
T-Yasuo Tomomichi; J-Keita Tosaki; ¥226,264,000. Lifetime
Record: 3-3-0-0, ¥274,821,000. *Half to Mission Impassible
(Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), GSW & G1SP-Fr, GISP-NA, $311,814; Magic
Attitude (GB) (Galileo {Ire}), GSW & G1SP-Fr, GISW-NA,
$439,402. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style
pedigree. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
Werk Nick Rating: A++.
2–Cosmo Kuranda (Jpn), 126, c, 3, by Al Ain (Jpn)–Southern
Speed (Aus), by Southern Image. O-Big Red Farm; B-Big Red
Farm (Jpn); ¥87,504,000.
3–Jantar Mantar (Jpn), 126, c, 3, by Palace Malice–India
Mantuana, by Wilburn. O-Shadai Race Horse; B-Shadai Farm
(Jpn); ¥53,752,000.
Margins: Neck, HF, 1 HF. Odds: 3.80, 14.80, 5.10.
Also ran: Urban Chic (Jpn), Shin Emperor (Fr), Regaleira (Jpn), Ecoro Waltz (Jpn), Lucullan Feast (Jpn), Sunrize Zipangu (Jpn), Mr G T (Jpn), Ho O Prosangue (Jpn), Sunrise Earth (Jpn), Byzantine Dream (Jpn), Sirius Colt (Jpn), Allegro Brillante (Jpn), Water Licht (Jpn), Meisho Tabaru (Jpn). Scratch: Danon Decile (Jpn). Click for the JRA chart & video.

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The filly, who bears the Sunday Racing colours and will tote four pounds less than her male rivals, leaves from stall 10 under Hiroshi Kitamura. A winner against newcomers at Hakodate last July, she lost her perfect record when third in the Listed Ivy S. when attempting to closing into slow early fractions. However, she was much farther back and rallied into a fast pace for her Hopeful win, defeating several of these including the blue-blooded Group 3 winner and €2.1-million Arqana August sale-topper Shin Emperor (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}) in second and subsequent listed winner Sunrise Zipangu (Jpn) (Kizuna {Jpn}) in third.

Trainer Tetsuya Kimura said, “She's come along as expected, without any problems. She's better in her left foreleg now. Once again, she has a new challenge ahead of her here.”

Shin Emperor, a full-brother to G1 Prix de l'Arc de Tromphe winner Sottsass (Fr), ran second after a stalking trip in his 3-year-old bow, the G2 Hochi Hai Yayoi Sho Deep Impact Kinen to Cosmo Kuranda (Jpn) (Al Ain {Jpn}) with Sirius Colt (Jpn) (Makfi {GB}) third at the beginning of March. Ryusei Sakai has been booked to ride and the duo will leave from stall 14.

Trainer Yoshito Yahagi said, “He's worked well, with a final furlong time of around 12 seconds. I hope he can run to the level expected of him.”

The other Group 1 winner in the field is Japanese Champion 2-Year-Old Colt Jantar Mantar (Jpn) (Palace Malice), winner of the Asahi Hai Futurity S. ahead of Ecoro Walz (Jpn) (Black Tide {Jpn}). Also successful in the G2 Daily Hai Nisai S., the colt is a poster child for his recently relocated sire. He was second to the undefeated two-for-two Justin Milano (Jpn) (Kizuna {Jpn}) in the Feb. 11 G3 Kyodo News Hai.

Trainer Tomokazu Takano said, “He's cantered on the uphill training track and seems easier to ride now. He's developing more as well. I believe in him, and the ability he has, so I want him to show his best in this next race.”

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Jumping well and close to the pacesetters, Sixpence tucked in neatly behind Allegro Brillante (Jpn) (Deep Brillante {Jpn}) and that one's closest pursuer Cosmo Buddleja (Jpn) (Gold Ship {Jpn}) as the pair showed the way. The placings remained consistent until the field passed the 800 metre mark with closers beginning their march from the rear and Sixpence was launching his own rally coming off the bend.

Looming the danger with 400 metres left, Christophe Lemaire asked and his charge responded, leaving long-time leader Allegro Brillante in his wake under the mildest of hand rides. The advantage extended with 200 metres left in the running and the gap back to the game pacesetter was 3 1/2 lengths on the wire. Lucullan Feast (Jpn) (Isla Bonita {Jpn}) came out best of the scramble for the minors, nosing out Channel Tunnel (Jpn) (Greater London {Jpn}) for the last trifecta spot.

Hold the phone, we've got a live one!

G2 1800m Spring Stakes, a classic Satsuki Sho trial

Won by exciting 3c 4. SIXPENCE (Kizuna x Finley'sluckycharm (Twirling Candy)) x Christophe Lemaire

Unbeaten in 3 starts

Devastating turn of foot!#JRA pic.twitter.com/eiJlzgF5WJ

— Graham Pavey (@LongBallToNoOne) March 17, 2024

Pedigree Note
The lone offspring to race for American Grade I-winner Finley'sluckycharm (Twirling Candy) thus far, Sixpence is the newest Classic contender for sire Kizuna (Jpn), who himself was the Japanese champion 3-year-old colt as well as a Classic winner in France and Japan. Among the stallion's best runners are dual champion Songline (Jpn), who twice claimed the G1 Yasuda Kinen, and G1 Queen Elizabeth II Cup victrex Akai Ito (Jpn).

On his female line side, the busiest activity is found deep in the pedigree via the dam Gather the Clan (Ire), who is responsible for GISW Pure Clan (Pure Prize). That mare would later go on to produce SW & GISP Princesa Carolina (Tapit), who set a course-record en route to her victory in the Fifth Third Insurance Dueling Grounds Oaks. She is not the only runner with a wicked turn of foot as Pure Clan's half-brother MGSW Greater Good set a new track-record beneath the fabled twin spires of Churchill Downs.

Since changing hands to Katsumi Yoshida for $1.5-million in 2018 at the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky November sale, Finley'sluckycharm has produced two of racing age, but Sixpence is the first to make it to the races. She does have a 2-year-old colt by Lord Kanaloa (Jpn) named Field Note (Jpn). Her 2023 Orfevre (Jpn) foal was stillborn.

Sunday, Nakayama, Japan
FUJI TV SHO SPRING STAKES-G2, ¥104,580,000, Nakayama, 3-17, 3yo, 1800mT, 1:49.40, fm.
1–SIXPENCE (JPN), 126, c, 3, by Kizuna (Jpn)
           1st Dam: Finley'sluckycharm (GISW, $928,068), by Twirling Candy
           2nd Dam: Day of Victory, by Victory Gallop
           3rd Dam: Gather the Day, by Dayjur
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN, 1ST GROUP WIN. O-Carrot Farm; B-Northern Farm; T-Sakae Kunieda; J-Christophe Lemaire; ¥54,756,000. Lifetime Record: 3-3-0-0, ¥72,873,000. Werk Nick Rating: F. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Allegro Brillante (Jpn), 126, c, 3, Deep Brillante (Jpn)–Centenary (Jpn), by French Deputy. 1ST BLACK-TYPE, 1ST GROUP BLACK-TYPE. O-Sunday Racing; B-Northern Farm; ¥22,216,000.
3–Lucullan Feast (Jpn), 126, c, 3, Isla Bonita (Jpn)–Gorgeous Lunch (Jpn), by Manhattan Cafe (Jpn). 1ST BLACK-TYPE, 1ST GROUP BLACK-TYPE. O-Shadai Race Horse; B- Shadai Farm; ¥14,108,000.
Margins: 3HF, 1, NO; Odds: 1.90, 24.30, 6.30.
Also Ran: Channel Tunnel (Jpn), Cosmo Buddleja (Jpn), Stinger Glass (Jpn), Pellegrini (Jpn), Lograr (Jpn), Water Licht (Jpn), Jun Gold (Jpn). Click for the JRA chart & video.

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Ask Victor More (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) soon went to the front as Geoglyph–in tandem with Danon Beluga (Jpn) (Heart's Cry {Jpn})–traveled on the heels of stablemate Equinox (Jpn) (Kitisan Black {Jpn}) mid-pack. Fanned out a few paths wide turning for home, the colt battled for supremacy with the early pacesetter in the final furlong, dug in to overtake his stablemate, gaining a short advantage late en route to a one-length success over Equinox with favored Do Deuce (Jpn) (Heart's Cry {Jpn), last season's champion juvenile in Japan, 1 1/4-lengths back in third.

“His start was good and we were able to sit in an ideal position which was crucial in winning today,” said winning rider Yuichi Fukunaga, who also won the Japanese 2000 Guineas with Contrail (Jpn) in 2020. “I already knew that he was in good form when I rode him during workouts and had every belief that, although the colt was fifth pick, he was capable of winning. The colt has the strength to sustain his speed, so I geared him wide launching an early bid before the fourth corner. I'm just glad I was able to do my job. In the upcoming Derby, we'll have to see if he can handle the 400-meter added distance.”

After debuting in June last year, Geoglyph notched two consecutive wins including the G3 Sapporo Nisai S. and capped off his 2-year-old season with a fifth in the G1 Asahi Hai

Futurity S. in December. In his sole prior start this term, he finished runner-up behind Danon Beluga in the G3 Kyodo News Hai Feb. 13.

Pedigree Notes:
Sunday's Classic victory marked the first Group 1 score for U.S. Sprint Champion Drefong, winner of a trio of Grade I races, including the 2016 GI Breeders' Cup Sprint. Geoglyph represents the Japanese-based stallion's first crop of sophomores.

Geoglyph's dam, listed scorer and multiple Group 1-placed Aromatico, is also responsible for a pair of minor winners–Albilia (Jpn) (Maurice {Jpn}) and Copacati (Jpn) (Harbinger {GB}).

Sunday, Nakayama, Japan
SATSUKI SHO (JAPANESE 2000 GUINEAS)-G1, ¥320,750,000, Nakayama, 4-17, 3yo, 2000mT, 1:59.70, fm.
1–GEOGLYPH (JPN), 126, c, 3, by Drefong
1st Dam: Aromatico (Jpn), by King Kamehameha (Jpn)
2nd Dam: Nasca (Jpn), by Sunday Silence
3rd Dam: Andes Lady (Jpn), by Northern Taste
O-Sunday Racing; B-Northern Farm; T-Tetsuya Kimura; J-Yuichi
Fukunaga; ¥174,325,000. Lifetime Record: 5-3-1-0. *First Group 1 winner for sire (by Gio Ponti).
2–Equinox (Jpn), 126, c, 3, by Kitasan Black (Jpn)–Chateau
Blanche (Jpn), by King Halo (Jpn). O-Silk Racing; B-Northern
Farm; ¥66,950,000.
3–Do Deuce (Jpn), 126, c, 3, by Heart's Cry (Jpn)–Dust and
Diamonds, by Vindication. O-Kieffers Inc.; B-Northern Farm;
¥41,475,000.
Margins: 3, NK, NK; Odds: 8.10, 4.70, 2.90.
Also Ran: Danon Beluga (Jpn), Ask Victore More (Jpn), Onyankopon (Jpn), Justin Rock (Jpn), Lagulf (Jpn), Justin Palace (Jpn), Dante's View (Jpn), Be Astonished (Jpn), Matenro Leo (Jpn), Killer Ability (Jpn), Born This Way (Jpn), Grand Line (Jpn), Tosen Vanno (Jpn).

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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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