Chrono Genesis Highlights Arima Kinen

Fan favorite Chrono Genesis (Jpn) (Bago {Fr}), who will attempt to add a victory in Sunday’s G1 Arima Kinen at Nakayama after a win in the G1 Takarazuka Kinen earlier this season, aims to follow in the illustrious hoofprints of Lys Gracieux (Jpn) (Heart’s Cry {Jpn}), who completed the double in 2019. The 2019 G1 Shuka Sho winner, Chrono Genesis kicked off 2020 with a score in the G2 Kyoto Kinen in February before finishing second to Lucky Lilac (Jpn) (Orfevre {Jpn}) in the 2,000-meter G1 Osaka Hai at Hanshin Apr. 5. Back in the winner’s circle following the Takarazuka Kinen June 26, the 4-year-old filly finished a close-up third behind recently retired champion Almond Eye (Jpn) (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}) and 2020 G1 Tenno Sho (Spring) hero Fierement (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) in Tokyo’s G1 Tenno Sho (Autumn) Nov. 1.

World Premiere (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) recorded a career high win in last season’s 3,000-meter G1 Kikura Sho (Japanese St. Leger) before rounding out the term with a third behind Lys Gracieux in the G1 Arima Kinen. Off for the next 11 months, the 4-year-old returned with a credible sixth behind Almond Eye in the Nov. 29 G1 Japan Cup.

Following her Osaka Hai win last spring, Lucky Lilac finished sixth in the Takarazuka Kinen prior to a third in the G2 Sapporo Kinen in August. Most recently, the 5-year-old mare won the G1 Queen Elizabeth II Cup at Hanshin Nov. 15.

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Fourth Group 1 Laurel for Lucky Lilac

Japanese Champion Juvenile Filly Lucky Lilac (Orfevre {Jpn}) became just the fourth filly or mare to win consecutive G1 Queen Elizabeth II Cups with a neck victory at Hanshin on Sunday.

Favoured at 2-1, the 5-year-old was a tad sweated up over her withers before loading in the 18 post, but was able to secure a good position tucked back in 12th in the two path into the first turn. The grey Normcore (Jpn) (Harbinger {GB}), second choice in the wagering at 5-2, led the charge through splits of :23.70 for the first quarter and :47.20 for the opening half-mile, with six panels registered in 1:11.30. The field began to bunch inside the final 800 metres, but Lucky Lilac was already making steady progress up the outside at the 600-metre mark. She collared Normcore 300 metres out-as the solid fractions took their toll– and grimly held off all comers to register another success at the highest level by a neck. Salacia (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) rallied from even farther back to take second, a neck to the good of the similarly rallying 2020 G1 Japanese Oaks heroine Loves Only You (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}).

“The outermost draw was a concern but we were able to race smoothly and advance our position from the third corner,” said hoop Christophe Lemaire, who was winning his 33rd Japanese Group 1 contest. “She was very composed and gave her usual turn of speed. We took the front early in the stretch but she held on well until the end. She’s a strong horse. She has been racing at the top level since her 2-year-old season and I had confidence in her.”

Named the 2017 Japanese Champion Juvenile Filly after a three-for-three campaign culminating in the G1 Hanshin Juvenile Fillies, Lucky Lilac quickly added the G2 Tulip Sho in her 3-year-old bow. Runner-up to subsequent Horse of the Year Almond Eye (Jpn) (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}) in the G1 Japanese 1000 Guineas and third to the same foe in the G1 Japanese Oaks, the chestnut was unplaced in the G1 Japanese Fillies St Leger to that same rival in the fall of 2018. She made six starts as a 4-year-old, among them a win in the last term’s G1 Queen Elizabeth II Cup, and signed off with a good second in the G1 Hong Kong Vase at Sha Tin in December. This year, she resumed on Mar. 1 with a runner-up performance in the G2 Nakayama Kinen before adding the G1 Osaka Hai on Apr. 5. Unplaced in the G1 Takarazuka Kinen, Lucky Lilac rounded back into form with a third in the 2000-metre G2 Sapporo Kinen last out on Aug. 23.

 

Pedigree Notes

A winner of the 2011 GI Ashland S., Lilacs and Lace is credited with eight foals, six of racing age and three winners. Since foaling Lucky Lilac, her third foal, Lilacs and Lace has thrown the winning 4-year-old colt Lahire (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}), 3-year-old filly Lelievre (Jpn) (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}), the juvenile colt Grand Meteore (Jpn) (Daiwa Major {Jpn}) and full-siblings to the Queen Elizabeth II Cup victress, a filly in 2019 and a colt of this year.

Part of an outstanding extended family, Lucky Lilac’s third dam was four-time Grade I winner Stella Madrid (Alydar), herself a daughter of Eclipse Champion Sprinter My Juliet (Gallant Romeo). Stella Madrid, besides being a full-sister to GI Shuvee H. heroine Tis Juliet (Alydar), produced Japanese Champion Older Mare Diamond Biko (Jpn) (Sunday Silence), as well as G1SP Isle de France (Nureyev), ancestress of Japanese Champion Sprinter/Miler Mikki Isle (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) and G1 NHK Mile Cup heroine Aerolithe (Jpn) (Kurofune).

Sunday, Hanshin, Japan
QUEEN ELIZABETH II CUP-G1, ¥204,960,000 (US$1,958,500/£1,484,804/€1,654,751), Hanshin, 11-15, 3yo/up f/m, 2200mT, 2:10.30, fm.
1–LUCKY LILAC (JPN), 123, m, 5, Orfevre (Jpn)
                1st Dam: Lilacs and Lace (GISW, $350,300),
                                by Flower Alley
                2nd Dam: Refinement, by Seattle Slew
                3rd Dam: Stella Madrid, by Alydar
O-Sunday Racing; B-Northern Farm (Jpn); T-Mikio Matsunaga;
J-Christophe Lemaire. ¥108,822,000. Lifetime Record: Ch. 2yo
Filly-Jpn, G1SP-HK, 18-7-4-3. Werk Nick Rating: A+++. *Triple
   Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Salacia (Jpn), 123, m, 5, Deep Impact (Jpn)
                1st Dam: Salomina (Ger), by Lomitas (GB)
                2nd Dam: Saldentigerin (Ger), by Tiger Hill (Ire)
                3rd Dam: Salde (Ger), by Alkalde (Ger)
O-Silk Racing; B-Northern Farm (Jpn); ¥43,092,000.
3–Loves Only You (Jpn), 123, f, 4, Deep Impact (Jpn)
                1st Dam: Loves Only Me, by Storm Cat
                2nd Dam: Monevassia, by Mr. Prospector
                3rd Dam; Miesque, by Nureyev
(¥160,000,000 Ylg ’17 JRHAJUL). O-DMM Dream Club;
B-Northern Farm (Jpn); ¥26,546,000.
Margins: NK, NK, 1 3/4. Odds: 2.30, 11.30, 4.50.
Also Ran: Win Marilyn (Jpn), Centelleo (Jpn), Soft Fruit (Jpn), Ria Amelia (Jpn), Shadow Diva (Jpn), Something Just (Jpn), Miss New York (Jpn), Satono Garnet (Jpn), Lune Rouge (Jpn), Uranus Charm (Jpn), Win Mighty (Jpn), Rosa Glauca (Jpn), Normcore (Jpn), Espoir (Jpn), Caro Bambina (Jpn).
Click for the JRA chart & video or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.

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‘Lilac’ Poised to Bloom in Takarazuka Kinen

Lucky Lilac (Jpn) (Orfevre {Jpn}) attempts to add a fourth career win at the highest level in Sunday’s 2,200-meter G1 Takarazuka Kinen at Hanshin Racecourse. Having proven herself consistent at a high level, Lucky Lilac, who recorded her initial Group 1 victory in the Hanshin Juvenile Fillies in 2017, won last fall’s G1 Queen Elizabeth II Cup at Kyoto in November before finishing runner-up in Sha Tin’s G1 Longines Hong Kong Vase the following month. Second behind Danon Kingly (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) in the G2 Nakayama Kinen in her seasonal return Mar. 1, the 5-year-old returned to best Danon Kingly, who finished third, in the 2000-meter G1 Osaka Hai over this course Apr. 5.

“After her last race, she went to Northern Farm Shigaraki, and although restrictions on movement meant I wasn’t able to check on her, she has come back looking really well,” said trainer Mikio Matsunaga. “Her form is good, and she has filled out in a way that really makes her look bigger and stronger.”

Mirco Demuro, who will accompany Lucky Lilac, gets the chance to win his third Group 1 title this year.

Chrono Genesis (Jpn) (Bago {Fr}) recorded her most important career win in Kyoto’s G1 Shuka Sho last October before crossing the wire fifth-behind winner Lucky Lilac-in the Queen Elizabeth II Cup. Bouncing back over a yielding turf course to take the Feb. 16 G2 Kyoto Kinen, the 4-year-old found only Lucky Lilac a neck too good in the Osaka Hai and looks to turn the tables on that rival here.

“Last time she drew a wide gate, but quickly got into a position where she settled into stride well. She finished second in the end, but showed her ability, which has definitely improved as she’s gotten older,” said trainer Takashi Saito. “She returned from the farm on June 5, and is the type to pick up quickly in training.” The Sunday Racing Co.’s runner will once again be accompanied by her regular rider, Yuichi Kitamura.

Last season’s G1 Satsuki Sho hero, Saturnalia (Jpn) (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}) added a win in Hanshin’s G2 Kobe Shimbun Hai later in September before finishing sixth behind winner Almond Eye (Jpn) (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}) in the G1 Tenno Sho (Autumn) in October. Well behind Lys Gracieux (Jpn) (Heart’s Cry {Jpn}) in the G1 Arima Kinen Dec. 22, he appreciated the time, returning a winner in the Mar. 15 Kinko Sho at Chukyo.

“He was helped last time by the lack of noise due to no spectators, and everything went smoothly before the race. He adjusted well to the slow pace, and ran out a comfortable winner,” said assistant trainer Takashi Kotaki of the 2018 G1 Hopeful S. victor. “He’s been at the farm since, but on his return to the stable, he’s been his usual self as he prepared for this race.” Jockey Christophe Lemaire returns on Saturnalia.

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