Sunday Racing's Geraldina (Jpn), the product of Japanese Horses of the Year Maurice (Jpn) and Gentildonna (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) will have to lift her game to a level not yet seen in 2023 if she is to become the third horse to go back-to-back in the G1 Queen Elizabeth II Cup at Kyoto Racecourse Sunday afternoon.
The 5-year-old was a cracking third to Equinox (Jpn) (Kitasan Black {Jpn}) in the G1 Arima Kinen to end a fruitful 2022 campaign, but it's been tougher sledding this term, as she has finished outside the top three in each of her four starts. Her fourth-place effort to Equinox in the June 25 G1 Takarazuka Kinen was full of merit, as she came from a long way back to finish fourth, and perhaps she needed the run when only sixth to the progressive Rousham Park (Jpn) (Harbinger {GB}) and Titleholder (Jpn) (Duramente {Jpn}) in the G2 Sankei Sho All Comers S. Sept. 24. The visiting Ryan Moore has the mount Sunday and knows a thing or two about Geraldina's parents.
“I won Grade 1 races on both her sire and her dam and that is something special for me,” Moore said. “Even though I've never ridden Geraldina, I've watched the video of last year's race and will look forward to riding her on Sunday.”
Gentildonna defeated Verxina (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) into second in all three legs of the Filly Triple Crown in 2012, and the latter–narrowly beaten at odds-on in this event that season–is also represented here by Divina (Jpn) (Maurice {Jpn}). A close fourth to Songline (Jpn) (Kizuna {Jpn}) in the G1 Victoria Mile earlier this season, the bay, owned by former American professional baseball player Kaz Sasaki, exits a nose defeat of Rouge Eveil (Jpn) (Just a Way {Jpn}) in the G2 Fuchu Himba S. at Tokyo Oct. 14.
This year's Classic form is represented by Harper (Jpn) (Heart's Cry {Jpn}), second to Liberty Island (Jpn) (Duramente {Jpn}) in the G1 Yushun Himba and a latest third in the G1 Shuka Sho Oct. 15. Brede Weg (Jpn) (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}) was working her way through the lower grades over the summer, but announced herself as a potential top-class mare with a narrow defeat to future Shuka Sho runner-up Masked Diva (Jpn) (Rulership {Jpn}) in the G2 Rose S. in September.
Sheikh Fahad's Art House (Jpn) (Screen Hero {Jpn}) was a winner in Group 3 company in January and was last seen finishing a good fourth behind Through Seven Seas (Jpn) (Dream Journey {Jpn}) at Group 3 level in March. The latter gave Equinox all he could handle in the Takarazuka Kinen and went on to be a meritorious fourth to Cartier Horse of the Year Ace Impact (Ire) (Cracksman {GB}) in the G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.
Between them, Maurice (Jpn) (Screen Hero {Jpn}) and Gentildonna (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) accounted for three Horse of the Year titles in Japan, 13 Group 1 races–including four overseas–and the better part of $28 million in prizemoney. There is no such thing as a sure thing in the business of breeding horses, but Geraldina (Jpn) went some ways in cementing the accomplishments of mom and dad in their second careers with a tough-trip victory in Sunday's G1 Queen Elizabeth II Cup at Hanshin Racecourse.
Drawn widest in the field of 18, Geraldina was away without incident, but Cristian Demuro was left with no real option but to attempt to slot his mount in towards the back of the pack, as 82-1 Rosa Noir (Jpn) (Manhattan Cafe {Jpn}) made the running in advance of G1 Juddmonte Irish Oaks heroine Magical Lagoon (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). Demuro had Geraldina positioned in the latter third of the field over a rain-affected course and raced as many as six paths off the inside, covering the well-bet G1 Shuka Sho runner-up Namur (Jpn) (Harbinger {GB}) while racing with the benefit of cover on the back of longshot Terzetto (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}). Improving her position as they hit the final turn, Geraldina was pulled out six or seven deep nearing the straight and had dead aim on Win Marilyn (Jpn) (Screen Hero {Jpn}), who overhauled Rosa Noir approaching the furlong pole. The two dueled for a stride or two, but Geraldina–a spitting image of her sire and dam–kicked on strongly despite the wide passage and proved a much-the-best winner. Lilac (Jpn) (Orfevre {Jpn}) was up on the wire to dead-heat for second, while defending champion Akai Ito (Jpn) (Kizuna {Jpn}) closed off well for fourth. Daring Tact (Jpn) (Epiphaneia {Jpn}) was only sixth as a somewhat suspect favourite. It was a third QE II win in four years for Sunday Racing, who were represented by Lucky Lilac (Jpn) (Orfevre {Jpn}) in 2019 and 2020.
“I'm very happy I was able to win another Group 1 race,” said Demuro, whose brother Mirco was aboard Lilac. “The filly was traveling very well in the last corner, came out and gave a good turn of foot. The last time when she won [G2 Sankei Sho All Comers S. Sept. 25], it was a good race, so I was pretty confident with her. Gentildonna was a good filly and I think Geraldina can be like her dam.”
Demuro also carried the Sunday Racing colours aboard Shahryar (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) in this year's G1 Longines Dubai Sheema Classic.
Magical Lagoon, who was a bit uncooperative pre-start, raced handy to the pace, but began to struggle a half-mile from home and was effectively eased up in the final furlong with a clear alibi.
“We were able to race in a good position, but she likes quick ground and the rain, unfortunately, took her chance away,” said jockey Shane Foley. “I urged her to go from the third corner, but she didn't respond. I don't know why she didn't want to go into the gate because she's usually really good.”
Pedigree Notes:
Geraldina is the fourth Group 1 winner overall for Maurice and his second in Japan, joining Sprinters' S. hero Pixie Knight (Jpn). He has also been represented by Australian Derby hero Hitotsu (Aus) and Doomben 10,000 S. winner Mazu (Aus) from his shuttle missions to Arrowfield Stud.
Gentildonna is the second foal out of Donna Blini, who cost a mere £20,000 at the 2004 Doncaster St Leger yearling sale, but was purchased by Katsumi Yoshida just over two years later for 500,000gns ($1,014,038) owing to the filly's 12-1 upset in the G1 Cheveley Park S. for trainer Brian Meehan in 2005. Donna Blini was off to a flyer in the breeding shed, producing future MGSW & MG1SP Donau Blue (Jpn) to the cover of Deep Impact in 2008 and Gentildonna in 2009.
Winner of the Japanese Filly Triple Crown in 2012, Gentildonna defeated Orfevre in an epic renewal of the G1 Japan Cup that fall before successfully defending her title 12 months later. She carried Ryan Moore to a famous victory over Cirrus des Aigles (Fr) in the G1 Dubai Sheema Classic when kept in training at five and closed her career with 7-1 score in the 2014 G1 Arima Kinen.
Gentildonna is also the dam of three-time maiden Marina Donna (Jpn) (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}) and a yearling full-sister to Geraldina. She was barren to Epiphaneia (Jpn) for 2022.
Sunday, Hanshin, Japan QUEEN ELIZABETH II CUP-G1, ¥ 253,400,000, Hanshin, 11-13, 3yo/up, f/m, 2200mT, 2:13, yl.
1–GERALDINA (JPN), 123, f, 4, by Maurice (Jpn) 1st Dam: Gentildonna (Jpn) (2x Horse of the Year, 2x Ch. Older Mare, Ch. 3yo Filly & MG1SW-Jpn, Hwt. Older Mare at 11-14f & G1SW-UAE, $18,468,392), by Deep Impact (Jpn) 2nd Dam: Donna Blini (GB), by Bertolini 3rd Dam: Cal Norma's Lady (Ire), by Lyphard's Special 1ST GROUP 1 WIN. O-Sunday Racing; B-Northern Farm; T-Takashi Saito; J-Cristian Demuro; ¥133,780,000. Lifetime Record: 16-6-2-2, ¥298,967,000. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. (DH)-2–Win Marilyn (Jpn), 123, m, 5, Screen Hero (Jpn)–Cosmo Cielo (Aus), by Fusaichi Pegasus. O-Win Inc; B-Cosmo View Farm; ¥43,310,000. (DH)-2–Lilac (Jpn), 119, f, 3, Gold Ship (Jpn)–Viva Bouquet (Jpn), by King Kamehameha (Jpn). O-Seiichi Serizawa; B-Kineusu Farm; ¥43,310,000.
Margins: 1 3/4, (DH), 2HF. Odds: 7.10, (9.10, 51.90).
Also Ran: Akai Ito (Jpn), Namur (Jpn), Daring Tact (Jpn), Ho O Emmy's (Jpn), Ruby Casablanca (Jpn), Pin High (Jpn), Izu Jo no Kiseki (Jpn), Kurino Premium (Jpn), Terzetto (Jpn), Rosa Noir (Jpn), Stunning Rose (Jpn), Win Kiitos (Jpn), Win Mighty (Jpn), Andvaranaut (Jpn), Magical Lagoon (Ire). Click for the JRA chart.
A formidable trio exiting this year's Japanese Triple Crown returns to the races in Sunday's G1 Tenno Sho (Autumn) at Tokyo Racecourse, but while each makes his first start since the G1 Tokyo Yushun in late May, the flashy Jack d'Or (Jpn) (Maurice {Jpn}) may have a slight advantage over his younger rivals–at least this time around.
The recognizable chestnut, whose sire took this race back in 2016, made meteoric progress early on this season, winning in listed company over course and distance in January before besting the classy Lei Papale (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) in all-the-way fashion in the G2 Kinko Sho and running the 2000 metres in a record time of 1:57.2. Only fifth to Potager (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) after setting the majority of the pace in the G1 Osaka Hai in April, Jack d'Oro was asked to settle off the speed of G1 Dubai Turf dead-heater Panthalassa (Jpn) (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}) and ran that one down in the shadow of the post to take the G2 Sapporo Kinen Aug. 21 (video, SC 4).
“The races take a lot out of him and the rotation going in to the Osaka Hai was tight,” trainer Kenichi Fujioka opined. “The ground was worse than I thought it'd be, and the early lap times were faster than I expected. Last start, he was a bit heavy, but this time his weight should be down. Physically, he's always been good, and I don't think he's changed much. Though he's become calmer, he switches on well. He has had good results at Tokyo 2000 meters and lots of experience to the left. I would say it's his best trip.”
Leading the 3-year-old challenge is Equinox (Jpn), a son of 2017 Tenno Sho hero Kitasan Black (Jpn). A veteran of just four career starts, the Silk Racing colourbearer was a Group 2 winner at headquarters as a juvenile and contested the first two legs of this year's Classics, missing narrowly to Geoglyph (Jpn) (Drefong) in the G1 Satsuki Sho (Japanese 2000 Guineas) in April and by even a slimmer margin to Do Deuce (Jpn) (Heart's Cry {Jpn}) in the G1 Toyko Yushun (Japanese Derby) last time, with Geoglyph not running out the 2400 metres in seventh.
“This Wednesday, he breezed with two others on the woodchip flat course, and again, all looked good,” said trainer Tetsuya Kimura. “His footwork was excellent. The distance shouldn't be a problem. We will keep preparing him to bring out his best on raceday.”
Exciting 3c EQUINOX (Kitasan Black x Chateau Blanche (King Halo)) fast work 11 days out from mayhem in G1 2000m Tenno Sho
2nd in Derby at 4th race start
Lemaire “Beautiful light footwork, breathing nicely, maybe more powerful than the spring?” #JRApic.twitter.com/pPVoA0BRcQ
The lightly raced Danon Beluga (Jpn) (Heart's Cry {Jpn}) sports a profile similar to Equinox, with a pair of wins from his four outings, including a defeat of Geoglyph in a Group 3 at this venue ahead of the Classics, but he was somewhat disappointing when fourth in both the Guineas and–as the 5-2 favourite–in the Derby.
Last year's Japanese Derby hero Shahryar (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) makes his first start at home this season, having contributed to a massive Dubai World Cup program for Japan with a victory over GI Breeders' Cup Turf hero Yibir (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) in the G1 Longines Dubai Sheema Classic in March ahead of a forgettable effort when fifth to State of Rest (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}) in the G1 Prince of Wales's S. at Royal Ascot in June. The Sunday Racing runner clearly deserves his place in this field, but it can be argued that he'll be using this as a prep for next month's G1 Longines Japan Cup, in which he was third last season.
It doesn't seem to matter where you are in the world: bloodstock sales are booming. That was certainly the case for the opening day and sole session of yearlings at the JRHA Select Sale, which reached new highs after last year's record-breaking trade.
At Y12,870,000,000 (£78.7m/€93m), the aggregate for the session improved by 10.6% from 2021 with a staggeringly high clearance rate of 95.3%, which was yet another record. Only 11 of the 233 yearlings offered returned unsold to their vendors, with the average price driven up 12.6% to an all-time high of Y57,972,973 (£355,000/€419,000).
“This is an amazing market. As it was a record-breaking market last year and I thought it would be difficult to beat it this year, this is a pleasant surprise,” said Katsumi Yoshida of Northern Farm, the largest consignor at the sale, who was responsible for the top eight lots in the sale.
“I am very impressed with the depth of buyers, which include a lot of newcomers. And the most important aspect of today's market is very high clearance rate.
“While this year's catalogue does not include any yearlings by Deep Impact, several stallions, such as Duramente, Epiphaneia, and some others, played the role of his replacement. I am very happy with the depth of young stallions in Japan now.”
Taking top honours on day one was lot 76, Northern Farm's colt by Maurice (Jpn) out of the treble Australian Classic winner Mosheen (Aus) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}),who was bought by Masahiro Noda of Danox Co Ltd for ¥450 million (£2.7m/€3.25m).
“The foals out of Mosheen have been getting better and better, crop by crop, and this yearling, who is the eighth foal out of Mosheen, is a fantastic individual,” said Yoshida. “Therefore, I set the highest reserve price [for him] in our consignment. Many owners and trainers who visited and saw him at Northern Farm were enchanted by him and I expected he would be expensive. But the price, 450 million yen, is much more than I expected.”
Noda was one of the leading buyers of the session and among six yearlings bought was another colt by Maurice, this one out of the 1,000 Guineas winner Homecoming Queen (Ire) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}), who was sold for ¥220 million (£1.3m/€1.6m).
The Japanese Guineas and Derby winner Duramente (Jpn), who died last year from colitis after becoming the country's leading first-crop sire of 2020, was responsible for the day's second-most expensive yearling (lot 96). The colt is the first foal of Jaywalk (Cross Traffic), a former champion 2-year-old filly in the U.S. and Breeders' Cup winner. He was knocked down at ¥300 million (£1.8m/€2.2m) to Two One Racing.
At the head of the fillies' division was another from Northern Farm, the daughter of Daiwa Major (Jpn) and GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf runner-up Coasted (Tizway), who was offered as lot 58 and brought a top bid of ¥210 million (£1.3m/€1.5m) from Fujita Susumu.
Frankel (GB) has already been represented by three Grade I winners in Japan and his sole yearling in the catalogue (lot 23) was out of the Irish 1,000 Guineas winner Jet Setting (Ire) (Fast Company {Ire}). The mare was previously one of the stars of the Goffs London Sale when selling for £1.3 million to China Horse Club in 2016, and her colt fetched a bid of ¥155 million (£948,000/€1.1m) from American Turf.
The sales action continues in Hokkaido on Tuesday with the concluding foal session which includes a half-brother to Monday's session topper by Epiphaneia (lot 367).
“Beautiful light footwork, breathing nicely, maybe more powerful than the spring?” 