The 5-year-old Matenro Sky broke through at the stakes level in the Listed Rigel S. going a mile at Hanshin last December and was posting a career-high in the Nakayama Kinen (see below), besting $4.3-million 2-year-old in training purchase Dobune (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}), with G1 Satsuki Sho (Japanese 2000 Guineas) winners Geoglyph (Jpn) (Drefong, 2022) and Sol Oriens (Jpn) (Kitasan Black {Jpn}, 2023) third and fourth.

Past winners of the Nakayama Kinen that have gone on to international glory include Victoire Pisa (Jpn), Nuovo Record (Jpn), Neorealism (Jpn), two-time victor Win Bright (Jpn) and Panthalassa (Jpn). The outstanding Duramente (Jpn) won the 2016 Nakayama Kinen.

Shadai Farm's Ballon d'Or was beaten five lengths into third by recent G3 Saudi Derby winner Forever Young (Jpn) (Real Steel {Jpn}) on Kyoto debut last October and has since won two of four starts on the dirt. A six-length maiden winner at second asking, the $650,000 JRHA Select Foal purchase won a Hanshin allowance in December before finishing third in the valuable Bluebird Cup at Funabashi in January. He exits a sixth behind Ramjet (Jpn) (Majestic Warrior) in the 1600-metre Listed Hyacinth S. Matsunaga won the 2016 UAE Derby with the American-bred Lani (Tapit).

According to Netkeiba, the veteran Norihiro Yokoyama will ride both horses.

The deep Japanese contingent also includes defending champion Ushba Tesoro (Jpn) (Orfevre {Jpn}) and 2023 UAE Derby hero Derma Sotogake (Jpn) (Mind Your Biscuits) for the G1 Dubai World Cup; Liberty Island (Jpn) (Duramente {Jpn}) and 2022 winner Shahryar (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) for the G1 Dubai Sheema Classic; Do Deuce (Jpn) (Heart's Cry {Jpn}) in the Dubai Turf; Forever Young in the Derby; and G3 Riyadh Dirt Sprint hero Remake (Jpn) (Lani) for the G1 Dubai Golden Shaheen.

【ドバイワールドカップデー】
松永幹夫厩舎のマテンロウスカイ(セ5)はドバイターフ、バロンドール(牡3)はUAEダービーの招待を受諾。共に横山典弘騎手とのコンビで参戦。#横山典弘 #マテンロウスカイ #バロンドールhttps://t.co/2PL8GUFWFW

— netkeiba (@netkeiba) March 6, 2024

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After her Osaka Hai victory in April, the 2017 Best Two-Year-Old Filly finished sixth in the Takarazuka Kinen (G1, 2,200m) in June and third in the following Sapporo Kinen (G2, 2,000m) in August before claiming her fourth G1 title in this race. This win marked trainer Mikio Matsunaga's sixth career JRA-G1 title (including steeplechases) following Lucky Lilac's Osaka Hai victory. Jockey Christophe Lemaire who partnered with the mare for the first time captured his 33rd JRA-G1 win following his Tenno Sho (Autumn) title with Almond Eye just two weeks ago and his second Queen Elizabeth II Cup title following his win in 2008 with Little Amapola.

Breaking smoothly from the outermost draw, Lucky Lilac settled in mid-division behind Loves Only You, around 12th from the front, edged forward toward the end of the backstretch and continued to advance turning the corners wide. The defending champion immediately made bid entering the corner, assumed command 300 meters out and held off the strong charges from behind in the last 100 meters to cross the wire a neck in front.

“The outermost draw was a concern but we were able to race smoothly and advance our position from the third corner. 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 two-year-old season and I had confidence in her,” commented Christophe Lemaire

Fifth choice Salacia traveled wide toward the rear, around 14th, while eyeing the race favorite on the outside. The Deep Impact mare took a wide route rounding the final corner and dislodged a powerful late charge that timed the fastest last three furlongs to nail Loves Only You before the wire but was a neck short to finish second.

Third favorite Loves Only You traveled around 11th, made headway after being overtaken by the eventual winner and angled wide for the stretch run. The four-year-old bay showed the second fastest late charge to close in on the winner but had too much to make up while surrendering the runner-up seat to Salacia before the wire for third.

Other Horses:
4th: (12) Win Marilyn—tracked leaders in 3rd, ran willingly along rails, weakened in final strides
5th: (8) Centelleo—settled 3rd from rear, angled out, showed belated charge
6th: (4) Soft Fruit—sat in 5th, ran gamely until 200m pole, failed to sustain bid
7th: (5) Ria Amelia—tracked distant leader in 2nd, chased winner but weakened in last 200m
8th: (1) Shadow Diva—traveled around 7th along rails, outrun between 3rd and final corner, passed tired rivals
9th: (2) Something Just—took economic trip in 4th, boxed in turning last corners, even paced
10th: (16) Miss New York—ran around 9th, showed brief effort until 200m pole
11th: (14) Satono Garnet—settled in 2nd from rear, circled wide, never fired
12th: (3) Lune Rouge—saved ground around 9th, lacked needed kick while met traffic at 200m pole
13th: (15) Uranus Charm—sat 3-wide around 14th, advanced and entered in 3rd to lane, ran out of steam
14th: (9) Win Mighty—raced around 7th, met traffic 300m out, showed little
15th: (7) Rosa Glauca—broke poorly, hugged rails around 12th, found little room rounding last corners
16th: (6) Normcore—set pace, 5-6 lengths in front of rest of field in backstretch, faded after 200m pole
17th: (17) Espoir—traveled around 5th early, improved position, outrun after final corner
18th: (10) Caro Bambina—disadvantage at break, trailed in rear, no factor

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“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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