Tag: nakayama racecourse

Justin Milano Remains Unbeaten With Satsuki Sho Victory

Justin Milano (Jpn) lowered the track record as he came out on top in a stirring finish to Sunday's G1 Satsuki Sho (Japanese 2,000 Guineas) at Nakayama Racecourse, adding the first leg of the Japanese Triple Crown to a record which now sees him unbeaten in three starts.

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.

 

 

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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Sol Oriens A Rising Star For Kitasan Black in Satsuki Sho

Just days after his first-crop son Equinox (Jpn) was named the world's highest-rated racehorse for his stunning victory in last month's G1 Longines Dubai Sheema Classic, successful young stallion Kitasan Black (Jpn) was represented by his first Japanese Classic winner when Sol Oriens (Jpn) came from a near-impossible position 400 metres from home to take Sunday's G1 Satsuki Sho (Japanese 2000 Guineas) by a widening 1 1/4 lengths. Tastiera (Jpn) (Satono Crown {Jpn}) led into the final furlong, but was swamped late on, while favoured Phantom Thief (Jpn) (Harbinger {GB}) won a photo for third.

Void of speed from the inside gate, the 21-5 second-elect drifted right back through the field and was guided a few paths off the rail to race fourth-last and three wide into the first bend as Granite (Jpn) (Danon Ballade {Jpn}) set what appeared to be solid fractions in the wet ground. Patiently handled down the back and up the rise approaching the 800-metre peg, Sol Oriens was shuffled back and raced last but one and a good 12 lengths off the lead on the second turn.

Moving nearly laterally when awkwardly switching his legs nearing the straight, Sol Oriens was steered out 10 or 11 wide and whooshed home down the soundest part of the racing surface to win in highly impressive fashion, while again swapping his leads in the final stages. His final three furlongs were covered in :35.5, remarkable given the underfoot conditions, and 0.9 seconds faster than any of his rivals. Tastiera also rallied well off the inside, while Phantom Thief was mostly one-paced in third.

Sol Oriens becomes the first horse in 80 years to win the Guineas with as few as two previous starts.

“He's still very green, especially at the turns, with only a short career coming into this race, but as he's already shown in his

previous start, I know first hand the power and speed which this colt possesses,” said winning jockey Takeshi Yokoyama, who piloted Efforia (Jpn) ( Epiphaneia {Jpn}) to win this race in 2021. “So, while we had a lot of ground to cover from way behind, I knew that if I could keep him in good rhythm up to the straight, he would be able to show his full potential to win this race.”

The Classic series continues with the G1 Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby) (2400 metres) at the headquarters of Japanese racing May 28.

Pedigree Notes:

While there were no members of the final crop of Deep Impact (Jpn) in the Satsuki Sho, there is something of a connection to the legendary sire, as Kitasan Black is a son of Deep Impact's year-younger full-brother Black Tide (Jpn).

A popular and accomplished galloper in his own right, Kitasan Black won 12 of his 20 career appearances, including the 2015 G1 Kikuka Sho (Japanese St Leger), back-to-back renewals of the G1 Tenno Sho (Spring), a G1 Japan Cup and a career-closing victory in the G1 Arima Kinen. Now the sire of two elite-level scorers, the 11-year-old Shadai resident is also responsible for Group 2 winner Gaia Force (Jpn) from his first crop and for the Group 3-winning 3-year-old filly Ravel (Jpn).

Sol Oriens's dam was the upset winner of the 2011 G3 Prix Fille de l'Air for Carlos Laffon-Parias and was purchased by bloodstock agent Patrick Barbe for €320,000 in foal to Leroidesanimaux (Brz) from the Haras du Quesnay draft at the 2014 Arqana December Sale. Her second foal became the newly retired Vin de Garde (Jpn), a Group 2 winner at home and second and third, respectively, in the G1 Dubai Turf in 2021 and 2022. Skia's half-brother Tropaios (GB) (Excellent Art {GB}) was a listed winner in France for Laffon-Parias and went on to become a standout for the China Horse Club and trainer Michael Freedman in Singapore, where he was victorious in the Singapore Gold Cup. Motivator is also the broodmare sire of treble Japanese Group 1 winner and champion older horse Titleholder (Jpn) (Duramente {Jpn}).

Skia is the dam of a 2-year-old colt by Deep Impact's son Kizuna (Jpn) and is due to Epiphaneia (Jpn) for her 2023 produce.

 

 

Sunday, Nakayama, Japan
SATSUKI SHO (JAPANESE 2000 GUINEAS)-G1, ¥ 416,260,000, Nakayama, 4-16, 3yo, c/f, 2000mT, 2:00.60, yl.
1—SOL ORIENS (JPN), 126, c, 3, by Kitasan Black (Jpn)
1st Dam: Skia (Fr) (GSW-Fr, $163,904), by Motivator (GB)
2nd Dam: Light Quest, by Quest For Fame (GB)
3rd Dam: Gleam of Light (Ire), by Danehill
1ST GROUP 1 WIN. O-Shadai Race Horse; B- Shadai Farm; T-Takahisa Tezuka; J-Takeshi Yokoyama; ¥225,382,000. Lifetime Record: 3-3-0-0, ¥272,697,000. *1/2 to Vin de Garde (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}), GSW-Jpn, MG1SP-UAE, $2,792,422. Werk Nick Rating: A+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Click for the free Equineline.com pedigree.
2–Tastiera (Jpn), 126, c, 3, Satono Crown (Jpn)–Partitura (Jpn), by Manhattan Cafe (Jpn). 1ST GROUP 1 BLACK-TYPE. O-Carrot Farm; B-Northern Farm; ¥87,252,000.
3–Phantom Thief (Jpn), 126, c, 3, Harbinger (GB)–Lupin, by Medaglia d'Oro. 1ST GROUP 1 BLACK-TYPE. O-Turf Sport Inc; B-Tanikawa Farm; ¥53,626,000.
Margins: 1 1/4, 1 3/4, HD. Odds: 4.20, 8.00, 2.80.
Also Ran: Metal Speed (Jpn), Shonan Bashitto (Jpn), Shazzan (Jpn), Top Knife (Jpn), Win Odin (Jpn), Hrimfaxi (Jpn), Bellagio Opera (Jpn), Gruner Green (Jpn), Granite (Jpn), Touch Wood (Jpn), Meiner Laulea (Jpn), One Direct (Jpn), Ras Hammel (Jpn), Ho O Biscuits (Jpn), Danon Touchdown (Jpn).
Click for the JRA chart.

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Mill Farm Homebred Kita Wing Earns First Group Win at Nakayama

Kita Wing (Jpn) (Danon Ballade {Jpn}) found the class relief to her liking and successfully atoned for a 14th-place finish in the G1 Hanshin Juvenile Fillies a month ago with a head victory in thrilling fashion in the G3 Fairy S. at Nakayama Monday. The 3-year-old filly previously captured a juvenile maiden event at Niigata last August before her successful stakes debut a week later.

It wasn't the smoothest of breaks for the filly–who last year captured the G3 Niigata Nisai S.–this time around, but it didn't matter as she was content to drop well back off the early pace set by My Reine (Logotype {Jpn}) for the first 200 metres and then Speed of Light (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}) for the next 600 metres, rating in front of just one rival until the far turn. As the leader and the chasing pack behind her rounded the bend, the winner was asked for run and while hugging the rail began picking off her tiring rivals one by one. At the top of the stretch she squeezed through the tightest of holes and took command within a dozen strides, pulling to a clear lead with victory in sight, only the storming Make a Snatch (Rulership {Jpn}) to worry about in the late stages.

Pedigree Notes

This Mill Farm homebred scored a fourth stakes win for the Deep Impact son Danon Ballade (Jpn), who has only 127 registered foals from five crops of racing age so far. His most notable win was in the 2012 G2 American Jockey Club Cup at Nakayama. Kita Wing is Kitano Ritsumei's second foal and first stakes winner, and is the only graded or group winner out of an I'll Have Another broodmare from 16 foals of racing age. Kitano Ritsumei, who is a half-sister to MSW & MGSP Stormy Sea (Jpn) (Admire Moon {Jpn}), also has a 2-year-old filly by Greater London (Jpn) and a yearling full sister to Kita Wing.

Monday, Nakayama, Japan
FAIRY S.-G3, ¥71,450,000, Nakayama, 1-19, 3yo, f, 1600mT, 1:34.30, fm.
1–KITA WING (JPN), 119, f, 3, by Danon Ballade (Jpn)
            1st Dam: Kitano Ritsumei (Jpn), by I'll Have Another
            2nd Dam: Liebestraume (Jpn), by Zenno El Cid (Ire)
            3rd Dam: Mount Mogami (Jpn), by Mogami (Fr)
   O/B-Mill Farm (Jpn); T-Shigeyuki Kojima; J-Makoto Sugihara;
¥37,595,000. Lifetime: 5-3-0-0, ¥75,280,000. Click for
   the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Werk Nick
   Rating: A++. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2--Make a Snatch (Jpn), 119, f, 3, Rulership (Jpn)–Snatch Mind
(Jpn), by Deep Impact (Jpn). 1ST BLACK TYPE. 1ST GROUP
   BLACK TYPE. O-Silk Racing; B-Shiraoi Farm (Jpn); ¥15,170,000.
3--Speed of Light (Jpn), 119, f, 3, Lord Kanaloa (Jpn)–Silent Sonic
(Jpn), by Deep Impact (Jpn). O-Hidaka Breeders Union;
B-Sakurai Farm (Jpn); ¥9,385,000.
Margins: HD, 1 3/4, HD. Odds: 34.80, 11.60, 10.30.
Also Ran: Brown Wave (Jpn), Roc Star (Jpn), Antano Ballade (Jpn), Mississippi Tesoro (Jpn), Iconostasis (Jpn), My Reine (Jpn), Dunato Selene (Jpn), Hip Hop Soul (Jpn), Mitama (Jpn), Chihaya (Jpn), Energy Chime (Jpn), Divertision (Jpn), Blue in Green (Jpn). Click for the JRA Chart.

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Dec 10: Olazabal Drives Green as Sire Bolt d’Oro Makes Cut

First-crop leading earner Bolt d'Oro (Medaglia d'Oro) continues to stride forward. Atop TDN's board, the sire had a half-dozen chances on Friday to extend his lead over chasers Good Magic (Curlin) and Justify (Scat Daddy). Named for a Spanish golfing legend, 2-year-old colt Olazabal ratcheted up the pressure with a tee-to-green victory in the fifth race at Turfway Park.

Looking to move up in the standings, Justify found the rough when his filly Prove My Love did not make the cut in the race prior as an also-eligible. Across the Pacific though, $400,000 KEESEP sale acquisition Lap Star secured third in race 6 at Nakayama Racecourse in Japan.

That Florence, Kentucky birdie gave the Spendthrift sire an almost $100,000 lead into the weekend over Hill 'n' Dale's own. Both had draws on Saturday with Bolt d'Oro being represented at Los Alamitos in the seventh race with $475,000 KEESEP purchase, Navy Man; and Good Magic with first-timer and morning-line 5-2 favorite, Delusively in the eighth race at Golden Gate.

Sunday's final round of the weekend gives Coolmore America's Justify a pair of opportunities. The first could come on the dirt at Hanshin Racecourse in Japan when $425,000 KEESEP graduate Dona Sweat debuts in the fourth race. Trying to get up and down from the newly-aerated turf fringe at Gulfstream Park will be homebred Alpha Bella. The filly is still looking to break her maiden after three races on the dirt, as she starts for the Don Alberto Stable in the seventh.

Before heading to the clubhouse, the one-seed and three-seed will square off at Laurel Park in a 5 1/2 furlong allowance optional claiming sprint. That eighth race matches Bolt's $260,000 OBSMAR Chiringo against the Triple Crown winner's well-traveled son Prove Right, who is making his 10th start of his young career. Both ran in Aqueduct stakes last out, with the latter quadruple-bogeying the Grade II Remsen S. Dec. 3 to Good Magic's ace, Dubyuhnell.

 

Current Earnings Standings through racing of Dec. 9:

1st—Bolt d'Oro, $2,543,416

2nd—Good Magic, $2,448,337

3rd—Justify, $2,281,355

 

TDN sire lists contain full-dollar earnings of Northern Hemisphere foals winning anywhere in the world. To view the current standings updated overnight, click here. Take note, Japanese earnings are added every Sunday night, and there may be delayed reporting from other countries, which could postpone the final results in a very tight race into early January.

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