Tragic news from Japan where Saudi Derby winner Pink Kamehameha has died after reportedly suffering acute heart failure and crashing through the rails during a race at Tokyo racecourse.
In a sickening incident on the back straight, the three-year-old's jockey Hiroshi Kitamura was taken to hospital in Fuchu City after being thrown onto the road inside the track after Pink Kemehameha suddenly veered left into the inside running rail and collapsed.
The accident occurred after about two furlongs of the Grade 3 Unicorn Stakes over a mile on dirt, won by Smasher.
Pink Kamehameha is a son of Leontes, himself a son of the late King Kamehameha, the Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby) winner in 2004 who became one of the country's leading sires.
Representing Japan's pioneering trainer Hideyuki Mori, Pink Kamehameha won two of his nine career starts. He came to international prominence when he won the $1.5 million Saudi Derby on the Saudi Cup card in Riyadh in February, beating Steve Asmussen-trained Cowan by three-quarters of a length under Keita Tosaki.
Pink Kamehameha, who won two of his nine career starts, also ran in this year's UAE Derby, where he was tenth behind Rebel's Romance.
Renowned globetrotter Mori, who won the Prix de l'Abbaye and July Cup with Agnes World two decades ago, also landed the inaugural Saudi Derby with Full Flat, who beat Mishriff in 2020.
Saturday's $750,000 UAE Derby (G2) has attracted an international field in keeping with its venue, the Dubai World Cup program at Meydan. American shippers Ambivalent and Lugamo will line up against Japanese contenders as well as a talented home team including fillies Soft Whisper and Mnasek. The only foreign scoring race on the main Road to the Kentucky Derby, the UAE Derby offers points on the 100-40-20-10 scale applicable to the U.S. leaderboard.
Four of the 14 entrants are coming off the Feb. 20 Saudi Derby on Saudi Cup Day – Japan's Pink Kamehameha, who sprang an upset in his dirt debut; third-placer New Treasure, an Irish Group 3 scorer who was also trying dirt for the first time; and the well-fancied Godolphin duo of Rebel's Romance and Soft Whisper, respectively fourth and fifth. All are stretching out from that metric mile to the about 1 3/16 miles of the UAE Derby.
Much more had been expected from Rebel's Romance and Soft Whisper in Saudi, and a return to Meydan could see both offspring of Dubawi bounce back to top form. The previously unbeaten Rebel's Romance had edged next-out UAE 2000 Guineas (G3) winner Mouheeb on this track. A U.S. Triple Crown nominee, Rebel's Romance bids to give trainer Charlie Appleby and jockey William Buick their first UAE Derby victory.
Godolphin colleague Saeed bin Suroor, who has won a record eight UAE Derby trophies, relies on Soft Whisper. The highly regarded filly brought a four-race winning streak to Saudi, capped by a seven-length romp in the UAE 1000 Guineas over Mnasek. If we see that Soft Whisper here, the boys could be in trouble. Note that bin Suroor is responsible for the only filly to win the UAE Derby so far, Khawlah (2011).
Mnasek herself has claims. The Doug Watson filly had no chance of catching Soft Whisper thanks to a slow start in the Guineas, but she roared back to outclass her foes by 6 ½ lengths in the UAE Oaks (G3) at this track and trip. The Kentucky-bred daughter of Empire Maker banked 50 points toward the Kentucky Oaks (G1), if connections are inclined to supplement her. Like Soft Whisper, Mnasek gets a four-pound weight concession from the 3-year-old males. Adding to her appeal, both of Watson's past UAE Oaks winners went on to finish second in this race, Polar River (2016) and Rayya (2018).
Making his first afternoon appearance on the dirt at career start number seven, Pink Kamehameha (Jpn) (Leontes {Jpn}) provided his home country and trainer Hideyuki Mori with a second victory in as many runnings in the Al Rajhi Bank Saudi Derby at King Abdulaziz Racecourse Saturday. Cowan (Kantharos) made up a stack of ground after blowing the break to just miss and won a photo for second from New Treasure (Ire) (New Approach {Ire}). Full Flat (Speightstown) won for Japan last year.
When entries were taken Saturday, Umberto Rispoli was named aboard Cowan, but when the Italian was pulled from his flight to Riyadh via Qatar Thursday, Joel Rosario was released from his call aboard Pink Kamehameha in order to ride for Steve Asmussen. Top Japanese rider Keita Tosaki, who was booked to ride Chuwa Wizard (Jpn) (King Kamehameha {Jpn}) in the Saudi Cup, picked up the ride and settled the colt about four off the inside as Godolphin's UAE 1000 Guineas heroine Soft Whisper (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) set the pace from UAE 2000 Guineas runner-up Meshakel (Ire) (Shamardal). Always traveling well for Tosaki, Pink Kamehameha claimed Soft Whisper with about 400 metres to race, but soon had New Treasure and Rebel's Romance (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) to deal with. But he managed to find a bit extra in the waning stages and got home first, as Cowan, last but one into the straight, closed with a rush.
“It was my first ride on him today but he produced a fantastic run even on his first time race over the dirt surface,” said Tosaki, who suffered serious injury and was sidelined for six months following a spill at Urawa in November 2019. “As he has no issues with the starting gate, he jumped quickly from the gate today. He responded to me well and had a comfortable trip all the way.”
Pink Kamehameha is one of 22 winners for his sire, a son of the aforementioned King Kamehameha (by Kingmambo) and Cesario (Jpn) (Special Week {Jpn}, by Sunday Silence), winner at home of the 2005 G1 Oka Sho and G1 Yushun Himba before winning the GI American Oaks at Hollywood Park. Cesario is also the dam of leading young Japanese sire Epiphaneia (Jpn) (Symboli Kris S) and 2019 champion 3-year-old colt Saturnalia (Jpn) (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}). Pink Kamehameha is the last listed produce for his now 27-year-old dam.
WATCH: Pink Kamehameha makes a successful dirt debut in the Saudi Derby
Saturday, King Abdulaziz, Saudi Arabia AL RAJHI BANK SAUDI DERBY (Cond.), $1,500,000, King Abdulaziz, 2-20, 3yo, 1600m, 1:38.57, ft.
1–PINK KAMEHAMEHA (JPN), 126, c, 3, by Leontes (Jpn) 1st Dam: Tabatha Tosho (Jpn), by Dancing Brave 2nd Dam: Samantha Tosho (Jpn), by Tosho Boy (Jpn) 3rd Dam: Marble Tosho (Jpn), by Dandy Lute (Fr)
O-Hisako Kimura; B-Hatakeyama Stud Farm; T-Hideyuki Mori; J-Keita Tosaki; $900,000. Lifetime Record: 7-2-0-0, $1,104,876. *1/2 to Sweep Tosho (Jpn) (End Sweep), Ch. Older Mare & G1SW-Jpn, $6,631,021; and Tosho Freak (Jpn) (King Kamehameha {Jpn}), SW & MGSP-Jpn, $2,349,927.
2–Cowan, 126, c, 3, Kantharos–Tempers Flair, by Smart Strike ($185,000 Ylg '19 KEESEP; $385,000 RNA 2yo '20 OBSMAR). O-William L & Corinne Heilgbrodt; B-Hill 'n' Dale Equine Holdings Inc (KY); T-Steve Asmusen; J-Joel Rosario; $300,000.
3–New Treasure (Ire), 126, g, 3, New Approach (Ire)–Maolneach, by Congaree. (90,000gns HRA '20 TATAUT). O-Prince Faisal Bin Khaled; B-J S Bolger; T-John Gosden; J-Frankie Dettori; $150,000.
Margins: 3/4, 1, 3 1/4.
Also Ran: Rebel's Romance (Ire), Soft Whisper (Ire), Shibl Lat'taam (KSA), Hatm (KSA), Magbootah (KSA), Albadri (Ire), Meshakel (Ire), Homeryan (Fr), Round Six (Ire). Click for the Racing Post chart.
Pink Kamehameha (JPN) ensured that both Japan and trainer Hideyuki Mori retained the US $1.5 million Saudi Derby sponsored by Al Rajhi Bank with a three-quarters of a length victory over Cowan (USA). The trainer had struck in last year's inaugural renewal with Full Flat.
Away alertly from post eight in the 12-horse line-up, the Japanese-bred son of Leontes, representing jockey Keita Tosaki and owner Hisako Kimura, stalked the pace set by Soft Whisper (IRE), who had the early advantage under Mike Smith. Tosaki never let the leader get too far in front and put that rival away turning into the straight.
The American invader Cowan rallied late between horses to finish second under Joel Rosario for trainer Steve Asmussen, a length clear of third-place finisher New Treasure (IRE) with Frankie Dettori aboard for British trainer John Gosden.
Quotes:
Keita Tosaki, jockey, Pink Kamehameha, 1st: “It was my first ride on him today but he produced a fantastic run even on his first time race over the dirt surface. As he has no issues with the starting gate, he jumped quickly from the gate today. He responded to me well and had a comfortable trip all the way.”
Hideyuki Mori, trainer, Pink Kamehameha: “Everything went perfect today. He showed a very good response to the jockey at the final turn, which was kind of surprising to me. He ran on dirt for the first time, but today's surface with a bit of rain affected track must suit him a lot.”
Joel Rosario, jockey, Cowan, 2nd: “He missed the break. Right when they opened the gate his head was turned, so he lost the break, but he came running. They went very fast up front and he almost got there. It was a good run from him.”
Frankie Dettori, jockey, New Treasure, 3rd: “He ran okay. He hit a flat spot on the turn but he stayed on well.”
Thady Gosden, assistant trainer, New Treasure: “He ran a huge race there. He got a little bit outpaced early on but he kept on well. The Japanese horse is clearly really good and got loose on the lead on the bit but (New Treasure) stayed on well. He has run really well and everyone is really proud of him.”
Ted Voute, racing manager to New Treasure's owner Prince Faisal bin Khaled: “He's been invited to the UAE Derby so we'll see what everyone thinks about that.”
Rest of jockey quotes
William Buick, Rebels Romance, 4th: “Really good run, he's stepped up on his last run in Meydan and considering it was only the fourth run of his life, you have to be pleased.”
Mike Smith, Soft Whisper, 5th: “I'm kind of lost for words, I thought she'd finish but it didn't happen.”
Mickael Barzalona on Meshakel, 10th: “I was never in the race. Normally, he takes me into the race, but today it wasn't happening.”
Cristian Demuro, Homeryan, 11th: “I was going well, but these races are very different to the races we have in France. They went fast and he was a little outpaced when we came into the final bend.”
