Tag: Queen Elizabeth II Cup

Immaculately Bred Geraldina Lands QE II, ‘Lagoon’ Struggles

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.

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Magical Lagoon Faces Japan’s Best Females in QE II

Some eleven years have transpired since the great Snow Fairy (Ire) (Intikhab) carried Ryan Moore to a second consecutive victory in the G1 Queen Elizabeth II Cup and it will be up to reigning G1 Juddmonte Irish Oaks winner Magical Lagoon (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) to put a halt to the locals' 10-race winning streak Sunday afternoon at Hanshin Racecourse.

It has been a magical season, indeed, for Yuesheng Zhang's talented bay filly, who used a runner-up effort in the Listed Salsabil S. at Navan in late April as a springboard to an 11-4 success in the G2 Ribblesdale S. at Royal Ascot in June. The Tattersalls October graduate, trained by Jessica Harrington, got the better of a final-furlong tussle with Toy (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) to take out the Irish Oaks July 16 (video) and fought out the fractions in the G1 Yorkshire Oaks last time Aug. 18 only to fade into fifth behind future G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe heroine Alpinista (GB) (Frankel {GB}) and Tuesday (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), recent winner of the GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf.

 

 

 

While G1 Yushun Himba (Japanese Oaks) winner Stars on Earth (Jpn) (Duramente {Jpn}) misses this, the season's Classic form is strongly represented. Namur (Jpn) (Harbinger {GB}) defeated Pin High (Jpn) (Mikki Isle {Jpn}) in Group 2 company in March, but was a disappointing 10th in the G1 Oka Sho the following month. An improved third in the Oaks, she exits a runner-up effort behind perfect-trip Stunning Rose (Jpn) (King Kamehameha {Jpn}) in the G1 Shuka Sho Oct. 16 (video), in which Stars on Earth was desperately unlucky to lose her Triple Crown bid.

“She is still a young horse and there should be more to come from her,” said trainer Tomokazu Takano. “With just three weeks between races, we've been careful with her, giving her slow canters and checking how she takes the bit when running uphill. She was third in the Japanese Oaks, so the distance should be good this time.”

 

 

Daring Tact (Jpn) (Epiphaneia {Jpn}) won the 2020 Oaks, but her career has been a bit stop-start since. A good third to Loves Only You (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) in Hong Kong's G1 FWD QE II Cup in 2021, the 5-year-old has made just three starts since, her best outcome a sound third behind Titleholder (Jpn) (Duramente {Jpn}) in the G1 Takarazuka Kinen in June. She was most recently beaten into sixth as the favorite behind the immaculately bred Geraldina (Jpn) (Maurice {Jpn}–Gentildonna {Jpn}) in the G2 All Comers S. Sept. 25.

Moore is in Japan on a short-term contract following his Breeders' Cup three-timer last weekend. He takes the reins aboard the Classic-placed 4-year-old filly Andvaranaut (Jpn) (King Kamehameha {Jpn}).

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Akai Ito Upsets Japan’s Queen Elizabeth II Cup

Akai Ito marked an upset victory at odds of 64.9-1 in this year's Queen Elizabeth II Cup to score her first graded title and became the first Kizuna filly or colt to capture a JRA-G1 title. Debuting in September of her two-year-old season, she broke her maiden in her second start and concluded the season with one win out of five starts. The Kizuna brown marked another win out of eight starts last year and stepped up to open class after marking two wins out of five starts in the first half of this season but came off a seventh in the Fuchu Himba Stakes (G2) on Oct. 16. Trainer Kazuya Nakatake marked his third JRA-G1 win following his win in the 2018 Hopeful Stakes with Saturnalia while jockey Hideaki Miyuki claimed his eighth JRA-G1 victory following his 2018 Victoria Mile title with Jour Polaire.

Missing her break from stall 16, four-year-old Akai Ito traveled fifth from last and advanced boldly turning the last two corners wide to enter the lane in third. The four-year-old brown continued to accelerate powerfully in the stretch, pinning race-favorite Lei Papale passing the 200-meter pole, and easily held off the rest of the field with her incredible late drive that marked the fastest last three furlongs in the field for a two-length victory.

“As she seemed to be a bit tense when I trained her the other day, I tried to race her in her own rhythm. Though I could not break her smoothly out of the gate, I was able to eventually race her in the intended position at the backstretch. I was confident that she will stretch well at the end and, because it was a G1 race, I made bid earlier than usual. We were able to take the front earlier than I had expected and, as there was no horse right behind us, I just kept on urging her to go until,” commented Hideaki Miyuki.

Seventh choice Stellaria, another Kizuna filly, broke smoothly and settled around seventh to eighth from the front. The three-year-old dark bay rounded the last two corners the widest of the field, persistently chased the leaders in the straight and produced a remarkable turn of speed in the last 100 meters to cross the wire in second.

Ninth pick Clavel saved ground around 14th behind eventual winner, found a narrow space entering the homestretch, showed the tied third fastest late drive between horses and closed in on Stellaria but was neck short in third.

Race favorite Lei Papale settled around fourth, advanced in the last two corners and was leading the field when entering the stretch. The Deep Impact filly, however, lost momentum in the last 200 meters and succumbed to sixth.

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Distance A Query For Lei Papale In QE II

Carrot Farm's Lei Papale (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}), winner of her first six career trips to the post, has stubbed her toe at short odds in her two most recent appearances and looks to get back on track as the likely favourite in Sunday's G1 Queen Elizabeth II Cup (2200mT) going three turns around Hanshin Racecourse.

The bay filly got a relatively late start to her career, only debuting in January of 2020, and missed the 3-year-old filly classics, but quietly made her way through the grades and capped a five-for-five campaign with a 1 1/2-length victory in the G3 Challenge Cup at this venue in December. Set a seemingly tall task against the likes of Triple Crown hero Contrail (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) and Gran Alegria (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) when first-up in the G1 Osaka Hai (2000mT) Apr. 4, she relished easy underfoot conditions to score by four lengths. But tried over the metric 11 furlongs in her last two, Lei Papale was third to world-class Chrono Genesis (Jpn) (Bago {Fr}) in the G1 Takarazuka Kinen June 27 and a more confounding fourth to Win Marilyn (Jpn) (Screen Hero {Jpn}) in the G2 All Comers S. at Nakayama.

“I don't think she found her best rhythm throughout the race, but she did find the front briefly in the home straight, and showed what ability she has,” trainer Tomokazu Takano said of the All Comers. “The extra furlong just found her out, so the key will be getting her to stay that little bit more.”

There are no such distance concerns surrounding Akaitorino Musume (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}), who was fractionally unlucky not to win the G1 Yushun Himba (Japanese Oaks) going 2400m at Tokyo May 23, but atoned for that tough loss with a slashing victory from a high draw in the G1 Shuka Sho (2000mT) at this track Oct. 17.

“She ran a good race in the Shuka Sho, which was her first race in a while, and ran smoothly despite drawing an outside gate, so I was very pleased,” said trainer Sakae Kunieda. “She quickly recovered from the race, and getting her back in work has been an easy task.”

Akaitorino Musume's two-time champion and Triple Crown-winning dam Apapane (Jpn) (King Kamahemeha {Jpn}) was third in this race in 2010 and 2011.

Had she not conquered America in last weekend, Loves Only You (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) would have been the one to beat in this test, but her close relative Terzetto (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) is also not without a shot as she stretches out markedly in trip. The 4-year-old, whose dam Raddolcendo (Jpn) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}) is a half-sister to the GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf winner, is six for eight lifetime, but her best form is over a mile, including a last-out success in the G3 Lord Derby Challenge Trophy at Hakodate Aug. 1.

Stellaria (Jpn) (Kizuna {Jpn}) was ridden forward in the Yushun Himba and weakened out late to finish 13th at odds of less than 10-1, but she wasn't embarrassed in the Shuka Sho, where she was ridden colder and finished with interest to be sixth. The extra 200 metres of this test should suit.

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