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Titleholder Takes Kikuka Sho in Wire-to-Wire Fashion

The Japanese Classics came to a close on Sunday at Hanshin with the G1 Kikuka Sho (Japanese St. Leger), and it was Titleholder (Jpn) (Duramente {Jpn})'s time to shine as he led at every call to win going away by five lengths as the 7-1 fourth choice. He is the first winner to lead from start to finish in the Kikuka Sho since Seiun Sky (Jpn) (Sheriff's Star {GB}) in 1998.

Allowed to bowl along as soon as the gates sprung, the Hiroshi Yamada colourbearer soon established an easy rhythm while several lengths in front of the chasing pack. Very relaxed throughout, he covered the first half-mile in :47.20 and the mile in 1:39.70. His pursuers closed the gap approaching the final bend through2000 metres in 2:05.40, but the dark bay skipped away again and had built up enough of a cushion to successfully hold off the closing trio of 4-1 third choice Orthoclase (Jpn) (Epiphaneia {Jpn}), Divine Love (Jpn) (Epiphaneia {Jpn}), and 2-1 second pick Stella Veloce (Jpn) (Bago {Fr}). At the line, only a head separated Orthoclase from Divine Love. It was a nose back to Japanese Derby third Stella Veloce in fourth. Favoured Red Genesis (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) failed to land a blow and finished 13th after racing near the tail of the field throughout.

“We had a terrible race last time out so I was determined to win it this time and I'm glad it panned out,” said jockey Takeshi Yokoyama. “I personally thought that the distance was maybe too much to ask from this colt, but he showed otherwise and performed well above my expectations, so I'm ashamed for doubting him in anyway. As far as the race, I concentrated in keeping him comfortable in a long race like this—he's an honest horse, in a way too honest and always gives his full effort—so knowing that once in front he would settle, I let him go as he liked and didn't try to hold him back too much. He has a lot to look forward to in the future but it would require a little skill as a rider to conserve his energy depending on the situations.”

A winner at first asking over 1800 metres at Nakayama last October, Titleholder ran second in the G3 Tokyo Sports Hai Nisai S. that November prior to a fourth upped to 2000 metres in the Dec. 26 G1 Hopeful S. He resumed with a win over that distance in the G2 Hochi Hai Yayoi Sho Deep Impact Kinen on Mar. 7 and was second to Efforia (Jpn) (Epiphaneia {Jpn}) in the G1 Satsuki Sho (Japanese 2000 Guineas) on Apr. 18. Only sixth in the G1 Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby) on May 30, the colt was given a lengthy break and returned to run 13th in the 2200-metre G2 Asahi Hai St. Lite Kinen on Sept. 20.

Pedigree Notes

A son of the late Duramente, who won the first two legs of the Japanese Triple Crown, Titleholder is one of two black-type winners for the 9-year-old and the first top-level winner. He is also the first Group 1 winner for Motivator (GB) as a broodmare sire and one of 10 black-type winners overall.

Although she never earned black-type, millionaire Mowen did run fifth in the G3 Daily Hai Queen Cup at three and fourth at listed level later that year. She also had the versatility to win over 1200 metres on the dirt that year and up to 2600 metres on the turf as a 4-year-old before being retired for broodmare duties. Her first foal is the winning Melody Lane (Jpn) (Orfevre {Jpn}) and, after producing a dead foal in 2017, Titleholder is her last known offspring, as she has missed to the covers of Gold Ship (Jpn), Victoire Pisa (Jpn), and Duramente (Jpn) in 2018, 2019 and 2020, respectively. Under the winner's fourth dam is G1 1000 Guineas heroine On The House (Fr) (Be My Guest), who also won the G1 Sussex S.

Sunday, Hanshin, Japan
KIKUKA SHO (JAPANESE ST. LEGER)-G1, ¥270,970,000, Hanshin, 10-24, 3yo, c/f, 3000mT, 3:04.60, fm.
1–TITLEHOLDER(JPN), 126, c, 3, Duramente (Jpn)
                1st Dam: Mowen (GB), by Motivator (GB)
                2nd Dam: Top Table (GB), by Shirley Heights (GB)
                3rd Dam: Lora's Guest (Ire), by Be My Guest
1ST GROUP 1 WIN. (¥20,000,000 Wlg '18 JRHAJUL). O-Hiroshi
Yamada; B-Okada Stud (Jpn); T-Toru Kurita; J-Takeshi
Yokoyama. ¥150,079,000. Lifetime Record: 8-3-2-0. Werk
   Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Orthoclase (Jpn), 126, c, 3, Epiphaneia (Jpn)–Marialite (Jpn),
by Deep Impact (Jpn). O-Carrot Farm; B-Northern Farm (Jpn);
¥56,594,000.
3–Divine Love (Jpn), 121, f, 3, Epiphaneia (Jpn)–Deep Love
(Jpn), by Deep Impact (Jpn). O-Yoshiro Kubota; B-Northern
Farm (Jpn); ¥34,297,000.
Margins: 5, HD, NO. Odds: 7.00, 4.40, 16.30.
Also Ran: Stella Veloce (Jpn), Deep Monster (Jpn), Veloce Oro (Jpn), Arrivo (Jpn), Air Sage, Asamano Itazura (Jpn), Victipharus (Jpn), Sefer Rasiel (Jpn), Road to Fame (Jpn), Red Genesis (Jpn), Monte Dio (Jpn), Gratias (Jpn), Weiss Meteor (Jpn), North the World (Jpn), World Revival (Jpn).
Click for the JRA chart & video or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.

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A Perfect Swan Song

Europe's penultimate group 1 prize takes place on Sunday and the 2021 running of ParisLongchamp's Prix Royal-Oak carries extra significance as the last of its kind to include the name Alain de Royer-Dupre. Soon set for an honourable retirement from the field he has mastered for so long, the doyen of Aiglemont has one more shot at the big time with last year's runner-up Valia (Fr) (Sea the Stars {Ire}). Seemingly prepped perfectly for her return tilt, The Aga Khan homebred has no Subjectivist (GB) (Teofilo {Ire}) to deal with this time and has already shown that she retains all her ability with a win in the 14-furlong G2 Prix Maurice de Nieuil here July 14. Subsequently third in the 12 1/2-furlong G2 Prix de Pomone at Deauville Aug. 22 and in the G1 Prix de Royallieu back over a mile and three quarters at this venue Oct. 2, a return to winning ways at the right time would bring emotive scenes.

Moyglare Stud's dual G1 Irish St Leger heroine Search For a Song (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) was back to her best last time when issuing a 9 1/2-length beating to the G1 St Leger third The Mediterranean (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) in The Curragh's G3 Loughbrown S. over two miles Sept. 26 and the lightly-raced 5-year-old may be Valia's greatest threat. “She's in very good form. We're hoping there isn't too much rain, but I don't think there has been and hopefully the ground won't be as bad as it was on Arc weekend,” Fiona Craig said. “The Aga Khan's filly could be tough to beat, but we're hoping she'll run well. When she was younger she used to like the ground fast and firm. I don't think she needs that now, she just doesn't need to be stuck in a bog.”

Three-year-olds have won five of the last nine renewals and Godolphin's June 16 G2 Queen's Vase scorer Kemari (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) has experience of this track having finished runner-up to stablemate Manobo (Ire) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) in the Oct. 2 G2 Prix Chaudenay over half a furlong shorter. “We have been pleased with how Kemari came out of the Prix Chaudenay, which was a step back in the right direction following his run [when last of eight in the Aug. 18 G2 Great Voltigeur S.] at York,” trainer Charlie Appleby said. “He has handled these conditions before and we are hoping he can make the first three in what looks a competitive event.”

Also in the mix is Le Haras de la Gousserie's Skazino (Fr) (Kendargent {Fr}), who took the course-and-distance G3 Prix de Barbeville and G2 Prix Vicomtesse Vigier in May and Deauville's G2 Prix Kergorlay Aug. 22 either side of a second to Valia in the Maurice de Nieuil. Perhaps overstretched when fourth in the 2 1/2-mile G1 Prix du Cadran here last time Oct. 2, he bids to cap a recent purple patch for connections while Julian Richmond-Watson's Oct. 1 Listed Noel Murless S. winner Scope (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) and Haras de Saint Pair's Aug. 29 G2 Grand Prix de Deauville scorer Glycon (Fr) (Le Havre {Ire}) add intrigue to a competitive renewal.

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Flaming Rib A Stakes First For Ribchester At Doncaster

Tom Dascombe trainee Flaming Rib (Ire) (Ribchester {Ire}) became the first winner for his freshman sire (by Iffraaj {GB}) when registering a one-length win in Saturday's Listed Virgin Bet Doncaster S. at Doncaster's Town Moor venue.

Flaming Rib bagged a trio of nursery handicaps–at Thirsk, York and Chester–in his three most recent outings and continued on an upward trajectory with a first black-type triumph in this straight dash. The 13-8 second choice was sharply into stride and claimed an immediate lead. Holding sway throughout, he was not for catching once stoked up passing the quarter-mile marker and ran on strongly under a late drive to comfortably hold Deodar by a length for a career high, becoming the first black-type winner for his freshman sire (by Iffraaj {GB}).

“He's been great and has won four on the bounce now,” said assistant trainer Colin Gorman. “He's been straightforward and has improved as the year has gone on. He's rated 108 now and it takes a fair bit to get a 2-year-old to that rating. He's very tough and, as [jockey] Pierre-Louis [Jamin] said after the Chester run, he manages to pick up twice in a race. In our book, the horses that do that are good horses. He puts his head down and battles it out as well. He will get seven furlongs, but I don't know if we need to [step up in trip] as he does it well as it is. I'd say that will be it for the year and he could be a Commonwealth Cup horse [next year].”

Flaming Rib is the first foal out of the unraced Suddenly (Ger) (Excelebration {Ire}), herself kin to G2 Grand Prix de Deauville victor and G1 Deutsches Derby runner-up Savoir Vivre (Ire) (Adlerflug {Ire}) and to the dual stakes scorer Sussudio (Fr) (Nayef). His second dam, the stakes-winning Soudanine (Ger) (Monsun {Ger}), is a full-sister to G2 Hansa-Preis and G2 Grosser Preis der Badischen Wirtschaft victor Simoun (Ger) as well as being kin to stakes-winning G3 Prix des Reservoirs runner-up Soignee (Ger) (Dashing Blade (GB). The latter's progenyis headed by MG1SW distaffer Stacelita (Fr) (Monsun {Ger}), herself the dam of G1 Yushun Himba-Japanese Oaks heroine Soul Stirring (Jpn) (Frankel {GB}) as well as being the second dam of this year's Listed Flying Scotsman S. victor and G1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere runner-up Noble Truth (Fr) (Kingman {GB}). Soudaine's full-sister Suisun (Ger) produced the G3 Preis des Winterfavoriten winner Silvaner (Ger) (Lomitas {GB}) while her half-sister Suivi (Ger) (Darshaan {GB}) has the G1 Grosser Preis von Bayern heroine Sunny Queen (Ger) (Camelot {GB}) to her credit. Suddenly has also produced a yearling filly by Dawn Approach (Ire).

Saturday, Doncaster, Britain
VIRGIN BET DONCASTER S.-Listed, £34,500, Doncaster, 10-23, 2yo, 6f 2yT, 1:15.60, sf.
1–FLAMING RIB (IRE), 127, c, 2, by Ribchester (Ire)
1st Dam: Suddenly (Ger), by Excelebration (Ire)
2nd Dam: Soudaine (Ger), by Monsun (Ger)
3rd Dam: Suivez (Fr), by Fioravanti
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN. (€40,000 RNA Wlg '19 GOFNOV; 35,000gns Ylg '20 TATOCT). O-Dolan, Dooley, Owen; B-Kildaragh Stud (IRE); T-Tom Dascombe; J-Pierre-Louis Jamin. £19,565. Lifetime Record: 9-5-1-2, $123,677.
2–Deodar (GB), 127, g, 2, Bated Breath (GB)–Tested (GB), by Selkirk. O-Juddmonte; B-Juddmonte Farms (East) Ltd (GB); T-Ralph Beckett. £7,418.
3–Mohi (GB), 127, c, 2, Acclamation (GB)–Minalisa (GB), by Oasis Dream (GB). (72,000gns RNA Wlg '19 TATFOA; 60,000gns Ylg '20 TATOCT). O-Al Mohamediya Racing; B-C J Mills (GB); T-Clive Cox. £3,712.
Margins: 1, NO, 1HF. Odds: 1.63, 1.50, 11.00.
Also Ran: Parisiac (Ire), Gold Medal (GB), Kit Gabriel (Ire), Mot And The Messer (Ire). Click for the Racing Post result. Video, sponsored by TVG.

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Galileo’s Star of India A New Rising Star at Leopardstown

He may have been niggled along earlier than ideal, but Coolmore and Westerberg's hitherto unraced Star of India (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) produced a finishing burst stamped with class and outpointed his rivals in style to earn 'TDN Rising Star' status in Saturday's Irish Stallion Farms EBF (C & G) Maiden over seven furlongs at Leopardstown. The 5-1 chance broke well to track the leaders in fourth and required mild urging to remain in contact rounding the home turn. Making eyecatching headway out wide in the straight, he quickened in some style to seize control approaching the furlong marker and powered away from toiling rivals in the closing stages to easily acoount for Sir Antonino (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) by an impressive 2 1/4 lengths.

“[Clerk of the Course] Paddy Graffin said to me 'he's nice' leaving the parade ring and anytime Paddy says that to me they win, so he might be a good omen,” revealed winning rider Seamus Heffernan. “He's a grand staying type of horse and they went a good gallop there. He stayed on going well and I liked him.”

Star of India is the eighth of nine foals and sixth scorer produced by stakes-winning G3 Cornwallis S. and GIII Senorita S. third Shermeen (Ire) (Desert Style {Ire}), herself a full-sister to the dual stakes-winning G2 Flying Childers and G3 Molecomb S. placegetter Mister Manannan (Ire). The April-foaled bay is a full-brother to this term's G3 Hampton Court S. runner-up Roman Empire (Ire) and a half-brother to G1 Phoenix S.-winning sire Sudirman (Henrythenavigator) and a weanling colt by No Nay Never.

2nd-Leopardstown, €16,500, Mdn, 10-23, 2yo, c/f, 7fT, 1:30.07, gd.
STAR OF INDIA (IRE), c, 2, by Galileo (Ire)
1st Dam: Shermeen (Ire) (SW & GSP-US, GSP-Eng, $191,892), by Desert Style (Ire)
2nd Dam: Cover Girl (Ire), by Common Grounds (GB)
3rd Dam: Peace Carrier (Ire), by Doulab
1ST-TIME STARTER. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, €9,735. O-Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith, Susan Magnier & Westerberg; B-Barronstown Stud (IRE); T-Aidan O'Brien. Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.

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