4.35 Goodwood, Novice, £9,000, 3yo, f, 9f 197yT CHIASMA(IRE) (Galileo {Ire}) has been found an easy target, ground-permitting, by John and Thady Gosden as she bids to build on an encouraging debut third over this trip at Sandown last month. The full-sister to Frankel (GB) and Noble Mission (GB) meets just four opponents at the rain-hit Sussex track and if she handles the testing ground, is likely to be a class above.
For a second consecutive year, Arqana will sponsor the Listed Irish EBF Marwell S. at Ireland's Naas Racecourse July 21.
The inaugural Marwell S., contested in early August 2020, was won by the Ken Condon-trained Miss Amulet (Ire) (Sir Prancealot {Ire}), who won the G2 Lowther S. in her next appearance before placing in the G1 Cheveley Park Stud S. and in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies' Turf.
The announcement comes ahead of next week's Arqana Breeze-Up Sale, which has been relocated from Deauville to Doncaster due to COVID-19 restrictions.
“We are delighted to renew our partnership with Naas Racecourse, which provides a great opportunity to showcase Arqana in Ireland,” the company's executive director Freddy Powell said. “The country has a very important place in the industry, both for breeding and racing, and it is a way for us to thank the Irish buyers and vendors who put their confidence in us throughout the year by being present at the Deauville sales. Many pinhookers will offer 2-year-olds at the Breeze-Up next week, several of whom invested in them as yearlings at Arqana.”
Added Eamonn McEvoy, general manager of Naas Racecourse: “We are delighted to continue our partnership with Arqana, a sales company that continue to go from strength to strength judged on the calibre of graduates coming from their sales. Arqana is a globally recognized power house, a brand Naas Racecourse are very proud to partner with. The team at Arqana are wonderful to work with and we thank them for their continued support.”
The world's most recognizable–and most talented–white Thoroughbred, Sodashi (Jpn) (Kurofune), puts her unblemished record on the line against a full field of fellow 3-year-old fillies in Sunday's G1 Yushun Himba (Japanese Oaks) going a full circuit of the Fuchu Racecourse at Tokyo.
Not one of the 68 horses Sodashi has faced through her five career starts have managed to finish ahead of her, even if she never wins by a space. The Makoto Kaneko runner debuted with a 2 1/2-length victory over 1800 metres last summer, but has since been restricted to the metric mile, her defeat of Satono Reinas (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) in the G1 Hanshin Juvenile Fillies securing her divisional honours. She made her seasonal debut in the G1 Oka Sho (Japanese 1000 Guineas), raced prominently throughout and just held a late lunge from the outposted Satono Reinas to remain undefeated, if only just. Sunday's trip looms a question mark for Sodashi, and to be fair, most of the field, but trainer Naosuke Sugai is bullish on Sodashi's chances.
“People ask about the distance, but I've had my sights set on the Oaks from her debut and though she was great in the Oka Sho, I know she can handle more ground,” he said. “I'm hoping she'll listen well to jockey Hayato Yoshida and not get in any fights with him. She has a lot of power, so I think a track that has a bit of cushion to it would be best.”
A half-dozen of those who ran behind Sodashi in the Guineas return to see if they can turn the tables here.
Fine Rouge (Jpn) (Kizuna {Jpn}), who won her maiden at second asking at headquarters last October, sat a midfield trip in the Oka Sho and struck a bit of interference in the straight before staying on to be a close third. She has the right to improve second-up.
“I rode her in fast work this week in between two training partners,” commented jockey Yuichi Fukunaga. “She was listening and responding to my cues well. I think she's in excellent condition. The competition is strong but her racing in the Oka Sho was totally on par with the horses that finished ahead of her.”
Akaitorino Musume (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}), a daughter of 2010 Filly Triple Crown winner Apapane (Jpn) (King Kamehameha {Jpn}) narrowly defeated Art de Vivre (Jpn) (King Kamehameha {Jpn}) in the G3 Daily Hai Queen Cup (1600mT) Feb. 13 and exits a fourth to Sodashi and one spot ahead of Art de Vivre in the Guineas while never looking truly dangerous.
Kukuna (Jpn) (King Kamehameha {Jpn}) is an intriguing upset possibility. Though she only owns a single victory from sixt trips to the post, she has held her own against some of these, including a close third as the favorite in the aforementioned Queen Cup. The Carrot Farm galloper raced in a detached last for the first half of the Guineas, but she was running hard through the final stages, and despite crossing the line in sixth position, clocked a slick :33.2 for her final 600 metres. That time was second only to the :32.9 turned in by the Japanese Derby-bound Satono Reinas and was 0.6 seconds faster than Sodashi.
Uberleben (Jpn) (Gold Ship {Jpn}) will have her fair share of supporters off a late-on-the-scene third in the G2 Flora S. (2000mT), a local trial Apr. 25, in which Cool Cat (Jpn) (Screen Hero {Jpn}) outlasted longshot Slyly (Jpn) (Orfevre {Jpn}) by a length.
WATCH: Sodashi makes it five in a row in the Oka Sho
France Galop has agreed a two-year deal with the Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club (QREC) to sponsor the Prix du Jockey Club, which this year takes place on Sunday, June 6 at Chantilly.
The Qatar Prix du Jockey Club, which was first run in 1834, is worth a total of €1.5 million. It was won last year by Mishriff (Ire) (Make Believe {GB}), who went on to win this year's Saudi Cup and G1 Dubai Sheema Classic.
“We are delighted to be the partner of the Prix du Jockey Club,” said His Excellency Issa Bin Mohammed Al Mohannadi, chairman of QREC. “It is one of the most important races in Europe with an amazing history and an impressive record of winners.”
He continued, “We have already expressed and shown our interest in French racing by sponsoring the most prestigious event in France, the Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, as well as many other associated races, since 2008. We have a strong, long-standing relationship with France Galop over the years and we are further reinforcing this partnership to include France's most prestigious race for 3-year-olds.”
France Galop chairman Edouard de Rothschild added, “France Galop is particularly pleased to sign this agreement with the Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club, a leading partner since 2008. This new sponsorship for the next two renewals of the Prix du Jockey Club, one of the most important events within the selection process of Thoroughbred Flat racing, shows once more the QREC's involvement and dedication to the French racing industry and is a recognition of the high level of its sporting programme.”
