Shahryar Noses Out Efforia in Japanese Derby

Shahryar (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) denied heavy 3-5 favourite and G1 Japanese 2000 Guineas hero Efforia (Jpn) (Epiphaneia {Jpn}) by the narrowest of margins to take the G1 Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby) at Tokyo on Sunday. It was the record-setting seventh win in that Classic for a son of Deep Impact, whose earlier successes include Deep Brillante (Jpn) (2012), Kizuna (Jpn) (2013), Makahiki (Jpn) (2016), Wagnerian (Jpn) (2018), Roger Barows (Jpn) (2019) and Triple Crown victor Contrail (Jpn) last term.

Sent off at 10-1, Shahryar was rank and tugging for more rein while in close quarters in midpack into the first turn. He was still a touch keen on the backstretch run in between horses as Bathrat Leon (Jpn) (Kizuna {Jpn}) cut out fractions of :22.80 for the quarter, :48 flat for the half mile and six furlongs in 1:12.70. Within striking distanceof  the frontrunners approach the far turn, his traffic woes continued and he was forced five deep in the hunt for racing room as the field began to fan wide at the 600-metre mark.

Still boxed in, Shahryar's momentum was halted shortly thereafter and he was steered back towards the centre of the course inside the final quarter mile. Efforia had enjoyed a ground-save trip meanwhile and cut through a gap to take control with 250 metres remaining.

The Sunday Racing colourbearer had finally found his rhythm however, and was firing on all cylinders down the lane as he switched to the favourite's left and saw daylight. The duo matched strides for the final furlong, with the bob at the line going to Shahryar by a nose. Efforia was gallant in defeat and the margin back to Stella Veloce (Jpn) (Bago {Fr}) was 1 1/4 lengths. Great Magician (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) was another nose back in fourth.

“It's so great to have won the Derby which I had made it my target with this colt ever since his debut,” said pilot Yuichi Fukunaga, who had won Japan's Blue Riband in the past with Wagnerian and Contrail. “We were keeping an eye on the race favorite but the race didn't go as smoothly as planned and we were in a tight spot so we were forced to make our charge late, but this colt really gave a terrific effort.”

A winner of a Kyoto newcomer affair last October, the dark bay ran third to Efforia in the G3 Kyodo News Hai on Valentine's Day making his 4-year-old bow. He returned with a win in Hanshin's G3 Mainichi Hai in a new race record of 1:43.90 for the 1800 metres over firm turf on Mar. 27.

Pedigree Notes
The winner, the 49th Group 1 winner for his late sire, is a full-brother to the 2017 G1 Japanese 2000 Guineas and G1 Osaka Hai victor Al Ain (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}), and is one of five winners from six to race for his accomplished dam who landed the GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint in 2010, the same year she was named Eclipse Champion Female Sprinter Stateside. Sold for $1.1 million to Katsumi Yoshida at the 2010 Fasig-Tipton November Sale, Dubai Majesty has a 2-year-old colt by Heart's Cry (Jpn) and was covered later that year by Lord Kanaloa (Jpn), but did not produce a foal in 2020. The half-sister to MSW Majestic Dinner (Formal Dinner) was bred to Duramente (Jpn) last spring.

 

Sunday, Tokyo, Japan
TOKYO YUSHUN (JAPANESE DERBY)-G1, ¥418,840,000, Tokyo, 5-30, 3yo, c/f, 2400mT, 2:22.50, fm.
1–SHAHRYAR (JPN), 126, c, 3, Deep Impact (Jpn)
                1st Dam: Dubai Majesty (Ch. Female Sprinter-US,
                                GISW-US, $1,509,243), by Essence of Dubai
                2nd Dam: Great Majesty, by Great Above
                3rd Dam: Mistic Majesty, by His Majesty
1ST GROUP 1 WIN. O-Sunday Racing; B-Northern Farm (Jpn);
T-Hideaki Fujiwara; J-Yuichi Fukunaga. ¥227,118,000. Lifetime
Record: 4-3-0-1. *Full to Al Ain (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}),
MG1SW-Jpn, $4,749,430. Werk Nick Rating: A+++. *Triple
   Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Efforia (Jpn), 126, c, 3, Epiphaneia (Jpn)–Katies Heart (Jpn),
by Heart's Cry (Jpn). O-Carrot Farm; B-Northern Farm (Jpn);
¥87,768,000.
3–Stella Veloce (Jpn), 126, c, 3, Bago (Fr)–Oh My Baby (Jpn), by
Deep Impact (Jpn). (¥60,000,000 Wlg '18 JRHAJUL). O-Tsuyoshi
Ono; B-Northern Farm (Jpn); ¥31,776,000.
Margins: NO, 1 1/4, NO. Odds: 10.70, 0.70, 39.20.
Also Ran: Great Magician (Jpn), Satono Reinas (Jpn), Titleholder (Jpn), Yoho Lake (Jpn), Gratias (Jpn), Baji O (Jpn), Wonderful Town (Jpn), Red Genesis (Jpn), Lagom (Jpn), Time to Heaven (Jpn), Victipharus (Jpn), Bathrat Leon (Jpn), Deep Monster (Jpn), Admire Hadar (Jpn).
Click for the JRA chart & video or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.

The post Shahryar Noses Out Efforia in Japanese Derby appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

‘Alegria’ Books Breeders’ Cup Berth With Victoria Mile Score

Gran Alegria (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) put her stamp on the G1 Victoria Mile at Tokyo on Sunday, a “Win and You're In” for the GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf. The 2020 Japanese Champion Sprinter/Miler was winning her fifth Group 1 race when drawing off to win by four lengths over the good to firm ground.

Bet down to 30 cents on the dollar, Gran Alegria perched in midfield as Christie (Jpn) (Kizuna {Jpn}) set a demanding tempo. Beginning to make inroads toward the front inside the final 600 metres, the Sunday Racing colourbearer burst to the head of affairs at the 150-metre mark and quickly distanced herself by an astonishing four lengths. Rambling Alley (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) was second, a neck ahead of Magic Castle (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}), who was a like margin to the good of Dirndl (Jpn) (Rulership {Jpn}).

“She was very strong as we had all expected,” commented jockey Christophe  Lemaire, who won his 38th JRA Group 1 race and his 1,400th overall victory in Japan. “She's not a very good starter so we settled in mid-division, but she raced in good rhythm. After I took her to the outside entering the lane, she showed a remarkable response and geared up on her own. She showed that she's at a different level than her competitors and will probably win more Group 1 titles going forward.”

A winner of the 2019 G1 Japanese 1000 Guineas, Gran Alegria ran second in her 2020 bow, the G1 Takamatsunomiya Kinen last March, but then rattled off three Group 1s on the bounce-the June 7 Yasuda Kinen, the Oct. 4 G1 Sprinters S. and the G1 Mile Championship. Named the 2020 Japanese Champion Sprinter/Miler, the now 5-year-old mare ran fourth in the G1 Osaka Hai on Apr. 4.

 

Pedigree Notes
One of 48 Group 1 winners for her late supersire, Gran Alegria also has the second highest tally of top-level victories of Deep Impact progeny with five behind just Gentildonna (Jpn) (7). To date, the former Shadai Stallion Station supremo has sired 175 black-type winners 142 of them at the group level. In addition to Gran Alegria, he is also responsible for Japanese listed winner and group-placed Arusha (Jpn), who is also out of a Tapit mare. Tapit's daughters have produced five Grade/Group 1 winners among 43 black-type winners.

One of two winners from two foals to race for her dam, Gran Alegria is the star offspring of the late Listed Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf victress Tapitsfly (Tapit), who would go on to win both the GI Longines Just a Game S. and GI First Lady S. as a 5-year-old. Knocked down to Katsumi Yoshida for $1.85 million at the 2012 Fasig-Tipton November Sale, Tapitsfly's first foal is Gran Alegria after being barren in 2015.

 

Saturday, Tokyo, Japan
VICTORIA MILE-G1, ¥204,960,000, Tokyo, 5-16, 4yo/up, f, 1600mT, 1:31.00, fm.
1–GRAN ALEGRIA (JPN), 121, m, 5, Deep Impact (Jpn)
                1st Dam: Tapitsfly (MGISW-US, $1,495,503), by Tapit
                2nd Dam: Flying Marlin, by Marlin
                3rd Dam: Morning Dove, by Fortunate Prospect
O-Sunday Racing; B-Northern Farm (Jpn); T-Kazuo Fujisawa;
J-Christophe Lemaire. ¥108,820,000. Lifetime Record: Ch. 3yo
Filly-Jpn, Ch. Sprinter-Jpn, Ch. Miler-Jpn, 12-8-1-1. Werk Nick
   Rating: A+++. *Triple Plus*. Click for the
  eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Rambling Alley (Jpn), 121, m, 5, Deep Impact (Jpn)
                1st Dam: Blooming Alley (Jpn), by Symboli Kris S.
                2nd Dam: Princess Olivia, by Lycius
                3rd Dam: Dance Image (Ire), by Sadler's Wells
O-Shadai Race Horse; B-Shadai Farm (Jpn); ¥43,092,000.
3–Magic Castle (Jpn), 121, f, 4, Deep Impact(Jpn)
                1st Dam: So Magic (Jpn), by Symboli Kris S.
                2nd Dam: Xua (Ire), by Fairy King
                3rd Dam: Bold Starlet (GB), by Precocious (GB)
O-Shadai Race Horse; B-Shadai Farm (Jpn); ¥26,546,000.
Margins: 4, NK, NK. Odds: 0.30, 74.20, 13.70.
Also Ran: Dirndl (Jpn), Shigeru Pink Dia (Jpn), Resistencia (Jpn), Danon Fantasy (Jpn), Des Ailes (Jpn), Maltese Diosa (Jpn), Christie (Jpn), Sound Chiara (Jpn), Red Belle Deesse (Jpn), Ria Amelia (Jpn), Terzetto (Jpn), Smile Kana (Jpn), Affranchir (Jpn), Pourville (Jpn), Iberis (Jpn).
Click for the JRA chart & video or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.

The post ‘Alegria’ Books Breeders’ Cup Berth With Victoria Mile Score appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Kingman’s Schnell Meister Claws Out NHK Mile Cup Victory

Sunday Racing's Schnell Meister (Ger) (Kingman {GB}) closed late to take the G1 NHK Mile Cup in a bobbing finish on Sunday, his first black-type victory.

Second choice in the wagering at 5-2 behind Group 1 winner Grenadier Guards (Jpn) (Frankel {GB}), the Sunday Racing colourbearer broke well from one of the widest draws and punched the breeze out in the centre of the course while unhurried early. Up front, Pixie Knight (Jpn) (Maurice {Jpn}) led under minimal pressure from Ho O Amazon (Jpn) (King Kamehameha {Jpn}), with Grenadier Guards and Gray in Green (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) just off the leading duo. The first 1000 metres was covered in :56.90. On the bend, Schnell Meister rallied sharply and was within shouting distance of the leaders with a quarter mile to travel. A furlong from home, he still had a couple lengths to find, but unleashed a powerful turn of foot to collar Songline (Jpn) (Kizuna {Jpn}) by a nose at the line. Grenadier Guards was third, 2 1/2 lengths back. Bathrat Leon (Jpn) (Kizuna {Jpn}) dumped the rider at the break.

A winner of a Sapporo newcomers' affair in September over 1500 metres and the 1600-metre Hiiragi Sho at Nakayama over a mile on Dec. 19, Schnell Meister ran second in his 3-year-old bow, the G2 Hochi Hai Yayoi Sho Deep Impact Kinen upped to 2000 metres on Mar. 7.

Pedigree Notes
Out of G1 Preis der Diana heroine Serienholde, Schnell Meister is the fourth Group 1 winner by his Juddmonte sire and first in Japan. Kingman's total of black-type winners now stands at 35, with 17 of that number successful at the group level. Broodmare sire Soldier Hollow now has two stakes winners total, both of group class, with Schnell Meister joining G2 Oaks d'Italia heroine Nepal (Ger) (Kallisto {Ger}).

Since foaling Schnell Meister, Serienholde has a yearling colt by Lord Kanaloa (Jpn) and she was bred to Duramente (Jpn). The third dam, Salde (Ger) (Alkalde {Ger}), threw several top performers, among them German highweight Saldenschwinge (Ger) (In the Wings {GB}), group winner and MG1SP Saldentigerin (Ger) (Tiger Hill {Ire})-herself the dam of Group 1 winner Salomina (Ger) (Lomitas {GB})–and stakes winners Salden Licht (GB) (Fantastic Light) and Saldennahe (Ger) (Next Desert {Ire}), as well as the MG1SP Saltas (Ger) (Lomitas {GB}).

Sunday, Tokyo, Japan
NHK MILE CUP-G1, ¥204,960,000, Tokyo, 5-9, 3yo, c/f, 1600mT, 1:31.60, fm.
1–SCHNELL MEISTER(GER), 123, c, 3, Kingman (GB)
                1st Dam: Serienholde (Ger) (G1SW-Ger, $379,079),
                                by Soldier Hollow (GB)
                2nd Dam: Saldenehre (Ger), by Highest Honor (Fr)
                3rd Dam: Salde (Ger), by Alkalde (Ger)
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN. 1ST GROUP WIN. 1ST GROUP 1 WIN.
O-Sunday Racing; B-Northern Farm (Ger); T-Takahisa Tezuka;
J-Christophe Lemaire. ¥108,822,000. Lifetime Record: 4-3-1-0.
Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Werk Nick
   Rating: C+.
2–Songline (Jpn), 121, f, 3, Kizuna (Jpn)–Luminous Parade (Jpn),
by Symboli Kris S. O-Sunday Racing; B-Northern Farm (Jpn);
¥43,092,000.
3–Grenadier Guards (Jpn), 126, c, 3, Frankel (GB)–Wavell
Avenue, by Harlington. O-Sunday Racing; B-Northern Farm
(Jpn); ¥26,564,000.
Margins: NO, 2HF, HF. Odds: 2.70, 15.90, 2.40.
Also Ran: Rickenbacker (Jpn), Lord Max (Jpn), Time to Heaven (Jpn), Another Lyric (Jpn), Land of Liberty (Jpn), Ho O Amazon (Jpn), Rooks Nest (Jpn), Veil of Nebula (Jpn), Pixie Knight (Jpn), Shock Action (Ire), City Rainbow (Jpn), Raymond Barows (Jpn), Gold Chalice (Jpn), Gray in Green (Jpn). DNF: Bathrat Leon(Jpn).
Click for the JRA chart or video or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.

The post Kingman’s Schnell Meister Claws Out NHK Mile Cup Victory appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Gran Alegria Imperious in Mile Championship

Although she left it until late, Gran Alegria (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) displayed a scintillating turn of foot once she found running room to rush by her rivals and claim the G1 Mile Championship at Hanshin on Sunday. It was the fourth Group 1 win for the daughter of Breeders’ Cup heroine Tapitsfly and she is the eighth horse-after the runner-up Indy Champ (Jpn) (Stay Gold {Jpn})–to claim both mile events in Japan having earlier scored in the G1 Yasuda Kinen.

The first filly or mare to claim the Mile Championship since Blumenblatt (Jpn) (Admire Vega {Jpn}) in 2008 and the third horse to double up in the G1 Sprinters S./Mile Championship following Durandal (Jpn) (Sunday Silence) in 2003, the 3-5 chalk settled in between horses in fifth as Resistencia (Jpn) (Daiwa Major {Jpn}) set the pace, covering the first quarter in :23.50 while shadowed by Lauda Sion (Jpn) (Real Impact {Jpn}).

Unhurried with 600 metres to travel, the bay was poised to pounce, but Gran Alegria’s rally was stymied, as a gap closed in front of her inside the final quarter mile. Christophe Lemaire prepared to send his charge through another hole, but her path forward was once again blocked, this time by the strong-closing Indy Champ who surged up to lead inside the final 100 metres. Undeterred, Lemaire steered his charge to the outside of Indy Champ and she burst past last year’s winner in a matter of strides to win by a deceptive three-quarter lengths as much the best. Admire Mars (Jpn) (Daiwa Major {Jpn}), who had stalked the pace throughout, hung on for third a neck in front of Scarlet Color (Jpn) (Victoire Pisa {Jpn}).

“She had a good break so we were able to sit in a good position,” said Lemaire. “She’s matured and a lot easier to ride now being a 4-year-old so she was relaxed and we had a good trip until the last turn where, as a favorite you’re marked and it so happens, but we weren’t able to make our move to the outside smoothly for the stretch run. I was a little worried but the way she exploded into gear in the last 150 meters, it just shows how powerful she is and I’m looking forward to a great season from her as a 5-year-old.”

A winner of the G3 Saudi Arabia Royal Cup and third in the G1 Asahi Hai Futurity S. in December of 2018, Gran Alegria captured the 2019 G1 Japanese 1000 Guineas first up that April and added the G2 Hanshin Cup two starts later last December. Promoted to second in the 1200-metre G1 Takamatsunomiya Kinen resuming this March, the 4-year-old saluted in the one-mile G1 Yasuda Kinen on June 7 and added the Oct. 4 G1 Sprinters S. cutting back to 1200 metres.

 

Pedigree Notes

One of 47 Group 1 winners for her late supersire, Gran Alegria also has the second highest tally of top-level victories of Deep Impact progeny with four. Only Gentildonna (Jpn), with seven, was more successful. The 4-year-old filly is also the fourth Mile Championship scorer for Deep Impact following Danon Shark (Jpn), Tosen Ra (Jpn) and Mikki Isle (Jpn). To date, the former Shadai Stallion Station supremo has sired 165 black-type winners 132 of them at the group level. In addition to Gran Alegria, he is also responsible for Japanese listed winner and group-placed Arusha (Jpn), who is also out of a Tapit mare.

A winner of the then-Listed Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf in 2009, the late Tapitsfly progressed to take the GI Just a Game S. and GI First lady S. as a 5-year-old. Knocked down to Katsumi Yoshida for $1.85 million at the 2012 Fasig-Tipton November Sale, Tapitsfly’s first foal is Gran Alegria after a barren year in 2015. She also has a 3-year-old full-brother to the Mile Championship winner named Blutgang (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}), who sports a victory in one start.

Tapit’s daughters have produced four Grade/Group 1 winners so far among 40 black-type winners, and the Gainesway sire was in the spotlight earlier this weekend with Finite (Munnings)’s win in the GIII Chilukki S. at Churchill Downs.

 

Sunday, Hanshin, Japan
MILE CHAMPIONSHIP-G1, ¥253,100,000 (US$2,436,714/£1,835,394/€2,055,149), Hanshin, 11-22, 3yo/up, 1600mT, 1:32.00, fm.
1–GRAN ALEGRIA (JPN), 121, f, 4, by Deep Impact (Jpn)
                1st Dam: Tapitsfly (MGISW-US, $1,495,503), by Tapit
                2nd Dam: Flying Marlin, by Marlin
                3rd Dam: Morning Dove, by Fortunate Prospect
O-Sunday Racing; B-Northern Farm (Jpn); T-Kazuo Fujisawa;
J-Kenichi Ikezoe. ¥133,570,000. Lifetime Record: Ch. 3yo
Filly-Jpn, 10-7-1-1. Werk Nick Rating: A+++. *Triple Plus*.
   Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Indy Champ (Jpn), 126, h, 5, Stay Gold (Jpn)–Will Power
(Jpn), by King Kamehameha (Jpn). O-Silk Racing; B-Northern
Farm (Jpn); ¥53,020,000.
3–Admire Mars (Jpn), 126, c, 4, Daiwa Major (Jpn)–Via Medici
(Ire), by Medicean (GB). (¥52,000,000 Ylg ’17 JRHAJUL).
O-Junko Kondo; B-Northern Farm (Jpn); ¥33,510,000.
Margins: 3/4, NK, 1. Odds: 0.60, 7.80, 10.10.
Also Ran: Scarlet Color (Jpn), Salios (Jpn), Vin de Garde (Jpn), Persian Knight(Jpn), Resistencia (Jpn), Besten Dank (Jpn), Soind Chiara (Jpn), Meikei Die Hard (Jpn), A Will a Way (Jpn). Keiai Nautique (Jpn), Taisei Vision (Jpn), Lauda Shion (Jpn), Black Moon (Jpn), Katsuji (Jpn).
Click for the JRA chart & video or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.

The post Gran Alegria Imperious in Mile Championship appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Verified by MonsterInsights