French Classic Winner Ace Impact Joins Top Five On Longines WBRR

Sunday's G1 Prix du Jockey Club winner Ace Impact (Ire) (Cracksman {GB}) is now in the top five on the Longines World's Best Racehorse Rankings at a joint 123, after the latest results were released on Thursday.

Well ahead of his rivals is Equinox (Jpn) (Kitasan Black {Jpn}) on 129, and fellow Japanese runner Titleholder (Jpn) (Duramente {Jpn}) is fourth on 124. Hong Kong's crack sprinter Lucky Sweynesse (NZ) has improved one pound to 125 after a win in the G3 Sha Tin Vase and is tied with Golden Sixty (Aus) (Medaglia d'Oro) in second.

Luxembourg (Ire) (Australia {GB}) (123) is also in the top five after taking the G1 Tattersalls Gold Cup over Bay Bridge (GB) (New Bay (122), with Hong Kong galloper Romantic Warrior (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}) also weighing in at 123.

Other newcomers to the rankings include G1 Derby winner Auguste Rodin (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) on 122 and Derby runner-up King Of Steel (Wootton Bassett {GB}) on 120. Emily Upjohn (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) (121) defeated Westover (GB) (Frankel {GB}) (120) in the G1 Coronation Cup the day prior to the Derby. Juddmonte's colt shares a 120-pound mark with G1 Yushun Himba (Japanese Oaks) heroine Liberty Island (Jpn) (Duramente {Jpn}).

For the full rankings, please visit the IFHA website.

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Titleholder Fortified For Tenno Sho Spring Title Defence

Hiroshi Yamada's Titleholder (Jpn) (Duramente {Jpn}) looms large in Sunday's G1 Tenno Sho (Spring) at Kyoto. The accomplished 5-year-old entire, if he defends his crown in the 3200-metre affair, will be the sixth horse to pull off the double in consecutive years.

Successful in the 3000-metre G1 Kikuka Sho (Japanese St. Leger) as a 3-year-old, the versatile bay added the 2022 edition of this race and the G1 Takarazuka Kinen, cutting back 1000 metres, last June. An attempt at the G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe in boggy ground was met with an unplaced run in October, and Titleholder was also out of the first three in the G1 Arima Kinen to end his year on Christmas Day. In rude health when romping by an imperious eight lengths in the G2 Nikkei Sho at Nakayama on Mar. 25, the morning line favourite will break from stall three under Kazuo Yokoyama.

“I had jockey Kazuo Yokoyama ride him in work last week on the 19 [of April] and he confirmed that the horse had improved following his win by eight lengths in the Nikkei Sho,” said trainer Toru Kurita. “In that race, his result may have been greatly affected by the going and the lineup. I'm not really sure what he would look like to be at peak, and that is meant in a good way as I'm not sure just what he's capable of. I do hope that he'll be able to run his own race and show us his best.”

Right next store to Titleholder is his diminutive older half-sister Melody Lane (Jpn) (Orfevre {Jpn}) in stall four for Makio Okada and trainer Naoyuki Morita. Fifth in the 2019 Kikuka Sho, she warmed up for this with an 11-place run behind Justin Palace (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) in the G2 Hanshin Daishoten over 3000 metres on Mar. 19. The latter, who ran third in the 2022 Kikuka Sho, is second favourite in the wagering and races for Masahiro Miki from gate one. Star Frenchman Christophe Lemaire is at the controls.

Ask Victor More (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) could give Titleholder a run for his money from barrier six, as long as he improves from his ninth-place finish in the Nikkei Sho. Trained by Yasuhito Tamura, the third-priced favourite won the 2022 Kikuka Sho over Boldog Hos (Jpn) (Screen Hero {Jpn}) and Justin Palace.

“With the Nikkei Sho as a preliminary, he is definitely sharper, both mentally and physically,” said Tamura. “His results in that race were really unfortunate and this time I've been fine tuning him and fixing anything that needed fixing.”

Titleholder isn't the only horse with a half-sibling in the field, as the long shot and multiple group-placed  Iron Barows (Jpn) (Orfevre {Jpn}) is a half-brother to the aforementioned Justin Palace.

Another worthy of mention is the globetrotting G3 Red Sea Turf H. hero Silver Sonic (Jpn) (Orfevre {Jpn}), who appeared ageless with his victory at King Abdulaziz Racetrack at the end of February. The ghostly grey will have no problem navigating the 3200-metre trip, as he claimed the 3600-metre G2 Sports Nippon Sho Stayers S. at Nakayama in December.

“His lungs are good and I don't see any fatigue from the trip abroad,” said assistant trainer Yuki Iwasaki. “He had the accident at the break in last year's Tenno Sho (Spring), but he had never had problems before. At seven years of age, I have the impression that he's even stronger than before, so I'm looking forward to things.”

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Japanese Champ Titleholder Rolls In 5-Year-Old Bow

Imperious during the early part of his 2022 season, Titleholder (Jpn) (Duramente {Jpn}) stormed home to take the G2 Nikkei Sho by eight lengths at Nakayama on Saturday. The Hiroshi Yamada-owned and Toru Kurita-trained entire was the 7-5 favourite.

In charge practically from the bell, the Okada Stud-bred had things mostly his own way throughout the 2500-metre contest. Lightly pressed by Diastima (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) on the backstretch, he continued to click off reasonable fractions while unruffled and soon increased his lead approaching the final turn. Engaging the afterburners, Titleholder opened up on the field in fine style and was an easy-as-you-please victor. Boccherini (Jpn) King Kamehameha {Jpn}) bested Diastima for second by three-parts of a length, with that foe another three-quarters of a length in front of Lilac (Jpn) (Orfevre {Jpn}) in fourth.

A winner at first asking as a juvenile and second in the 2020 G3 Tokyo Sports Hai Nisai S., the flashy bay would take the G2 Hochi Hai Yayoi Sho Deep Impact Kinen at three, and also run second in the G1 Japanese 2000 Guineas before taking the G1 Japanese St. Leger several starts later. As a 4-year-old, he won the G2 Nikkei Sho, G1 Tenno Sho (Spring) and G1 Takarazuka Kinen in succession, those efforts earning him 2022 Champion Older Horse honours in Japan. Tried in the G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, he was unplaced racing on soft ground for the first time, and was well behind subsequent Japanese Horse of the Year Equinox (Jpn) (Kitasan Black {Jpn}) in the G1 Arima Kinen back in Japan in December. The Nikkei Sho was his first run back.

Pedigree Notes

One of four Group 1 winners for his late sire, the 5-year-old is also part of a 10-strong batch of stakes winners. Other top-tier winners for Duramente included Stars On Earth (Jpn), Liberty Island (Jpn), and Dura Erede (Jpn). The last-named ran second in the G2 UAE Derby to countrymate Derma Sotogake (Jpn) (Mind Your Biscuits) later in the day.

The third foal and second winner for his dam, a five-time winner, Titleholder is the last to race to date from Mowen (GB) (Motivator {GB}), who was covered by Benbatl (GB) last spring. Under the fourth dam is 1982 G1 1000 Guineas and G1 Sussex S. heroine On The House (Fr) (Be My Guest).

 

Saturday, Nakayama, Japan
NIKKEI SHO-G2, ¥128,920,000, Nakayama, 3-25, 4yo/up, 2500mT, 2:36.80, vsf.
1–TITLEHOLDER (JPN), 130, h, 5, 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
(¥20,000,000 Wlg '18 JRHAJUL). O-Hiroshi Yamada; B-Okada
Stud (Jpn); T-Toru Kurita; J-Kazuo Yokoyama; ¥67,854,000.
Lifetime Record: Ch. Older Horse-Jpn, MG1SW-Jpn, 15-7-2-0.
Werk Nick Rating:A+++. *Triple Plus*. Click for the
   eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Click for the
   free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Boccherini (Jpn), 128, h, 7, King Kamehameha (Jpn)–Popcorn
Jazz (Jpn), by Dance in the Dark (Jpn). O-Makoto Kaneko
Holdings; B-Northern Farm (Jpn); ¥27,244,000.
3–Diastima (Jpn), 126, h, 6, Deep Impact (Jpn)–Sweet Reason,
by Street Sense. O-Sunday Racing; B-Northern Farm (Jpn);
¥17,122,000.
Margins: 8, 3/4, 3/4. Odds: 1.40, 16.10, 33.30.
Also Ran: Lilac (Jpn), Machaon d'Or (Jpn), Heat On Beat (Jpn), King Of Dragon (Jpn), Meiner Fanrong (Jpn), Ask Victor More (Jpn), Cantor (Jpn), Aristoteles (Jpn), Kotobuki Thetis (Jpn). Click for the JRA chart and video.

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Kitasan Black’s Equinox Named 2022 Japanese Horse Of The Year

Dual Group 1 winner Equinox (Jpn) (Kitasan Black {Jpn}) followed in his sire's footsteps and claimed the 2022 Japanese Horse of the Year crown with 282/288 votes, according to published reports. The son of G3 Mermaid S. heroine Chateau Blanche (Jpn) (King Halo {Jpn}) raced for trainer Tetsuyama Kimura in the colours of Silk Racing Company, Ltd.

Also named the Japanese Champion 3-Year-Old Male with 285/288 votes, the Northern Farm-bred was second in both the G1 Japanese 2000 Guineas and G1 Japanese Derby, but added his name to the roll of honour of the G1 Tenno Sho (Autumn) and G1 Arima Kinen in the second half of the year. Kitasan Black, who stands at Shadai Stallion Station, was a two-time Japanese Horse of the Year in 2016/2017.

The severity of the blow to the Japanese breeding industry with the premature loss of King Kamehameha (Jpn)'s son Duramente (Jpn) continues to deepen, as no less than three of his progeny were named year end champions for 2022. A champion 3-year-old in his native land in 2015 and the Japanese Champion First-Season Sire in 2020, the dual Classic winner was fifth on the year-end sire tables in Japan.

Leading the charge for their Kingmambo sire line was Japanese Champion Older Male Titleholder (Jpn), who rattled off a trio of wins starting with the G2 Nikkei Sho in March, and then made Hanshin his playground with a brace of Group 1 wins in May and June, with the Tenno Sho (Spring) going his way followed by the Takarazuka Kinen, the former over two miles, the other over 11 furlongs. Nabbing 280 of the 288-vote total, the Okada Stud-bred Toru Kurita trainee carried the Hiroshi Yamada silks in 2022.

A Classic winner, just like Titleholder, Shadai Race Horse Company's Stars On Earth (Jpn) was named the Japanese Champion 3-Year-Old Filly (286/288 votes) for a five-race campaign last year. Second in a pair of Group 3s in January and February, she clawed out a nose victory in the G1 Japanese 1000 Guineas and added the G1 Japanese Oaks in quick succession in the spring for trainer Mizuki Takayanagi. Bred by Shadai Farm, the February foal was an unlucky third when trying for the Japanese Triple Tiara in October. Her German female family stood her in good stead in 2022, as her second dam is champion Stacelita (Fr) (Monsun {Ger}), the winner of five top-level races overall. Stacelita, in turn, is the dam of 2016 Japanese Champion 2-Year-Old Filly Soul Stirring (Jpn) (Frankel {GB}), who would go on to take the G1 Japanese Oaks.

Duramente's 2-year-old daughter Liberty Island (Jpn) was awarded the Japanese Champion 2-Year-Old Filly title. The G1 Hanshin Juvenile Fillies victress was also second in the G3 Artemis S. after winning her debut. Bred by Northern Racing and raced by Sunday Racing Company, the Mitsumasa Nakauchida charge is the only horse of 2022 to be a unanimous champion with 288 votes. Liberty Island's dam, the All American (Aus) mare Yankee Rose (Aus), thrived at both two and three and was named champion Down Under both years, as well as taking second in the G1 Golden Slipper to boot.

The title of Japanese Champion 2-Year-Old Male went to the three-for-three Dolce More (Jpn), who is by another son of King Kamehameha in Rulership (Jpn). Trained by Naosuke Sugai for Three H Racing Company, Ltd., the son of the Classic-winning Ayusan (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) took both the Oct. 8 G3 Saudi Arabia and the G1 Asahi Hai Futurity S. in December. Bred by Shimokobe Farm, he accrued 279 of the 288 votes.

Third in Equinox's G1 Arima Kinen, G1 Queen Elizabeth II Cup winner Geraldina (Jpn) (Maurice {Jpn})'s 2022 track record was deemed enough to defeat the white wondermare Sodashi (Jpn) (Kurofune) in the year-end category for top distaffer, with 239 votes to Sodashi's 32. Placed in another two group races during a busy campaign, the then-4-year-old is another Sunday Racing colourbearer after Liberty Island. Bred by Northern Racing, the mare is out of two-time Japanese Horse of the Year and superstar Gentildonna (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) and is trained by Takashi Saito.

Crack miler Serifos (Jpn) (Daiwa Major {Jpn}–Sea Front {Fr}, by Le Havre {Ire}) made headlines as the victor of Hanshin's G1 Mile Championship in November after an earlier tally in the G2 Fuji S., and those two wins, on the back of a pair of fourths in the G1 NHK Mile Cup in May and the G1 Yasuda Kinen a month later, were enough to see him wear the champion sprinter laurels for G1 Racing Company and trainer Mitsumasa Nakauchida (156/288). Bred by Oiwake Farm, the 4-year-old is the second foal of the Listed Prix Maurice Zilber heroine Sea Front, who also ran third in a French Group 3 and was sold for €135,000 to Haruya Yoshida at the 2016 Arqana December Breeding Stock Sale. The late Le Havre's daughters have also thrown additional Japanese Group 2 winner Des Ailes (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) in the Land of the Rising Sun.

Excelling on dirt, just like his American Triple Crown-winning sire American Pharoah, Café Pharoah claimed all bar four votes to be named the Japanese Champion Dirt Horse. Seen in action three times last term for trainer Toru Kurita, the Koichi Nishikawa-owned bay won his second consecutive G1 February S., as well as the Listed Mile Championship Nambu Hai in October. The 6-year-old is a product of the breeding programme of the late Paul Pompa, and was selected as a juvenile out of the OBS March Sale for $475,000 in 2019. His dam, Mary's Follies (More Than Ready), made $500,000 when bought by BBA Ireland in foal to Curlin at the 2021 Keeneland January Sale; while his Animal Kingdom half-sister Regal Glory–picked up by Peter Brant's White Birch Farm for $925,000 at the same sale–has continued to embellish her race record and is now a three-time Grade I winner on grass.

Iconic Japanese jumper Oju Chosan (Jpn) (Stay Gold {Jpn}–Shadow Silhouette {Jpn}, by Symboli Kris S.) was named champion steeplechaser for the fifth time (2016-2018, 21/22), but managed that feat by only a single vote at 138, as Nishino Daisy (Jpn) (Harbinger {GB}) earned 137. Aged 11 when racing to his title, the Naoyoshi Nagayama-bred represented Chosan Company and trainer Shoichiro Wada.

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