Written by Lydia Symonds
New Zealand-bred Japanese Emperor (NZ) (Satono Aladdin {Jpn}) put himself in the picture for bigger targets this spring when he posted a facile debut victory at Sandown-Hillside on Wednesday.
Trained by Mike Moroney, the 3-year-old gelding - who holds a nomination for the G1 Caulfield Guineas - showed an explosive turn of foot to beat Who Dares (Deep Field) by a comfortable 2l, while Jovial Wagon (Sebring) was another 0.3l away in third.
The victory also advertised the talents of Rich Hill Stud’s burgeoning young shuttle stallion Satono Aladdin (Jpn), whose Australian tally of winners now stands at a perfect three from three, with Japanese Emperor joining unbeaten colt Grand Impact (NZ) and the John O’Shea-trained filly Koshu (NZ), who made a winning debut as a 2-year-old in May, as the sire's other winners in the country.
Japanese Emperor himself was the headline act of the son of Deep Impact’s (Jpn) first Southern Hemisphere crop at the sales.
The gelding was purchased at Book 1 of the New Zealand National Yearling Sale by Paul Moroney Bloodstock and Ballymore Stables from the Rich Hill Stud draft for NZ$360,000 - the most paid for Southern Hemisphere-bred progeny of the stallion.
Japanese Emperor (NZ) as a yearling | Image courtesy of New Zealand Bloodstock
Rich Hill Stud Managing Director John Thompson told TDN AusNZ that the gelding had always been a standout and he was not surprised to see that translate to his talent on the racetrack.
“He was a lovely yearling. He certainly had the athleticism that Deep Impact and Satono Aladdin put into their stock, but perhaps had a bit more natural strength,” Thompson recalled. “He is out of an O’Reilly mare and has lovely quality. He moved very well and had a bit more strength, which set him apart from the others.”
Thompson said he was pleased to see the gelding handle the Heavy 9 conditions at Sandown the way he did on his first start.
“He (Japanese Emperor) was a lovely yearling. He certainly had the athleticism that Deep Impact and Satono Aladdin put into their stock, but perhaps had a bit more natural strength.” - John Thompson
“They (Moroneys) weren’t sure how he would perform on a wet track, but they felt they had to get his campaign underway,” said Thompson.
“He was parked away on the rail and he had nowhere to go, so he had to barge his way out, but when he did get clear he just went away. If he had finished in the top five you would have thought it was a good effort but he showed a pretty devastating turn of foot.
“You would have to think, to produce that on his first start was very impressive. I know the stable really like the horse, but of course until you get to the races you never really know. I think they were worried about running him on a wet track.”
Satono Aladdin (Jpn) | Standing at Rich Hill Stud
Having shuttled to New Zealand for the first time in 2018, Satono Aladdin was forced to miss out on his third foray to the Southern Hemisphere in 2020 due to the global pandemic, but returned in 2021 and will arrive to cover his fourth book of mares at the Matamata nursery on Thursday morning.
Satono Aladdin came to New Zealand with a lofty reputation. A winner of the 2017 G1 Yasuda Kinen and being by the great breed-shaping sire Deep Impact, the stallion also boasts an enviable pedigree on his damside.
He is out of G2 Monmouth Oaks winner Magic Storm (USA) (Storm Cat {USA}), making him a brother to fellow elite-level winner Lachesis (Jpn) and the stallion’s race record, coupled with his pedigree, Thompson believes makes him an attractive prospect for breeders and buyers in Australia and New Zealand.
John Thompson | Image courtesy of NZ Racing Desk
“He just has a magnificent pedigree. He is a son of Deep Impact and he won two Group 2s over 1400 metres and the Kinen, which is probably the best Group 1 mile race in Japan, so he brings a lot to the table,” explained Thompson.
“His pedigree is ideal for New Zealand mares and I think that will be one of the keys to the horse's success that he really offers clicks with the New Zealand bloodlines. This sireline, although it is well-established in Japan, is not that well-established in Australasia as yet, so this could be the horse to do it.”
It is not the first time Thompson has reaped the benefits of a good relationship with the Satono Aladdin’s Northern Hemisphere home, the Shadai Stallion Station, with their foundation sire Pentire (GB) shuttling between the two for a number of years back in the late 1990s early 2000s and Thompson is hopeful Satono Aladdin can continue the fruitful relationship.
“His (Satono Aladdin's) pedigree is ideal for New Zealand mares and I think that will be one of the keys to the horse's success that he really offers clicks with the New Zealand bloodlines.” - John Thompson
“Our original stallion Pentire was bought by the Yoshidas and taken to Japan then shuttled to New Zealand and he did that very successfully. We have had a good relationship and we have had success before and hopefully this can be another one,” said Thompson.
“We also shuttled Jungle Pocket for a couple of years and he sired a New Zealand Oaks winner, so it has been a very fruitful relationship for many years.”
The stallion’s success in Australasia also signals a significant vindication for Thompson’s faith in the stallion, with the decision to keep shuttling him after the global pandemic came before the stallion really hit the straps.
Japanese Emperor (NZ) winning at Sandown
“Unfortunately, it is well documented that we don’t have yearlings by Satono Aladdin to offer because of the freight issues over COVID we couldn’t get him back here. We were desperate to get him back to New Zealand and it was great to have him back last year and fortunately he will arrive here tomorrow morning (Thursday),” said Thompson.
“He will cover a lovely book of mares this season and it’s great because you do take a risk with these stallions and when we made the decision to bring him back he hadn't had any winners at that stage and horses like Japanese Emperor justifies that decision, which is great.”
