Cover image courtesy of the Japanese Horse Racing Association
The Yasuo Tomomichi-trained Jun Light Bolt handed star sire King Kamehameha (Jpn) his 15th elite-level victory on Sunday, with the 5-year-old storming over the top of UAE Derby hero Crown Pride (Jpn) (Reach The Crown {Jpn}) in the G1 Champions Cup at Chukyo Racecourse.
Bred by Northern Racing, Jun Light Bold is from the winless mare Special Groove (Jpn) (Special Week {Jpn}), making him a half-brother to the Group 3 victor Groove It (Jpn) (Lord Kanaloa {GB}).
Jun Light Bold’s third dam, Air Groove (Jpn) (Tony Bin {Ire}), was named Japanese Horse of the Year in 1997, and as a broodmare, she has produced the multiple Group 1 heroine Admire Groove (Jpn) (Sunday Silence {USA}), herself the dam of Japanese Champion 3-Year-Old colt and late sire Duramente (Jpn).
Another of Air Groove’s progeny is the Shadai stallion Rulership (Jpn), a son of King Kamehameha (Jpn), who won the G1 Queen Elizabeth II Cup in 2012 and is the sire of 2019 G1 Melbourne Cup hero Mer De Glace (Jpn), as well as the G3 Newcastle Gold Cup winner Hush Writer (Jpn).
Other Group 1 winners for the late, great King Kamehameha, who has left 94 stakes winners and 65 Group winners, include Lord Kanaloa (Jpn), Duramente (Jpn), Leontes (Jpn) and Rose Kingdom (Jpn).
King Kamehameha (Jpn)
Jun Light Bold, who has been a revelation since switching to dirt racing, was partnered by Yukito Ishikawa, who chalked up his first Group 1 triumph.
Ishikawa said: “I can’t find any other word to describe this other than ‘happy’. I tried to feel the horse’s rhythm and was confident that if we can find an open space after entering the lane, he would burst out. The colt responded so well that I knew we could win. Though I have yet to feel my first Group 1 win, I would like to savour this joy from now on.”
Tomomichi revealed Jun Light Bolt could be aimed at a tilt at the G1 Dubai World Cup, saying: “Hopefully, the horse will run in the February S. or the Dubai World Cup next year.”
“Hopefully, the horse (Jun Light Bolt) will run in the February S. or the Dubai World Cup next year.” - Yasuo Tomomichi
Better Than Ready gelding claims Sha Tin feature
Super Win Dragon (Better Than Ready), who won two of his seven starts in Australia as Ready To Bolt with Kelly Schweida, remains unbeaten this season after an impressive victory in Sunday’s Class 2 Salisbury H. in Hong Kong under Matthew Chadwick.
The 5-year-old was a $60,000 purchase for Schweida from the draft of KBL Thoroughbreds at the 2019 Magic Millions National Yearling Sale (Book 2) and he was exported following a second at Doomben on July 29, 2020.
Trainer Chris So’s decision to campaign Super Win Dragon in 1200-metre dirt contests has proven genius, with the gelding notching four wins and two seconds in six starts.
“The horse has improved a lot this year. Before he was very keen, jumpy. This year, totally different,” So explained.
Out of the winless Iglesia mare Vital Page, Super Win Dragon is a brother to the dual winner As Good As Ready, as well as the three-start maiden Better Page.
“The horse (Super Win Dragon) has improved a lot this year. Before he was very keen, jumpy. This year, totally different.” - Chris So
Super Win Dragon’s winning half-siblings include Dawn Fighter (Bradbury’s Luck), Missing Page (Monashee Mountain {USA}), Inside Page (Monashee Mountain {USA}) and Index Page (Greenwood Lake {USA}).
Handsome Twelve does it again on the dirt
More Than Ready (USA) gelding Handsome Twelve was the first of three consecutive winners at Sha Tin for leading jockey Zac Purton on Sunday.
Also registering a treble was Handsome Twelve’s trainer, Benno Yung.
Handsome Twelve reeled in tearaway leader True Legend (Deep Field) to win the 1650-metre Class 3 on the all-weather track by 0.5l.
It was the 5-year-old's second victory this term and third overall and all wins have been on the dirt.
Handsome Twelve is from the Group 3-winning, Group 1-placed mare Absolutelyfabulous (Langfuhr {Can}) and made $120,000 from the Three Bridges Thoroughbreds draft at the 2019 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale. He was bought by Pamsel Investments and Clarke Bloodstock (FBAA) and won two races in Victoria as Duke Caboom before heading overseas.
Handsome Twelve as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
More Than Fabulous – a brother to Handsome Twelve – won four races and $310,750 in prizemoney.
Ho mulls Classic Mile for son of Sizzling
The Peter Ho-trained Amazing Victory (Sizzling) continued his rich vein of form, making it three wins from four starts this season with a comfortable victory in Sunday’s Class 3 Nathan H. (1400 metres).
Ho was full of praise for the in-form gelding and is weighing up whether to tackle next month’s Classic Mile for 4-year-olds.
“I might have to try and get him to a Classic Mile. He should learn from this race, and we will try to relax him even more. If he can relax further, I think he can handle 1600 metres,” said Ho.
“I truly believe the horse will keep improving. He’s growing in confidence; he loves to fight and he loves to win races. It was a good effort from the horse and from the jockey, and a nice surprise for me.”
“I might have to try and get him (Amazing Victory) to a Classic Mile. He should learn from this race, and we will try to relax him even more. If he can relax further, I think he can handle 1600 metres.” - Peter Ho
Amazing Victory is out of the Lismore winner Stitchery (Mossman) and was a $13,000 buy from the Sefton Park Thoroughbreds draft at the 2019 Inglis Australian Weanling Sale.
