Cover image courtesy of the Japan Racing Association
The Haruki Sugiyama-trained Justin Palace (Jpn) became the 59th individual Group 1 winner for his legendary sire Deep Impact (Jpn) after his dominant victory in Sunday’s G1 Tenno Sho (Spring) at Kyoto.
Popular with punters - the G2 Hanshin Daishoten hero was sent out the second favourite behind Titleholder (Jpn) (Duramente {Jpn}) - Justin Palace settled in a midfield position under Christophe Lemaire, before finding the front 300 metres from home. He was strong to the line and scored by 2.5l, covering the 3200 metres in 3:16.10.
Deep Bond (Jpn) (Kizuna {Jpn}) finished second, Damian Lane’s mount, Silver Sonic (Jpn) (Orfevre {Jpn}), was third, while Titleholder was pulled out of the race and was found to have a leg issue.
“The horse was calm throughout the race and I was sure that he was going to win when we moved up behind Deep Bond entering the straight,” said Lemaire.
“He has become a super horse over long distances, so I think he will do well in races like the (G1) Arima Kinen in the future.”
“He (Justin Palace) has become a super horse over long distances, so I think he will do well in races like the (G1) Arima Kinen in the future.” - Christophe Lemaire
Justin Palace was bred by Northern Farm and is from the stakes-winning Royal Anthem (USA) mare Palace Rumor (USA), making him a half-brother to the G1 Belmont S. and G1 Met Mile winner Palice Malice (USA) and the Japanese Grade 2-placed Iron Barrows (Jpn) (Orfevre {Jpn}).
Palace Royal was bought by Katsumi Yoshida for US$1.1 million (AU$1.6 million) at the 2013 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky November Sale from the Hill ‘n’ Dale Sales Agency consignment.
The 4-year-old was knocked down to Masahiro Miki for ¥190,000,000 (AU$2.1 million) at the 2020 JRHAJUL Select Sale.
Justin Palace (Jpn) as a yearling | Image courtesy of the Japan Racing Horse Association
Kitasan Black with a sixth Group winner
Skilfing (Jpn) - a son of Kitasan Black (Jpn) - laid a marker for the May 28 G1 Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby) with an impressive victory in Saturday’s G2 Aoba Sho at Tokyo.
The Tetsuya Kimura-trained colt won by 0.5l from Hearts Concerto (Jpn) (Heart’s Cry {Jpn}) and Timur (Jpn) (Kizuna {Jpn}).
“I did not want to race aggressively,” winning jockey Lemaire told www.netkeiba.com. “The pace was slow and that made me worried if we could catch up to the pacemakers, but I knew he has got potential. He was amazing after the uphill section of the course.
“He is a Group 1-level horse. His growth was a bit slow compared to other horses but he has matured as he has gained more racing experience. He will be in top condition on Derby Day.”
“His (Skilfing’s) growth was a bit slow compared to other horses but he has matured as he has gained more racing experience. He will be in top condition on Derby Day.” - Christophe Lemaire
Skilfing is the sixth stakes winner and fifth Group winner for his Shadai Stallion Station-based sire, who is by Deep Impact’s brother Black Tide (Jpn). Kitasan Black is also represented by the triple elite-level scorer Equinox (Jpn), as well as G1 Satsuki Sho victor Sol Oriens (Jpn), and fellow Group winners Gaia Force (Jpn) and Ravel (Jpn).
The second foal of his dam - Rossweisse (Jpn) - a three-time winner and sister to the multiple stakes-placed Weitblick (Jpn) (Symboli Kris S {USA}), the colt is also related to the G1 Yasuda Kinen victress Songline (Jpn) (Kizuna {Jpn}), Group 1 winner Deirdre (Jpn) (Harbinger {GB}), and Japanese champion-turned-sire Logi Universe (Jpn) (Neo Universe {Jpn}).
Thurlow’s son scored on debut at Kranji
The Donna Logan-trained Rhett Butler (Charm Spirit {Ire}) - one of two 2-year-olds in the race - registered an upset win in Race 2 at Kranji on Saturday - a 1200 metre maiden.
Rhett Butler defied his starting price, posting a 2.5l victory under Sarwi Jamil.
“That was just incredible to watch. He just did not seem to be in contention but on reflection he did get a lovely soft run back in the field, had plenty in the tank once they straightened for home and of course had a big weight advantage compared to the three year olds in the race,” Logan said.
“I thought young Jamil handled him really well.”
Rhett Butler was bred by Qatar Bloodstock and is from the G3 Chairman’s S. victress Thurlow (Sebring), who also won the Listed Merson Cooper S.
The gelding was bought by Stonehouse Thoroughbreds for $50,000 from the Widden Stud draft at the 2021 Magic Millions Gold Coast National Weanling Sale, before T D Aitken Horse Training and Education paid $80,000 for him at the 2022 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale. Fortuna Racing and Donna Logan then purchased him for $80,000 at the 2022 Inglis Ready2Race Sale.
Rhett Butler as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
Rhett Butler’s Zoustar half-brother, the Ciaron Maher and David Eustace-trained Zouthur, won at Sandown-Lakeside last November, while Who Runs The World (Zoustar) will go under the hammer as Lot 736 at the Magic Millions Gold Coast National Broodmare Sale later this month. She is in foal to Written By.
