Cover image courtesy of the Japan Racing Association
The Tsuyoshi Tanaka-trained Champagne Color (Jpn) (Duramente {Jpn}) on Sunday added his name alongside some of the stars of Japanese racing, including El Condor Pasa (USA), Kurofune (Jpn), King Kamehameha (Jpn), Mikki Isle (Jpn), Admire Mars (Jpn) and Danon Scorpion (Jpn) (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}), as a winner of the G1 NHK Mile at Tokyo.
Unwanted by punters, Champagne Color scored by a head under Hiroyuki Uchida, with the fast-finishing Umbrail (Jpn) (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}) - one of four fillies in the race - second, and Obamburumai (Jpn) (Discreet Cat {USA}) third.
Champagne Color’s victory was his third from five starts and first in top company.
“The plan was to keep him in about fifth to sixth from the pace, but the competition to position him forwardly was intense and the going was soggy so I didn’t force him to move up front,” Uchida said.
“He came out of the last turn smoothly and responded incredibly well. While waiting for the right moment and watching out for the other runners, I just drove him to the line hoping to reach it first.
“It’s his third win here at Tokyo; he enjoys the wide and spacious course, and we’re looking forward to seeing him develop with every race he runs this season.”
“It’s his (Champagne Color) third win here at Tokyo, he enjoys the wide and spacious course, and we’re looking forward to seeing him develop with every race he runs this season.” - Hiroyuki Uchida
Champagne Color is the fifth Group 1 winner by the late stallion Duramente (Jpn) - a son of a King Kamehameha (Jpn). The colt is out of the unraced Reckless Abandon (GB) mare Memorial Life (GB) and she is a half-sister to G2 Queen Mary S. heroine Ceiling Kitty (GB) (Red Clubs {Ire}), herself the dam of the Listed Chesham S. winner Arthur Kitt (GB) (Camelot {GB}) and the Listed Boadicea S. victress Eartha Kitt (GB) (Pivotal {GB}). The latter has thrown the Group 2 scorer Noble Style (GB) (Kingman {GB}).
Meanwhile, Saturday’s G2 Kyoto Shimbun Hai was won by race favourite Satono Glanz (Jpn).
It was a first stakes success for the 3-year-old and his sire, Satono Diamond (Jpn) - a son of the great Deep Impact (Jpn).
The colt from the Group 2-winning Oratorio (Ire) mare Cherry Collect (Ire), making him a half-brother to the stakes winners Wakea (Jpn) (Heart’s Cry {Jpn}) and Diana Bright (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}), as well as the stakes performer Danon Grace (Jpn).
Satono Glanz was handled by Yuga Kawada for trainer Yasuo Tomomichi.
Singapore Group 2 winner for Flying Artie
Recent Blue Gum Farm acquisition Flying Artie celebrated his sixth individual stakes winner on the weekend, with Coin Toss triumphant in the SG2 Singapore 3YO Classic - the second leg of the Singapore 3YO Challenge series - at Kranji.
Bred by Aston Bloodstock, Coin Toss is from the stakes performer Headsup (NZ) (Thorn Park), making him a half-brother to the Group 2 runner-up Shezathinka (So You Think {NZ}).
Coin Toss was purchased by Bevan Smith Bloodstock / Kuldeep Singh Rajput for $175,000 from the Two Bays Farm draft at the 2021 Premier Yearling Sale (he was originally purchased for $15,000 by Two Bays Farm from the Newgate Consignment at the 2020 Inglis Australian Weanling Sale).
Coin Toss as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
The Michael Clements-trained gelding was ridden by Australian jockey Daniel Moor.
“Michael reached out to me several weeks ago to ride this horse in the 3YO series. I only had to look at one or two replays to know that he was the one,” Moor said.
“Michael (Clements, trainer) reached out to me several weeks ago to ride this horse (Coin Toss) in the 3YO series. I only had to look at one or two replays to know that he was the one.” - Daniel Moor
“He’s won really well. We overcame a little bit of interference over the back there. He lost probably a length and a half or two lengths but for a young horse, he recovered well and won pretty soft in the finish.”
The trainer said: “I think Daniel rode a great race.
“He’s been a horse with a lot of potential all along and it was great for him to get it right on the day. A lot of his early racing was on the Polytrack, but that was by circumstance, not by choice.”
Straight Arron does it again
The 2022 ATC Carbine Club S. hero - Straight Arron (Fastnet Rock) - made it back-to-back victories and three wins from his past four starts at Sha Tin on Sunday.
At the end of 2400 metres, the Caspar Fownes-trained 4-year-old held a neck margin in the G3 Queen Mother Memorial Cup.
Straight Arron, who was piloted by Vincent Ho, may head to the May 28 G1 Champions & Chater Cup over the same trip.
“That was good. He toughed it out. It was a hard effort for him. There was no pace and he just trucked up there nicely and all you can do is get a winning result,” Fownes said.
“That was good. He (Straight Arron) toughed it out. It was a hard effort for him. There was no pace and he just trucked up there nicely and all you can do is get a winning result.” - Caspar Fownes
“Conditions were quite tough (on Sunday), and he’s jumped from 1800 metres to 2400 metres – it’s a big step up in a short period of time. We’re proud of him. He’s going the right way.
“We’ll see (about the Champions & Chater Cup). His rating’s not there yet, but he’s a good horse. His true rating is still not there, but we’ll see how he pulls up.
“We’ll make an entry. I wouldn’t think it’s going to be too big a field – probably about six or seven runners – so we’ll just see. He’s done his job already, and I’m looking forward to next season.”
Straight Arron as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
Bred by Torryburn Stud, Straight Arron realised $270,000 at the 2020 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale. He is from the three-time winner and stakes performer Imperial Lass (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}) and she is a blood-sister to the stakes performer Spring Delight (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}), a three-quarter sister to the Group 1 victor Tavago (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}) and a half-sister to the Group 2 winner La Sizeranne (NZ) (Stravinsky {USA}). The latter has produced the Listed victress Za Moulin Rouge (Street Cry {Ire}).