Written by Trent Masenhelder
Cover image courtesy of the Japan Racing Association
Tastiera (Jpn) handed his sire - Satono Crown (Jpn) - a maiden victory at the elite level on Sunday, with the the Noriyuki Hori-trained 3-year-old upstaging his more fancied rivals, including hot favourite Sol Oriens (Jpn) (Kitasan Black {Jpn}), in the G1 Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby).
And there was an Australian element to the victory, too, with top jockey Damian Lane piloting the Carrot Farm-owned colt to glory over the 2400 metres. Lane became the first foreign-based jockey to win the race since Italian Mirco Demuro was successful aboard Neo Universe (Jpn) in 2003.
Sol Oriens was a neck away in second, while longshot Heart’s Concerto (Jpn) (Heart’s Cry {Jpn}) placed third.
“It’s very special, especially for Hori Stables and Carrot Farm with whom I’ve had success,” the Australian rider said.
“Credit to the horse, he’s so versatile, he could jump quick, put himself in a good position and relax.
“It’s just a great sense of achievement.”
“It’s (winning the Tokyo Yushun) just a great sense of achievement.” - Damian Lane
After breaking his maiden last November, Tastiera was fourth in the G3 Kyodo News Hai and went on to land his first stakes win in the G2 Yayoi Sho Deep Impact Kinen in March, before finishing a 1.25l second in the G1 Satsuki Sho.
Tastiera hails from the first crop of Satono Crown - a son of Marju (Ire) - who scored in the highest grade in the 2016 Hong Kong International Vase and 2017 Takarazuka Kinen. Satono Crown stands at Shadai Stallion Station at a fee of ¥1,500,000 (AU$16,300).
Bred by Northern Farm, the colt is from the winning Manhattan Cafe (Jpn) mare Partitura (Jpn), while his second dam, Fortepiano (Jpn) (French Deputy {USA}), was a three-time winner and is a sister to the stakes performer Sound Axis (Jpn).
Satono Crown (Jpn) | Standing at Shadai Stallion Station
Atlantic Jewel’s son goes back-to-back in Sha Tin Group 1
With star Australian jockey Hugh Bowman in the saddle, the Douglas Whyte-trained Russian Emperor (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) turned over Romantic Warrior (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}), who started at prohibitive odds, in a thrilling edition of the G1 Champions and Chater Cup at Sha Tin on Sunday.
It’s the second year in succession that Russian Emperor has won the race.
“He’s a superstar of my stable and he’s certainly given me one hell of a ride since he’s joined me,” Whyte said.
“He’s (Russian Emperor) a superstar of my stable and he’s certainly given me one hell of a ride since he’s joined me.” - Douglas Whyte
“We’ve had our ups and downs but there’s been a lot more ups than downs.”
Russian Emperor is from Atlantic Jewel (Fastnet Rock), who won 10 of 11 starts, including four Group 1s. The only blot on her copybook was being touched off by Dundeel (NZ) in the G1 Underwood S. at Caulfield in 2013.
Atlantic Jewel died soon after foaling a colt by Justify (USA) in August 2020. Consigned by Coolmore Australia, the colt made $240,000 at the 2022 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale, with Dermot Farrington Bloodstock purchasing him. The Annabel Neasham-trained colt, named Maravillas, is unraced and currently spelling.
Flying Artie 3-year-old lands Singapore Guineas
Daniel Moor was another Australian jockey to celebrate a feature-race victory on the weekend, with Gandharvi Racing’s rising star Coin Toss (Flying Artie) taking out the SngG2 Singapore Guineas at Kranji on Saturday.
The Michael Clements-trained gelding added the Guineas to his SngG2 Singapore Classic success, making him a winner of two of the three legs of the Triple Crown (he was withdrawn from the first leg of the series). Had Coin Toss contested and triumphed up in the SngG3 Singapore 3YO Sprint, he could have become the first horse to win the Triple Crown since War Affair (NZ) (O’Reilly {NZ}) in 2014.
“It was a first step-up to the mile. Potentially, we knew he could do it, but he had to prove it,” Clements said.
“It was a first step-up to the mile. Potentially, we knew he (Coin Toss) could do it, but he had to prove it.” - Michael Clements
“It was warranted to race him closer because it was over 1600 metres, whereas he was quite a bit further back in the second leg.
“It was the right thing to do. But Daniel said he actually put himself there, like he wanted to be there.
“Daniel rode a great race, too.”
Coin Toss is out the stakes performer Headsup (NZ) (Thorn Park), making him a half-brother to the Group 2 runner-up Shezathinka (So You Think {NZ}).
Bred by Aston Bloodstock, he was bought by Bevan Smith Bloodstock and Kuldeep Singh Rajput for $175,000 from the Two Bays Farm draft at the 2021 Inglis 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).
A Yes Yes Yes half-sister to Coin Toss will be offered at this week’s Magic Millions National Yearling Sale on the Gold Coast. The filly will be consigned by Widden Stud as Lot 1550.
