Written by Keely Mckitterick
Cover image courtesy of Horse Racing Japan
Japan
Peptide Nile newest Group 1 winner for King
With the cream of the Japanese dirt crop readying for next weekend’s G1 Saudi Cup, Sunday’s G1 February S. presented a golden opportunity for gallopers, perhaps just a cut below the very best, to shine, with a trip to the G1 Breeders’ Cup Classic on the line. When the dust had settled, the majority of the market leaders faltered, and it was the unheralded Peptide Nile (Jpn) (King Kamehameha {Jpn}) that proved the chief beneficiary at boxcar odds.
Peptide Nile scored comfortably from Gaia Force (Jpn) (Kitasan Black {Jpn}) and Sekifu (Jpn) (Henny Hughes {USA}).
“The pace was tough, but he ran a great race,” said jockey Yusuke Fujioka, winning his second Group 1 on the JRA.
“We were able to sit in a better position than expected, but I didn’t imagine he would take over the lead that early and that easily. The wire seemed very far today. His last start didn’t turn out as hoped, but as long as he’s able to run in good rhythm as he did today, I’m sure we can look forward to solid performances in the future.”
“The wire seemed very far today. His (Peptide Nile) last start didn’t turn out as hoped, but as long as he’s able to run in good rhythm as he did today, I’m sure we can look forward to solid performances in the future.” - Yusuke Fujioka
A member of the third-last crop of the outstanding King Kamehameha (Jpn), Peptide Nile is one of 100 of his black-type winners and became the 68th to strike at Group level. He is the 15th elite-level winner for King Kamehameha.
Peptide Nile is from the Manhattan Cafe (Jpn) mare Queen Olive (Jpn), who won four races and is from the family of the Australian-bred Shamal Wind (Dubawi {Ire}).
Shamal Wind won eight races, including the G1 Oakleigh Plate and the Listed WJ Adams S. twice, she was als placed in the G2 Caulfield Sprint. Furthermore, Peptide Nile also boasts the Champion 3-Year-Old Sprinter of Europe, Ten Sovereigns (Ire), as a relative.
The son of No Nay Never (USA) won the G1 July Cup, the G1 Middle Park S. and the G3 Round Tower S.
Queen Olive has a 3-year-old filly by King Kamehameha’s G1 Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby)-winning son Rey De Oro (Jpn) and a yearling colt by top dirt sire Sinister Minister (USA). She is due to Drefong (USA) this term.
Another Classic contender for Maeda
Seven years after Lani (Jpn) (Tapit {USA}) finished ninth to Nyquist (USA) in the 2016 G1 Kentucky Derby, owner Koji Maeda may have unveiled a candidate for this year’s Derby in Ramjet (Jpn) (Majestic Warrior {USA}).
The son of Majestic Warrior (USA) stormed home to win Sunday’s Listed Hyacinth S. at Tokyo Racecourse in Japan, earning 30 points towards the Kentucky Derby. Ramjet is the third foal and best runner from the Gold Allure (Jpn) mare Nefertiti (Jpn), who won once over 1800 metres. She foaled a colt by Mozu Ascot (USA), a Group 1-winning son of Frankel (GB) and was most recently bred to Scat Daddy’s (USA) Group 1-winning son Mr Melody (USA).
Nefertiti is a daughter of the 11-time winner La Verita (USA) (Unbridled’s Song {USA}). Among her victories is the Listed Kawasaki Empress Hai S. and the Listed Kanto Oaks, while La Verita also finished fourth in the G1 Japan Cup Dirt.
Success in North America’s famous May Derby is not foreign to Ramjet’s family as his fourth dam, Seattle Classic (USA), is a daughter of the great Seattle Slew (USA), who won the 1977 Triple Crown.
Hong Kong
Sha Tin winners boast half-sibling prospects
Chateauneuf (Fastnet Rock) and Adefill’s (Deep Field) victories on Sunday at Sha Tin in Hong Kong did not harm the prospects of their half-siblings set to be sold at various upcoming sales.
The David Hayes-trained Chateauneuf was successful on debut in a Class 4 over 1200 metres on Sunday with Zac Purton in the saddle.
Chateauneuf is the fourth foal from the Savabeel mare My Sabeel (NZ), who won six races, including the G3 Toy Show S. and was placed in the G2 Sheraco S.
My Sabeel will be represented by Lot 413, a filly by Exceed And Excel, to be offered by Noorilim Park at the 2024 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale.
Meanwhile, the Ricky Yiu-trained Adefill won his fifth race, taking out the last. The son of Deep Field is the third foal from the I Am Invincible mare Dijonnaise, who has a yearling filly by Hanseatic set to be offered as Lot 392 through the draft of Cornerstone Stud at the 2024 Magic Millions Adelaide Yearling Sale.
Adefill was a $140,000 purchase by Taylor Bloodstock Marketing from the draft of Cornerstone Stud at the 2019 Magic Millions National Weanling Sale. Bhima Thoroughbreds reoffered the son of Deep Field at the 2020 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale, where Ricky Yiu paid $240,000.
Half-brother to Prince Of Arran wins again
Packing Hurricane (GB) (Mondialiste {Ire}), a half-brother to the popular Prince Of Arran (GB) (Shirocco {Ger}) at Sha Tin on Sunday.
The Caspar Fownes-trained 5-year-old gelding, ridden by Harry Bentley, took out the ninth race on the 10-race card. Packing Hurricane and Prince Of Arran are from the Storming Home (GB) mare Storming Sioux (GB), who is a half-sister to two Group winners and is closely related to the Group 2-winning and Group 1-placed Ramatuelle (USA) (Justify {USA}).
Prince Of Arran is well known to Australian audiences, having won the G3 Lexus S. and the G3 Geelong Cup in this country and placing the G1 Melbourne Cup on three occasions.
