By Heather Anderson
White colt Amante Bianco (Jpn) (Henny Hughes) ran out a one-length winner of the Haneda Hai at Oi Racecourse on Wednesday (video). Billed as the first leg of the NAR Japanese Dirt Triple Crown, the 1800-metre race was conducted over a sloppy surface. Second was Ammothyella (Jpn) (Bricks And Mortar), with Hraunfossar (Jpn) (Drefong) another eight lengths back in third.
Bred by Northern Farm and raced by Silk Racing, the white colt was winning for the third time in five starts. He'd earlier taken the Cattleya S. in November, part of the Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby. His 3-year-old bow, on Valentine's Day, was a second-place finish in the Kumotori Sho (NAR-G3) over this course and distance.
Sharing his white coat with his dam, the Kurofune mare Yukichan (Jpn), Amante Bianco has a 2-year-old half-sister named Fonte Des Neiges (Jpn) (Drefong) and a yearling half-brother by Le Vent Se Leve (Jpn). His dam, who was a three-time stakes winner, was covered by New Year's Day last spring. Her second foal, Shiroinger (Jpn) (Harbinger {GB}), is the dam of multiple group winner Meikei Yell (Jpn) (Mikki Isle {Jpn}). Amante Bianco and Group 1-winning champion Kurofune full-sisters Sodashi (Jpn) and Mama Cocha (Jpn) are also grandchildren of class mare Shirayukihime (Jpn) (Sunday Silence).
11th-Oi, ¥85,000,000, Alw. (Haneda Hai), 4-24, 3yo, 1800m, 1:53.90, sy.
AMANTE BIANCO (JPN) (c, 3, Henny Hughes-Yukichan {Jpn}, by Kurofune) Lifetime Record: 5-3-1-1, ¥83,301,000. Click for the NAR result.
O-Silk Racing. B-Northern Farm. T-Keisuke Miyata.
Jpn1 1800m Haneda Hai, the first leg of the Japan Dirt Triple Crown was a whitewash:
Won by 3c AMANTE BIANCO under the King, Yuga Kawada in the Deep Impact colors
16 years ago his dam, the white filly Yukichan won the Kanto Oaks at the same course.
— Graham Pavey (@LongBallToNoOne) April 24, 2024
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