Five years have passed since Orfevre (Jpn) (Stay Gold {Jpn}) last graced a racecourse with the Japanese Horse of the Year bowing out on top in the 2013 G1 Arima Kinen, but his first-crop son Epoca d'Oro (Jpn) is already following in his sire's hoofsteps, with a two-length win in the G1 Satsuki Sho at Nakayama on Sunday. Orfevre saluted in the 2011 edition of the 2000-metre Classic.
Away to an alert beginning, the dark bay strode to a clear cut fourth as Aithon (Jpn) (King's Best), Generale Uno (Jpn) (Screen Hero {Jpn}) and Jun Valerot (Jpn) (New Approach {Ire}) opened up over 10 lengths on the trailing pack. Patiently handled by a calm Keita Tosaki, the Hideaki Fujiwara trainee wasn't given his cue until 500 metres from the line, as the leading trio began to falter from their front-running exertions. Swooping four deep, the 13-1 seventh choice came calling with a full head of steam as 23-1 Sans Rival (Jpn) (Rulership {Jpn}) also gave chase from the back of the pack in upper stretch. Bursting past Generale Uno, he strode away to win with authority. Sans Rival caught Generale Uno late for second with 1 3/4 lengths between them, while Stelvio (Jpn) was fourth, a neck farther back. Favoured Wagnerian (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) did not muster his usual sharp turn of foot when the real running began and finished seventh in the 16-horse field.
“I was able to place him as planned,” said Tosaki, who was winning his seventh JRA Group 1. “He established a good rhythm and responded well rounding the final corner. He's a smart horse and is developing with each race. His powerful run today shows that he will have no problem handling the extra distance in the [G1] Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby).”
Third at first asking in a 1800-metre Kyoto newcomer affair on Oct. 9, Epoca d'Oro donned cap and gown cut back to a mile there on Jan. 21 and made it two on the bounce in Kokura's Asunaro Sho upped to this trip on Feb. 10. He found Stelvio (Jpn) (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}) too good trying group company, in the G2 Fuji TV Sho Spring S. last out at Nakayama on Mar. 18.
Pedigree Notes…
Japanese Triple Crown winner and two-time G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe runner-up Orfevre has already been represented by 2017 Japanese champion 2-year-old filly Lucky Lilac (Jpn), who was runner-up in the G1 Oka Sho (Japanese 1000 Guineas) just last Sunday and G3 Sapporo Nisai S. winner Rock This Town (Jpn). Epoca d'Oro is the Shadai Stallion Station resident's second top-flight winner and is the fifth runner and third winner from five foals to race for his Japanese multiple stakes-winning dam Daiwa Passion. Under his third dam is GII Del Mar Invitational scorer Daros (GB) (Damister), who was third in the GI Oak Tree Invitational, while fourth dam Cairn Rouge (Ire) (Pitcairn {Ire}) captured the 1980 editions of the G1 Irish 1000 Guineas and G1 Champion S. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
Sunday, Nakayama, Japan
SATSUKI SHO (JAPANESE 2000 GUINEAS)-G1, ¥245,530,000 (US$2,287,725/£1,606,858/€1,854,465), Nakayama, 4-15, 3yo, c/f, 2000mT, 2:00.80, gd.
1–EPOCA D'ORO (JPN), 126, c, 3, Orfevre (Jpn)
1st Dam: Daiwa Passion (Jpn) (MSW-Jpn, $869,344),
by Forty Niner
2nd Dam: Sun Rouge (Jpn), by Shady Heights (GB)
3rd Dam: Tikanova, by Northern Dancer
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN. 1ST GROUP WIN. 1ST GROUP 1 WIN.
(¥34,000,000 Wlg '15 JRHAJUL). O-Hidaka Breeders Union;
B-Toru Tagami (Jpn); T-Hideaki Fujiwarae; J-Keita Tosaki;
¥134,871,000. Lifetime Record: 5-3-1-1. *2nd G1SW for his
sire (by Stay Gold {Jpn}). Werk Nick Rating: A.
Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Sans Rival (Jpn), 126, c, 3, Rulership (Jpn)–Un Fil Rouge (Jpn),
by Agnes Tachyon (Jpn). O-Kyoko Habata; B-Yasuyuki Saito
(Jpn); ¥51,106,000.
3–Generale Uno (Jpn), 126, c, 3, Screen Hero (Jpn)–Shanghai
Rock (Jpn), by Rock of Gibraltar (Ire). O-G Riviere·Racing;
B-Shinsei Farm (Jpn); ¥31,553,000.
Margins: 2, 1 3/4, NK; Odds: 13.50, 23.60, 16.80.
Also Ran: Stelvio (Jpn), Kitano Commandeur (Jpn), Grail (Jpn), Wagnerian (Jpn), Aithon (Jpn), Gendarme, Time Flyer (Jpn), K T Clever (Jpn), Oken Moon (Jpn), Meiner Fanrong (Jpn), Double Sharp (Jpn), Jun Valerot (Jpn), Three Helios (Jpn).
Click for the Racing Post chart. JRA Video.
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