POWERHOUSE
So impressive when winning the G1 Hong Kong Cup at Sha Tin in December, Eishindo Co Ltd's A Shin Hikari (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) dished out some more of the same punishment to his European rivals in Tuesday's G1 Prix d'Ispahan at Chantilly to stake a claim to world number one status. This renewal looked a solid one, with several of the continent's finest lining up in varying states of readiness but the way the Japanese raider brushed them aside suggests there is nothing on this side of the globe that can give him a hard time. Sent off a large-looking 74-10, the grey was settled in second early by Yuataka Take as Vadamos (Fr) (Monsun {Ger}) took up pace-setting duties, he loomed to that rival passing the quarter pole and surged clear for a dismissal of the G1 Prix Ganay one-two Dariyan (Fr) (Shamardal) and Silverwave (Fr) (Silver Frost {Ire}) by 10 lengths and 1 3/4 lengths respectively. “It was the owner's wish to race in Europe and the main concern beforehand was the condition of the ground more than his fitness, but it proved no problem,” trainer Masanori Sakaguchi said. “He usually likes to show the way, but that was not the case today. The change of tactic obviously didn't matter and it was a good show inefrom him. The plan now is to ship him in two weeks to England for the G1 Prince of Wales's S. [at Royal Ascot June 15] and then go back home because he is not an Arc horse. A mile and a half is much too far for him.” Prior to his Hong Kong Cup display, A Shin Hikari had been steadily progressive without suggesting he would be capable of such a dynamic performance in a contest of such international prestige. That represented one of the biggest upsets in the history of that race, but he managed it in stakes-record time so there was no fluke to it. Earlier, he had been ebullient from the front when winning Tokyo's G3 Epsom Cup and G2 Mainichi Okan over nine furlongs in June and October respectively before finishing ninth in the G1 Tenno Sho (Autumn) at the end of October. As a measure of the impression he made here, bookmakers Ladbrokes cut him to only 6-4 for the Prince of Wales at the Royal meeting and that could look big if he is able to reproduce this stunning effort. Last year's G1 Prix du Jockey Club hero New Bay (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) was sent off the 6-4 favourite, but never threatened to make an impact and finished a total of 15 lengths behind the winner in sixth. Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree\fs21fs21 . Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
Tuesday, Chantilly, France
PRIX D'ISPAHAN-G1, €250,000, CHY, 5-24, 4yo/up, 9fT, 1:53.29, hy.
1–A SHIN HIKARI (JPN), 128, h, 5, by Deep Impact (Jpn)
1st Dam: Catalina, by Storm Cat
2nd Dam: Carolina Saga, by Caro (Ire)
3rd Dam: Key to the Saga, by Key to the Mint
O-Eishindo Co Ltd; B-K K Eishindo (JPN); T-Masanori Sakaguchi; J-Yutaka Take. €142,850. Lifetime Record: G1SW-HK & MGSW-Jpn, 12-10-0-0, €3,044,810 *1/2 to A Shin Cool D (Distorted Humor), SP-Jpn, $1,485,252; and A Shin P C (Fusaichi Pegasus), SP-Jpn, $532,912. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
[bullet ad=”irt-shell”]2–Dariyan (Fr), 128, c, 4, Shamardal–Daryakana (Fr), by Selkirk. O-H H The Aga Khan; B-H H The Aga Khan's Studs SC (FR); T-Alain de Royer-Dupre. €57,150.
3–Silverwave (Fr), 128, c, 4, Silver Frost (Ire)–Miss Bio (Fr), by River Mist. (€60,000 RNA Ylg '13 AROCT; €420,000 2yo '14 ARNOV). O-HSpirit; B-Mlle Marie-Laure Collet, Jean Collet & Mme Marylene Collet (Fr); T-Pascal Bary. €28,575.
Margins: 10, 1 3/4, HF. Odds: 7.40, 5.90, 10.70.
Also Ran: Vadamos (Fr), My Dream Boat (Ire), New Bay (GB), Mondialiste (Ire), Wild Chief (Ger), Erupt (Ire).
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