Galileo's Japan On Top In the Ormonde

First time over further than a mile-and-a-half facing a serious rival in Trueshan (Fr) (Planteur {Ire}) meant that Thursday's G3 Ormonde S. at Chester represented a tough ask for Japan (GB) (Galileo {Ire}), but in the end his class told as the Ballydoyle stalwart opened his 5-year-old campaign on the right note. Enjoying a perfect trip on the rail nestled behind the leading duo early, the 13-8 favourite was angled out by Ryan Moore to come around Trueshan on the home bend and began to assert from the furlong pole for a 3/4-of-a-length success.

Thursday, Chester, Britain
TOTE+ PAYS YOU MORE AT TOTE.CO.UK ORMONDE S.-G3, £80,000, Chester, 5-6, 4yo/up, 13f 84yT, 2:58.01, g/s.
1–JAPAN (GB), 126, h, 5, by Galileo (Ire)
1st Dam: Shastye (Ire) (SP-Eng), by Danehill
2nd Dam: Saganeca, by Sagace (Fr)
3rd Dam: Haglette, by Hagley
(1,300,000gns Ylg '17 TATOCT). O-Masaaki Matsushima, Derrick Smith, Susan Magnier & Michael Tabor; B-Newsells Park Stud (GB); T-Aidan O'Brien; J-Ryan Moore. £45,368. Lifetime Record: Hwt. 3yo-Eur at 9.5-11f, Hwt. 3yo-Eng & Ire at 11-14f, G1SW-Eng & Fr, GSW-Ire, 15-6-0-3, $2,102,335. *Full to Mogul (GB), G1SW-Fr & HK, GSW-Eng & Ire, $2,164,811; Secret Gesture (GB), GSW & MG1SP-Eng, G1SP-Fr & Ger, GISP-US, $746,427; Sir Isaac Newton (GB), GSW-Ire, SW-Eng & GSP-Aus, $405,120; and 1/2 to Maurus (GB) (Medicean {GB}), MSW & MGSP-Aus, $510,297. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Trueshan (Fr), 131, g, 5, Planteur (Ire)–Shao Line (Fr), by General Holme. (€8,000 Ylg '17 OSLATE; 31,000gns 2yo '18 TATHIT). O-Barbury Lions 5; B-Didier Blot (FR); T-Alan King. £17,200.
3–Sonnyboyliston (Ire), 126, g, 4, Power (GB)–Miss Macnamara (Ire), by Dylan Thomas (Ire). (€26,000 Ylg '18 TIRSEP). O-Kildare Racing Club; B-Ms Diane O'Neill (IRE); T-Johnny Murtagh. £8,608.
Margins: 3/4, 3HF, 2HF. Odds: 1.63, 2.25, 9.00.
Also Ran: Morando (Fr), Kipps (Ire), Sextant (GB), Euchen Glen (GB), Withhold (GB). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by TVG.