By Heather Anderson
Suave Richard (Jpn), Japanese Champion Freshman Sire elect, sired his first Group 1 winner with the victory of his Regaleira (Jpn) in the 2000-metre G1 Hopeful S. at Nakayama on Thursday. The filly is the first of her sex to land the race since it was upgraded to Group 1 level in 2017.
Jointly favoured with Susumu Fujita's Group 3 winner and €2.1 million Arqana August yearling buy Shin Emperor (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}) at 2-1 in this contest, the filly hesitated at the break, and soon trailed third last as Velociraptor (Jpn) (Suave Richard {Jpn}) showed the way with a battling Ammothyella (Jpn) (Bricks And Mortar), the other filly in the field. Rounding the first bend, the Northern Farm-bred settled nicely, as several rivals ahead of her had a rough time of it. The first 1000 metres was covered in 1:00 by Velociraptor, while still pressed by the persistent Ammothyella. Regaleira was already making up ground from the rear as the field entered the final turn. Winding her way towards the front, she was forced widest of all entering the home straight as Shin Emperor got first jump on the field, quickly seized the advantage and set sail for home.
Regaleira was also letting down strongly with Sunrise Zipangu (Jpn) (Kizuna {Jpn}) to her inside. She drew even with Shin Emperor, who immediately fought back, but she just edged that determined foe to win by a three-quarters of a length in 2:00.20, a new stakes record. Sunrise Zipangu was third two lengths behind, another three-quarters of a length in front of Admiral Ship (Jpn) (Gold Ship {Jpn}). Tariff Line (Jpn) (Satono Diamond {Jpn}) went wrong on the bend and was pulled up by Tom Marquand.
The first six home all broke :36 seconds for their respective final 600 metres, but Regaleira showed the fastest turn of foot, finishing in :35 flat. Her owner, Sunday Racing, has indicated that the G1 Satsuki Sho (Japanese 2000 Guineas) versus males is under consideration next year.
“We had to travel near the rear because the filly missed her break, but she was very calm after that,” Christophe Lemaire said of the great granddaughter of the blue hen Wind In Her Hair (Ire) (Alzao). “She responded well at last two corners and, after I steered her to the outside, displayed an incredible late charge. I look forward to her performances next year, and I think a longer distance would also suit her.”
A first-out winner over 1800 metres at Hakodate in July, the bay took third in the Listed Ivy S. at Tokyo over that trip when resuming on Oct. 21. The Hopeful was her first foray into group company.
Pedigree Notes
A member of the first crop of G1 Japan Cup and G1 Osaka Hai hero Suave Richard, Regaleira is one of two stakes winners besides G2 Keio Hai Nisai S. winner Corazon Beat (Jpn). He stands firmly on top of the Japanese first-season sires' list by earnings with over ¥400,000,000 (£2,224,532/€2,558,377/$2,834,795) to his credit and 21 winners so far. Other progeny to have claimed black-type are G3 Sapporo Nisai S. second Power Hall (Jpn), and G2 Hai Nisai S. third Namura Hooker (Jpn).
The third foal out of the Harbinger (GB) mare Roca (Jpn), Regaleira is also the third winner for her, and is a half-sister to the G3 Mainichi Hai third Douradores (Jpn) (Duramente {Jpn}). Her dam, too, was a first-out 1800-metre scorer as a juvenile, although in her case, she trotted up at Kyoto before running third in the G3 Daily Hai Queen Cup when unveiled at three later in her career. Since foaling the winner, Roca has a yearling filly by Cheval Grand (Jpn), from the Heart's Cry (Jpn) branch of the Sunday Silence line, and a weanling filly by Stay Gold (Jpn) horse Indy Champ (Jpn). Out of a Dance In The Dark (Jpn) half-sister to a quartet of stakes winners led by the late dual Japanese Horse of the Year and supersire Deep Impact (Jpn), she was covered by Leontes (Jpn) this spring.
Thursday, Nakayama, Japan
HOPEFUL S.-G1, ¥135,800,000, Nakayama, 12-28, 2yo, 2000mT, 2:00.20, fm.
1–REGALEIRA (JPN), 121, f, 2, by Suave Richard (Jpn)
1st Dam: Roca (Jpn), by Harbinger (GB)
2nd Dam: Land's Edge (Jpn), by Dance in the Dark(Jpn)
3rd Dam: Wind in Her Hair (Ire), by Alzao
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN. 1ST GROUP WIN. 1ST GROUP 1 WIN.
O-Sunday Racing; B-Northern Farm (Jpn); T-Tetsuya Kimura;
J-Christophe Lemaire; ¥71,260,000. Lifetime Record: 3-2-0-1,
¥154,039,000. Click for the
free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Werk Nick
Rating: A+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Shin Emperor (Fr), 123, c, 2, Siyouni (Fr)–Starlet's Sister(Ire),
by Galileo (Ire). 1ST GROUP 1 BLACK TYPE. (€2,100,000 Ylg
'22 ARQAUG). O-Susumu Fujita; B-Ecurie Des Monceaux (Fr);
¥28,360,000.
3–Sunrise Zipangu (Jpn), 123, c, 2, Kizuna (Jpn)–Saimaa (Ire), by
Zoffany (Ire). 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. 1ST GROUP 1 BLACK
TYPE. (¥64,000,000 Ylg '22 JRHAJUL). O-Life House; B-Oiwake
Farm (Jpn); ¥18,180,000.
Margins: 3/4, 2, 3/4. Odds: 2.10, 2.10, 127.70.
Also Ran: Admiral Ship (Jpn), Mr G T (Jpn), Sirius Colt (Jpn), Shonan la Punta (Jpn), In the Moment (Jpn), Di Speranza (Jpn), Velociraptor (Jpn), Hortbagy (Jpn), Win Maximum (Jpn), Ten Ace One (Jpn), Century Bond (Jpn), Ammothyella (Jpn). DNF: Tariff Line (Jpn). Scratched: Gonbade Qabus (Jpn), Sunrise Earth (Jpn).
Click for the JRA chart & video.
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