By Heather Anderson
Favoured at 2-1 in this step up to group company, Cassius rated well off the fence in the second flight and began to inch towards the head of affairs on the far turn. Given his cue, he rallied four deep in the straight to just nip stretch leader Win Gerbera (Jpn) by a head at the wire. That rival, the third black-type placed and second group placed progeny by her dual Classic winning sire, noticeably lost focus and flagged her tail when the whip was applied late on, while Aria (Jpn) was 3/4 of a length back in third. Runner-up at first asking in a 1200-metre local newcomers' heat June 18, Cassius graduated here over course and distance July 1.
Pedigree Notes…
Cassius is the third group and black-type winner by the dual Japanese champion Kinshasa No Kiseki (Aus) (Fuji Kiseki {Jpn) and out of the unplaced mare Love Dylan (Jpn) (Dylan Thomas {Ire}). The latter was brought to Japan in utero after her dam, G3 Prix Fille de l'Air victress Goncharova (Gone West), brought 150,000gns on the bid of Murayama Bloodstock during the 2008 Tattersalls December Breeding Stock Sale. Love Dylan's latest produce is a yearling half-brother by Screen Hero (Jpn). Goncharova is responsible for Qatar Derby runner-up Brittany (Ire) (Montjeu {Ire}). The Polish Precedent mare Pure Grain (GB), who won the 1995 G1 Irish Oaks and G1 Yorkshire Oaks and ran third in the English version, is Cassius's third dam. Pure Song (GB) (Singspiel {Ire}), a half-sister to Goncharova, produced English SW and dual Classic placed Romsdal (GB) (Halling), who was second in the G1 St. Leger and completed the trifecta in the G1 Epsom Derby in 2014, before taking third in the 2015 G1 King George VI & Queen Elizabeth S. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
Sunday, Hakodate, Japan
HAKODATE NISAI S.-G3, ¥59,400,000 (US$534,684/£411,437/€458,320), Hakodate, 7-23, 2yo, 1200mT, 1:10.00, fm.
1–CASSIUS (JPN), 119, c, 2, by Kinshasa No Kiseki (Aus)
1st Dam: Love Dylan (Jpn), by Dylan Thomas (Ire)
2nd Dam: Goncharova, by Gone West
3rd Dam: Pure Grain (GB), by Polish Precedent
O-Kanayama Holdings; B-Tanioka Farm; T-Hisashi Shimizu;
J-Suguru Hamanaka; ¥31,560,000. Lifetime Record: 3-2-1-0.
*3rd SW & 3rd GSW for his sire (by Fuji Kiseki {Jpn}). Click for
the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Werk Nick Rating: B+.
2–Win Gerbera (Jpn), 119, f, 2, I'll Have Another–Cosmo
Marvelous (Jpn), by Fuji Kiseki (Jpn). O-Win Inc.; B- Cosmo
View Farm; ¥12,160,000.
3–Aria (Jpn), 119, f, 2, Daiwa Major (Jpn)–Raptor Sayhaat (Jpn),
by Twining. O-Minoru Higuchi; B-Shiraoi Farm; ¥7,880,000.
Margins: HD, 3/4, NK; Odds: 2.00, 86.20, 6.70.
Also Ran: Derma Kiseki, Passe (Jpn), Nanyo Printemps (Jpn), Lingala Pops (Jpn), Suzuka Mansaku (Jpn), Dantsu Kleio (Jpn), Jesshi Jenny (Jpn), Gaura Medi (Jpn), Baby Catz (Jpn), Yamano Fight (Jpn), Sun Davenport (Jpn), Kitano Yuki (Jpn). Click for the JRA chart and video or for the Racing Post result.
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