By Heather Anderson
For the third consecutive Sunday this December, Hajime Satomi's colours were carried to victory in a Group 1 race in Asia. A crowd of 98,626 turned out to witness the Japanese 2016 G1 Kikuka Sho (Japanese St. Leger) hero and 8-5 chalk Satono Diamond (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) prove a neck too good for MG1SW and fan favorite Kitasan Black (Jpn) (Black Tide {Jpn}) in the 2500-metre G1 Arima Kinen at Nakayama Racecourse Sunday. Satomi's hat trick was started with triumphs by Satono Crown (Jpn) (Marju {Ire}) in the G1 Longines Hong Kong Vase at Sha Tin Dec. 11 (click here) and continued by Satono Ares (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) in Hanshin's Dec. 18 G1 Asahi Hai Futurity S. (click here).Turnover for the Arima Kinen alone was ¥44,902,572,000 (US$383,569,131/£312,181,512/€366,814,052), with the entire 11-race card totaling ¥58,848,698,700 (US$502,692,951/£409,140,700/€502,692,951).
The lone 3-year-old in the all-star field–with the top 10 spots voted in by the racing public–Satono Diamond gave his trainer Yasutoshi Ikee his record-breaking fourth Arima Kinen victory. Ikee also sent out Dream Journey (Jpn) (Stay Gold {Jpn}) in 2009 and scooped a double with Orfevre (Jpn) (Stay Gold {Jpn}) in 2011 and 2013. It was the second Arima Kinen for hoop Christophe Lemaire, who was aboard Heart's Cry (Jpn) (Sunday Silence) in 2005.
“This is so thrilling for me–I won my first Group 1 title in the same race with Heart's Cry, but I have partnered this colt, Satono Diamond, since he was still a newcomer and he's become a super horse,” said a jubilant Lemaire of his colt, the first 3-year-old to defeat his elders since Gold Ship (Jpn) (Stay Gold {Jpn}) in 2012.
One off the rail in midfield past the post the first time behind the loose frontrunner Maltese Apogee (Jpn) (Goshawk), Satono Diamond inched up to sit third just off 17-10 second favorite Kitasan Black's hindquarters as the backstretch loomed. Maltese Apogee's advantage shrank noticeably approaching the final corner and Kitasan Black seized the baton at the 300-metre mark. The latter was immediately challenged by 2015 Arima Kinen hero Gold Actor, while Satono Diamond was winding up farther off the rail. The trio separated themselves from the chasing pack with a furlong left to travel and Kitasan Black always had Gold Actor's measure, but the wire came a stride too late, as Satono Diamond made a last desperate lunge to clinch the victory.
“He can be a little difficult at times and he got keen early, but today, he was able to relax when I placed him behind Kitasan Black and put in a strong finish to win this race as race favorite,” continued Lemaire. “He has won the Arima Kinen [against his seniors] as a 3-year-old and he is a fine colt with a lot of talent, stamina and great potential to become a strong contender in big races next year.”
Unveiled over 2000 metres at Kyoto last November, Satono Diamond made it consecutive wins transferred to Hanshin Dec. 26 and added his first black-type win in the G3 Kisaragi Sho cutting back to 1800 metres Feb. 7. Only third in the Apr. 17 G1 Satsuki Sho (Japanese 2000 Guineas) here, the bay went one better in the G1 Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby) May 29. Returning just shy of four months on the bench, the 3-year-old added the G2 Kobe Shimbun Hai at Hanshin Sept. 25 and finally earned that elusive Classic score last time, taking the 3000-metre G1 Kikuka Sho (Japanese St. Leger) at Kyoto Oct. 23.
Pedigree Notes…
Satono Diamond is by dual Japanese Horse of the Year and triple crown hero Deep Impact (Jpn) and is the first foal out of Argentinean MG1SW Malpensa (Arg), herself by 1998 G1 Prix Morny hero and Irish highweight Orpen, who is a son of 1992/93 GI Breeders' Cup Mile victor Lure (Danzig). Purchased by Narvick International in her native land for Katsumi Yoshida, Malpensa, a half-sister to GSW Marsigliese (Arg) (Mutakddim), has produced the winning juvenile filly Linate (Jpn) (Stay Gold {Jpn}), a yearling filly by Orfevre (Jpn) and a full-brother to the Arima Kinen winner this term. Under the third dam is Argentinean Classic heroine La Costa Azul (Arg) (Southern Halo), responsible for Argentinean G1SW Lac Azur (Arg) (Mutakddim), and fellow Argentinean SW & MGSP Costa Marfil (Arg) (Louis Quatorze). Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
Sunday, Nakayama, Japan
ARIMA KINEN-G1, ¥574,860,000 (US$4,901,770/£3,993,483/€4,688,739), Nakayama, 12-25, 3yo/up, 2500mT, 2:32.60, fm.
1–SATONO DIAMOND (JPN), 121, c, 3, by Deep Impact (Jpn)
1st Dam: Malpensa (Arg) (MG1SW-Arg, $295,108), by Orpen
2nd Dam: Marsella (Arg), by Southern Halo
3rd Dam: Riviere (Arg), by Logical
(¥230,000,000 Wlg'13 JRHAJUL). O-Hajime Satomi; B-Northern
Farm; T-Yasutoshi Ikee; J-Christophe Lemaire; ¥303,402,000.
Lifetime Record: 8-6-1-1, ¥674,964,000. Werk Nick Rating: C+.
Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Kitasan Black (Jpn), 126, c, 4, by Black Tide (Jpn)–Sugar Heart
(Jpn), by Sakura Bakushin O (Jpn). O-Ono Shoji Inc.;
B-Yanagawa Farm; ¥120,972,000.
3–Gold Actor (Jpn), 126, c, 4, by Screen Hero (Jpn)–Heilong
Xing (Jpn), by Kyowa Alysheba. O-Hisayo Ishiro; B-Hokusho
Farm; ¥75,486,000.
Margins: NK, HF, 1 1/4. Odds: 1.60, 1.70, 6.90.
Also Ran: Yamakatsu Ace (Jpn), Mikki Queen (Jpn), Cheval Grand (Jpn), Albert (Jpn), Sounds of Earth (Jpn), Denim and Ruby (Jpn), Marialite (Jpn), Admire Deus (Jpn), Hit the Target (Jpn), Satono Noblesse (Jpn), Mousquetaire (Jpn), Maltese Apogee (Jpn), Samson's Pride (Jpn).
Click for the Racing Post result or the JRA Video.
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