By Heather Anderson
The G3 Sapporo Nisai S. featured nine juveniles, but it was the June 26 debut winner Geoglyph (Jpn) (Drefong) who was the star of the show on Saturday, drawing off to win by four lengths.
The first black-type winner for his GI Breeders' Cup Sprint-winning sire, the even-money favourite hopped slightly at the start and was last entering the first turn. Tucked in behind as Top Cast (Jpn) (Daiwa Major {Jpn}) cut out the early running, pilot Christophe Lemaire kept the chestnut in touch with his foes and began to make up some ground as the pacesetter covered five furlongs in 1:00.30.
Geoglyph's rallying rush continued on the far turn and he had moved up to fourth with a quarter-mile yet to travel. The Sunday Racing colourbearer came charging three deep into the lane, took command and skipped away to win as much the best. Ask Wild More (Jpn) (Kizuna {Jpn}) closed to take second four lengths back and 1 ½ lengths to the good of fellow closer Tosen Vanno (Jpn) (Vanquish Run {Jpn}).
Pedigree Notes
Drefong, named Eclipse Champion Sprinter Stateside in 2016 and a three-time Grade I winner, has 78 foals from his first crop that are 2-year-olds of 2021. The son of dual Eclipse Champion Grass Horse (2009/2010) and 2009 Eclipse Champion Older Horse Gio Ponti (Tale of the Cat) stands at Shadai Stallion Station.
The fourth foal and runner from his dam, the G1 Shuka Sho and G1 Queen Elizabeth II S. third Aromatico (Jpn) (King Kamehameha {Jpn}), Geoglyph is the third winner and first black-type scorer. Since foaling Geoglyph, she has a yearling colt by Epiphaneia (Jpn) and a weanling filly by Harbinger (GB) to her credit. Aromatico is out of the Sunday Silence mare Nasca (Jpn), who is a half-sister to MGSW Inti Raimi (Jpn) (Special Week {Jpn}); Group 3 hero San Valentin (Jpn) (Special Week {Jpn}); SW Over the Wall (Jpn) (Dr Devious {Ire}); and the winning dam of MGSW Albert (Jpn) (Admire Don {Jpn}).
Saturday, Sapporo, Japan
SAPPORO NISAI STAKES-G3, ¥59,130,000, Sapporo, 9-4, 2yo, 1800mT, 1:49.10, fm.
1–GEOGLYPH (JPN), 119, c, 2, by Drefong
1st Dam: Aromatico (Jpn), by King Kamehameha (Jpn)
2nd Dam: Nasca (Jpn), by Sunday Silence
3rd Dam: Andes Lady (Jpn), by Northern Taste
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN. 1ST GROUP WIN. O-Sunday Racing;
B-Northern Farm (Jpn); T-Takaki Iwato; J-Christophe Lemaire.
¥31,371,000. Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0. *1st SW/GSW for his
sire (by Gio Ponti). Werk Nick Rating: C+. Click for the
eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Ask Wild More (Jpn), 119, c, 2, Kizuna (Jpn)–La Seleccion
(Jpn), by Zenno Rob Roy (Jpn). O-Toshihiro Hirosaki HD;
B-Shadai Farm (Jpn); ¥12,106,000.
3–Tosen Vanno (Jpn), 119, c, 2, Vanquish Run (Jpn)–Tosen
Sonja (Jpn), by Fantastic Light. O-Takaya Shimakawa; B-S.T.
Farm (Jpn); ¥7,853,000.
Margins: 4, HF, 1HF. Odds: 1.10, 11.90, 22.10.
Also Ran: Only Opinion (Jpn), Top Cast (Jpn), Lubeck (Jpn), A T Makfi (Jpn), Yukino Ojisama (Jpn), Kurino Megami Ace (Jpn).
Click for the JRA chart & video or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
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