Frankel Firster Scores Impressively at Fukushima

5th-Fukushima, ¥13,720,000 ($84,982), Newcomers, 2yo, 1800mT, 1:49.9, gd/fm.
DEL AVAR (c, 2, Frankel {GB}–Amour Briller {MSW-Jpn, $2,317,880}, by Smart Strike) came from a seemingly unlikely position at a late juncture to graduate in highly impressive fashion at first asking. Away a half-step slowly from gate four, the homebred colt lingered in the latter third of the 16-strong field racing around the first turn and was shuffled back to about third-last after overracing as they reached the backstretch. Still only 11th at the third corner, Del Avar caught the eye with a wide sweep approaching the 400-meter pole, sustained that big run to hit the front inside the final furlong and pulled clear to take it by 1 1/2 lengths as the 21-5 third choice. He covered his final 600 meters in a race-best :34.4. “I knew going in he was a highly regarded colt with high expectations,” said winning jockey Kosei Miura. “He felt really good warming up and chasing the other horses from behind was a good experience for him. He accelerated beautifully and I think he's got great potential.” Amour Briller is a daughter of North Hills' Tenno Sho winner Heavenly Romance (Jpn) (Sunday Silence), the dam of MGSW/G1SP Awardee (Jungle Pocket {Jpn}) and Lani (Tapit), winner of the 2016 G2 UAE Derby and third in that year's GI Belmont Stakes for this conditioner. The mare is also responsible for a yearling colt by American Pharoah and a colt by Constitution foaled Mar. 12. Del Avar is one of 44 Japanese winners for his Banstead Manor-based stallion, whose American-bred son Mozu Ascot–whose first foals are 2-year-olds of 2024–won the G1 Yasuda Kinen at a mile on turf and the G1 February Stakes over a similar distance on dirt. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $44,752.
O-Koji Maeda; B-North Hills Co Ltd (KY); T-Mikio Matsunaga.

【福島 新馬】
5R #デルアヴァー 芝1800#三浦皇成
父Frankel
母アムールブリエ
祖母ヘヴンリーロマンス

6R #ニタモノドウシ 芝1200#菅原明良
父ディーマジェスティ
母ジェラスガール
叔父イスラボニータ
馬名意味は「似た者同士。父親に似ているので」
撮影：下野雄規 pic.twitter.com/MGKhGBfBql

— netkeiba (@netkeiba) June 30, 2024