Grenadier Guards (Jpn), the first foal out of the 2015 GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint winner Wavell Avenue (Harlington), became Frankel's 12th Group 1 winner in Sunday's G1 Asahi Hai Futurity S. in Japan. Stalking the pace off the six-length lead set by Mondreise (Jpn) (Daiwa Major {Jpn}), Grenadier Guards was poised in second by the time they straightened. Grenadier Guards gradually cut down that rival's advantage in the lane, hit the lead at the furlong marker and held off a rallying Stella Volce (Jpn) (Bago {Fr}) to win by three-quarters of a length in track record time. Favoured Red Belle Aube (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) traveled further back and keenly early before making up late ground to grab third.
Grenadier Guards was making his fourth start for trainer Mitsumasa Nakauchida. Second on debut at Niigata on July 26, he dropped back to fourth next out at Chukyo before graduating by three lengths over this course on Nov. 7.
“My concern was to keep him happy and in good rhythm because the colt has a difficult temper and can run off like he did in his second career outing so you have to be careful to keep him controlled, but he has great potential if he can bring out his best and I am looking forward for another good season for him next year,” said jockey Yuga Kawada.
Grenadier Guards is the first foal out of Wavell Avenue, who won the 2015 Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint and was second in the same race the following year. She was scratched from the 2016 Fasig-Tipton November Sale and bought privately by Katsumi Yoshida's Northern Farm. Grenadier Guards is the third Group 1 winner in Japan for Frankel, joining Yushun Himba and Hanshin Juvenile Fillies S. winner Soul Stirring (Jpn) and Yasuda Kinen and February S. winner Mozu Ascot. Frankel has three stakes winners in Japan and 23 winners from 43 runners.
Sunday, Hanshin, Japan
ASAHI HAI FUTURITY S.-G1, ¥135,640,000, Hanshin, 12-20, 2yo, c&f, 1600mT, *1:32.30 (Track Record), fm.
1–GRENADIER GUARDS (Jpn), 121, c, 2, by Frankel%20(GB)&log=#tot">Frankel (GB)
1st Dam: Wavell Avenue (GISW-US, $1,198,125),
by Harlington
2nd Dam: Lucas Street, by Silver Deputy
3rd Dam: Ruby Park, by Bold Ruckus
1ST STAKES WIN. O-Sunday Racing; B-Northern Farm;
T-Mitsumasa Nakauchida; J-Yuga Kawada; ¥71,148,000.
Lifetime Record: 4-2-1-0. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the
eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Stella Veloce (Jpn), 121, c, 2, Bago (Fr)–Oh My Baby (Jpn), by
Deep Impact (Jpn). (¥60,000,000 wnlg '18 JRHAJUL)
O-Tsuyoshi Ono; B-Northern Farm; ¥28,328,000.
3–Red Belle Aube (Jpn), 121, c, 2, Deep Impact (Jpn)–Red
Fantasia, by Unbridled's Song. O-Tokyo Horse Racing;
B-Northern Farm; ¥18,164,000.
Margins: 3/4, 1HF, HF. Odds: 16.50, 4.10, 1.50.
Also Ran: Bathlat Leon (Jpn), Blue Spirit (Ire), Lord Max (Jpn), Dura Mondo (Jpn), Kaiser Nova (Jpn), Ho O Amazon (Jpn), Mondreise (Jpn), Super Hope (Jpn), Jun Blue Sky (Jpn), Shock Action (Ire), Ascoltare (Jpn), Bisonte No Bufalo (Jpn), T O da Vonci (Jpn).
Click for the JRA chart and video or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
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