By Heather Anderson
2017 Japanese 2000 Guineas hero Al Ain (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) returned to the winner's circle for the first time since his Classic score, narrowly holding off G1 Kikuka Sho victor Kiseki (Jpn) (Rulership {Jpn}) by a neck in the G1 Osaka Hai at Hanshin on Sunday. 2018 G1 Tokyo Yushun scorer Wagnerian (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) was the same distance back in third in a blanket finish. With his victory in the 2000-metre feature, Al Ain booked a ticket to the G1 Irish Champion S. during Irish Champions Weekend in September, while pilot Yuichi Kitamura was landing his first Group 1 title.
Part of the early scramble for ideal position when the gates flew, the 21-1 longshot secured an ideal position in a tracking third while saving ground, as Epoca d'Oro (Jpn) (Orfevre {Jpn}) sped the first 600 metres in :36.40 with Kiseki keeping a close eye from second. Relegated to fourth by Stiffelio (Jpn) (Stay Gold {Jpn}) shortly thereafter, the blinkered bay still traveled very relaxed with a noticeably low head carriage a half-mile from the winning post. Shaken up on the far turn, Al Ain forged to the lead 200 metres out as Epoca d'Oro folded, but was quickly challenged by the stalking Kiseki and the rallying Wagnerian up the fence. The Sunday Racing colourbearer proved gamest, however, and would not be denied. Makahiki (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) made up ground from the tail of the field to take fourth, 3/4 of a length behind.
Favoured at 2-1, Blast Onepiece (Jpn) (Harbinger {GB}) stayed near the rear of the field until the final corner when he began to improve, but he had too much real estate to cover and finished sixth.
“We had a good draw and everything worked to our advantage,” said Kitamura. “He was able to focus using the blinkers for the second time and he responded well, so I just concentrated on keeping him comfortable.”
Undefeated in two juvenile starts, Al Ain scored in the G3 Mainichi Hai locally in March of 2017 and made it back-to-back wins, taking Nakayama's G1 Satsuki Sho (Japanese 2000 Guineas) that April. Although he was winless in 10 more starts prior to his Osaka Hai victory, several runs possessed merit, as he was runner-up in the G2 Asahi Hai St Lite Kinen that September and also the G2 Kyoto Kinen last January. Third in this race a year ago to Saturday's G1 Dubai Sheema Classic third Suave Richard (Jpn) (Heart's Cry {Jpn}), he returned two starts later with another second-place performance, this time to 2017 G1 Tokyo Yushun hero Rey de Oro (Jpn) (King Kamehameha {Jpn}) in the G2 Sankei Sho All Comers last September. Fourth to that rival in the G1 Tenno Sho (Autumn) a month later, he was third to the reopposing Stelvio (Jpn) (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}) in the Nov. 18 G1 Mile Championship at Kyoto and was a last out fifth in the G2 Kinko Sho going 2000 metres at Chukyo on Mar. 10.
Pedigree Notes
One of 39 Group 1 winners for his Shadai Stallion Station-based sire, Al Ain is one of three winners from three to race for his GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint-scoring dam Dubai Majesty. Later named the 2010 Eclipse Award Champion Female Sprinter, she was knocked down to Katsumi Yoshida for $1.1 million at that year's Fasig-Tipton November Sale. The 14-year-old foaled the winning Danon Majesty (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) the year after Al Ain, but she aborted her 2016 produce. Bred back to Deep Impact, a juvenile filly of 2017 was the result.
Sunday, Hanshin, Japan
OSAKA HAI-G1, ¥232,260,000 (US$2,094,942/£1,606,333/€1,867,118), Hanshin, 3-31, 4yo/up, 2000mT, 2:01.00, fm.
1–AL AIN (JPN), 126, h, 5, Deep Impact (Jpn)
1st Dam: Dubai Majesty (Ch. Female Sprinter-US,
GISW-US, $1,509,243), by Essence of Dubai
2nd Dam: Great Majesty, by Great Above
3rd Dam: Mistic Majesty, by His Majesty
O-Sunday Racing; B-Northern Farm (Jpn); T-Yasutoshi Ikee;
J-Yuichi Kitamura. ¥122,982,000. Lifetime Record: 16-5-3-2,
¥500,110,900. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
Werk Nick Rating: A+.
2–Kiseki (Jpn), 126, h, 5, Rulership (Jpn)–Blitz Finale (Jpn), by
Deep Impact(Jpn). O-Tatsue Ishikawa; B-Shimokobe Farm
(Jpn); ¥48,852,000.
3–Wagnerian (Jpn), 126, c, 4, Deep Impact (Jpn)–Miss Encore
(Jpn), by King Kamehameha (Jpn). O-Makoto Kaneko Holdings;
B-Northern Farm (Jpn); ¥30,426,000.
Margins: NK, NK, 3/4. Odds: 21.20, 3.10, 7.20.
Also Ran: Makahiki (Jpn), Air Windsor (Jpn), Blast Onepiece (Jpn), Stiffelio (Jpn), Muito Obrigado (Jpn), Danburite (Jpn), Epoca d'Oro (Jpn), Persian Knight (Jpn), Sungrazer (Jpn), Stay Foolish (Jpn), Stelvio (Jpn).
Click for the JRA chart or video or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
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