By Alan Carasso
Almanzor (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}–Darkova, by Maria's Mon), who serves mares at Haras d'Etreham in France and at Cambridge Stud in New Zealand during the Southern Hemisphere breeding season, achieved a remarkable multi-national double Aug. 20, with winners minutes apart in Japan and in Australia.
Over a rain-affected course at Niigata, the well-related first-starter Via Luce (Ire) defied an awkward draw in gate 15 of 17 to validate $1.90 (9-10) favouritism and become the first Japanese winner for her sire. Beaten for pace despite being asked by jockey Yasunari Iwata, the bay filly traveled several paths off the inside while under a ride on the turn and followed the move of Santa Ana Tesoro (Jpn) (Speightstown) into the straight. Via Luce drew alongside that one inside the final 200 metres and came away late to score by 1 1/2 lengths (see below, SC 15).
The March foal, bred by Katsumi Yoshida, is the first foal for her stakes-winning and three-times group-placed dam Via Firenze (Ire) (Dansili {GB}), a daughter of G3 Shadwell Prix Lieurey winner Via Medici (Ire) (Medican {GB}), who counts 2018 champion Japanese 2-year-old male and dual Group 1 winner Admire Mars (Jpn) (Daiwa Major {Jpn}) as her most notable produce. A foal half-brother by 2017 G1 Tokyo Yushun hero Rey de Oro (Jpn) (King Kamehameha {Jpn}) to Via Luce fetched ¥170 million (£1,049,810/€1,236,766/$1,241,572) at last month's JRHA Select Sales on Hokkaido.
About five minutes earlier at Moonee Valley Racecourse in Melbourne, the 3-year-old colt Virtuous Circle (NZ) was winning for the second time in three appearances, taking out a 1500-metre handicap as a $26 (25-1) roughie. Settled towards the rear of the field down the side of the course, the son of She Is Stryking (Aus) (Stryker {Aus}) was ridden for luck into the short straight and kept grinding it out to the line for a narrow success (video). Virtuous Circle was last seen defying long odds to graduate at second asking at Mornington Mar. 26.
“He went to the paddock straight after that and he just came back in, and he knows what it's all about,” trainer Liam Howley told Racing.com. “I'd like to think he's a [G1 Caulfield] Guineas horse, but otherwise I thought 2000 metres might be in his hitting zone. Maybe 2400 metres, so maybe he's a Derby horse.
“Mentally he is [ready], but we will space his runs and run next in the [1600-metre G2] Stutt [S.] back here in four weeks. That gives us time to look after him. That gives us two weeks to the Guineas and gives us a read at that point whether he's a Guineas horse or we go to the [2040-metre G2] Vase. Hopefully we are still knocking around in late October.”
Purchased for A$360,000 out of the Inglis Classic Yearling Sale, Virtuous Circle is out of a listed-placed dam who has also bred Danger Strykes (NZ) (Astern {Aus}), winner in New Zealand of the Castletown S. Virtuous Circle is one of eight Australasian winners for Almanzor.
VIRTUOUS CIRCLE an incredible win!
The @lhowls trained galloper missed the start and still hunted the fence to win the Hugh-Wallace Smith Handicap. @BlaikeMcDougall has 2!#LoveTheValley pic.twitter.com/Fpbtxt1r1c
— Moonee Valley Racing Club (@TheValley) August 20, 2022
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