By Heather Anderson
Croix Du Nord (Jpn) (Kitasan Black {Jpn}) maintained his unbeaten record with a two-length victory in the G1 Hopeful Stakes at Nakayama on Saturday. The heavy 4-5 favourite defeated Giovanni (Jpn) (Epiphaneia {Jpn}), who was 1 1/4 lengths to the good of 302-1 longshot Faust Rasen (Jpn) (Mozu Ascot).
Fairly keen through the first turn, the dark bay settled in seventh behind Jun Asahi Sora (Jpn) (Isla Bonita {Jpn}) and Jet Magnum (Jpn) (Henry Barows {Jpn}), who battled through fractions of :23.70, :48.70, and 1:13.40. Swooping up into third entering the lane, he took over inside the final 200 metres and stormed clear. Giovanni, who was near the eventual winner for most of the contest, gave determined but futile chase.
“I can't say that the race went exactly as planned, but I had complete faith in him and knew that he would make it through whatever situation he would be in during the race,” said jockey Yuichi Kitamura. “It was his first time going right-handed and against a full gate of 18 runners, but I totally believed he would handle that too. His physical condition since his last start had improved and his movement was sharp. I wanted him to finish the last of his 2-year-old starts at a good note so that we would be able to focus on his 3-year-old campaign which now will carry much expectation. I am so grateful for everyone who had supported me which is why I am standing here today as a Group 1 winner and I hope to give my best again next season.”
A winner on debut among newcomers in June, the colt added the Tokyo Sports Hai Nisai Stakes, also over 1800 metres, at Tokyo on Nov. 16. Croix Du Nord is now the leading candidate to become the JRA Champion 2-Year-Old Colt.
Pedigree Notes
Shadai stallion Kitasan Black is best known as the sire of globetrotting superstar Equinox (Jpn), as well as G1 Satsuki Sho hero Sol Oriens (Jpn). Croix Du Nord is his third Group 1 winner.
The late Cape Cross (Ire) is the broodmare sire of 99 stakes winners and 54 graded/group winners. Saturday's Hopeful Stakes hero is the 21st top-level winner for the son of Green Desert in that sphere.
One of 11 foals, 10 runners and seven winners for G2 Park Hill Stakes heroine and dual Oaks-placed Rising Cross (GB) (Cape Cross {Ire}), the winner is also a full-sibling to a yearling colt, and a half-sibling to a filly foal by Satono Diamond (Jpn). His elder half-sister Earthrise (Jpn) (Manhattan Café {Jpn}) was placed in a trio of Japanese Group 3s–the Flower Cup, the Aichi Hai, and the Mermaid Stakes. The extended family features the Derby winners Morston (Fr) (Ragusa {GB}) and Blakeney (GB) (Hethersett {GB}).
Saturday, Nakayama, Japan
HOPEFUL STAKES-G1, ¥135,820,000, Nakayama, 12-28, 2yo, 2000mT, 2:00.50, gd/fm.
1–CROIX DU NORD (JPN), 123, c, 2, Kitasan Black (Jpn)
1st Dam: Rising Cross (GB) (G1SP-Ire, GSW &
G1SP-Eng, GSP-US, $501,841),
by Cape Cross (Ire)
2nd Dam: Woodrising (GB), by Nomination (GB)
3rd Dam: Bodham (GB), by Bustino (GB)
1ST GROUP 1 WIN. O-Sunday Racing Co., Ltd. B-Northern
Racing (Jpn). T-Takashi Saito. J-Yuichi Kitamura. ¥70,000,000.
Lifetime Record: 3-3-0-0, ¥116,789,000. Click for the
free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Werk Nick
Rating: C. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Giovanni (Jpn), 123, c, 2, Epiphaneia (Jpn)–Barefoot Lady
(Ire), by Footstepsinthesand (GB). 1ST GROUP 1 BLACK TYPE.
O-KR Japan. B-Taihei Stud Farm, Co., Ltd. (Jpn). ¥28,000,000.
3–Faust Rasen (Jpn), 123, c, 2, Mozu Ascot–Peisha Felice (Jpn),
by Special Week (Jpn). 1ST BLACK TYPE. 1ST GROUP BLACK
TYPE. 1ST GROUP 1 BLACK TYPE. (¥28,600,000 Ylg '23
JBBAAUG). O-Toshiya Miyazaki. B-Tomoda Bokujo (Jpn).
¥18,000,000.
Margins: 2, 1 1/4, 1. Odds: 0.80, 18.10, 302.30.
Also Ran: Tjuta (Jpn), Claudia (Jpn), Ask Stein (Jpn), Jet Magnum (Jpn), Reve De l'Opera (Jpn), Del Avar, Shonan Macbeth (Jpn), Masquerade Ball (Jpn), Jun Asahi Sora (Jpn), Piko Chan Black (Jpn), Yamanin Bouclier (Jpn), Realize Aurum (Jpn), Magic Sands (Jpn), Amakihi (Jpn), Arion Smile (Jpn).
Click for the JRA chart & video.
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