Mendelssohn Represented By First Japanese Winner

Coolmore America's Mendelssohn, a son of the much-missed sire of sires Scat Daddy, was represented by his first Japanese winner and 16th overall from his first crop when the 2-year-old filly Celadonite (Jpn) turned in a professional debut effort over 1400 meters on the dirt Saturday at Chukyo Racecourse.

Drawn widest in a field of 10 in a rare sex-restricted event for first-time starters, the early April foal jumped alertly and was part of the early mix, then eased back to sit a midfield trip in the clear while racing several paths away from the inside. Gradually working her way into contention on the turn, Celadonite was poised to strike three deep on the swing for home, accelerated nicely when asked by Christophe Lemaire with a little more than an eighth of a mile to race and stayed on well to record a 1 1/4-length victory as the 19-10 second favorite (see below, SC 10). It was the 1,600th winner on the JRA circuit for the French reinsman.

Celadonite, who races in the colors of the Silk Racing syndicate, is the third winner from four to race for his dam Celadon (Gold Halo {Jpn}), whose best produce to date is the hard-knocking Copano Kicking (Spring At Last), a three-time Group 3 winner on the dirt in Japan who added a thrilling success in the $1.5-million Riyadh Dirt Sprint in 2021. Fourth in the latter event this term, he was an intended runner in the G1 Dubai Golden Shaheen, but suffered a career-ending injury in the days leading up to the race.

Celadon was acquired by Indian interests in 2015 and was exported to that country in foal to Elusive Quality. She produced two winners from two to race in India, but was returned to the U.S. in 2019, where she was covered by Mendelssohn and subsequently sent to Japan. She was barren to Drefong for 2021 and slipped her foal by champion dirt horse Le Vent Se Leve (Jpn) this season.

Mendelssohn, the half-brother to Into Mischief and Beholder, has 12 winners stateside, including the stakes-placed Miracle. His other winners have come in France, Ireland and Saudi Arabia. He is also the sire of the juvenile colt Tomodachi, a $1.3-million purchase by Japan's joint-second leading trainer Mitsu Nakauchida at this year's OBS April Sale.

中京4Rの新馬戦（ダート1400m）は、 #ルメール 騎手騎乗の #セラドナイト （牝2、木村）が勝利しました🏆🏅#メンデルスゾーン 産駒で兄にリヤドダートスプリントを勝った #コパノキッキング がいる血統🏇

ルメール騎手はこれがJRA通算1600勝✨おめでとうございます😊
↓ジョッキー12人大集合です✨ pic.twitter.com/PAoyKVqzuL

— マイク（藤本真育）@日刊スポーツ (@Mike_nikkan) September 24, 2022