By Alan Carasso
Jean Gros (More Than Ready) became the 214th worldwide black-type winner–and first in Japan–for his legendary sire with a spectacular performance in Sunday's $333,992 Listed Marguerite S. at Hanshin Racecourse.
The 6-5 favorite was away alertly, but was checked hard off heels prior to the entry to the turn, perhaps having caused his own problems. The full-brother to Tom's Ready, MGSW & GISP, $1,036,267, soon recovered from that bit of trouble and traveled strongly on the turn before easing off heels and into the four path on the swing for home. The dark bay swooped in front with about a furlong to race and edged clear to score by a widening 1 1/2 lengths with ears pricked (see below, SC 7). The final time of 1:08 flat was about 0.2 seconds faster than the six-furlong split in the 1400-meter G3 Hankyu Hai for older horses in the following race. Jean Gros is one of 18 winners from 20 to race in Japan for the now 25-year-old More Than Ready.
“He has tremendous speed and was very easy to ride today. He is a very talented colt,” commented winning jockey Yutaka Take.
A $130,000 buyback out of the 2020 Keeneland September sale, Jean Gros was knocked down to this trainer for $265,000 at OBS March the following spring after breezing an eighth of a mile in :10 flat.
Barren to Arrogate for 2020, Goodbye Stranger foaled an Audible filly last March and was bred back to Horse of the Year Authentic.
Sunday's Results:
10th-Hanshin, Marguerite S.-Listed, ¥38,410,000 ($333,992), 3yo, 1200mT, 1:08, gd/fm.
JEAN GROS, c, 3, by More Than Ready
1st Dam: Goodbye Stranger, by Broad Brush
2nd Dam: Prime Investor, by Deputy Minister
3rd Dam: Starushka, by Sham
Sales history: $130,000 RNA Ylg '20 KEESEP; $265,000 2yo '21 OBSMAR. Lifetime Record: 7-3-2-1, $408,534.
O-Susumu Fujita; B-Nursery Place & Partners (KY); T-Hideyuki Mori.
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