Koji Maeda, whose homebred Lani (Tapit) finished ninth to Nyquist in the 2016 GI Kentucky Derby, could have another Classics contender on his hand after Ramjet (Jpn) (Majestic Warrior) turned on the afterburners in the final 300 meters to post a convincing victory in Sunday's Listed Hyacinth S. at Tokyo Racecourse. Having earned 30 Derby points as a result, the dark bay now leads the Japanese series with one race remaining.
Clearly last away from the stalls, Ramjet had only one rival behind as he came under a ride at halfway, and he had just two beaten turning into the long Tokyo straight. Put to a wide drive by Kosei Miura, he began to bridge the considerable gap while hanging on his left lead, but once switching over at midstretch, kicked it into another gear and won going away. Favored Unquenchable (Jpn) (Discreet Cat) sat handy to the pace while wide, but could not resist the winner's late rally and just held on for second over Habire (Jpn) (Henny Hughes).
Maeda acquired Ramjet's second dam for $320,000 at the 2007 Keeneland September Sale and campaigned her to 11 wins for better than $4 million in earnings in Japan. No fewer than eight of those came in listed company, including three victories in the Sparkling Lady Cup, and a runner-up effort in Group 3 company. Nefertiti, one of five winners from six to race out of La Verita, is also the dam of a yearling colt by dual-surface Group 1 winner Mozu Ascot (Frankel {GB}) and was most recently bred to Scat Daddy's Group 1-winning son Mr Melody.
Maeda has had further success with Unbridled's Song fillies sourced in the U.S. He purchased Rhodochrosite for $385,000 at KEESEP in 2011 and she would go on to become the dam of North Hills' Triple Crown winner and Horse of the Year Contrail (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}).
Sunday, Tokyo, Japan
HYACINTH S.-Listed, ¥36,560,000 ($242,343), Tokyo, 2-18, 3yo, 1600m, 1:36.3, ft.
1–RAMJET (JPN), 126, c, 3, by Majestic Warrior
1st Dam: Nefertiti (Jpn), by Gold Allure (Jpn)
2nd Dam: La Verita, by Unbridled's Song
3rd Dam: Go Classic, by Gone West
1ST STAKES WIN. O-Koji Maeda; B-North Hills Co Ltd; T-Shoso Sazaki; J-Kosei Miura; ¥19,252,000. Lifetime Record: 5-3-0-1, ¥40,131,000.
2–Unquenchable (Jpn), 126, c, 3, Discreet Cat–Smoldering (Jpn), by Pyro. 1ST BLACK-TYPE. O/B-Godolphin; T-Mizuki Takayanagi; J-Christophe Lemaire; ¥7,672,000.
3–Habire (Jpn), 126, c, 3, Henny Hughes–Tomo Tomo River (Jpn), by Black Tide (Jpn). 1ST BLACK-TYPE. (¥16,500,000 Ylg '22 HOKSUM). O-Shinichi Koga; B-Akiba Bokujo; T-Ryo Takei; J-Akira Sugawara; ¥4,836,000.
Margins: 3, NO, 1HF. Odds: 12.90, 1.30, 33.70.
Ramjet (#1) wins the Listed Hyacinth S. at Tokyo
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