Rivara Shocks Fantasy S.

Rivara (Jpn) (Kinshasa no Kiseki {Aus}) surprised her 11 rivals in the G3 KBS Kyoto Sho Fantasy S. when she parlayed her 69-1 odds into a 1 1/4-length victory at Hanshin on Saturday.

In charge from the bell, she doled out splits of :22.90 for the first quarter and rolled through a half-mile in :46.30. Still under only mild pressure from Ballerina (Jpn) (Daiwa Major {Jpn}), she turned into the home straight with her ears pricked. Sent hard by Shu Ishibashi at that point, she stole a march on her rivals and had built up enough cushion to withstand the surging 5-2 second choice Bouton d'Or (Jpn) (Big Arthur {Jpn}) and Red Hill Shoes (Jpn) (Heart's Cry {Jpn}) who appeared from out of the clouds with their rallies. A length separated the chasing pair.

Third at first asking in a Fukushima newcomers' heat in July, Rivara rebounded to win a Niigata maiden over 1200 metres on Aug. 14. The Fantasy was her first attempt at 1400 metres.

Pedigree Notes

Rivara's G3 Fantasy S. triumph makes her the 12th stakes winner and seventh group winner for Japanese Champion Sprinter/Miler Kinshasa No Kiseki. The winner of the G1 Takamatsunomiya Kinen in 2010 and 2011, the 19-year-old's best progeny are the G2 Hanshin Cup hero Shuji (Jpn) and group winners and Group 1-placed duo of Monde Can Know (Jpn) and Galore Creek (Jpn).

Out of the Brazilian Group 3 heroine Indriya who was also Group 1-placed there, Rivara is the second foal, runner and winner for her dam. She is followed by a Cheval Grand (Jpn) yearling colt already named Good Vibes (Jpn) and an Epoca d'Oro (Jpn) weanling filly. Indriya's Kitten's Joy half-sister Khaleesi (Brz) played the bridesmaid in the G1 Grand Premio Immensity, while two other half-siblings were also stakes placed in Brazil.

Saturday, Hanshin, Japan
KBS KYOTO SHO FANTASY S.-G3, ¥56,250,000, Hanshin, 11-5, 2yo, f, 1400mT, 1:21.30, fm.
1–RIVARA (JPN), 119, f, 2, by Kinshasa no Kiseki (Aus)
                1st Dam: Indriya (GSW & G1SP-Brz), by Stormy Atlantic
                2nd Dam: Sophie's Salad, by Rahy
                3rd Dam: Lady Tabitha, by Lyphard
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN. 1ST GROUP WIN. O-Yasuki Arai;
B-Symboli Farm (Jpn); T-Mizuki Takayanagi; J-Shu Ishibashi.
¥29,455,000. Lifetime Record: 3-2-0-1. Click for the
   free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Werk Nick
   Rating: C. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Bouton d'Or (Jpn), 119, f, 2, Big Arthur (Jpn)–Princess Rock
(Jpn), by Swift Current (Jpn). (¥20,000,000 Wlg '20 JRHAJUL).
O-Gaen Kogyo Inc.; B-Northern Farm (Jpn); ¥12,130,000.
3–Red Hill Shoes (Jpn), 119, f, 2, Heart's Cry (Jpn)–Yamano
Love (Jpn), by Agnes Digital. 1ST BLACK-TYPE. 1ST GROUP
   WIN. O-Masatoki Kuremoto; B-Champions Farm (Jpn);
¥7,365,000.
Margins: 1 1/4, 1, HF. Odds: 69.70, 2.90, 16.20.
Also Ran: Two Tails (Jpn), Sarasa How Pretty (Jpn), Queen's Elsa (Jpn), Sylpheed Reve (Jpn), Cosmo Hooray (Jpn), Ballerina (Jpn), Aroma de Rosa (Jpn), Satsumano Onna (Jpn), Mikatte Yondeii (Jpn). Click for the JRA chart and video.