Sinister Minister Colt Runs to Billing in Champions Cup

Favoured to become the first Group 1 winner for his sire in the G1 Champions Cup, T O Keynes (Jpn) (Sinister Minister) followed the money and crossed the wire six lengths to the good of 2020 winner and Japanese Champion Dirt Horse Chuwa Wizard (Jpn) (King Kamehameha {Jpn}) at Chukyo on Sunday.

Priced at 2-1, the 4-year-old colt rated kindly in sixth as Group 1-winning white mare Sodashi (Jpn) (Kurofune {Jpn}), making her dirt bow, opened up to lead past the winning post and into the first turn. Positions were unchanged on the backside and the chestnut was poised to pounce exiting the final bend. Sodashi was swarmed by rivals inside the quarter-mile marker and T O Keynes found a gap at the perfect time to take the lead shortly thereafter. He sped away from his rivals to win comfortably, with Chuwa Wizard, who was second in the G1 Dubai World Cup earlier this year, closing from off the pace to take second, 3/4 of a length in front of stalker Another Truth (Jpn) (I'll Have Another). Sodashi faded to 12th.

“Though the JBC Classic result was disappointing due to the slow start, he broke smoothly today, thanks to the gate practice he went through at the stable,” said Kohei Matsuyama. “I was able to ride him in good rhythm and he responded remarkably well turning the fourth corner, so everything was perfect. I think he's a very strong horse and I'm glad I was able to bring out his strong performance.”

Second in the Listed Betelgeuse S. at Hanshin last December, the colt ran sixth in the G1 Tokyo Daishoten at Oi just nine days later on Dec. 29. He opened 2021 with a win in the muddy Nagoyajo S. in March and claimed his first group victory with a score in the G3 Antares S. on Apr. 18. He stretched his winning streak to three when taking the June 30 Listed Teio Sho, and, given a break, ran fourth in the Listed JBC Classic at Kanazawa on Nov. 3.

Pedigree Notes
One of 11 black-type winners-three at the group level–for his sire, T O Keynes has become the most decorated runner for the 2006 GI Toyota Blue Grass S. hero.
T O Keynes is the fourth foal and fourth of five winners for his placed dam. Maxim Café has since produced colts by Copano Rickey (Jpn) in 2019 and 2021, with the juvenile christened Copano Austin (Jpn). She is a half-sister to black-type winner and G3 Leopard S. third Tamano Brunette (Jpn) (Deep Sky {Jpn}).

Sunday, Chukyo, Japan
CHAMPIONS CUP-G1, ¥194,860,000, Chukyo, 12-5, 3yo/up, 1800m, 1:49.70, gd.
1–T O KEYNES (JPN), 126, c, 4, Sinister Minister
                1st Dam: Maxim Café (Jpn), by Manhattan Café (Jpn)
                2nd Dam: Cafe Pinoko (Jpn), by Jade Robbery
                3rd Dam: Pinochet, by Storm Cat
1ST GROUP 1 WIN. O-Tomoya Ozasa; B-Yanagawa Farm (Jpn);
T-Daisuje Takayanagi; J-Kohei Matsuyama. ¥103,402,000.
Lifetime: 15-8-2-2. Werk Nick Rating: A++. Click for the
   eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Chuwa Wizard (Jpn), 126, h, 6, King Kamehameha (Jpn)–
Chuwa Blossom (Jpn), by Durandal (Jpn). O-Shinobu Nakanishi;
B-Northern Farm (Jpn); ¥40,972,000.
3–Another Truth (Jpn), 126, g, 7, I'll Have Another–Kyoei Truth
(Jpn), by Fuji Kiseki (Jpn). 1ST GROUP 1 BLACK-TYPE.
O-Normandy Thoroughbred Racing; B-Okada Stud (Jpn);
¥25,486,000.
Margins: 6, 3/4, NK. Odds: 2.30, 3.60, 114.40.
Also Ran: Inti (Jpn), Sunrise Nova (Jpn), Auvergne (Jpn), Meisho Hario (Jpn), Suave Aramis (Jpn), Air Spinel (Jpn), Casino Fountain (Jpn), Cafe Pharoah, Sodashi (Jpn), K T Brave (Jpn), Clincher (Jpn), Sunrise Hope (Jpn), Danon Pharaoh (Jpn).
Click for the JRA chart & video or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.