By Alan Carasso
From an aesthetic perspective, the only similarity between Sodashi (Jpn), the world's most recognizable and talented white galloper, and her year-younger full-sister Mama Cocha (Jpn) (Kurofune) is the latter's broad blaze, but they now have something else in common, namely Group 1 winner, after Mama Cocha dove across the line to narrowly best Mad Cool (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) in Sunday's Sprinters S. at Nakayama Racecourse. Favoured Namura Clair (Jpn) (Mikki Isle {Jpn}) was a further length back in third.
“This filly is a completely different type of horse comparing to her famous sister, but she has good potential in her own right to become a good sprinter,” said winning jockey Yuga Kawada. “While still winless in grade-level race coming into this, I felt she had a good chance.”
The third betting choice at just under 4-1, Mama Cocha bounced away beautifully from gate six and raced fairly handy as the fleet-footed American-bred Jasper Krone (Frosted)–who defeated Mama Cocha in the Aug. 20 G3 Kitakyushu Kinen–showed the way early from T M Spada (Jpn) (Red Spada {Jpn}). Mad Cool was also forwardly placed, with Namura Clair off his flank and Mama Cocha in the three-wide line as they approached the turn. Kawada allowed his mount to roll up three wide leaving the 600-metre peg and was more or less on even terms at the top of the straight, but despite having gone the opening half-mile in :44.5, Jasper Krone was still battling hard at the fence. Mama Cocha finally got the better of that tussle, but Mad Cool emerged from between rivals and looked to perhaps nose in front in the dying strides, but was on the losing end of a tight photo. It was the second straight win in the race for trainer Yasutoshi Ikee, who saddled Gendarme (Kitten's Joy) to an upset victory 12 months ago.
Whereas Sodashi was an instant hit, securing championship honours in her first two seasons at the races, Mama Cocha had been slower to come around. Group 3-placed at age two, the filly strung together three wins in the lower grades late last year, but was found out in a pair of group efforts over the 1600 metres. She recorded her first black-type success in a 1400-metre contest at Kyoto in May and ran on well to just miss behind all-the-way winner Jasper Krone last time out.
Kawada feels there is better still to come.
“She still has a lot of room for improvement and there were moments where I had to be careful in keeping her in good rhythm while she was forced out slightly by pressure from the horses in the inside between the last two corners,” the leading rider commented. “She did respond well though when challenged at the straight and I am glad that she was able to sustain her bid to the wire to claim the win.”
Pedigree Notes:
Mama Cocha is the 20th winner at group level for the French Deputy stallion Kurofune, who also counts 2008 Sprinters heroine Sleepless Night (Jpn) among his now seven elite-level scorers. The late King Kamehameha (Jpn) has now accounted for 30 individual group winners as a broodmare, including 10 G1SWs, among them Dubai World Cup hero and GI Breeders' Cup Classic-bound Ushba Tesoro (Jpn) (Orfevre {Jpn}).
Though she never earned black-type, Mama Cocha's dam Buchiko had a cult following of her own, based mostly on her physical appearance, but she was something other than an abject failure at the races, with four wins and three minor placings from 16 starts. Buchiko's half-sister Yukichan (Jpn) (Kurofune) was a three-time listed winner on the dirt, while her half-sister Marshmallow (Jpn) (Kurofune) produced dual Group 3 winner Hayayakko (King Kamehameha {Jpn}). Shirayukihime is also the third dam of Meikei Yell (Jpn) (Mikki Isle {Jpn}), fifth in Sunday's race.
Buchiko is the dam of the white 2-year-old colt Kalpa (Jpn) (Maurice {Jpn}), third on Hakodate debut July 9, a yearling dark bay colt by the same sire and foaled a white Maurice filly Feb. 9.
We can't forget the lovely Buchiko! https://t.co/vAaK2s2FBb pic.twitter.com/F462sYWYrj
— Alex H. (@hmlaa) October 1, 2023
Sunday, Nakayama, Japan
SPRINTERS S.-G1, ¥328,860,000, Nakayama, 10-1, 3yo/up, 1200mT, 1:08, gd/fm.
1–MAMA COCHA (JPN), 123, f, 4, by Kurofune
1st Dam: Buchiko (Jpn), by King Kamehameha (Jpn)
2nd Dam: Shirayukihime (Jpn), by Sunday Silence
3rd Dam: Wave Wind, by Topsider
1ST GROUP WIN. 1ST GROUP 1 WIN. O-Kaneko Makoto Holdings Co Ltd; B-Kaneko Makoto Holdings Inc; T-Yasutoshi Ikee; J-Yuga Kawada; ¥173,402,000. Lifetime Record: 13-6-2-2, ¥284,449,000. *Full to Sodashi (Jpn), Ch. 2yo & 3yo Filly, MG1SW-Jpn, $5,346,186. Click for the free Equineline.com catalog-style pedigree.
2–Mad Cool (Ire), 128, c, 4, Dark Angel (Ire)–Mad About You (Ire), by Indian Ridge (Ire). 1ST GROUP 1 BLACK-TYPE. (€225,000 Wlg '19 GOFNOV). O-Sunday Racing; B-Moyglare Stud Farm Ltd; ¥68,972,000.
3–Namura Clair (Jpn), 123, f, 4, Mikki Isle (Jpn)–Sun Queen, by Storm Cat. O/B-Mutsuhiro Namura; ¥43,486,000.
Margins: NO, 1, 1. Odds : 3.90, 13.00, 1.90.
Also Ran: Jasper Krone, Meikei Yell (Jpn), Win Marvel (Jpn), Aguri (Jpn), Pixie Knight (Jpn), Naran Huleg (Jpn), Kimiwa Queen (Jpn), A Shin Spotter (Jpn), Dolce More (Jpn), All at Once (Jpn), T M Spada (Jpn), Jubilee Head (Jpn), Mozu Meimei (Jpn). Click for the JRA chart.
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