By Heather Anderson
The blaze-faced Strauss (Jpn) (Maurice {Jpn}) attained his first stakes victory under Joao Moreira in the G2 Tokyo Hai Nisai S. at Tokyo on Saturday.
A winner on debut over 1600 metres locally in June and a solid third in the G3 Saudi Arabia Royal Cup on Oct. 7, he was sent off at 4-1 in this return to group company. Content to track Teleos Lulu (Jpn) (Al Ain {Jpn}) from a wide third down the backstretch, he was eager to improve his position through the first half-mile in :47.30. Finally settled down under Moreira rounding the bend, Strauss swung off the fence and set sale for the pacesetter with Schwarze Kugel (Jpn) (Kizuna Jpn}) continuing his stalking trip in second. On even terms with a quarter mile remaining, he edged away as Schwarze Kugel tried to match strides. Fervent (Jpn) (Heart's Cry {Jpn}) closed strongly from midpack as well, but it was too little too late. Strauss was 1 1/2 lengths to the good of the persistent Schwarze Kugel in second, with Fervent just a nose back in third. Favoured Forlanini (Jpn) (Epiphaneia {Jpn}) raced near the rear of the field and was never a factor, finishing eighth of 10.
Pedigree Notes
Now the sire of 23 stakes winners with Strauss's victory, Shadai Stallion Station-based Maurice is responsible for 16 group winners. His best are Group 1 winners Jack d'Or (Jpn), Geraldina (Jpn) and Pixie Knight (Jpn) in Japan, and G1 Australian Derby hero Hitotsu (Aus) and Mazu (Aus), who won the G1 Doomben 10,000 in Australia.
A son of Blumenblatt (Jpn) (Admire Vega {Jpn}), who did her best work at five when winning the G1 Mile Championship, Strauss is a half-brother to Listed Kobai S. winner Voller Blute (Jpn) (Epiphaneia {Jpn}), as well as fillies by Drefong and Mr Melody born in 2022 and 2023, respectively.
GII Gotham S. and GIII Bay Shore S. winner Laramie Trail (Swap) is in this family, as is U.S. Champion Grass Horse and successful sire Cozzene (Caro {Ire}) and GI Ballerina S. winner Serape (Fappiano).
Saturday, Tokyo, Japan
TOKYO SPORTS HAI NISAI S.-G2, ¥72,510,000, Tokyo, 11-18, 2yo, 1800mT, 1:46.50, fm.
1–STRAUSS (JPN), 123, c, 2, by Maurice (Jpn)
1st Dam: Blumenblatt (Jpn), by Admire Vega (Jpn)
2nd Dam: My Wild Flower, by Topsider
3rd Dam: Wildwook, by Sir Gaylord
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN. 1ST GROUP WIN. O-Carrot Farm;
B-Northern Farm (Jpn); T-Ryo Takei; J-Joao Moreira;
¥38,357,000. Lifetime Record: 3-2-0-1, ¥53,902,000. Click for
the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Werk Nick
Rating: A+++. *Triple Plus*. Click for the
eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Schwarze Kugel (Jpn), 123, c, 2, Kizuna (Jpn)–Soberania
(Ger), by Monsun (Ger). 1ST BLACK TYPE. 1ST GROUP BLACK
TYPE. O-G1 Racing; B-Shiraoi Farm (Jpn); ¥15,102,000.
3–Fervent (Jpn), 123, c, 2, Heart's Cry (Jpn)–Total Heat, by
Street Cry (Ire). 1ST BLACK-TYPE. 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE.
O-Carrot Farm; B-Shiraoi Farm (Jpn); ¥9,551,000.
Margins: 1HF, NS, 1 1/4. Odds: 4.80, 37.80, 3.10.
Also Ran: Shonan La Punta (Jpn), Michael Pascha (Jpn), Gaiamente (Jpn), Champagne Mark (Jpn), Forlanini (Jpn), Circle Of Joy (Jpn), Teleos Lulu (Jpn). Click for the JRA chart & video.
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