Tastiera Bests Sol Oriens In Tragedy-Marred Tokyo Yushun

Carrot Farm's Tastiera (Jpn) (Satono Crown {Jpn}), who fell victim to a stinging late rush from Sol Oriens (Jpn) (Kitasan Black {Jpn}) in the G1 Satuski Sho (Japanese 2000 Guineas) Apr. 16, got first run on that favoured foe in the long Tokyo straight and found the wire a neck to the good, dashing any hope for a Triple Crown for 2023. Heart's Concerto (Jpn) (Heart's Cry {Jpn}) was a strong third at longshot odds, but the race was marred by the death of Carrot Farm's second betting choice Skilfing (Jpn) (Kitasan Black {Jpn}), who suffered a cardiac event in the late stages and collapsed past the winning post.

The Derby was run at just a steady tempo, as Pax Ottomanica (Jpn) (Victoire Pisa {Jpn}) set the pace in advance of fellow outsider Ho O Biscuits (Jpn) (Mind Your Biscuits). Tastiera, somewhat surprisingly no better than the fourth most-fancied runner, assumed a prominent spot beneath the visiting Damian Lane after beginning a beat slowly and raced two wide and with the benefit of cover entering the back straight.

Pax Ottomanica was slipped a bit of rein and had stretched his advantage to a good half-dozen lengths passing the 1400-metre peg, but those doing the chasing were being ridden patiently, waiting for the speed to come back to them. Pax Ottomanica opened up by as many as 10 lengths entering the final three furlongs, but Tastiera was given his cue by Lane three deep off the home corner, with odds-on Sol Oriens just behind and to his left, right on his flank. Pax Ottomanica held bravely, clearly advantaged by the easy tempo, but was collared by Tastiera just inside the furlong, and although Sol Oriens was in the clear with every chance from there, the wire arrived in time for Tastiera. Dura Erede (Jpn) (Duramente {Jpn}) stumbled at the start and lost jockey Ryusei Sakai.

A Trip Down Memory 'Lane'

Just 29 years old, Bunbury, Western Australia, native Damian Lane is perennially among the top riders in Victoria and is the latest big name to make a big impression on short-term contracts in Japan. Sunday's Derby marks the jockey's fifth top-level success in the country, two of which came aboard Carrot Farm's Horse of the Year Lys Gracieux (Jpn) (Heart's Cry {Jpn}) in the G1 Takarazuka Kinen and G1 Arima Kinen either side of a stirring score in the 2019 G1 Cox Plate at Moonee Valley for Yoshito Yahagi.

The first of his 13 Japanese group victories came astride Carrot Farm's Mer de Glace (Jpn) (Rulership {Jpn}) in the 2019 G3 Niigata Daishoten, and Lane was once again in the irons for a one-length tally in that year's G1 Caulfield Cup, a week prior to the Cox Plate. Lane's relationship with Japanese horsepeople also resulted in his landing the ride aboard Crown Pride (Jpn) (Reach the Crown {Jpn}), whom he duly piloted to take out the 2022 G2 UAE Derby. Prior to that, he won the 2017 G1 Toorak H. and G1 Mackinnon S. with the Japanese part-owned Tosen Stardom (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}), while he also guided Win Marilyn (Jpn) (Screen Hero {Jpn}) to salute in last year's G1 Longines Hong Kong Vase.

Of his first Japanese Classic, Lane said: ‟It's a very special, great feeling especially for Hori Stables and Carrot Farm with whom I've had success. It was definitely the position [today], and credit to the horse–he's so versatile, he could jump quick, put himself in a good position and relax. It's just a great sense of achievement.”

Lane, who closed Sunday's card with a last-gasp success atop Heat on Beat (Jpn) (King Kamehameha {Jpn}) in the G2 Meguro Kinen, rides Serifos (Jpn) (Daiwa Major {Jpn}) in next Sunday's G1 Yasuda Kinen. The duo teamed to win last year's G1 Mile Championship S.

Pedigree Notes

Tastiera is the first elite-level scorer for his sire, who was acquired in utero in a private transaction and subsequently fetched ¥58 million ($573,040) from prominent owner Hajime Satomi at the 2013 JRHA Select Sale. Also trained by Noriyuki Hori, the dark bay was third to stablemate Duramente (Jpn) in the 2015 Tokyo Yushun and recorded the first Group 1 of his career in the Longines Hong Kong Vase at the tail end of his 4-year-old season. He also annexed the G1 Takarazuka Kinen in 2017 and was retired to Shadai Stallion Station at the end of the following campaign. Satono Crown, a brother to 2011 G1 Cheveley Park Stud S. heroine Lightening Pearl (Ire), has been represented by 29 individual winners to date, including Tosen Laurier (Jpn) and Uvarovite (Jpn), each victorious at the listed stakes level.

On behalf of Shadai Farm, bloodstock agent Patrick Barbe spent $90,000 for Tastiera's Florida-bred fourth dam Crafty Wife (Crafty Prospector) at the Due Process Dispersal at Fasig-Tipton Kentucky in 1989. She was exported to Japan, was bred to Northern Taste and the result was Kyoei Forte (Jpn), a stakes-placed winner of nearly $1.5 million. Second dam Fortepiano was a full-sister to the listed-placed Sound Axis (Jpn) and foaled Partitura to the cover of 2001 Kikuka Sho hero Manhattan Cafe (Jpn) (Sunday Silence) in 2014.

Partitura is the dam of a 2-year-old filly by Bricks and Mortar, a yearling filly by 2017 Derby winner Rey de Oro (Jpn) and was most recently covered by Kitasan Black (Jpn).

Sunday, Tokyo, Japan
TOKYO YUSHUN (JAPANESE DERBY)-G1, ¥609,070,000, Tokyo, 5-28, 3yo, c/f, 2400mT, 2:25.20, fm.
1–TASTIERA (JPN), 126, c, 3, by Satono Crown (Jpn)
1st Dam: Partitura (Jpn), by Manhattan Cafe (Jpn)
2nd Dam: Fortepiano (Jpn), by French Deputy
3rd Dam: Kyoei Forte (Jpn), by Northern Taste
1ST GROUP 1 WIN. O-Carrot Farm; B-Northern Farm; T-Noriyuki Hori; J-Damian Lane; ¥327,349,000. Lifetime Record: 5-3-1-0, ¥482,329,000. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Werk Nick Rating: B. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Sol Oriens (Jpn), 126, c, 3, Kitasan Black (Jpn)–Skia (Fr), by Motivator (GB). O-Shadai Race Horse; B- Shadai Farm; ¥127,814,000.
3–Hearts Concerto (Jpn), 126, c, 3, Heart's Cry (Jpn)–Nasuno Sibelius, by Unbridled's Song. O-Green Farm; B-Hashimoto Farm; ¥78,907,000.
Margins: NK, NO, NO. Odds: 7.30, 0.80, 24.60.
Also Ran: Bellagio Opera (Jpn), Nocking Point (Jpn), Ho O Biscuits (Jpn), Season Rich (Jpn), Phantom Thief (Jpn), Shazzan (Jpn), Hrimfaxi (Jpn), Satono Glanz (Jpn), Metal Speed (Jpn), Pax Ottomanica (Jpn), Top Knife (Jpn), Gruner Green (Jpn), Shonan Bashitto (Jpn), Skilfing (Jpn). DNF: Dura Erede (Jpn) (lost rider). Click for the JRA chart.