TDN RISING STARS

August 20, 2017 - SAPPORO, Race 5, Novice, JPY ¥13,400,000, 1800m, 110.6000, 2yo

Lucas (Jpn), c, 2, 2015 by Screen Hero (Jpn)

1st Dam: Mejiro Frances (Jpn), by Carnegie (Ire)
2nd Dam: Mejiro Monterey, by Mogami (Fr)
3rd Dam: Mejiro Quincey (Jpn), by Fidion (Fr)

Owner: Silk Racing Co., Ltd
Breeder: Togawa Bokujo (Jpn)
Trainer: Noriyuki Hori

Lucas (Jpn) (Screen Hero {Jpn}), a 2-year-old full-brother to six-time Group 1 winner Maurice (Jpn) (Horse of the Year, Ch. Sprinter & Ch. Miler-Jpn & MG1SW-Jpn & HK, $4,740,590) won an 1800 metre newcomers’ turf test on debut at Sapporo on Sunday, earning ‘TDN Rising Star’ status. Trained, like Maurice, by Noriyuki Hori, Lucas is owned by Silk Racing and was ridden on Sunday by Joao Moreira. Racing about five lengths off the lead and at the back of the main group, the 17-10 second choice made an eye-catching move rounding the turn, circling the field to get up for the lead in a matter of strides. Three-wide coming off the turn, Lucas had to shake off a pair of stubborn rivals but ultimately won by 1 1/2 lengths in a handride from 8-5 favorite Richebourg (Jpn) (King Kamehameha {Jpn}). Lucas was one of four winners on the day for Joao Moreira, who rode Maurice to win the G1 Champions Mile in Hong Kong last May.

Lucas has great shoes to fill following Maurice, whose top-level wins included the Tenno Sho Autumn and Yasuda Kinen in Japan as well as Hong Kong’s Longines Hong Kong Cup and Mile. Maurice entered stud this year at Shadai Stallion Station and has recently arrived at Arrowfield Stud in Australia for the Southern Hemisphere breeding season.