By Heather Anderson
The Japanese Classics came to a close on Sunday at Hanshin with the G1 Kikuka Sho (Japanese St. Leger), and it was Titleholder (Jpn) (Duramente {Jpn})'s time to shine as he led at every call to win going away by five lengths as the 7-1 fourth choice. He is the first winner to lead from start to finish in the Kikuka Sho since Seiun Sky (Jpn) (Sheriff's Star {GB}) in 1998.
Allowed to bowl along as soon as the gates sprung, the Hiroshi Yamada colourbearer soon established an easy rhythm while several lengths in front of the chasing pack. Very relaxed throughout, he covered the first half-mile in :47.20 and the mile in 1:39.70. His pursuers closed the gap approaching the final bend through2000 metres in 2:05.40, but the dark bay skipped away again and had built up enough of a cushion to successfully hold off the closing trio of 4-1 third choice Orthoclase (Jpn) (Epiphaneia {Jpn}), Divine Love (Jpn) (Epiphaneia {Jpn}), and 2-1 second pick Stella Veloce (Jpn) (Bago {Fr}). At the line, only a head separated Orthoclase from Divine Love. It was a nose back to Japanese Derby third Stella Veloce in fourth. Favoured Red Genesis (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) failed to land a blow and finished 13th after racing near the tail of the field throughout.
“We had a terrible race last time out so I was determined to win it this time and I'm glad it panned out,” said jockey Takeshi Yokoyama. “I personally thought that the distance was maybe too much to ask from this colt, but he showed otherwise and performed well above my expectations, so I'm ashamed for doubting him in anyway. As far as the race, I concentrated in keeping him comfortable in a long race like this—he's an honest horse, in a way too honest and always gives his full effort—so knowing that once in front he would settle, I let him go as he liked and didn't try to hold him back too much. He has a lot to look forward to in the future but it would require a little skill as a rider to conserve his energy depending on the situations.”
A winner at first asking over 1800 metres at Nakayama last October, Titleholder ran second in the G3 Tokyo Sports Hai Nisai S. that November prior to a fourth upped to 2000 metres in the Dec. 26 G1 Hopeful S. He resumed with a win over that distance in the G2 Hochi Hai Yayoi Sho Deep Impact Kinen on Mar. 7 and was second to Efforia (Jpn) (Epiphaneia {Jpn}) in the G1 Satsuki Sho (Japanese 2000 Guineas) on Apr. 18. Only sixth in the G1 Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby) on May 30, the colt was given a lengthy break and returned to run 13th in the 2200-metre G2 Asahi Hai St. Lite Kinen on Sept. 20.
Pedigree Notes
A son of the late Duramente, who won the first two legs of the Japanese Triple Crown, Titleholder is one of two black-type winners for the 9-year-old and the first top-level winner. He is also the first Group 1 winner for Motivator (GB) as a broodmare sire and one of 10 black-type winners overall.
Although she never earned black-type, millionaire Mowen did run fifth in the G3 Daily Hai Queen Cup at three and fourth at listed level later that year. She also had the versatility to win over 1200 metres on the dirt that year and up to 2600 metres on the turf as a 4-year-old before being retired for broodmare duties. Her first foal is the winning Melody Lane (Jpn) (Orfevre {Jpn}) and, after producing a dead foal in 2017, Titleholder is her last known offspring, as she has missed to the covers of Gold Ship (Jpn), Victoire Pisa (Jpn), and Duramente (Jpn) in 2018, 2019 and 2020, respectively. Under the winner's fourth dam is G1 1000 Guineas heroine On The House (Fr) (Be My Guest), who also won the G1 Sussex S.
Sunday, Hanshin, Japan
KIKUKA SHO (JAPANESE ST. LEGER)-G1, ¥270,970,000, Hanshin, 10-24, 3yo, c/f, 3000mT, 3:04.60, fm.
1–TITLEHOLDER(JPN), 126, c, 3, Duramente (Jpn)
1st Dam: Mowen (GB), by Motivator (GB)
2nd Dam: Top Table (GB), by Shirley Heights (GB)
3rd Dam: Lora's Guest (Ire), by Be My Guest
1ST GROUP 1 WIN. (¥20,000,000 Wlg '18 JRHAJUL). O-Hiroshi
Yamada; B-Okada Stud (Jpn); T-Toru Kurita; J-Takeshi
Yokoyama. ¥150,079,000. Lifetime Record: 8-3-2-0. Werk
Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Orthoclase (Jpn), 126, c, 3, Epiphaneia (Jpn)–Marialite (Jpn),
by Deep Impact (Jpn). O-Carrot Farm; B-Northern Farm (Jpn);
¥56,594,000.
3–Divine Love (Jpn), 121, f, 3, Epiphaneia (Jpn)–Deep Love
(Jpn), by Deep Impact (Jpn). O-Yoshiro Kubota; B-Northern
Farm (Jpn); ¥34,297,000.
Margins: 5, HD, NO. Odds: 7.00, 4.40, 16.30.
Also Ran: Stella Veloce (Jpn), Deep Monster (Jpn), Veloce Oro (Jpn), Arrivo (Jpn), Air Sage, Asamano Itazura (Jpn), Victipharus (Jpn), Sefer Rasiel (Jpn), Road to Fame (Jpn), Red Genesis (Jpn), Monte Dio (Jpn), Gratias (Jpn), Weiss Meteor (Jpn), North the World (Jpn), World Revival (Jpn).
Click for the JRA chart & video or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
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