Keeping in line with his family's long-standing history with the G1 Kikuka Sho (Japanese St. Leger), Urban Chic (Jpn) (Suave Richard {Jpn}) posted an emphatic result in the final leg of the Japanese Triple Crown on Sunday in Kyoto.
Entering this race off claiming his first group title in the G2 Asahi Hai St. Lite Kinen on September 16, a trial race for the Kikuka Sho, Urban Chic was one of three to come from that contest, the others being Cosmo Kuranda (Jpn) (Al Ain {Jpn}) and Ecoro Walz (Jpn) (Black Tide {Jpn}).
Unbeaten as a juvenile, the Ryo Takei-trainee started his 3-year-old season running second to Danon Decile (Jpn) (Epiphaneia {Jpn}) in the G3 Keisei Hai, and that one would ultimately go on to win the G1 Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby) on May 26 after being a steward scratch in the G1 Satsuki Sho (Japanese 2000 Guineas)–Urban Chic would finish fourth in the latter and 11th in the former.
In no rush after a fine jump from the blocks, Urban Chic settled in mid-field for the first portion of the race behind a dwaddling pace set by frontrunning Meisho Tabaru (Jpn) (Gold Ship {Jpn}) as favorited Danon Decile tracked the pace from the rail. As the race changed shape entering the backstretch, Urban Chic had overtaken the betting choice, who at one point found himself with only two horses beaten, as they approached the final bend. With the pace increasing as Admire Terra (Jpn) (Rey de Oro {Jpn}) took over the lead passing the 800-metre pole, the eventual winner was called on to close the distance in the lane.
Relentlessly erasing the gap, he easily overtook that rival in the final 200 metres and pulled away to win by 2 1/2 lengths. Redentor (Jpn) (Rulership {Jpn}) closed well late to nose out Asmire Terra for second in a photo. Danon Decile showed good foot in the straight, producing the second-fastest finishing speed, but it was too much too late to reach contention and he finished sixth.
The G1 Kikuka Sho is Ryo Takei's third group title and first at the highest level.
“The colt is never quick out of the gate and the race was 3,000 meters, so I let him take his time to find a good rhythm,” commented Christophe Lemaire after the race. “He was able to have a breather during the race and we were able to advance nicely to a good position near the end so, once he got into gear, I knew his ability and was confident that we could make it to the wire first.
“He has matured well and has increased his power towards this fall season. He has a lot of potential and is well up to Group 1 standards in the future.”
【Kikuka Sho (Japanese St. Leger) (G1), 3000m, Kyoto, JRA】
Winner: Urban Chic
Review article:https://t.co/z5Z9JBwy1O
PDF https://t.co/e5wBFDY2vj
Race call Video (Full)https://t.co/o6EDsLKbBo#JRA #horseracing #KikukaSho #UrbanChic pic.twitter.com/AZ3f9geGm6— HorseRacingInJapan (@HorseRacing_JPN) October 20, 2024
Pedigree Notes
Hailing from the immediate female line of the great Deep Impact (Jpn), a winner of this race when it was only a Listed contest, Urban Chic is the most recent of that family to claim the Kikuka Sho. His dam is a half-sister to the mare who produced G1 Oka Sho heroine and multiple Group 1-placed Stellenbosch (Jpn) (Epiphaneia {Jpn}), and those second dams are out of the Japanese blue hen mare, Group 1 winner Wind In Her Hair (Ire). Sent to Australia in 2022, Edgy Style was not bred that year and most recently reported a 2023 colt by Castelvecchio (Aus).
Most famous for her aforementioned son–the two-time Japanese Horse of the Year; two-time champion as a 3-year-old colt and an older horse; and the Japanese Triple Crown winner–Wind In Her Hair can also lay claim to that one's full-brother, SW & GSP-Jpn Black Tide (Jpn), who enjoys a solid stallion career.
While still second-best when compared to his venerable younger brother, the sire throws his share of Group-quality progeny and became a sire of sires via his best son Kitasan Black (Jpn). In turn, Black Tide is most notably the grandsire of multiple Group 1 winner Equinox (Jpn) through that male line. He has also experienced some success as a broodmare sire.
Another sire line to rise from Wind In Her Hair through her daughters and granddaughters is that of Rey de Oro (Jpn) (King Kamehameha {Jpn}), himself a two-time champion and multiple Group 1 winner who claimed the Japanese Derby. Third place finisher Admire Terra carried his flag in this race.
Sunday, Kyoto, Japan
KIKUKA SHO (JAPANESE ST. LEGER)-G1, ¥424,600,000, Kyoto, 10-20, 3yo, 3000mT, 3:04.10, fm.
1–URBAN CHIC (JPN), 126, c, 3, by Suave Richard (Jpn)
1st Dam: Edgy Style (Jpn), by Harbinger (GB)
2nd Dam: Land's Edge (Jpn), by Dance in the Dark (Jpn)
3rd Dam: Wind in Her Hair (Ire), by Alzao
1ST GROUP 1 BLACK TYPE, 1ST GROUP 1 WIN. O-Silk Racing; B-Northern Farm; T-Ryo Takei; J-Christophe Lemaire; ¥231,220,000. Lifetime Record: 7-4-1-0, ¥350,448,000. Werk Nick Rating: A+++. *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Redentor (Jpn), 126, c, 3, Rulership (Jpn)–Corcovado (Jpn), by Stay Gold (Jpn). 1ST BLACK-TYPE, 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE, 1ST GROUP 1 BLACK TYPE. O-Carrot Farm; B-Northern Farm; ¥88,920,000.
3–Admire Terra (Jpn), 126, c, 3, Rey de Oro (Jpn)–Admire Miyabi (Jpn), by Heart's Cry (Jpn). (¥135,000,000 Ylg '22 JRHJUL). 1ST BLACK-TYPE, 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE, 1ST GROUP 1 BLACK TYPE. O-Junko Kondo; B-Northern Farm; ¥54,460,000.
Margins: 2HF, NO, NK; Odds: 2.70, 6.10, 22.60.
Also ran: Shonan la Punta (Jpn), Byzantine Dream (Jpn), Danon Decile (Jpn), Schwarze Kugel (Jpn), Hayatenofukunosuke (Jpn), Ecoro Waltz (Jpn), Allegro Brilante (Jpn), West Now (Jpn), Mr G T (Jpn), Meliorem (Jpn), Cosmo Kuranda (Jpn), Peace One Duc (Jpn), Meisho Tabaru (Jpn), Ask Come On More (Jpn), Noble Sky (Jpn). Click for the JRA chart & video.
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