Evergreen 5-year-old mare Lys Gracieux (Jpn) (Heart's Cry {Jpn}) collected a second Group 1 win as the only female in Sunday's G1 Takarazuka Kinen, a “Win and You're In” qualifier for the GI Longines Breeders' Cup Turf, under Australian jockey Damian Lane. Lys Gracieux had been runner-up four times at the highest level before she at last broke through in the G1 Queen Elizabeth II Cup in November, and she was subsequently second in the G1 Longines Hong Kong Vase. She was second to the year-younger colt-and the 2017 Japanese champion juvenile-Danon Premium (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) on seasonal debut in the G2 Kinko Sho at Chukyo on Mar. 10, and was sent off at 4-1 for this after checking in third in Sha Tin's G1 QEII Cup on Apr. 28.
Breaking sharply from the extreme outside post 12, Lys Gracieux was about three wide heading into the first bend but had worked her way up to sit a length second behind the favoured Kiseki (Jpn) (Rulership {Jpn}). Shadowing that rival all the way down the backstretch, Lys Gracieux took dead aim on him after turning for home. Despite failing to switch leads she overtook her rival with ease and galloped clear to win by three lengths. Kiseki stayed on to be a game second.
The 25-year-old Lane, who was winning his second Japanese Group 1 in addition to last month's Victoria Mile, said of his tactics, “She broke well and I thought I might as well use that to my advantage. I was very confident turning in that she had plenty left in the tank and I was worried that there were a lot of good horses chasing and I thought that they would challenge but she was just too strong.”
Pedigree Notes
Lys Gracieux is out of the three-time French listed winner Liliside (Fr) (American Post {GB}), who is herself a full-sister to stakes winner Lily America (Fr). Other sisters have produced the G3 Premio Sergio Cumani winner Ming Zhi Cosmos (Fr) (Duke of Marmalade {Ire}), G1 Criterium de Saint-Cloud winner Robin of Navan (Fr) (American Post {GB}) and last year's G1 Prix Marcel Boussac winner Lily's Candle (Fr) (Style Vendome {Fr}). Lily's Candle is also eventually headed to Japan, having been bought by Katsumi Yoshida for €1.1-million at last year's Arqana December sale.
Sunday, Hanshin, Japan
TAKARAZUKA KINEN-G1, ¥289,660,000, Hanshin, 6-23, 3yo/up, 2200mT, 2:10.80, gd.
1–LYS GRACIEUX (JPN), 123, m, 5, by Heart's Cry (Jpn)
1st Dam: Liliside (Fr) (MSW-Fr, $144,882),
by American Post (GB)
2nd Dam: Miller's Lily (Fr), by Miller's Mate (GB)
3rd Dam: Lymara (Fr), by Lyphard
O-Carrot Farm; B-Northern Farm; T-Yoshito Yahagi; J-Damian
Lane; ¥152,562,000. Lifetime Record: Ch. Older Mare-Jpn, 20-
5-8-4. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Werk
Nick Rating: F.
2–Kiseki (Jpn), 128, h, 5, Rulership (Jpn)–Blitz Finale (Jpn), by
Deep Impact (Jpn). O-Tatsue Ishikawa; B-Shimokobe Farm;
¥60,732,000.
3–Suave Richard (Jpn), 128, h, 5, Heart's Cry (Jpn)–Pirramimma,
by Unbridled's Song. (¥155,000,000 wnlg '14 JRHAJUL)
O-NICKS Inc; B-Northern Farm; ¥38,366,000.
Margins: 3, 2, 2. Odds: 4.40, 2.60, 7.80.
Also Ran: Al Ain (Jpn), Rey de Oro (Jpn), Noble Mars (Jpn), Stiffelio (Jpn), Clincher (Jpn), Etario (Jpn), Shonan Bach (Jpn), Makahiki (Jpn), Tatsu Gogeki (Jpn).
Click for the JRA chart and video or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
Not a subscriber? Click here to sign up for the daily PDF or alerts.
