Duly favoured in the G1 Champions Cup after last year's winner Gold Dream (Jpn) (Gold Ship {Jpn}) was withdrawn with a muscle strain, Le Vent Se Leve (Jpn) (Symboli Kris S) utilized a stalking trip before drawing off to take his first top-flight victory by 2 1/2 lengths over the deep closer Westerlund (Jpn) (Neo Universe {Jpn}). The G1 Racing colourbearer tied the race record of 1:50.10 for 1800 metres set by Sound True (Jpn) (French Deputy).
Sent off at 4-5, the sophomore colt stayed close on the heels of Ange Desir (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) glued to the fence in second as the field entered the first turn. He relaxed beautifully on the backstretch and drifted back to a close third as Hiraboku la Tache (Jpn) (Kinshasa no Kiseki {Jpn}) briefly challenged on the far turn. 400 metres from home, pilot Mirco Demuro produced Le Vent Se Leve and the dark bay quickly motored clear to win with ease from Westerlund, who was last of 15 for most of the race. Sunrise Soar (Jpn) (Symboli Kris S), who had sat only a few lengths off the frontrunners in fifth, was a neck back in third, while Ange Desir grimly held on for fourth, another 1 1/4 lengths behind.
“I didn't want to be trapped behind horses starting from an inside draw, and he broke well so we were able to sit in
a nice position,” said Demuro. “I let him cruise at his own pace and he responded with a fantastic turn of foot when I asked him once we found an opening at the stretch. He is a colt with great potential and a bright future.”
Undefeated in three starts as a juvenile culminating in the Listed Zennippon Nisai Yushun over 1600 metres at Kawasaki last December, Le Vent Se Leve sustained his first defeat when second trying this trip in the Fukuryu S. resuming on April Fool's Day. He rattled off three more victories prior to the Champions Cup, in the June 17 G3 Unicorn S., the July 11 2000-metre Listed Japan Dirt Derby and in Morioka's Listed Mile Championship Nambu Hai on Oct. 8.
Pedigree Notes…
One of 29 black-type winners for his sire and the fifth at Group 1 level, Le Vent Se Leve is the lone reported foal for his dam, the four-time winner Maestrale (Jpn) (Neo Universe {Jpn}). His third dam, September Song (Jpn) (Real Shadai) is a half-sister to Japanese MSW Rosen Kavalier (Jpn) and SW Summer Suspicion (Jpn), both by Sunday Silence. She in turn is out quadruple Group 3 victress Dyna Fairy (Jpn) (Northern Taste). Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
Sunday, Chukyo, Japan
CHAMPIONS CUP-G1, ¥194,800,000 (US$1,711,638/£1,339,979/€1,507,082), Chukyo, 12-2, 3yo/up, 1800m, 1:50.10, gd.
1–LE VENT SE LEVE (JPN), 123, c, 3, Symboli Kris S
1st Dam: Maestrale (Jpn), by Neo Universe (Jpn)
2nd Dam: Autumn Breeze (Jpn), by Timber Country
3rd Dam: September Song (Jpn), by Real Shadai
1ST GROUP 1 WIN. O-G1 Racing; B-Shiraoi Farm (Jpn);
T-Kiyoshi Hagiwara; J-Mirco Demuro. ¥103,360,000. Lifetime
Record: 8-7-1-0. Werk Nick Rating: A+++. *Triple Plus*. Click
for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Westerlund (Jpn), 126, g, 6, Neo Universe (Jpn)–Uanme, by
Marquetry. O-Sunday Racing; B- Northern Farm (Jpn).
¥40,960,000.
3–Sunrise Soar (Jpn), 126, c, 4, Symboli Kris S–Amelia (Jpn), by
Special Week (Jpn). O-Takao Matsuoka; B-Tomita Bokujo (Jpn).
¥25,480,000.
Margins: 2HF, NK, 1 1/4. Odds: 0.90, 31.10, 7.00.
Also Ran: Ange Desir (Jpn), Omega Perfume (Jpn), Sunrise Nova (Jpn), Nonkono Yume (Jpn), Mitsuba (Jpn), Hiraboku la Tache (Jpn), Asukano Roman (Jpn), K T Brave (Jpn), Centurion (Jpn), Incantation (Jpn), Apollo Kentucky, Pavel.
Click for the Racing Post chart. JRA Video.
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