By Alan Carasso
Duramente (Jpn) (King Kamehameha {Jpn}–Admire Groove {Jpn}, by Sunday Silence), whom many thought represented Japan's best-ever hopes at winning the heretofore-elusive G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, has been retired to stand at Northern Farm after injuring his near-fore just past the wire in last Sunday's G1 Takarazuka Kinen at Hanshin Racecourse.
“I'm shocked. Duramente's the strongest horse I've ever ridden and I was sure he would succeed on the biggest stage in the world,” jockey Mirco Demuro told Racing Post. “I'm very sad his challenge the Arc would not come true. I hope he will become a monster as a sire instead.”
Bred by Northern Farm from their dual Group 1 winner and 2004 champion older mare Admire Groove, the Noriyuki Hori-trained Duramente registered the first of his three black-type wins with a 1 1/2-length defeat of future G1 Dubai Turf hero Real Steel (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) in last year's G1 Satsuki Sho (Japanese 2000 Guineas) (video) before validating odds-on favoritism with a 1 3/4-length tally in the G1 Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby) (video). Though he missed the rest of the season via injury, he had done enough to be named Japan's champion 3-year-old of 2015.
With an eye on Dubai World Cup night, Duramente returned to action in style, pegging back Ambitious (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) and Real Steel in a highly productive renewal of the G2 Nakayama Kinen Feb. 28 (video) and it was on to the G1 Dubai Sheema Classic. Despite casting a plate in the preliminaries and ultimately running with just three shoes, he finished ahead of all in a high-quality field bar Postponed (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}). Favored at odds-on in the Takarazuka Kinen, Duramente weaved his way through traffic and was gaining late, but was outfinished by the classy mare Marialite (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) (video), then appeared to take an awkward step, was pulled up by Mirco Demuro and was vanned off.
Duramente's second dam is 1997 Japanese Horse of the Year Air Groove (Jpn) (Tony Bin {Ire}), winner of the 1996 Japanese Oaks and twice runner-up in the G1 Japan Cup. Among her produce is G1SW Rulership (Jpn) (King Kamehameha {Jpn}), while third dam Dyna Carle (Jpn) (Northern Taste) was champion of her generation in 1982 and 1983.
Duramente retires with a record of 8-5-3-0 and earnings of ¥516,607,000 (US$4,374,742). A stud fee will be announced at a later date.
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