By Alan Carasso
Between them, Maurice (Jpn) (Screen Hero {Jpn}) and Gentildonna (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) accounted for three Horse of the Year titles in Japan, 13 Group 1 races–including four overseas–and the better part of $28 million in prizemoney. There is no such thing as a sure thing in the business of breeding horses, but Geraldina (Jpn) went some ways in cementing the accomplishments of mom and dad in their second careers with a tough-trip victory in Sunday's G1 Queen Elizabeth II Cup at Hanshin Racecourse.
Drawn widest in the field of 18, Geraldina was away without incident, but Cristian Demuro was left with no real option but to attempt to slot his mount in towards the back of the pack, as 82-1 Rosa Noir (Jpn) (Manhattan Cafe {Jpn}) made the running in advance of G1 Juddmonte Irish Oaks heroine Magical Lagoon (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). Demuro had Geraldina positioned in the latter third of the field over a rain-affected course and raced as many as six paths off the inside, covering the well-bet G1 Shuka Sho runner-up Namur (Jpn) (Harbinger {GB}) while racing with the benefit of cover on the back of longshot Terzetto (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}). Improving her position as they hit the final turn, Geraldina was pulled out six or seven deep nearing the straight and had dead aim on Win Marilyn (Jpn) (Screen Hero {Jpn}), who overhauled Rosa Noir approaching the furlong pole. The two dueled for a stride or two, but Geraldina–a spitting image of her sire and dam–kicked on strongly despite the wide passage and proved a much-the-best winner. Lilac (Jpn) (Orfevre {Jpn}) was up on the wire to dead-heat for second, while defending champion Akai Ito (Jpn) (Kizuna {Jpn}) closed off well for fourth. Daring Tact (Jpn) (Epiphaneia {Jpn}) was only sixth as a somewhat suspect favourite. It was a third QE II win in four years for Sunday Racing, who were represented by Lucky Lilac (Jpn) (Orfevre {Jpn}) in 2019 and 2020.
“I'm very happy I was able to win another Group 1 race,” said Demuro, whose brother Mirco was aboard Lilac. “The filly was traveling very well in the last corner, came out and gave a good turn of foot. The last time when she won [G2 Sankei Sho All Comers S. Sept. 25], it was a good race, so I was pretty confident with her. Gentildonna was a good filly and I think Geraldina can be like her dam.”
Demuro also carried the Sunday Racing colours aboard Shahryar (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) in this year's G1 Longines Dubai Sheema Classic.
Magical Lagoon, who was a bit uncooperative pre-start, raced handy to the pace, but began to struggle a half-mile from home and was effectively eased up in the final furlong with a clear alibi.
“We were able to race in a good position, but she likes quick ground and the rain, unfortunately, took her chance away,” said jockey Shane Foley. “I urged her to go from the third corner, but she didn't respond. I don't know why she didn't want to go into the gate because she's usually really good.”
Pedigree Notes:
Geraldina is the fourth Group 1 winner overall for Maurice and his second in Japan, joining Sprinters' S. hero Pixie Knight (Jpn). He has also been represented by Australian Derby hero Hitotsu (Aus) and Doomben 10,000 S. winner Mazu (Aus) from his shuttle missions to Arrowfield Stud.
Gentildonna is the second foal out of Donna Blini, who cost a mere £20,000 at the 2004 Doncaster St Leger yearling sale, but was purchased by Katsumi Yoshida just over two years later for 500,000gns ($1,014,038) owing to the filly's 12-1 upset in the G1 Cheveley Park S. for trainer Brian Meehan in 2005. Donna Blini was off to a flyer in the breeding shed, producing future MGSW & MG1SP Donau Blue (Jpn) to the cover of Deep Impact in 2008 and Gentildonna in 2009.
Winner of the Japanese Filly Triple Crown in 2012, Gentildonna defeated Orfevre in an epic renewal of the G1 Japan Cup that fall before successfully defending her title 12 months later. She carried Ryan Moore to a famous victory over Cirrus des Aigles (Fr) in the G1 Dubai Sheema Classic when kept in training at five and closed her career with 7-1 score in the 2014 G1 Arima Kinen.
Gentildonna is also the dam of three-time maiden Marina Donna (Jpn) (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}) and a yearling full-sister to Geraldina. She was barren to Epiphaneia (Jpn) for 2022.
Sunday, Hanshin, Japan
QUEEN ELIZABETH II CUP-G1, ¥ 253,400,000, Hanshin, 11-13, 3yo/up, f/m, 2200mT, 2:13, yl.
1–GERALDINA (JPN), 123, f, 4, by Maurice (Jpn)
1st Dam: Gentildonna (Jpn) (2x Horse of the Year, 2x Ch. Older Mare, Ch. 3yo Filly & MG1SW-Jpn, Hwt. Older Mare at 11-14f & G1SW-UAE, $18,468,392), by Deep Impact (Jpn)
2nd Dam: Donna Blini (GB), by Bertolini
3rd Dam: Cal Norma's Lady (Ire), by Lyphard's Special
1ST GROUP 1 WIN. O-Sunday Racing; B-Northern Farm; T-Takashi Saito; J-Cristian Demuro; ¥133,780,000. Lifetime Record: 16-6-2-2, ¥298,967,000. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
(DH)-2–Win Marilyn (Jpn), 123, m, 5, Screen Hero (Jpn)–Cosmo Cielo (Aus), by Fusaichi Pegasus. O-Win Inc; B-Cosmo View Farm; ¥43,310,000.
(DH)-2–Lilac (Jpn), 119, f, 3, Gold Ship (Jpn)–Viva Bouquet (Jpn), by King Kamehameha (Jpn). O-Seiichi Serizawa; B-Kineusu Farm; ¥43,310,000.
Margins: 1 3/4, (DH), 2HF. Odds: 7.10, (9.10, 51.90).
Also Ran: Akai Ito (Jpn), Namur (Jpn), Daring Tact (Jpn), Ho O Emmy's (Jpn), Ruby Casablanca (Jpn), Pin High (Jpn), Izu Jo no Kiseki (Jpn), Kurino Premium (Jpn), Terzetto (Jpn), Rosa Noir (Jpn), Stunning Rose (Jpn), Win Kiitos (Jpn), Win Mighty (Jpn), Andvaranaut (Jpn), Magical Lagoon (Ire). Click for the JRA chart.
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