The once-beaten Almond Eye (Jpn) (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}) burst past favourite and 2-year-old champion Lucky Lilac (Jpn) (Orfevre {Jpn}) in late stretch to win Hanshin's G1 Oka Sho, the Japanese 1000 Guineas, in stakes-record time on Sunday. Sent off at 5-2 behind the previously unbeaten 4-5 crowd's pick Lucky Lilac, she settled last but one as the gates sprung and Cordierite (Jpn) (Daiwa Major {Jpn}) showed the way with Lucky Lilac sitting third. Cordierite was tackled by Tsuzumimon (Jpn) (Strong Return {Jpn}) at the halfway point, with Almond Eye still second last as the field approached the bend. Tsuzumimon went on with it from there, but Lucky Lilac had dead aim in upper stretch, as Almond Eye unleashed a withering finishing burst under Christophe Lemaire. Almond Eye swept past new leader Lucky Lilac and finished 1 3/4 lengths to the good of that rival, who was a half-length in front of fellow Sunday Racing colourbearer Lily Noble (Jpn) (Rulership {Jpn}) in third.
“Her response and speed at the stretch was unbelievable and felt great,” said winning hoop Lemaire. “Her strides kept getting bigger and all I had to do was keep her straight. A step up in distance shouldn't be a problem for this talented filly, who has a great potential to win the Triple [Tiara].”
Almond Eye has done little wrong in her young career, completing the exacta at first asking at Niigata in August, before landing a 1600-metre Tokyo affair on Oct. 8. She won the G3 Nikkan Sports Sho Shinzan Kinen at Kyoto going this trip in her 3-year-old bow on Jan. 8, and in the process gave her sire his first black-type and group winner.
Pedigree Notes…
The sophomore filly, is the first Group 1 victress for her sire, Lord Kanaloa (Jpn), a Japanese Horse of the Year and two-time champion sprinter/miler. The Shadai Stallion Station resident has since been represented by Group 2 winner Stelvio (Jpn), who was second in the G1 Asahi Hai Futurity S. Arrowfield Stud will offer a colt (lot 35) by him out of a Deep Impact (Jpn) daughter of Argentinean champion Potrizaris (Arg) (Potrillazo {Arg}) during the first session of the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale on Monday. The sixth winner of six foals to race out of the Japanese MSW and Group 1 bridesmaid Fusaichi Pandora (Jpn), Almond Eye is followed by a yearling colt by Rulership (Jpn). Her second dam, the unraced Lotta Lace (Nureyev), is a half-sister to English and Irish champion juveniles El Gran Senor (Northern Dancer) and Try My Best (Northern Dancer) being out of the blue hen Sex Appeal (Buckpasser), who also produced GSW Solar (Halo). Numerous SWs trace to her, including GISWs Bahamian Pirate (Housebuster) and GI United Nations S. victor Chinchon (Ire) (Marju {Ire}). (Click here to read an Alan Carasso feature on Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}) Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
Sunday, Hanshin, Japan
OKA SHO (JAPANESE 1000 GUINEAS)-G1, ¥234,790,000 (US$2,196,693/£1,559,074/€1,788,040), Hanshin, 4-8, 3yo, f, 1600mT, 1:33.10, fm.
1–ALMOND EYE (JPN), 121, f, 3, by Lord Kanaloa (Jpn)
1st Dam: Fusaichi Pandora (Jpn) (MSW & G1SP-Jpn,
$3,264,457), by Sunday Silence
2nd Dam: Lotta Lace, by Nureyev
3rd Dam: Sex Appeal, by Buckpasser
1ST GROUP 1 WIN. O-Silk Racing; B-Northern Farm (Jpn);
T-Sakae Kunieda; J-Christophe Lemaire; ¥129,703,000.
Lifetime Record: 4-3-1-0. *1st Group 1 winner for her sire (by
King Kamehameha {Jpn}). Werk Nick Rating: A+++. *Triple
Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Lucky Lilac (Jpn), 121, f, 3, by Orfevre (Jpn)
1st Dam: Lilacs and Lace, by Flower Alley
2nd Dam: Refinement, by Seattle Slew
3rd Dam: Stella Madrid, by Alydar
O-Sunday Racing; B-Northern Farm (Jpn); ¥49,058,000.
3–Lily Noble (Jpn), 121, f, 3, by Rulership (Jpn).
1st Dam: Pure Chaplet (Jpn), by Kurofune
2nd Dam: Baptista (Jpn), by Sunday Silence
3rd Dam: Bebop (Jpn), by Amber Shadai (Jpn)
O-Sunday Racing; B-Northern Farm (Jpn); ¥29,529,000.
Margins: 1 3/4, HF, 1 3/4; Odds: 2.90, 0.80, 6.40.
Also Ran: Tosen Bless (Jpn), Mau Lea (Jpn), Liberty Heights (Jpn), Red Sakuya (Jpn), Scarlet Color (Jpn), Tsuzumimon (Jpn), Primo Scene (Jpn), Encore Plus (Jpn), Finift (Jpn), Dernier Or (Jpn), Harlem Line (Jpn), Red Regnant (Jpn), Cordierite (Jpn), Aonbharr (Jpn). Scratched: Amalfi Coast (Jpn).
Click for the Racing Post chart. JRA Video.
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