Although he only had a debut win going 1800 metres locally to his name on Dec. 15, Crystal Black handled the step up to group company with aplomb, landing the G3 Keisei Hai by a half-length over favoured Sky Groove at Nakayama. Diastima was 2 1/2 lengths back in third.
Trying 2000 metres for the first time, the 19-1 shot was fighting pilot Yutaka Yoshida from the bell, while under a snug hold in the last flight against the fence. He eventually relaxed near the tail of the field through 1000 metres in 1:01.5 as Roll of Thunder (Jpn) (Epiphaneia {Jpn}) set an even pace while pressured by even-money favourite Sky Groove. Making a strong move a quarter mile from home, he fanned out into the center of the course in upper stretch to mount his challenge. Letting down powerfully, Crystal Black sprinted past Sky Groove in the final few jumps to ultimately win a shade cozily.
Pedigree Notes
The second black-type winner at Group 3 level for his champion and G1 Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby) winning sire Kizuna (Deep Impact {Jpn}), Crystal Black is from his first crop of 184 foals. He joins G3 Hakodate Nisai S. hero Bien Fait (Jpn) and Japanese listed winner Chimera Verite (Jpn) as black-type winners by the 2013 G2 Prix Niel victor. Carrying the colours of Isamu Osada, he is one of five winners from five foals out of the winning Ash Cake (Taiki Shuttle). Crystal Black's second dam was a $90,000 BARMAY juvenile buy who went on to win twice in Japan before retiring to the paddocks.
Sunday, Nakayama, Japan
KEISEI HAI-G3, ¥72,650,000 (US$660,025/£508,045/€595,189), Nakayama, 1-19, 3yo, 2000mT, 2:02.10, gd.
1–CRYSTAL BLACK (JPN), 123, c, 3, Kizuna (Jpn)
1st Dam: Ash Cake (Jpn), by Taiki Shuttle
2nd Dam: Keiai Glory, by Kris S.
3rd Dam: Star Pitcher, by Star Choice
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN. 1ST GROUP WIN. O-Isamu Okada;
B-Okaribe Farm (Jpn); T-Fumimasa Takahashi; J-Yutaka
Yoshida. ¥38,455,000. Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0. Werk Nick
Rating: A++. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Sky Groove (Jpn), 119, f, 3, Epiphaneia (Jpn)–Admire
Sceptre (Jpn), by King Kamehameha (Jpn). O-Silk Racing;
B-Northern Farm (Jpn); ¥15,130,000.
3–Diastima (Jpn), 123, c, 3, Deep Impact (Jpn)–Sweet Reason,
by Street Sense. O-Sunday Racing; B-Northern Farm (Jpn);
¥9,565,000.
Margins: HF, 2HF, NK. Odds: 19.90, 1.10, 12.00.
Also Ran: Bitterender (Jpn), King of Dragon (Jpn), Remember Memory (Jpn), Roll of Thunder (Jpn), Vehement (Jpn), Xenoverse (Jpn), Hygge (Jpn), Kimuken Dream (Jpn), Chuwa Jordan (Jpn).
Click for the JRA chart and video or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
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