Satono Crown stretched his unbeaten record to three with a smooth win in the G2 Hochi Hai Yayoi Sho (Japanese 2000 Guineas Trial), a race whose roll of honor includes such future stars as Deep Impact (Jpn) (Sunday Silence), To The World (Jpn) (King Kamehameha {Jpn}), Victoire Pisa (Jpn) (Neo Universe {Jpn}) and Special Week (Jpn) (Sunday Silence). The dark bay had made a winning debut in a 1800-meter 2-year-old newcomers' event at Tokyo Oct. 25, and doubled up a month later under Ryan Moore in the G3 Hai Nisai S. over the same trip. Breaking from post four yesterday, Satono Crown tracked the early leaders and was nudged along by jockey Yuichi Fukunaga to keep up with the solid pace set by Just For You.
Fukunuga started picking his mount together around the bend and the colt offered a decisive response, hitting the front entering the straight and pulling clear of his rivals in a matter of strides. Bright Emblem, who had been spotted two lengths off the pack in mid-race and rounded the turn widest of all, produced an impressive late rush to grab second place, 1 1/2 lengths adrift from the winner. Tagano Espresso hung on for third, a further 2 1/2 lengths back.
The winning jockey told Racing Post, “In the previous race, he got in trouble at the break, so the staff trained him not to do same thing. I got a good position after the good break and he is near complete as a racehorse and good to handle. I expect success in the big races in future.” Purchased for the equivalent of $480,000 as a yearling, the Northern Farm-bred Satono Crown is a full-brother to G1 Cheveley Park S. heroine Lightening Pearl (Ire) (Marju {Ire}). He will now be aimed at the G1 Satsuki Sho (Japanese 2000 Guineas), run over the same course and distance Apr. 19.
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