Fan favourite Namura Clair (Jpn) (Mikki Isle {Jpn}) occupied the runner-up spot in the Takamatsunomiya Kinen for the third consecutive year at Chukyo on Sunday, as Satono Reve (Jpn) fought off the best sprinters that Japan has to offer to make the breakthrough in Group 1 company.
Defending champion Mad Cool (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) also featured in the 18-strong field, but it was Namura Clair, previously second to First Force (Jpn) in 2023, who headed the betting in her quest to finally to win this six-furlong heat. Last seen winning the G2 Hanshin Cup in December, Namura Clair was marginally preferred by punters to Satono Reve, who was having his first start since finishing third in the G1 Hong Kong Sprint at Sha Tin. Before that the six-year-old Satono Reve had finished seventh in the G1 Sprinters Stakes won by Lugal (Jpn) (Duramente {Jpn}), following a pair of Group 3 victories in the Hakodate Sprint Stakes and Keeneland Cup.
Satono Reve broke smoothly and eased back to take the first bend in mid-division. After meeting traffic on the home turn, jockey Joao Moreira steered his mount to the outside to make his challenge and the son of Lord Kanaloa (Jpn) responded willingly, unleashing an impressive burst to hit the front 100 metres out, before holding off the fast-finishing Namura Clair to win by three quarters of a length. Mama Cocha (Jpn) (Kurofune), another Group 1 winner in a star-studded field, having struck in the 2023 Sprinters Stakes, was beaten another length and a quarter in third, just ahead of last year's Sprinters runner-up, Toshin Macau (Jpn) (Big Arthur {Jpn}).
Trainer Noriyuki Hori was celebrating his third success in the Takamatsunomiya Kinen, after back-to-back wins with Kinshasa No Kiseki (Aus) in 2010 and 2011, while Moreira, who has been riding in Japan under a short-term licence, was notching his third Group 1 victory on the JRA circuit.
“The horse gave me a beautiful ride,” said the Brazilian-born jockey. “He behaved very well from the gate, travelled nicely on the bend. I angled him out as we approached the homestretch and from there he showed that he has an amazing ability.”
Satono Reve ran out the winner of the G1 Takamatsunomiya Kinen in Japan earlier this morning! 🇯🇵
Namura Clair was close behind, finishing second for the third consecutive year!@netkeiba | #競馬 | #高松宮記念 pic.twitter.com/0ei42On2BM
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) March 30, 2025
Pedigree Notes
Satono Reve is one of eight winners from 11 runners out of the winning Sakura Bakushin O (Jpn) mare Ciliege (Jpn), with the others including the G2 Centaur Stakes hero and sire Hakusan Moon (Jpn), who ran in four consecutive renewals of the Takamatsunomiya Kinen, finishing third in 2013, fifth in 2014, second in 2015 and eleventh in 2016. In 2013, he also finished second in the Sprinters Stakes won by Satono Reve's sire, Lord Kanaloa. Ciliege, whose other notable progeny include the G3 Bavarian Classic winner Warring States (Jpn) (Victoire Pisa {Jpn}), is herself out of the Listed-placed Megami Guerlain (Jpn) (Shady Heights {GB}).
Sunday, Chukyo, Japan
TAKAMATSUNOMIYA KINEN-G1, ¥329,50,000, Chukyo, 3-30, 4yo/up, 1200mT, 1:07.90, fm.
1–SATONO REVE (JPN), 128, h, 6, by Lord Kanaloa (Jpn)
1st Dam: Ciliege (Jpn), by Sakura Bakushin O (Jpn)
2nd Dam: Megami Guerlain (Jpn), by Shady Heights (GB)
3rd Dam: Mogami Guerlain (Jpn), by Mogmi (Fr)
1ST GROUP 1 WIN. (¥54,000,000 Wlg '19 JRHJUL). O-Hajime
Satomi; B-Shirai Farm (Jpn); T-Noriyuki Hori; J-Joao Moreira;
¥173,864,000. Lifetime Record: G1SP-HK, 12-8-1-1,
$2,674,701. *1/2 to Hakusan Moon (Jpn) (Admire Moon {Jpn}),
MGSW & MG1SP-Jpn, $3,838,913; and Warring States (Jpn)
(Victoire Pisa {Jpn}), GSW-Ger. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple
Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Click for
the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Namura Clair (Jpn), 123, m, 6, Mikki Isle (Jpn)–Sun Queen, by
Storm Cat. O-Mutsuhiro Namura; B-Tanikawa Farm (Jpn);
¥69,104,000.
3–Mama Cocha (Jpn), 123, m, 6, Kurofune–Buchiko (Jpn), by
King Kamehameha (Jpn). O-Makoto Kaneko Holdings;
B-Northern Farm (Jpn); ¥43,552,000.
Margins: 3/4, 1 1/4, NK. Odds: 3.80, 3.50, 14.60.
Also Ran: Toshin Macau (Jpn), A Shin Fencer (Jpn), Mad Cool (Ire), Lugal (Jpn), Drop of Light (Jpn), Big Caesar (Jpn), Kangchenjunga (Jpn), Travesura (Jpn), Balsam Note (Jpn), Mozu Meimei (Jpn), Off Trail (GB), Kitano Express (Jpn), Win Greatest (Jpn), Suzu Khalom (Jpn), Pair Pollux (Jpn). Click for the JRA chart & video.
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