By Alan Carasso
A good many of the 127,000-plus race fans who packed the stands Sunday at Nakayama Racecourse for the $3.9-million G1 Arima Kinen were there to see the enigmatic Gold Ship (Jpn) (Stay Gold {Jpn}) attempt to lock up a second victory in the year-end event, the field for which is selected by public vote. As popular for his unpredictability as he is for his raw talent–he had annexed no fewer than six Group 1 tests–the gray was making his last racecourse appearance, with a stud career beckoning in 2016. When Hiroyuki Uchida set Gold Ship alight with about six furlongs left to run, the crowed roared its approval as Gold Ship advanced all the way up into third in a race run at only a steady tempo. But that fact meant that those nearer the front had plenty in reserve, and Gold Actor (Jpn) (Screen Hero {Jpn}) proved the major beneficiary. Gold Ship finished eighth, with many of those in attendance braving the cool air for a post-racing retirement ceremony as darkness descended upon Nakayama.
Third in last year's G1 Kikuka Sho (Japanese St Leger), Gold Actor entered the Arima Kinen on the come, with three wins in as many seasonal appearances, including a breakthrough Group 2 score in Tokyo's Copa Republica Argentina over this 2500-meter distance Nov. 8. The waters were significantly deeper here, with the likes of G1 Tenno Sho (Autumn) winner Lovely Day (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) and this year's Kikuka Sho hero Kitasan Black (Jpn) (Black Tide {Jpn}) in the mix, but Gold Actor proved equal to the task, albeit with a perfect trip.
Neatly into stride from the seven hole, Gold Actor led through the first 150 meters or so before being displaced on the front end by the well-bet Kitasan Black, while St Leger third Lia Fail (Jpn) (Zenno Rob Roy {Jpn}) eased forward to apply token pressure. Marialite (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}), last-out winner of the G1 Queen Elizabeth II S., raced prominently, but four or five deep, after leaving from the widest berth in the field of 16. Kitasan Black led around the final turn, but soon had company from Marialite, who was staying on gamely despite the wide passage. But Gold Actor was tipped out three wide at the head of the stretch, hit the lead about 100 meters from the wire and held sway as Sounds of Earth (Jpn) (Neo Universe {Jpn}) took a dive at him late. Kitasan Black gave ground grudgingly to be third just ahead of Marialite. The victory was the first at the highest level for jockey Hayato Yoshida and trainer Tadashiga Nakagawa, who opened his stable in 2006.
“It was my first time riding this colt at Nakayama, but I knew that this course would suit him and having picked a good draw, I was able to ride him as I had imagined,” Yoshida commented. “We made a rather early move so I was praying that he would stay to the finish. He's a smart horse and I knew that he had the ability to perform at this [G1] level. I, as a jockey, took up this career to become a G1 winner and I am happy that my efforts to this day finally paid off.”
The winner's sire is also responsible for Maurice (Jpn), victorious in the G1 Mile Championship and G1 Longines Hong Kong Mile in his last two appearances.
Total turnover on the Arima Kinen alone was ¥41.6 billion (about US$342 million), about a 6% (in yen) increase over last year, while the entire program attracted ¥55.2 billion (about US$459.6 million) in wagers.
Sunday, Nakayama, Japan
ARIMA KINEN-G1, ¥480,860,000, Nakayama, 12-27, 3yo/up, 2500mT, 2:33, fm.
1–&GOLD ACTOR (JPN), 126, c, 4, by Screen Hero (Jpn)
1st Dam: Heilong Xing (Jpn), by Kyowa Alysheba
2nd Dam: Happy Hien (Jpn), by Manado (Ire)
3rd Dam: Buzen Fubuki (Jpn), by Sedan (Fr)
O-Kaname Ishiro; B-Hokusho Farm; T-Tadashige Nakagawa; J-Hayato Yoshida; ¥253,402,000. Lifetime Record: 13-7-2-1, ¥419,914,000. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Werk Nick Rating: A+.
2–Sounds of Earth (Jpn), 126, c, 4, Neo Universe (Jpn)–First Violin, by Dixieland Band. O-Teruya Yoshida; B-Shadai Farm; ¥100,972,000.
3–Kitasan Black (Jpn), 121, c, 3, Black Tide (Jpn)–Sugar Heart (Jpn), by Sakura Bakushin-Oh (Jpn). O-Ono Shoji Inc.; B-Yanagawa Farm; ¥63,486,000.
Margins: NK, 3/4, HD. Odds: 16.00, 8.90, 7.40.
Also Ran : Marialite (Jpn), Lovely Day (Jpn), Tosen Reve (Jpn), Admire Deus (Jpn), Gold Ship (Jpn), One and Only (Jpn), Rouge Buck (Jpn), Albert (Jpn), Last Impact (Jpn), Hit the Target (Jpn), Derby Fizz (Jpn), Ocean Blue (Jpn), Lia Fail (Jpn).
Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO.
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