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Kikuka Sho (Japanese St. Leger) (G1) - Satono Diamond Captures Last Leg of Triple Crown after Third and Second in First Two

Race favorite Satono Diamond concluded the Triple Crown with a win in the Kikuka Sho (Japanese St. Leger) after finishing third as odds-on-favorite in the first leg, the Satsuki Sho (Japanese 2000 Guineas), and a nose second in the Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby). This was his first G1 title and his third graded victory following his win in the previous Kobe Shimbun Hai (G2, 2,400m). This victory marked trainer Yasutoshi Ikee’s 15th JRA-G1 title following his win in last year’s Tenno Sho (Autumn) with Lovely Day and jockey Christophe Lemaire’s first classic title and eighth JRA-G1 victory following his NHK Mile Cup title with Major Emblem this year. Deep Impact became the first sire to conquer all three legs of the Triple Crown for colts in the same year, each with different colt—Dee Majesty, Makahiki and Satono Diamond. He has also become the champion sire of all five classic titles for colts and fillies.

Satono Diamond broke smoothly and settled in mid-division, around ninth from Miraieno Tsubasa who led the field that spread into a long line. The son of Deep Impact waited patiently while others tried to make headway in the backstretch but gradually edged forward turning wide around the last corners and, once facing the homestretch, unleashed a powerful turn of speed to take command before the 200-meter pole and accelerated strongly while easily holding off the rest of the filed by 2-1/2 lengths.

“I’m excited and happy to be able to win a classic race for the first time in Japan. The colt was in his best condition and the only concern was the distance (of 3,000 meters). But he responded really well in the last stretch so I was quite confident that we will win. He’s a top-class horse and will definitely be able to win other G1 races,” commented jockey Christophe Lemaire.

Ninth pick Rainbow Line, who was eighth in the Tokyo Yushun but a close third in the prior NHK Mile Cup (G1, 1,600m), was rated toward the back and entered the last corners third from rear. The son of Stay Gold rounded the corners the widest of the field then exerted an impressive late charge down the stretch, winning out a duel with Dee Majesty in the last 100 meters and nailing Air Spinel in the last stride, to snatch second place.

Sixth choice Air Spinel was forwardly placed in 4-5th and advanced to third at one point in the backstretch. Taking the inner route turning for home, the King Kamehameha colt surged out from the inside, pursuing Satono Diamond who sped past his rivals from the outside, and although holding well in the stretch, was overtaken right before the wire by Rainbow Line to finish a nose behind in third.

Second favorite Dee Majesty traveled in midfield and slipped out behind Satono Diamond at the top of the stretch but was unable to keep up with the winner and was a neck short of Air Spinel to finish fourth.

Other Horses:
5th: (8) Mikki Rocket—raced behind winner, turned wide, accelerated but was too late
6th: (4) Super Lumiere—settled in rear of mid-division, advanced at backstretch, showed effort until 100m out
7th: (18) Mount Robson—ran outside winner, showed tenacious drive at stretch
8th: (1) Kafuji Prince—took economic trip in mid-pack, met traffic 200m out then quickened
9th: (7) Red Eldest—raced 3-wide in mid-filed, improved position until 200m out, weakened thereafter
10th: (17) Jun Vulcan—broke poorly and 2nd from rear, turned wide, passed tired rivals at stretch
11th: (16) Prodigal Son—traveled toward rear, made headway at backstretch, showed brief effort at stretch
12th: (10) Umbruch—saved ground in mid-division, circled wide and ran gamely until 200m marker
13th: (5) Miraieno Tsubasa—set pace, sustained lead until final furlong pole, outrun thereafter
14th: (14) Agnes Forte—chased leaders in 3rd or 4th, ran out of steam 300m out
15th: (2) George Cinq—sat in 4th, sustained bid until top of stretch
16th: (12) Cosmo Llave—hugged rails toward rear, unable to reach contention
17th: (9) Immortal—trailed in rear, no factor throughout
18th: (15) Satono Etoile—stalked leader in 2nd from wide stall, faded before final corner

THE 21ST SHUKA SHO (G1)
3-year-old Colts and Fillies, 3,000 meters (about 15 furlongs), turf, right-handed
Sunday, October 23, 2016      Kyoto Racecourse       11th Race        Post time: 15:40
Total prize money: ¥ 248,400,000 (about US$ 2,070,000 <US$1=¥120>)
3-y-o: 57 kg (about 126 lbs), 2 kg allowance for Fillies, 2 kg allowance for Southern Hemisphere-bred born in 2013
Safety factor: 18 runners

1. 1.Satono Diamond (JPN), bay, colt, 3-year-old
   Deep Impact / Malpensa (Orpen)

   Owner: Hajime Satomi	Breeder: Northern Racing
   Trainer: Yasutoshi Ikee	Jockey: Christophe Lemaire
   7 Starts, 5 Wins
   Added money: ¥ 145,961,000	Career earnings: ¥ 371,562,000
   Principal Race Performances:	’16 Kobe Shimbun Hai (G2, 2,400m)	1st
   	’16 Kisaragi Sho (G3, 1,800m)	1st

   
   
2. 2.Rainbow Line (JPN), bay, colt, 3-year-old
   Stay Gold / Regenbogen (French Deputy)

   Owner: Masahiro Mita	Breeder: Northern Racing
   Trainer: Hidekazu Asami	Jockey: Yuichi Fukunaga

   
   
3. 3.Air Spinel (JPN), chestnut, colt, 3-year-old
   King Kamehameha / Air Messiah (Sunday Silence)

   Owner: Lucky Field Co., Ltd.	Breeder: Tsunebumi Yoshihara
   Trainer: Kazuhide Sasada	Jockey: Yutaka Take

* The Kikuka Sho (Japanese St. Leger, G1)
The history of Kikuka Sho, the Japanese St. Leger and the last leg of the Triple Crown race for three-year-old colts and fillies, dates back to 1938—a year after Japan’s 11 racing clubs integrated into one organization named Nihon Keiba Kai (forerunner of the JRA). Initially called “Kyoto Norin-sho Shoten Yonsai Yobiuma Kyoso”, the race was renamed to Kikuka Sho in 1948. The race distance, however, has not changed since the first running, except in 1979 when the race was held at Hanshin Racecourse during Kyoto’s stand renovation. The Kikuka Sho features three-year-olds, most of who have grown dramatically since the Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby, G1, 2,400m) held five months before, prior to their summer break.
The Kikuka Sho winners have both the speed and the stamina to prove their caliber as the potential breeding stock. The last of the seven Triple Crown winners in JRA history was Orfevre (JPN, by Stay Gold) in 2011 who proceeded to prove his power against older G1 caliber in the Arima Kinen (G1, 2,500m), which led to his Horse of the Year that year. Kitasan Black (JPN, by Black Tide), who registered his first G1 title in this race last year, was third in the following Arima Kinen but claimed the Tenno Sho (Spring) (G1, 3,200m) this year to claim his second G1 title.
With Tokyo Yushun winner Makahiki (JPN, by Deep Impact) opting to challenge in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (G1,2,400m), this year’s lineup included three runners from the St. Lite Kinen (G2, 2,200m) held on September 18: winner Dee Majesty who won the Satsuki Sho (Japanese 2000 Guineas, G1, 2,000m) and was third in the Tokyo Yushun; Prodigal Son who earned his ticket to the race by coming in third; and seventh-place finisher and grade-race winner Mount Robson. Key runners coming off the Kobe Shimbun Hai (G2, 2,400m) held on September 25 were: winner Satono Diamond who were third and second in the Satsuki Sho and Tokyo Yushun, respectively; runner-up Mikki Rocket; Red Eldest who gained a spot in this race by coming in third; fifth-place Air Spinel who was fourth in both the first two legs. Other contenders coming off allowance races were: Super Lumiere, Miraieno Tsubasa, Umbruch and Jun Vulcan.
Toho Jackal (JPN, by Special Week) renewed the race record and course record by 1.7 seconds to 3:01.0 seconds in 2014.