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Irish Champion Stakes: Arc-bound Shin Emperor finishes a close third in Irish G1
The French-bred, Japan-based Shin Emperor received nods of approval for his performance in the Group 1 Irish Champion Stakes Sept. 14. Racing at Dublin’s Leopardstown Racecourse, the G3 winner went into the race with a second, third and fifth from his previous top-level bids, and succeeded in finishing a close third in a highly competitive field of eight.
The chestnut colt was returning to the track nearly 4 months after his previous test, one that had brought him a third in the Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby). A son of Siyouni, the Irish Champion Stakes was Shin Emperor’s first overseas bid, one that sets him up nicely for the bigger target, the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp Racecourse next month on Oct. 6.
One of two Group 1 events held on the day’s card of nine, the Irish Champion Stakes was won by the William Haggas-trained Economics. Racing at the top level for his first time, the English-bred Economics remains unbeaten in his four starts this year. The second pick in betting in Japan, the 3-year-old colt is by Night of Thunder out of the Peintre Celebre mare La Pomme d’Amour and covered the 2,000 meters of “good” turf over the left-handed course in 2 minutes 3.20 seconds. Winning jockey was Tom Marquand.
Last year’s winner Auguste Rodin and race favorite in betting in Japan finished second under Ryan Moore a neck behind Economics. A Deep Impact, Irish-bred 4-year-old, Auguste Rodin was one of four runners fielded by Aidan O’Brien, who indicated the colt’s next start would be in Japan. Shin Emperor, the No. 4 pick in Japan, finished 3/4 length later in third under Ryusei Sakai, and managed to hold off Los Angeles, another of O’Brien’s charges, by a head.
The winner took home 712,500 euros (approx. 110 million yen). Shin Emperor’s third place brought 112,500 euros (approx. 17.5 million yen) and his finishing order topped the fourth-place finish of the only other Japan-based runner to have taken on the race -- Deirdre in 2019.
Sakai, stable jockey to trainer Yoshito Yahagi, said, “It was a difficult race and it was very frustrating that he didn’t win. That said, the lineup was very strong and, with the Arc ahead of us, I don’t think his performance was in any way an embarrassment. I’ll do my best to get even better results next time.”
Shin Emperor and his traveling partner La Familia are trained by the Ritto-based Yahagi and both horses sport the colors of Susumu Fujita. The pair arrived in Europe from Japan at the end of August and had been training in Chantilly, where temperatures far cooler than those in Japan proved a great help.
“We came to Ireland with an intent to win so a third-place finish is rather frustrating,” said Yahagi. “Shin Emperor was racing for the first time since his Derby run but I thought if I brought a horse that was suited to the race he’d do well enough and he seems to have done just that.
“Coolmore had four runners and we only had one,” Yahagi pointed out. “And, as I had expected, it was a tough race. While in Japan, (Shin Emperor) hadn’t been able to improve due to the heat, but after arriving in France, his condition rapidly got better and better. I’d say for being at about 70-80 percent he really made a good effort,” said the 63-year-old Yahagi, adding, “It depends on how well he comes out of this race, but he is aimed at the Arc next and I’m hoping the staff will all work together and have him ready to give us a solid win.”
Shin Emperor is a brother to Sotsass, who finished fourth in the 2020 Irish Champions Stakes before springboarding to victory in the Arc the same year.
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In other action on the day, La Familia, Shin Emperor’s stable mate at Ritto, took part in the Kilternan Stakes, a Group 3 immediately after the Champion Stakes and presently named the Tonybet “We’re Here to Play” Stakes.
La Familia, a 3-year-old by Rey de Oro, broke from the No. 3 gate under Ryusei Sakai. He raced prominently on the inside and soon settled in third position behind the eventual winner before weakening with still a furlong left to finish eighth amid the field of 10. The 3-year-old Kinesiology, who had held the lead until overtaken by Trustyourinstinct with a furlong to go, held his position to finish second.
La Familia’s only win from four starts was his debut over 2,400 meters, with three ensuing results, the most recent in early July, all off the board.
Saturday’s race, a 2,400-meter test on turf open to 3-year-olds and up, went to Trustyourinstinct, an Irish-bred 4-year-old by Churchill trained by Joseph O’Brien and owned by John McManus. His winning time was 2 minutes 32.76 seconds.
Official results: Irish Champion Stakes, Kilternan Stakes
Please visit the following websites for more information.
Horse Racing Ireland
Leopardstown racecourse
Irish Champions Festival
