Satono Reve third in July Cup, misses out on overseas G1 title once again in seven tries

Satono Reve again came up short in his bid to win a Grade 1 title on foreign soil as the JRA sprinter finished third in the Al Basti Equiworld, Dubai July Cup Stakes on Saturday (July 11).

The two-time defending Takamatsunomiya Kinen champion went off as the top betting favorite at Newmarket and led early on in the 1,200-meter straightaway race, but ultimately succumbed by a length and a neck to Comanche Brave, who won his maiden G1 championship.

The winning time was 1 minute, 9.99 seconds on going listed as good to firm. The 7-year-old Satono Reve was attempting to become the first Japanese-trained horse to lift the July Cup since Agnes World in 2000.

“He was wary of his surroundings,” said jockey Christophe Lemaire, who steered him to victory in the Takamatsunomiya Kinen in March. “But he still managed to hit his stride and did not have a bad race overall.

“Yet he couldn’t quite find that extra gear when he needed to and didn’t have the extra push in the end.

“He was relaxed during the race. But when I gave him the green light he did not respond very well so it was a little bit disappointing.”

The Noriyuki Hori-trained son of Lord Kanaloa raced center, leading the field of 11 until a furlong to go, when Comanche Brave - who he had soundly beaten in the recent Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes - took over from the inside and never slowed down.

Even Venetian Sun passed Satono Reve for second in the end, adding insult to injury.

The July Cup was Satono Reve’s seventh shot overseas, beginning with the 2024 Hong Kong Sprint where he came in third. He had placed second in last month’s QEII Elizabeth Jubilee Stakes.

It remains to be seen if Satono Reve will stay in Europe for the summer or return to Japan.

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Newmarket racecourse
Result: BHA, Racing Post