Cover image courtesy of Shadai Stallion Station
Japan
Rose stuns in G1 Queen Elizabeth II Cup
By TDN Europe
Stunning Rose (Jpn) (King Kamehameha {Jpn}) rediscovered the winning touch with an impressive success in the hands of Cristian Demuro in Sunday's G1 Queen Elizabeth II Cup at Kyoto Racecourse, her first win of any description since tasting Classic glory in the G1 Shuka Sho back in October 2022. The 5-year-old mare now has six wins from 17 starts.
The Tomokazu Takano trainee was one of two runners for owners Sunday Racing, with the other, Regaleira (Jpn) (Suave Richard {Jpn}), dominating the betting in her search for a second Group 1 victory after last year's Hopeful Stakes. She was the only 3-year-old in the field, with older rivals Wholeness (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}), the winner of the Listed Niigata Himba S. on her most recent start, and Stunning Rose, last seen finishing sixth in the G3 Hokkaido Shimbun Hai Queen S., heading the opposition.
“I'm very happy to have won a Group 1 race, which I wanted to achieve here in Japan, especially after finishing second a few times,” said French-based jockey Demuro, who is riding in Japan under a short-term license. “Today after the start, I chose to go behind the leader and the mare just showed a special turn of foot.”
“I'm very happy to have won a Group 1 race, which I wanted to achieve here in Japan, especially after finishing second a few times.” - Cristian Demuro
It was certainly a return to form for Stunning Rose, who won the G3 Flower Cup and G3 Shion S. as a 3-year-old, as well as filling the runner-up spot behind Stars On Earth (Jpn) (Duremente {Jpn}) in the G1 Yushun Himba (Japanese Oaks). Sidelined by injury after finishing 12th in last year's G1 Victoria Mile, she made her comeback when eighth in March's G1 Osaka Hai, before contesting the latest edition of the Victoria Mile, in which she was ninth, and the Queen S.
Double for King Kamehameha with Arata’s Group 3 win
Successful sire King Kamehameha (Jpn) added a stakes double on Sunday in Japan when 7-year-old entire Arata (Jpn) came from mid-field to sprint clear and win the G3 Fukushima Kinen by 1l over the 2000-metre trip for trainer Yusuke Wada and jockey Takuya Ono.
In second was the lightweight chance 4-year-old mare Verehrung (Jpn) (Gold Ship {Jpn}) with third going to 8-year-old gelding Dandyism (Jpn) (Manhattan Café {Jpn}).
Arata (Jpn) | Image courtesy of JBIS Search
The win took Arata’s record to seven wins from 26 starts and was his first win at stakes level. He becomes the 102nd stakes winner for his sire, who has 16 Group 1 winners including successful sires Rulership (Jpn), Lord Kanaloa (Jpn) and Duramente (Jpn).
Arata is out of G3 Chukyo Aichi Hai-placed Heart’s Cry (Jpn) mare Sunshine (Jpn), who is a half-sister to G1 Hanshin Oka Sho winner Jeweler (Jpn) (Victoire Pisa {Jpn}), dam of One Carat (Jpn) (Falbrav {Ire}), winner of four stakes races including the G3 Sapporo Keeneland Cup.
Germany
Sauren's ultra consistent Assistent claims G1 Grosser Allianz Preis von Bayern glory
by Sean Cronin, TDN Europe
Eckhard Sauren's ultra consistent 5-year-old entire Assistent (Ger) (Sea The Moon {Ger}), who finished in the top four in five prior Group 1 contests, gained compensation for his second in last year's G1 Grosser Allianz Preis von Bayern with a late surge for glory in this year's renewal at Munich.
The Henk Grewe trainee, who tuned up for this with a 3.25l tally in last month's G3 Herbst-Trophy at Baden-Baden, employed patient tactics and was anchored in rear until well beyond halfway. Coming under pressure on the turn for home, the 62-5 chance went fifth approaching the quarter-mile marker and stayed on in relentless fashion to deny the Sir Mark Prescott-trained Tiffany (Ire) (Farhh {GB}) by a neck in the dying strides. Last year's G1 Futurity Trophy hero Ancient Wisdom (Fr) (Dubawi {Ire}), making his first start since annexing July's G3 Bahrain Trophy, held every chance inside the final quarter mile and kept on well to finish 1.5l adrift in third.
“This horse is so close to my heart and to win is great,” said winning rider Thore Hammer-Hansen. “I am so very happy for my boss Eckhard Sauren, who has invested so much into his horses over the years and now finally gets his first Group 1 winner. At first I didn't think Assistent would make it from where he came from, but he gave his all and delivered beautifully.”
Owner Eckhard Sauren added, “I am lost for words, what a race and what a fight. I never thought we could win such a strongly contested race, and it was so close, but this horse has got such a big heart. He was awesome.”
Retirement now beckons for the winner, according to trainer Henk Grewe, who commented. “This is so emotional. It was his last race and, now a Group 1 winner, he will retire to stud.” Assistent retires with seven wins from 23 starts.
“This is so emotional. It was his (Assitent's) last race and, now a Group 1 winner, he will retire to stud.” - Henk Grewe
Assistent, who becomes the fifth Group 1 winner for his sire Sea The Moon (Ger), a son of Sea The Stars (Ire), is the third of eight foals and lone stakes performer produced by an unraced full sister to G3 Hamburger Stutenpreis victrix Anna Katharina (Ger) (Kallisto {Ger}).
