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New Paper
4 days ago
- Sport
- New Paper
Japan thinking out of Arc box in Prix Le Marois
The €1 million (S$1.5 million) Group 1 Aga Khan Studs Prix Jacques Le Marois (1,600m), one of France's most international features on its racing calendar, has spread its wings to even further afield at its 2025 renewal at Deauville on Aug 17 - Japan. From the original three entries filed back in June, two have made the final cut of 11 runners facing the starter at 9.50pm Singapore time - Ascoli Piceno and Go To First. Japan is not testing new Group 1 ground in France, as they did win the 104-year-old race once in 1998 with Taki Shuttle. But it is better known for its frustrating chase of the elusive Holy Grail of French racing, the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (2,400m). Japan has come to Longchamp and seen its showpiece 22 times since 1969, but never conquered. By despatching two worthy contenders to the seaside resort, the powerful racing nation will be hoping they can go one better than the four Arc runner-ups - El Condor Pasa (1999), Nakayama Festa (2010), Orfevre (2012 and 2013). The most agonisingly close was Orfevre famously passing Solemia, only for the latter to unexpectedly get back in front where it mattered. While Yasuda Kinen winner Jantar Mantar, the Japanese entry who pulled out, would have been the undisputed drawcard for the Land of the Rising Sun, the other two are not there for a holiday either. Sunday Racing's Ascoli Piceno is a globetrotting mare who bounced back from a defeat in the Golden Eagle (1,500m) under Joao Moreira in Sydney in November to claim the Group 2 Turf Sprint (1,400m) in Saudi Arabia on Feb 22. The Daiwa Major four-year-old is known as the reigning mile queen back home, with the Grade 1 Victoria Mile (1,600m) in Tokyo on May 18 her crowning glory. Japanese-based rider Christophe Lemaire partnered the Yoichi Kuroiwa-trained six-time winner to both the Victoria Mile and Saudi wins, and will be back to his place of birth to ride her. "I think she's more comfortable on quick ground, so that's why she was close to the pace in Saudi over six and a half furlongs, and she was off the pace on soft ground in Tokyo over a mile," said Lemaire. "We're going to have a warm temperature, and the ground should be quick enough for her on Sunday. I'm quite confident." The surprise guest is Go To First who, unlike Ascoli Piceno, has not chalked up any frequent flyer point, but also presents a much less glittering resume than her travelling companion. With a career forged only domestically, the Koichi Shintani-trained Rulership entire won only once in five starts, in a stakes race over 1,600m at Nakayama in December. On paper, the five-year-old will struggle to fly the Japanese flag high in such lofty company in the Prix Jacques Le Marois. But Japan will still be up against stiff challenge, especially against the bulk (six) of the foreign brigade made up entirely of the awesome Great Britain-Irish armada, winners of eight of the last 10 editions of the Deauville classic. England spearheads the charge from across the Channel with four top milers, 2024 Irish 2000 Guineas (1,600m) winner Rosallion, 2024 English 2000 Guineas (1,600m) winner Notable Speech, Dancing Gemini and Docklands. The latter just beat Rosallion in the Group 1 Queen Anne Stakes (1,600m), while Aidan O'Brien saddles Diego Velazquez and The Lion In Winter for Ireland. The home team has only three runners, though they are anything but outclassed. The executors of the late Aga Khan hold two aces who can both win the race it is sponsoring - Zabiari for in-form trainer Francis-Henri Graffard and Ridari for Melbourne Cup-winning (Dunaden in 2011) trainer Mikel Delzangles. Unbeaten in three runs (Group 3 Chantilly mile last start) since going to Graffard, Zabiari, a Wootton Bassett four-year-old colt, is the flagbearer for the iconic green and red epaulettes silks. "Francis is happy with Zabiari's gallop at Chantilly on Tuesday (Aug 12). Mickael Barzalona has picked him," said Aga Khan's racing manager Nemone Routh. "We'll see if he's Group 1 material or just a handy Group 2-3 competitor. It'll be his first time down a straight, I think he can run a place. "Ridari will also have to get used to the straight as he can be hard-going, but Mikel has trained him over a straight course a few times." The third French runner is the 11-time winner King Gold for Chantilly trainer Nicolas Caullery. The Group 1-winning (2023 Maurice de Gheest) grey last won his third Group 3 De La Porte Maillot Stakes (1,400m) on June 19 and also boasts a Group 3 win in Dubai, the Firebreak Stakes (1,600m) on Jan 24. manyan@
Daily Mirror
28-04-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mirror
Triple Crown-winning racehorse suffers tragic death after breaking down in front of stands
Vets were unable to save Liberty Island after she went wrong during the Queen Elizabeth II Cup in Hong Kong on Sunday The career of one of Japan's most popular racehorses ended in tragedy in Hong Kong on Sunday. Liberty Island, a five-year-old mare trained by Mitsumasa Nakauchida, made history in 2023 when she won the equivalent of racing's Triple Crown, landing the Japanese 1,000 Guineas, Oaks and the Shuka Sho, which is known as the Triple Tiara. She had been campaigned on the international stage subsequently, finishing third in the Dubai Sheema Classic and was second behind Romantic Warrior in last year's Hong Kong Cup, taking her career earnings to nearly £4million. Liberty Island returned to Hong Kong on Sunday as one of the leading challengers for the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth Cup at a packed Sha Tin racecourse. Yet just after beginning to launch her challenge she stumbled and broke down in the straight when she was quickly pulled up by jockey Yuga Kawada and dismounted. A clearly distressed Kawada stood holding the mare tightly as vets and track staff arrived to erect a black screen around her for privacy from onlookers as they worked to save her close to the stands rail. But their efforts were in vain as owners Sunday Racing confirmed: 'She had torn the medial and lateral sesamoid ligaments of her left front leg, and the fetlock joint was subluxated, so the fetlock joint was touching the ground. Unfortunately the veterinarian diagnosed her with a poor prognosis and she was euthanised.' Among many to post tributes, John Stewart, owner of Goliath, who finished ninth in the race in which Tastiera beat Prognosis to produce a one-two for Japan, said: 'As we are about to leave HK, I am heartbroken over the loss of Liberty Island. I was in awe of her in the paddock. She was magnificent and it is so unfortunate for her owners. My heart goes out to Sunday Racing Co.' Hong Kong stewards found jockey Brenton Avdulla guilty of careless riding for moving his mount Ensued out when not clear, leaving Liberty Island short of room. He was suspended for three days and fined £6,000. Kawada was also questioned, telling officials that Liberty Island 'travelled only fairly during the race, however, he had no concern with its action prior to the 250m'. He added that 'in his opinion, whilst Liberty Island was crowded near the 300m this had no bearing on the horse going amiss near the 250m'. In Japan, leading stud farm and owner Northern Farm announced there would be a floral tribute at the Horse Gallery in Northern Horse Park in memory of Liberty Island. A portion of the admission fee to the park will be donated to medical research for racehorses.
