Satono Reve joined the ranks of Japan's top sprinters with a late-running, traffic-dodging victory in the Takamatsunomiya Kinen (G1) March 30 at Chukyo Racecourse.
It was the first top-level victory for the 6-year-old and came at the expense of proven performers in a division with only two grade 1 events on the annual schedule.
Starting on the backstretch in front of banks of pink cherry blossoms, Satono Reve and jockey Joao "Magic Man" Moreira held a position near the middle of the 18-horse field. They were still there as the field swung into the straight, facing a sharp incline toward the finish.
Moreira gave Satono Reve a nudge only to find the ranks closing in front of him. He swung outside rivals, hit another gear and took the lead with enough momentum to hold off the late run of the favorite, Namura Clair, by 3/4 length. Mama Cocha was third.
Satono Reve finished the 1,200 meters (about 6 furlongs) in 1:07.9 over turf rated good to firm.
"The horse gave me a beautiful ride," Moreira said. "He behaved very well from the gate, traveled nicely on the bend. I angled him out as we approached the home stretch and, from there, he showed that he has an amazing ability."
The rider later said the traffic mitigated the effects of a stiff headwind before he got to the outside.
Satono Reve was making just his third start at the grade 1 level after finishing seventh in the Sprinters Stakes (G1), Japan's only other top-level sprint, last September and third in the Hong Kong Sprint (G1) in December. His sire, Lord Kanaloa, won the Hong Kong Sprint twice, the Sprinters Stakes twice, and the Takamatsunomiya Kinen once.
Namura Clair, a 6-year-old Mikki Isle mare, settled for a third straight runner-up finish in the Takamatsunomiya Kinen. She also has finished third in the last two runnings of the Sprinters Stakes.
September's Sprinters Stakes winner Lugal and defending Takamatsunomiya champion Mad Cool finished seventh and sixth, respectively.
Trainer Noriyuki Hori said before the race Satono Reve's performance in Hong Kong and subsequent preparation gave him confidence heading into the Takamatsunomiya Kinen.
"After returning from Hong Kong, he went to the farm where he recovered totally and, with this race as our target, he returned (to training) early but refreshed on Feb. 21. We've been able to give him lots of time and lots of work and all has gone according to plan," Hori said.
Satono Reve was bred by Shirai Stud Farm. Hori trains for owner Hajime Satomi.
With only one other grade 1 sprint on the schedule, the win gives Satono Reve a leg up on year-end honors although he might still have to prove himself against Ascoli Piceno and Win Marvel, who finished 1-2 in the 1351 Turf Sprint (G2) on the Saudi Cup (G1) undercard Feb. 22 in Riyadh.
Japanese connections have three in the likely field for the Al Quoz Sprint (G1) in Dubai: Danon McKinley, Win Carnelian, and Puro Magic.
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