Realize Sirius Among Top Contenders in Satsuki Sho

Although the Satsuki Sho (G1)—the opening leg of the Japanese Triple Crown at Nakayama April 19—appears wide open, the Takahisa Tezuka-trained Realize Sirius (JPN) stands out as a top contender. The colt, bred by Teruya Yoshida's Shadai Farm, is a grandson of Danseuse d'Etoile, who finished second in the 2001 Prix Marcel Boussac (G1), and was bought by Yosuke Imafuku at the yearling session of the Japan Racing Horse Association Select Sale for ¥40 million (approx. US$137,400 on sales day). Realize Sirius is from the first crop of Two Thousand Guineas (G1) and St James's Palace Stakes (G1) winner Poetic Flare (IRE). The son of Dawn Approach started his stud duty at Shadai Stallion Station in 2022. Unfortunately, his fertility rate was low, and only 38 foals by Poetic Flare were born in 2023 from the 108 mares covered in 2022. One of the select few was Realize Sirius, who won the Niigata Nisai Stakes (G3T) as a 2-year-old, and the Kyodo News Hai (G3T) Feb. 15 of this year. Unfortunately, the stallion's fertility rate only decreased in 2023, with just 20 foals born by Poetic Flare in 2024. One of the foals from his second crop is out of the mare Future Base and bred by Shadai Farm. The colt is entered in the upcoming Chiba Thoroughbred Sale of 2-Year-Olds May 22. Future Base is out of the 2008 Garden City Stakes (G1T) winner Backseat Rhythm.