A stakes double on Sunday highlighted by Champagne Color (JPN) in the Group 1 NHK Mile Cup at Tokyo underscores the tragedy of losing Duramente (JPN) at just nine in 2021.
Champagne Color toughs it out in driving rain (image JRA)
Duramente (JPN) had a champion in his first crop, triple Group 1 winner Titleholder (JPN), and the Yushun Himba (Oaks) and Oka Sho (1000 Guineas) winner Stars On Earth (JPN) in his second. Champagne Color joins Yankee Rose's champion daughter Liberty Island and the Group 1 Hopeful Stakes winner Dura Erede as winners at the elite level from his third crop.
Ridden by Hiroyuki Uchida for Tsuyoshi Tanaka, Champagne Color staved off the fast-finishing Lord Kanaloa filly Unbrail by a head with the Discreet Cat colt Obamburumai one and a quarter lengths back in third.
All three of Champagne Color's wins from five starts have come over the course and distance.
"The plan was to keep him about fifth to sixth from the pace. But the competition to position him forwardly was intense, and the going was soggy, so I didn't force him to move up front," Uchida recounted.
"He came out of the last turn smoothly and responded incredibly well. While waiting for the right moment and watching out for the other runners, I just drove him to the line hoping to reach it first.
"It's his third win here at Tokyo. He enjoys the wide and spacious course, and we're looking forward to seeing him develop with every race he runs this season."
Champagne Color is out of Memorial Life (GB) (Reckless Abandon), half-sister to Group II Queen Mary Stakes winner Ceiling Kitty (Red Clubs), the dam of Listed Chesham Stakes winner Arthur Kitt (Camelot) and Listed winner Eartha Kitt (Pivotal), the dam of Group II Gimcrack Stakes winner Noble Style (Kingman) who was sixth to Chaldean (Frankel) in the Group 1 2000 Guineas at Newmarket on Saturday.
Duramente's second stakes winner on Sunday came via another 3yo colt, Lugal, in the Listed Tachibana Stakes at Kyoto.
The winning margin was a much more comfortable five lengths under Taiga Tsunoda.
The winner of two and runner-up in two of his six starts, Lugal is the best of two winners from four to race for the winning New Approach mare Atab, a half-sister to multiple stakes-winner Ibn Malik (Raven's Pass).
As a broodmare sire, it was a productive day for the former Darley shuttler New Approach (IRE).
The Epsom Derby-winning son of Galileo is the sire of the dam of Exceed And Excel's Group 1 Newmarket One Thousand Guineas heroine Mawj (IRE).
Duramente (JPN) left five crops before his death. Arrowfield houses two of his daughters with instantly recognizable pedigree.
Feel Paradise (JPN) is a half-sister to Arrowfield shuttler Admire Mars (JPN), who numbered the NHK Mile Cup among his three Group 1 victories. Feel Paradise (JPN) was covered by Snitzel last spring.
Riversleigh (JPN) did not set the world on fire on the track, but she is the daughter of Fastnet Rock's 4-time Group 1 winner Mosheen. Riversleigh (JPN) visited Maurice (JPN) last spring after foaling a colt by Deep Impact's Group 1 Tokyo Yushun (Derby) winner Kizuna (JPN).
