Makahiki (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}), who ran second in the G1 Satsuki Sho (Japanese 2000 Guineas) before going one better in May's G1 Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby) last time, took a giant step towards next month's G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe with a narrow victory in Sunday's G2 Qatar Prix Niel at Chantilly. Settled behind a steady pace in third for the most part, the crowd's 2-5 choice was nudged closer passing the quarter-mile marker and was not fully extended under mild urging in the closing stages to deny game frontrunner Midterm (GB) (Galileo {Ire}) by a neck, with Doha Dream (Fr) (Shamardal) a short-head adrift in a close-up third. “I'm happy with that performance and, although he hasn't won by far, he needed the race,” explained rider Christophe Lemaire. “He will improve a lot for that so I'll fix a date with everyone for the Arc in three weeks time.”
Sunday, Chantilly, France
QATAR PRIX NIEL-G2, €130,000, CHY, 9-11, 3yo, c/f, 12fT, 2:35.84, gd.
1–MAKAHIKI (JPN), 128, c, 3, by Deep Impact (Jpn)
1st Dam: Wikiwiki (Jpn), by French Deputy
2nd Dam: Real Number (Arg), by Rainbow Corner (GB)
3rd Dam: Numeraria (Arg), by Southern Halo
O-Makoto Kaneko Holdings; B-Northern Farm; T-Yasuo
Tomomichi; J-Christophe-Patrice Lemaire. €74,100. Lifetime
Record: G1SW-Jpn, 6-5-1-0, €2,819,939. *Full to Uliuli (Jpn),
MGSW-Jpn, $2,227,158. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple
Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Midterm (GB), 128, c, 3, Galileo (Ire)–Midday (GB), by Oasis
Dream (GB). O-Khalid Abdullah; B-Juddmonte Farms Ltd (GB);
T-Sir Michael Stoute. €28,600.
3–Doha Dream (Fr), 128, c, 3, Shamardal–Crystal Reef (GB), by
King's Best. O-Al Shaqab Racing; B-Ecurie Haras Bouquetot SAS
(FR); T-Andre Fabre. €13,650.
Margins: NK, SHD, 10. Odds: 0.40, 8.00, 4.20.
Also Ran: Darabad (Fr), Carzoff (Fr). Click for the Racing Post result. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
Makahiki, who bagged a newcomers' test going nine panels at Kyoto in his sole juvenile start Oct. 23, doubled up in a Jan. 23 conditions heat tackling 10 furlongs at the same track in his sophomore campaign opener. Upped in class and successful in Nakayama's Mar. 6 G2 Hochi Hai Yayoi Sho, the grandson of G1 Gilbert Lerena victress Real Number (Arg) (Rainbow Corner {GB}) ran out of acreage when losing his perfect tally back there in the Apr. 17 Satsuki Sho (Japanese 2000 Guineas) before gaining a narrow verdict in the May 29 G1 Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby) last time. “My first feeling is one of relief,” admitted trainer Yasuo Tomomichi. “It was a truly fresh experience–a new country, a new racecourse and new training grounds–so we didn't really know what to expect and I think it was a very good performance for a horse who hadn't run since the end of May. I walked the course beforehand and it looked very much like what we have at home so I didn't think the track would be a problem. He quickened nicely and won safely. We will keep to his daily training routine and give him a serious workout in two weeks time, which should see him at 100% for the big race. We're used to having large fields in Japan so a good number of runners in the Arc will not be a problem for him and we're very hopeful.”
Teddy Grimthorpe was delighted with the run of Midterm (GB) (Galileo {Ire}), like the winner returning off a break after a fifth in York's May 12 G2 Dante S. last time, and said, “We're very happy with that effort and he showed he is back on track after his run in the Dante. He had a good blow and rallied well at the finish. We will see how he comes out of the race before making any plans. The Arc is an option and we will wait for Prince Khalid and Sir Michael [Stoute] to decide where to run him next.”
Pedigree Notes…
Makahiki is the fifth foal out of Wikiwiki, whose dam and second dam were both Group 1 winners in Argentina. Wikiwiki's most accomplished produce prior to Makahiki, Uliuli (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}), won twice at the Group 3 level in Japan. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
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