The improving filly Vivlos (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) showed further smart progression to win the G1 Shuka Sho at Kyoto on Sunday. It was the filly's first stakes victory and her first run in a top-level event, however there appeared to be no fluke about the result, as she showed a smart turn of foot to overhaul Pearl Code (Jpn) (Victoire Pisa {Jpn}) and Kaiserball (Jpn) (Empire Maker) to claim the spoils by a half-length over the former, with the same margin back to Kaiserball. Vivlos warmed up for this contest, the third leg of the Japanese fillies Triple Tiara, with a promising second to Biche (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) in the G3 Shion S. at Nakayama Sept. 10. The winner that day was disappointing on this occasion, finishing 10th, and it was left to Sheikh Fahad Al Thani's Pearl Code to keep the winner honest.
Jockey Yuichi Fukunaga was content to bide his time early on Vivlos, settling at the rear of mid-division before making steady progress to position just off the leaders as the field tightened up approaching the straight. Vivlos tracked the eventual runner-up as they turned for home and challenged up the centre of the track. She responded generously to her rider's urgings to grab the lead close home and win snugly.
“We were in a perfect position and the trip was smooth and in good rhythm,” commented Yuichi Fukunaga. “I was aware of Biche behind me at the third corner but we were able to pick our own timing for the move. Her sister [Verxina] had a lot of speed and staying power, but this filly has a tremendous burst of speed.”
Pedigree Notes…
Another Group 1 winner for Japan's three-time champion sire Deep Impact with the mating between the stallion and five-time winner Halwa Sweet (Jpn) (Machiavellian) having already proven highly successful through the exploits of Verxina (Jpn). The full-sister to Vivlos won the G1 Victoria Mile twice, as well as bridesmaid performances in both the G1 Japanese 1000 Guineas and G1 Oaks. Halwa Street, herself a half-sister to stakes winner Martinborough (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}), has had five foals, five runners and five winners, also including the stakes winner Cheval Grand (Jpn) (Heart's Cry {Jpn}). Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
Sunday, Kyoto, Japan
SHUKA SHO-G1, ¥180,660,000, Kyoto, 10-16, 3yo, f, 2000mT, 1:58.6, fm.
1–#@&VIVLOS (JPN), 121, f, 3, Deep Impact (Jpn)
1st Dam: Halwa Sweet (Jpn), by Machiavellian
2nd Dam: Halwa Song, by Nureyev
3rd Dam: Morn of Song, by Blushing Groom (Fr)
O-Kazuhiro Sasaki; B-Northern Farm; T-Yasuo Tomomichi;
J-Yuichi Fukunaga; ¥92,822,000. Lifetime Record: 7-3-2-0. *Full
to Verxina (Jpn), MG1SW-Jpn, $5,209,490; 1/2 to Cheval
Grand (Jpn) (Hearts's Cry {Jpn}), GSW & G1SP-Jpn, $1,686,372.
Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Werk Nick
Rating: B+.
2–Pearl Code (Jpn), 121, f, 3, Victoire Pisa (Jpn)–Magic Code, by
Lost Code. (¥14,000,000 Wlg '13 JRHAJUL) O-H H Sheikh
Fahad; B-Shadai Farm; ¥38,092,000.
3–Kaiserball (Jpn), 121, f, 3, Empire Maker–Dance in the
Mood (Jpn), by Sunday Silence. O-Shadai Race Horse; B-Shadai
Farm; ¥23,546,000.
Margins: HF, HF, NK. Odds: 5.30, 12.70, 20.20.
Also Ran: Jeweler (Jpn), Red Avancer (Jpn), Crocosmia (Jpn), Persi's Best (Jpn), Mieno Succeed (Jpn), Denko Ange (Jpn), Biche (Jpn), Kinsho Yukihime (Jpn), Win Fabulous (Jpn), Gekkako (Jpn), Frontier Queen (Jpn), Daiwa Dresser (Jpn), Angel Face (Jpn), Neo Verthandi, Wonder Pirouette (Jpn).
Click for the Racing Post chart or the for the JRA video.
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