After having his run of five consecutive wins snapped when fifth behind Potager (Deep Impact) in the Group 1 Osaka Hai at Hanshin on April 3, the 4yo Maurice (JPN) colt Jack d'Or returned to winning ways in Sunday's Group II Sapporo Kinnen (2000m) at Sapporo Racecourse on Sunday.
With Yusuke Fujioka in the saddle for trainer Kenichi Fujioka, Jack d'Or battled to a neck win over the Group 1 Dubai Turf winner Panthalassa (Lord Kanaloa) with a further length and a quarter back to Screen Hero's 5yo daughter Win Marilyn in third.
The white wonder Sodashi clocked in fifth at her first start since winning the Group 1 Victoria Mile at Tokyo on May 15.
With seven wins from 11 starts, Jack d'Or is the best of six winners from nine to race out of the Unbridled's Song (USA) mare Ravarino, a half-sister to Group winners Porte Bonheur and Slip Stream.
Ravarino is a daughter of the stakes-placed Shadeed mare Sous Entendu, the granddam of Group 1 STC Coolmore Classic heroine Alverta.
Riding high in Australia through the likes of triple Group 1 winner Hitotsu and Group 1 BRC Doomben 10000hero Mazu, Maurice (JPN) shuttles for the fifth time Arrowfield this spring, where he commands a fee of $82,500.
