The Group III Arrowfield Breeders' Plate (1000m) at Randwick has a history of showcasing a future topliner. The 2022 edition will be no different, with the Snitzel colt Empire Of Japan doing the right thing by the sponsor.
Ridden by James McDonald for Peter and Paul Snowden, Empire Of Japan came with a barnstorming finish from the tail of the field.
The strapping son of Snitzel defeated the $1.2million Exceed And Excel colt Mach Ten by three lengths with a length back to the Russian Revolution colt Physical Graffiti, who edged out the winner's fast-finishing stablemate Make A Call (Extreme Choice) for third.
"I think the writing was on the wall at the trials the other day. Just how relaxed he was and how well he hit the line," Paul Snowden said. "He’s still got a long way to go.
“It’s the second horse we’ve had out of this (dam, Ichihara), and it was pretty evident (the first) lacked a little bit of ability, but this bloke makes up for that, and he’s heading in the right direction.”
“This horse wasn’t screwed down at all for today’s event. What you see is what you get with him, he’s got a fair bit of ability and he’s got a good turn of foot.”
James McDonald said Empire Of Japan is no speedy squib.
“He’s a smart colt who takes everything in his stride,” McDonald said.
“I actually jumped him out at the official jump outs and he was a little hot that day, and the stable's done a good job to put a lid on him and put him to the trials and he ran extremely well at the trials. I was happy he just wasn't a jump and run two-year-old, which I am pleased about.”
Bred by and offered for sale by Corumbene Stud at the 2022 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, Empire of Japan was a $680,000 purchase for China Horse Club/Newgate Bloodstock/Starlight.
A brother in blood to Group II Run To The Rose winner Menari, Empire Of Japan is the third winner from four to race out of the smart racemare Ichihara (General Nediym).
A sister to Menari’s stakes-winning dam and the Listed winner au Chocolat, Ichihara won four stakes races highlighted by the Group II Magic Night Stakes.
Ichihara’s dam Cut A Dash (Whisky Road) is a three-quarter sister to Group 1 VATC One Thousand Guineas winner Whisked, the dam of 13-time Group 1 winner Tie The Knot.
Ichihara has a yearling colt by Exceed And Excel, but unfortunately slipped last season.
Empire Of Japan is the 125th stakes-winner for Arrowfield Stud’s champion stallion Snitzel.
