One great strengths of Japanese breeders is that they sourced mares in America that descend from the most influential mares in the Stud Book, a philosophy similar to that which proved so successful for Gooree Stud over the years.
One such mare was Endearing Quality a representative of perhaps the most influential family of them all, La Troienne.
An unraced daughter of Danzig, Endearing Quality is a sister to Grade 1 Del Mar Futurity Stakes winner and Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup runner-up Qualify and a three-quarter sister to former Widden Stud shuttler, Belong To Me (USA).
Endearing Quality had 10 foals, all made the track and eight were winners. She was no breed-shaper and the best of her eight winners did not come in Japan but in Singapore.
Jolie’s Shinju (JPN) won nine races of her 27 starts with earnings of over $1.3 million. She swept the 2009 Singapore Four-Year-Old Triple Crown, including the Group 1 Singapore Derby (2000m) where she kept up a relentless gallop to grind her opponents into submission (View the race here).
A daughter of Halo’s triple Grade 1 winner Jolie’s Halo, Jolie’s Shinju (JPN) made four starts at the 2009 Melbourne Spring Carnival.
Her best result came at her first run when third behind Whobegotyou and Mic Mac in the Group II Dato Tan Chin Nam Stakes (1600m) at Moonee Valley.
Sent back to Singapore, Jolie’s Shinju (JPN) failed to capture her top form and was retired to stud in Australia.
Owned by Dr Tan Kai Chah, Jolie’s Shinju’s first three foals, Typhoon Jolie (Shamardal), Jolie’s Café (Medaglia d’Oro) and Jolie’s Pearl (Fastnet Rock) all showed above average ability but it was her fourth foal, Formality that hit the big time.
The daughter of Fastnet Rock was a modest $120,000 Inglis Easter purchase and was sent to Lindsay Park to prepare for her track career.
In January of her two-year-old season, Formality made a winning debut in a modest maiden at Werribee but was stepped up to stakes company a month later when winning the Group III Chairman’s Stakes. She then finished third behind Catchy and Pariah in the Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes earning a trip to Sydney for the Group 1 Golden Slipper where she was never a factor and was sent for a spell.
Formality stayed in Sydney when making her return at three, winning the Group II Silver Shadow Stakes at the expense of Alizee then capturing the Group II Furious Stakes at Randwick.
Following a disappointing performance in the Group 1 Golden Rose, Formality was sent back down to Melbourne where she made amends by winning the Blue Sapphire Stakes, which earned her a fourth chance at a Group 1 in the Coolmore Stud Stakes.
Always in the leading division, Formality stuck on resolutely to finish a close-up third behind Merchant Navy and Invincible Star.
The daughter of Fastnet Rock will make her 2018 debut in Saturday’s $750,000 Group 1 Black Caviar Lightning Stakes (1000m) at Caulfield where Australia’s current sprint king Redzel has been installed an odds-on favourite.
Also in the field are the defending champion Terravista and his half-brother Ball Of Muscle, Formality’s Group 1 Newmarket Handicap winning stablemate Redkirk Warrior and the supremely talented Hey Doc.
Should be a thriller.
