With the Melbourne Spring Carnival in full flight, the Japanese raiders have impressed, by dominating the first two legs of one of Australian racing’s most celebrated G1 doubles and claiming two further G1 scalps through Fierce Impact.
In the space of seven days the Japanese entire, Mer De Glace took out the G1 Caulfield Cup by producing an outstanding staying performance, a week before the brilliant mare Lys Gracieux, known as the darling of Japan, triumphed in the G1 WS Cox Plate at Moonee Valley.
Both horses were piloted in superb style by Melbourne’s own Damian Lane who developed a strong relationship with the stable when riding in Japan.
While Derby Day saw Japanese import Fierce Impact brilliantly score back to back G1 wins for the carnival. Having taken out the G1 Toorak Handicap at Caulfield, the Matt Smith trained galloper dominated at Flemington in the Kennedy Cantala. The son of Deep Impact will now contest the weight-for-age Mackinnon Stakes, in an attempt to claim an enviable G1 spring treble.
Notably, there have now been 12 G1 races won by Japanese bred horses in Australia, a true indicator of the depth and brilliance of the Japanese racing and breeding industry and include Tosen Stardom’s G1 Toorak Handicap and G1 Emirates Stakes, the 2006 Melbourne Cup quinella of Delta Blues and Pop Rock, Admire Ratki’s Caulfield Cup and Brave Smash’s G1 Futurity and G1 Manikato double. A genuine sign of the virtuosity of Japanese gallopers.
Woodside’s James Price is delighted to offer breeders’ access to these revered Japanese bloodlines through Tosen Stardom, the only son of Japan’s champion stallion Deep Impact, to stand in the southern state.
“It is hard to miss the impact and incredible success of the Japanese gallopers on the Australian tracks this season. They have celebrated success in the first two ‘Big 3’ races of the Melbourne Spring, and have following it up with Fierce Impacts brilliant G1 double,” Price said.
“This exceptional achievement, coupled with the presence of Tosen Stardom’s outstanding first crop of foals, gives us confidence that the Japanese breeding footprint is destined for great things in Australia,” Price said.
With well-balanced, correctly conformed and athletic foals now on the ground, breeders have returned loyally to the dual G1 winning stallion in his second season at stud.
“We couldn’t be happier with how Tosen Stardom has stamped his first crop of foals. His foals are built with all the necessary elements of success - strength, balance, hip and hindquarters. His progeny possesses attributes that he himself possess and then some.”
Excitingly, with Mer De Glace currently one of the favourites for tomorrow’s Melbourne Cup, Damian Lane is now in pole position to help create history for the Japanese raiders and become the first jockey to complete the Caulfield Cup, Cox Plate, Melbourne Cup treble in the same year.
Mer De Glace, bred by Tosen Stardom’s part-owners, Northern Farm’s Mr Yoshida & Mr Shimakawa, are great supporters of the Australian racing and breeding industry.
“Japan is becoming a favourable international destination with many Australian bloodstock agents and trainers active at the major weanling and yearling sales, however through Tosen Stardom the Japanese bloodlines are available much closer to home, proudly supporting the Victorian breeding industry and our quality domestic broodmare bands,” Price said.
“The land of the rising sun will certainly be at the fore of all breeders’ minds if the Japanese bred gallopers can not only claim the ‘Big 3’, but also take out three G1 wins with Fierce Impact. Japanese bloodlines will be validated, franked, and most certainly proven to succeed at the elite level on Australian racetracks.”
News from Woodside Park
