3 minute read
Trio see the stallion’s winners count climb to 14.
Arrowfield Stud shuttler Maurice (Screen Hero) enjoyed an incredible Monday in his native Japan, siring three new winners which saw his total tally of first-crop winners swell to 14.
The first leg of the treble was kicked off by Polestar (2 c ex Primus by Fuji Kiseki), who shed his maiden at the second time of asking over 2000 metres on the dirt at Chukyo.
Having finished second on debut, the two-year-old finished strongly to clinch victory within metres of the line, coming away with a neck victory over Plaisir Minoru (Cape Blanco), while B I Felipe (Henny Hughes) finished another length away in third.
Polestar becomes the third winner out of three-time winner Primus (Fuji Kiseki) and the colt's third dam is Happy Trails (Posse), who produced 12 winners, headed by multiple stakes winner Shinko Lovely (Caerleon), who produced fellow Listed-winning pair Lord Cronos (Tony Bin) and Treasure (Brian's Time).
Happy Trails is also the dam of Listed scorers Taiki Marshall (Dance Of Life) and Happy Path (Sunday Silence), who in turn produced Grade 2 winner and Grade 1-placed Cecchino (King Kamehameha) and Grade 3 winner Codino (King Kamehameha), who also finished second at Grade 1 level.
The stallion's second winner was provided by Zodiac Sign (2 c ex Reinette Groove by King Kamehameha), who shed his maiden status at the second attempt when landing a race over 2000 metres at Nakayama.
The colt came into the race off the back of a second place finish at Hakodate on July 19, Zodiac Sign put that experience to good use, posting a two length victory over Apollo Miracle (Apollo Kingdom), while Baji O (Rulership) finished another half a length away in third.
Zodiac Sign is the first winner out of Reinette Groove (King Kamehameha), while the colt's third dam is multiple Listed winner Air Groove (Tony Bin).
Air Groove herself is the dam of Queen Elizabeth II Cup (Gr 1, 2200m) and now sire Rulership (King Kamehameha), Grade 2 winner Forgettable (Dance In The Dark), Grade 3 Gullveig (Deep Impact) and Listed Admire Groove (Sunday Silence), who in turn produced dual Grade 1 winner and now sire Duramente (King Kamehameha).
The treble was completed by Bloemendaal (2 c ex Blumenblatt by Admire Vega), who made a winning debut over 1600 metres at Nakayama.
The two-year-old colt stayed on strongly to hold off the late charge of Giulio (Leontes) by a nose, while Cover Girl (Daiwa Major) was another length and a quarter away in third.
Bloemendaal is the seventh winner out of Kyoto Mile Championship (Gr 1, 1600m) winner Blumenblatt (Admire Vega), who is herself a half-sister to Listed scorer Joyful Heart (Sakura Bakushin O).
The Shadai Stallion Station-based Maurice has stood at Arrowfield Stud for the past three seasons, but due to coronavirus the son of Screen Hero (Grass Wonder) did not return to the Hunter Valley stud this season. He currently sits at the head of the leading first season sires table in Japan by earnings.
