Following the heroic of Japanese horses at last weeks International Stakes Day at Sha Tin, the tables were turned to some extent when the Frankel colt Grenadier Guards defeated the best juvenile colts in Japan in Sunday’s Group 1 The Aasai Hai Futurity Stakes at Hanshin.
Yuga Kawada had the Mitsumasa Nakauchida-trained colt sitting just off the speed set by Mondreise.
After wrestling the lead off Mondreise at the 200 metres, Grenadier Guards hit the line strongly to defeat the second favourite Stella Veloce (Bago) by three-quarters of a length with a further one and half lengths back to the favourite Red Belle Aube (Deep Impact).
Grenadier Guards stopped the clock at 1.32.3 for the mile, setting a new mark for the race, which was held for 12 months by Salios.
Second in a Newcomers race at Niigata on July 26, Grenadier Guards finished fourth behind Red Belle Aube in a 1600m maiden at Chukyo on September 19 before opening his account over 1400m at Hanshin at his most recent start on November 7.
The Aasai Hai Futurity Stakes has proved to be a reliable barometer with the last five runnings being won by 2015 - Leontes (King Kamehameha); 2016 - Satono Ares (Deep Impact); 2017 - Danon Premium (Deep Impact); 2018 - Admire Mars (Daiwa Major); 2019 - Salios (Heart's Cry).
Grenadier Guards arrived in Japan in utero. His dam Wavell Avenue (CAN) was a top-class performer in North America.
The daughter of the Unbridled stallion Harlington won the 2015 breeders’ Cup Filly and Mar Sprint and ran second in the race the following year.
The winner of over $1 million, Wavell Avenue was due to be sold at the 2016 Fasig-Tipton November Sale but was withdrawn.
Wavell Avenue has a yearling filly Deep Impact and a filly foal by Lord Kanaloa.
Grenadier Guards becomes the 12th Group 1 winner for Juddmonte Farms champion Frankel and he third in Japan.
There are four colts and a filly by Frankel catalogued for the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale in January and three in the Inglis Premier.
