There were a couple of interesting results emanating from Japan on Saturday.
At Hakodate, the 3yo Kinshasa no Kiseki (AUS) colt Tasman Highway broke the ice over 1700m on the dirt at his ninth start. It ended a frustrating sequence of five placings for the son of the 2011 Group 1 Caulfield Cup heroine Southern Speed.
A 5-time stakes-winner, Southern Speed (Southern Image), has two winners from three runners in Japan.
The former Leon Macdonald and Andrew Gluyas-trained stalwart has an unraced 2yo filly by Mikki Isle (JPN) named Southern Cross, a yearling colt by dual Group 1 Sprinter Stakes winner Red Falx (Swept Overboard) and a colt foal by Deep Impact’s Japanese 2000 Guineas winner Al Ain.
Over at Niigata, there was plenty to get excited about the career debut of Otaru Ever in a 1600m Newcomers race.
The Kazuya Nakatake-trained 2yo was in a race of his own in the straight, defeating the Deep Impact colt Corrientes by four lengths with a further one and three-quarters back to the Deep Impact filly Pulsatilla in third.
By the King Kamehameha stallion Leontes, Otaru Ever is a son of the Redoute’s Choice mare Rouge Coeur who, on the track, did not make much of a dent in her $400,000 purchase by Northern Farm at the 2010 Easter Yearling Sale, but has been a reliable producer.
She has six winners from seven starters, highlighted by the Listed Fuyo Stakes third Star Field (Symboli Kris S).
A sister to Group II Edward Manifold Stakes winner El Daana (the dam of Kewney Stakes winner Wawail), Rouge Coeur featured in our recent coverage of the JRHA Select Sale when her yearling Rulership filly was purchased by for ¥29m ($352,321).
Rouge Coeur has a colt foal by Satono Crown.
