A fascinating result in an 1800m maiden at Kyoto on Sunday with Lys Gracieux’s brother Evolving nosing out Schwertlilie, the first foal of the WS Cox Plate heroine.
Ridden by Yuga Kawada for Hideaki Fujiwara Evolving (Heart’s Cry) started a short-priced favourite after finishing second over 1800m at his one start at two before finishing second over the same course and distance at his 3-year-old bow.
Given the run of the race, Evolving was all out in holding off the finish of fellow Carrot Farm colour-bearer Schwertlilie, which came with a barnstorming finish from near last to fall a nose short.
Like Lys Gracieux, Schwertlilie is trained by Yoshito Yahagi. The son of Maurice was making his fourth start having placed at Hanshin when making his career debut at Hanshin at his lone start at two.
A 4-time Group 1 winner, Lys Gracieux has a 2-year-old Lord Kanaloa filly, a yearling Epiphaneia filly, and was covered by Hopeful stakes and Satsuki Sho hero Saturnalia (Lord Kanakoa).
Evolving and Lys Gracieux are out of the American Post mare Liliside (FR) a multiple stakes-winner who was first past the post in the Group 1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches only to lose it in the stewards room.
Liliside has a 2-year-old colt by Duramente, a yearling colt by former Arrowfield shuttler Real Steel, and was covered by Efforia.
