Satsuki Sho (Japanese 2000 Guineas) (Group 1)

IT could be a few amazing months for the “Magic Man” Joao Moreira. He notched up his third win in a Japanese Group 1 this year at the weekend, when the third favourite Museum Mile claimed this year’s Satsuki Sho (Japanese 2000 Guineas), the first leg of the Triple Crown. The rider has also been booked to partner the number one Japanese contender in the Kentucky Derby, Luxor Cafe next week.

The son of Leontes (King Kamehameha) took the near 10-furlong contest beating the race record by 0.1 second.

The winner had concluded his two-year-old season with a second in the Group 1 Asahi Hai Futurity Stakes and kicked off the current season with a fourth in the Group 2 Yayoi Sho Deep Impact Kinen on March 9th.

This win was his trainer Daisuke Takayanagi’s first classic win. Jockey Joao Moreira became the sixth jockey since Christophe Lemaire in 2019 to claim both the Oka Sho (Japanese 1000 Guineas), run a week earlier.

Breaking smoothly from gate 11, Museum Mile travelled wide in mid-division, around eighth from the front-runner. The colt swung wide turning for home to make bid from the outside, joined favourite Croix du Nord half a furlong out, but soon pulled away with a powerful turn of speed to capture his first Group 1 title by a length and a half margin.

Very special

“When I sat on him this afternoon, I could feel that he’s very special. I thought this might be the horse to win.

“When we were turning for home, we were a bit unbalanced, maybe because the ground was not so smooth, but when I got him on the stretch, he just dashed home, and when he took the lead 150 metres to go, he kept running away, showing me that he’s got so much ability. It was so nice to ride this horse and I believe he’s got plenty more to give,” Joao Moreira was quoted.

Top juvenile of 2024 and short-priced race favourite Croix Du Nord surged to the front at the top of the straight to briefly take the lead at the furlong pole. Though overtaken by Museum Mile, the Kitasan Black colt held off the strong charges from behind to hold on to second place.

Masquerade Ball failed to catch the top two while securing third of the 18 runners by half a length.

The Sunday Racing-owned winner was bred by Northern Farm.