Highly talented Japanese mare Vivlos to defend Group 1 Dubai Turf
Well-bred, lightly raced and immensely talented, the Japanese-trained daughter of Deep Impact won last year’s event in stylish fashion under a heady ride by Joao Moreira, running down Al Shaqab’s Heshem and Godolphin’s Ribchester in the final 100m.
Ribchester would subsequently add three European Group 1 events to his resume and be rated the world’s second-best turf miler in 2017.
According to JRA officials, the half-sister to Group 1 Japan Cup inner Cheval Grand remains on schedule to return to Dubai.
Trained by Yasuo Tomomichi, she was a disappointing fifth of 18 last out in November’s 2200m Queen Elizabeth II Cup (G1), Japan’s premier race for fillies and mares. Markedly more effective over shorter, including the 1800m of the Dubai Turf, she also owns a victory in the 2000m Shuka Sho (G1), the third leg of Japan’s filly Triple Crown.
No rider has been decided yet for her Dubai return. She, like Cheval Grand, is owned by former Seattle Mariner pitcher Kazuhiro Sasaki.