Satono Ares extends Japan streak to three, named colt of year

Satono Ares extended his winning streak to three in the Asahi Hai Futurity Stakes at Hanshin racecourse, with the Deep Impact colt subsequently named the two-year-old champion colt.

Jumping sixth favourite, Satono Ares put an average start to his career firmly to bed, with a first win in a grade race.

Satono Ares was out of the gates well, from stall 17, and settled back in the field, with just a handful of horses behind him. Gradually working through the field with Hirofumi Shii onboard.

The dark bay then produced a powerful turn of speed in the straight, passing tiring horses, to record the second fastest final three furlong time.

Satono Ares hit the front with 100m to go, holding off a strong challenge from Monde Can Know, to record a first group 1 victory.

“I rode him for the first time but was told by the trainer that he has a strong late charge,” Shii said.

“So I decided to race him toward the rear and he responded really well in the stretch. I think his strong point is indeed his turn of foot.

“I think he will definitely be able to aim for the big titles going forward.”

Monde Can Know was rated fourth from the rear, surged out behind Satono Ares in the straight and threatened to win, but ultimately fell short, despite recording the fastest final sectional.

Bom Servico, jumping from stall four, was the pace setter in the race, and run on reasonably well to finish third, with Mi Suerte, the daughter of Frankel, further back in fourth place.

It was Shii’s 15th Japan group 1 race win, with his last coming on the Takamatsunomiya Kinen with Kinshasa no Kiseki.

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