Loves Only You Breaks New Ground for Japan at Del Mar

Mark Smith - Sunday November 7

A familiar face in Australia as the trainer of 2019 Cox Plate heroine Lys Gracieux (JPN), Yoshito Yahagi broke new ground for Japan when his world-traveller Loves Only You (JPN) overcame difficulties to triumph in Saturday’s $2 million Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf at Del Mar.

Loves Only You takes the late split (image John Voorhees/Eclipse Sportswire/Breeders Cup)

Ridden by Yuga Kawada, the 5-year-old daughter of the late Deep Impact looked in deep trouble when sandwiched between runners as her main rivals were out and running before the home turn.

Kawada had a handful of horse in deep stretch and when she took a gap between the favourite War Like Goddess and outsider My Sister Nat (FR) the result was never in doubt.

Advertisement

Loves Only You defeated My Sister Nat (FR) (Acclamation) by a half-length with War Like Goddess (English Channel) a head back in third.

“It looked like a really tough race, a competitive race, but we thought our horse was Number One," Yahagi said.

“"It was a really great race but we believed in her and now she won this great race."

The sister to former Arrowfield Stud shuttler Real Steel seven two three from 15 starts with earnings the equivalent of US$6.5 million.

Loves Only You began the year with a win in the Group II Kyoto Kinen at Hanshin in February.

A month later she was in Meydan finishing a close-up third behind Mishriff and fellow Japanese traveller Chrono Genesis in the Group 1 Dubai Sheema Classic.

Feeling the love (image Bill Denver /Breeders’ Cup/Eclipse Sportswire)

Back on a plane Loves only You was next seen when leading home a Japanese domination of the Group 1  Queen Elizabeth II Stakes (G1) at Sha Tin in April.

After a four-month break, she finished second to the photogenic Sodashi in the Group II Sapporo Kinen.

Bred by the Yoshida family's Northern Farm, Loves Only You was purchased at the JRHA Select Yearling Sale by DMM.com Co for 280m yen.

She is one of seven winners out of the unraced Storm Cat mare Loves Only Me a half-sister to the Group 1 Prix Marcel Boussac and Group 1 Moyglare Stud Stakes winner Rumplestiltskin (Danehill Dancer), dam of Group 1 Yorkshire Oaks winner Tapestry.

The dam of Loves Only Me, Monevassia (Mr Prospector) is a sister to Kingmambo out of the incomparable Miesque.

Advertisment
More Reading...
Another Win for Smart Exceedance Filly
Apprentice Liam Kauri has continued a winning association with the Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott stable by partnering their smart three-year-old Tristar to victory in the Ambient Group 3YO (1100m) at Te Rapa, his second victory aboard the filly from just two rides.
Stakes Potential for New Hello Youmzain Winner
Late-season black type is on the radar for Platinum Diamond after an impressive upset victory in Saturday’s Full Circle Appearance Medicine 2YO (1200m) at Wanganui.
First Local Win As New Endeavour (IRE) Records Stakes Success
While it may have taken the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott trained New Endeavour (IRE) a while to record his first Australian success, connections were rewarded for their patience as the 5yo dominated under Tim Clark to win the Group 3 BRC Lord Mayor’s Cup (1800m) at Eagle Farm.
First Winner for Palace Pier
Kingman’s Champion 3YO Miler Palace Pier(GB) was a one term shuttler to Australia for Darley in 2022 and that crop will race next season, but in the meantime he had his first Northern Hemisphere winner overnight at Haydock.
Kiwi Bred Campaldino Wins G3 for Darby
Promising New Zealand-bred stayer Campaldino passed his biggest test with flying colours at Eagle Farm on Saturday, stepping up to stakes company and adding the A$200,000 Gr.3 Living Turf Queen Elizabeth II Cup (2400m) to his winning sequence.
Juvenile Trial Watch – Randwick
There were six heats for juveniles at the Randwick trials on Friday and some interesting unraced winners including a $1.45million colt by Extreme Choice and a Too Darn Hot (GB) filly bred to win an Oaks..
One to Watch – Bendigo
A flashy chestnut filly with a bit of the Apache Cat’s about her was an eye-catching five length debut winner at Bendigo on Friday for the Ciaron Maher stable.
Debut Winner for Kings Legacy
King’s Legacy posted a seventh first crop winner on Friday with a fast finishing debut victory at Goulburn for talented gelding Nothing But Net.
Sires With Winners - Friday May 30
Here is the full list of 41 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Bright Future for El Roca 3YO
Owner-trainer-breeder Kylie Little believes she might have a promising stayer on her hands with Eagle Rock, who left maiden ranks with an emphatic performance in Saturday’s Matt Edwards-Lime Group Mile (1600m) at Te Rapa.