There would have been some cheering from Cornerstone Stud when the Kitasan Black (JPN) colt Sol Oriens (JPN) kept his record at a perfect three for three with a stunning win in the Group 1 Satsuki So (2000m) (Japanese 2000 Guineas) at Nakayama on Sunday.
Ridden by Takeshi Yokoyama for Takahisa Tezukam, Sol Oriens (JPN) had just one of the eighteen starters behind him on the turn.
Like last week’s Oko Sho heroine Liberty Island (JPN), Sol Oriens (JPN) picked off runner after runner in the straight.
He defeated the Santono Crown colt Tastiera (JPN) by one and a quarter lengths with a further one and three-quarter lengths back to the favoured Harbinger colt Phantom Thief (JPN) in third.
Sol Oriens (JPN) won an 1800m Newcomers race at Tokyo last November, his lone start at two.
The son of Kitasan Black made his 3yo bow in the Group III Keisei Hai over 2000m at Nakayama on January 15.
He is one of eight winners from as many to race for the French Group III winner Skia (Motivator), also the dam of Group II winner Vin De Garde (Deep Impact), who was twice runner-up in the Group 1 Dubai Turf.
That’s where Cornerstone Stud comes in.
Skia’s unraced half-sister Lustrale (IRE) (Sea The Stars) was a €60,000 purchase at Arqana for Badger’s Bloodstock.
Covered by Frankel to southern hemisphere time, Lustrale (IRE) foaled a filly on September 4 before being covered by the high-flying Toronado (USA).
