Trained by Kazuya Nakatake, two year-old Saturnalia ran clear to win the 2000m
contest by a length and a half becoming the second Group I winner for his sire
Lord Kanaloa, whose star daughter Almond Eye won the Japan Cup this year."I feel great," said winning rider Mirco Demuro.
"I knew I was riding the strongest 2-year-old of the season, but it was his first time over 2,000 meters, so I was a little worried. He really showed his strength, though, squeezing his way through the narrow opening.
"I am really looking forward to his 3-year-old season,"
Saturnalia is a half-brother to Group I Japan Cup winner Epihaneia and Leontes, who also won the Hopeful Stakes and was the Champion 2YO Colt of Japan in 2015.
They are among seven winners from Group I winner Cesario, the best winner left by Kirov Premiere, who was sent to Australia the year after she was born.
Kirov Premiere died in 2014, but has three daughters at stud in Kirovskaya, Vishneva and Savannahs' Choice, who has already left an Australian stakes-winner in Overshare who has just finished his first season at Spendthrift Farm.
Arrowfield Stud will offer a Real Impact (Jpn) colt from Kirovskaya at the Magic Millions as Lot 1015 and he is pictured below.
They will also offer a Not a Single Doubt colt from Vishneva at Inglis Easter, while Torryburn Stud will offer the More Than Ready (USA) colt from Savannah's Choice at Inglis Easter.
