It’s been some day for the Japanese stallion Daiwa Major (Sunday Silence) whose 2-year-old daughter Resistencia (JPN) assured her place as the champion filly in Japan with a record-breaking win in the Group 1 Hanshin Fillies Stakes shortly before his 3-year-old son Admire Mars (JPN) dominated the finish of the Longines Hong Kong Mile at Sha Tin.
Carrying the colours of the recently deceased Riichi Kondo, Admire Mars (JPN) came from midfield under Christophe Soumillon to defeat Waikuku (IRE) (Harbour Watch) by a half-length with the winner of the race for the last two years, Beauty Generation (NZ) (Road To Rock) one and a quarter lengths back in third.
The Champion 2yo colt in Japan last season when winning the Group 1 Hanshin Asahi Hai Futurity, Admire Mars added the Group1 NHK Mile Cup at Tokyo in May.
"What a horse. I've been so lucky to ride in Japan and it's paid off today,” Soumillon told The Racing Post.
"I know Admire Mars is quite tough so when I took him out I thought he'd go and catch up. He's a hard fighter.
"I thought Joao might catch me on the line but he was very strong. It's great to be a part of this race's amazing history."
The dam of Admire Mars, the French Group III winning Medicean mare Via Medici was purchased for €480,000 at Arqana’s 2014 December Sale.
It did not take long to look like a bargain as her first foal was the then-unraced 2-year-old filly Pivotal filly Via Pisa won the Saint-Cloud Prix Coronation and was Group 1 placed,
Her second foal, the Dansili filly Via Firenze did equally well. winning the Listed Clairefontaine Prix Luth Enchantee and was multiple Group II placed.
Via Medici has an unraced 2yo filly by Kinshasa no Kiseki named Aloha Nui Loa, a yearling filly by Duramente (JPN) and a filly foal by Heart’s Cry (JPN).
