'I think he'll be a special horse' - Moreira exhibits Japanese Guineas double on Museum Mile

Joao Moreira completed a Classic double within the space of a week when guiding Museum Mile home in front of hotly-tipped fellow Sunday Racing runner Croix Du Nord in Sunday's Satsuki Sho (Japanese 2,000 Guineas) at Nakayama.

The Brazilian visitor had been at his brilliant best on Embroidery in last weekend's fillies' equivalent in Hanshin and had picked up the ride on one of the leading contenders for the race in a colt who had finished an encouraging fourth behind Faust Rasen in a Grade 2 trial over course and distance in early March.

Croix Du Nord was an odds-on favourite and had appeared yet another emerging superstar for his sire, Kitasan Black, when taking the Grade 1 Hopeful Stakes at the end of the year but was facing his biggest assignment to date without a prep-run.

Faust Rasen made what has become his trademark move in slicing through the field to dictate the pace mid-race but as the field turned in, Croix Du Nord looked to have his measure. However, Moreira challenged from deeper and ended up winning quite comfortably by a length and a half, even when having to catch a briefly dropped rein close home.

Museum Mile is a second Grade 1 winner for his sire Leontes, a top-class juvenile by the legendary King Kamehameha and out of Japanese and American Oaks winner turned fabled producer Cesario. 

Leontes has sired the consistent T O Royal, who landed last year's Tenno Sho, as well as Pink Kamehameha, who won the valuable Saudi Derby when it was a conditions race in 2021. He is standing at the Breeders Stallion Station in Hokkaido for a fee of Y4,000,000 (£21,000/€25,000).

Bred by Northern Farm, Museum Mile has now won three races and is the first foal out of minor scorer Museum Hill, by Heart's Cry, who has a two-year-old daughter by Leontes' three-parts brother Saturnalia named Festival Hill and a yearling colt by Lord Kanaloa.

It was trainer Daisuke Takayanagi’s first Classic title while Moreira became the sixth jockey and the first since Christophe Lemaire in 2019 to claim both Guineas in the same year.

Moreira said: "He showed great speed at the straight. I'd like to thank everyone at the stables for keeping him in such good condition. I felt his strength the moment I rode him at the paddock. I think he'll be a special horse. He was in good mental condition during the race, so I don't think there's any problem with a longer distance."

Museum Mile is paraded after Classic success

Croix du Nord's rider Yuichi Kitamura was disappointed and apologetic: "I'm sorry to everyone who supported me that I couldn't win," he said. "I thought I was in the best position going into the corner but when other horses came from behind, I was pushed back from the outside, and I was forced to pull back. That was a huge waste. Even though he was at a disadvantage, he recovered and ran well. I think he's a great horse. I hope he'll do his best again next time."

Moreira had earlier guided an Australian import by Al Shaqab shuttler Shalaa to a Listed victory in the Keiyo Stakes. The progressive Invincible Papa, bred by Arrowfield Stud, was bought for A$200,000 at the 2023 Inglis Easter Yearling Sale.

Read next:

‘This is crazy’ - Tattersalls record tumbles as 1,400,000gns Acclamation colt brings huge pinhooking profit 

'Now we can dream a bit more' - Zia Agnese strikes first Group success for Romanised