'This is a victory for the team' - Cavallerizzo gives sire Saturnalia a breakthrough Grade 1 in key Japanese juvenile contest

Click here to add us to your Google preferred sources or find out more here

Cavallerizzo gave his sire Saturnalia a first Grade 1 winner with a dramatic victory in Sunday's Asahi Hai Futurity Stakes at Hanshin.

The promising youngster was settled in the middle of the pack under Cristian Demuro, who waited to make his move before finding a run up the inside and caught the Christophe Lemaire-ridden leader Diamond Knot late on, winning by three-quarters of a length. The favourite Admire Quads was a further length back in third. 

It is a significant win for Cavallerizzo in Japan's two-year-old championship race over a mile. The Tatsuya Yoshioka-trained colt out of the winning Hearts Cry’s mare Balladist was making it a second win from three starts for owner Silk Racing and breeder Northern Farm. 

He landed a maiden on his debut in late August at Chukyo and was reversing places with Admire Quads after a narrow defeat in the Grade 2 Daily Hai Nisai Stakes at Kyoto on November 15.

He is from the second crop of Shadai-based Saturnalia, the 2019 Satsuki Sho (Japanese 2,000 Guineas) winner, who is the sire of four other Graded winners.

The granddam, Balada Sale, was the 2011 Argentine 1, 000 Guineas and Oaks winner, who also produced high-class performers Satono Reinas and Satono Flag.

Cavallerizzo is paraded after his Grade 1 successCredit: Masakazu Takahashi

Demuro said: "His start was average, so I raced in mid-pack. There were some other fancied horses ahead of me, so I watched them as I raced. In the straight, when I got to the inside, he stretched out well.

"Christophe's horse was running ahead of us with some good speed, so I was a little worried about whether I could catch him. But my horse did a good job at the end and caught up. 

"Last time, he showed his inexperience and lost out to Admire Quads, but since then, thanks to the efforts of the stable and Northern Farm, he has improved. I think this is a victory for the team."

Read next:

'Pretty special' Quisisana flying the flag for a French stud punching above its weight - and she might not be done on the track 

'His bad luck is probably my good luck' - Genesis Green Stud savouring journey with Royal Scotsman 

Grade 1 and Royal Ascot winner Highland Chief to stand at Annshoon Stud for 2026