Millionaire purchase Satono Japan makes useful impression at Kempton
A first-time-out two-year-old winner for Sir Michael Stoute tends to be marked down as a bright prospect and there will be precious few to be seen from Freemason Lodge with as impressive a pedigree as Satono Japan.
Settled towards the rear of the field by Jason Watson in the at Kempton, the 14-1 chance made smooth progress in the home straight and showed a useful turn of foot to collar the more experienced Raatea close home
As his name might imply, the colt is of Far Eastern extraction, being a son of the much-lamented super-sire Deep Impact and bred by Shadai Farm.
It cost Hajime Satomi, the video game mogul known for his ownership of other smart horses such as Satono Crown and Satono Diamond, some 180 million yen (£1.37m/€1.52m) to secure him at the JRHA Yearling Sale last year.
Satono Japan is out of Dubawi Heights, a dual Grade 1-winning Dubawi mare in the US as well as being a three-parts sister to Poule d'Essai des Poulains scorer Make Believe.
Bred by Aston Mullins Stud, Dubawi Heights has already produced Liberty Heights, winner of last year’s Hochi Hai Fillies' Revue (Japanese 1,000 Guineas Trial).
The winner has an early entry in next year's Investec Derby and would appear to have further than this seven-furlong trip within his range on early evidence.
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