Top-level targets await Maurice's Sapporo Kinen winner Jack d'Or

Connections of high-class colt Jack d'Or are looking ahead for a first top-level success for the son of Maurice after a determined win in the Grade 2 Sapporo Kinen on Sunday.

The Crown Hidaka Farm-bred colt is the eighth foal out of the winning Unbridled's Song mare Ravarino - a half-sister to German Group 2 winner and Prix Jean Prat second Slip Stream as well as American Grade 2 winner Porte Bonheur.

Jack d'Or is in turn is a half-brother to the ill-fated bumper and hurdle winner Crowns Major - last seen running at Galway last month - and four other winners in Japan.

He had won the Grade 2 Kinko Sho in March before finishing a respectable fifth in the Grade 1 Osaka Hai the following month.

He was defeating five Grade 1 winners here, including the hugely popular white horse Sodashi, when coming home a neck in front of Panthalassa. Having settled well in fourth place, the four-year-old moved to the outside to hit the front by the top of the home straight before the duel with Panthalassa.

Winning jockey Yusuke Fujioka said: "I am relieved to get that result for what could be a big autumn ahead. Jack d'Or settled well behind the leaders and that really helped us win. It was a very tough race and he toughed it out to hold off Pantharassa at the finish."

He added: "He has enough ability to win a Grade 1 and I would like to try my very best for him."

Pantharassa's rider Yutaka Yoshida said of his fast-finishing mount: "He held out well after being impeded behind the winner once.

"He's not been the quickest out the stalls recently and today he had to run until getting the lead. If he could get a wider position at the home turn the result would have been different."

Read more

Latest Moyglare jewel Trevaunance pays tribute to Ballymacoll heritage

'She's my Enable' - wild child Aristia now making amends for Bunny Roberts (£)

'She's built like a colt' - Ashbrooke team ready for first draft at Goffs UK