Favored at 90 cents on the dollar, Eri King (Jpn) (Kizuna {Jpn}) finished in the money and won the G3 Radio Nikkei Hai Kyoto Nisai Stakes by 1 1/4 lengths to go in Kyoto on Saturday John (Jpn) (Epiphaneia {Jpn}). Claudiai (Jpn) (Saturnalia {Jpn}) was third, another length behind.
The almost black stallion made it the furthest of all in box eight and was soon beating the breeze alone in a mighty fifth Water Clark (Jpn) (Water Build {Jpn}) showed the way into the right-hand bend. The pace was consistent with a quarter mile division of :24.70 and a half mile division of :49.40. Eri King was kept on cruise control by Yuga Kawada and began to make up ground in the 1000 meters in 1:01.90. Water Clark's lead dwindled as the nose pointed home, and Kawada appeared to be on the safe and sound side with Eri King. After shaking the reins, he went full speed and chased the pacesetter Sarakosth (Japan) (Epiphaneia {Jpn}), who had gone all the way second. Eri King had reached the 100-meter mark and survived Giovanni's rallying efforts to take the win.
The colt won a newcomer competition in Kyoto over 1800 meters of flexible terrain in June, with Sarakosth finishing second, before scoring his second straight win on that trip in Chukyo on September 21. At the last start he defeated Giovanni.
Family tree notes
Fresh off the news that Kizuna will compete at Shadai Stallion Station next year for 20,000,000 yen, Saturday's winner became his 36th overall winner and 24th group winner. In 2024 alone, the offspring of the son of Deep Impact (Jpn) have prevailed in 21 races, with Justin Milano (Jpn) winning the G1 Satsuki Sho in the spring. Also on Saturday, Kizuna colt Natural Rise (Jpn) threw his hat in the ring on Japan's Road to the Kentucky Derby when he won the Cattleya Stakes (point money).
G1 Queensland Oaks heroine Youngstar was purchased by Katsumi Yoshida at the 2020 Inglis Chairmans Sale for A$1,400,000 before beginning her broodmare career in Japan. She has a weanling foal by Contrail (Jpn) as her second foal, Eri King her first.
Youngstar is a half-sister to G1 Flight Stakes scorer Funstar (Aus) (Adelaide {Ire}), while her Galileo (Ire) half-sister Baggy Green (Aus) is the dam of four stakes winners including top winner Tofane (NZ) (Ocean Park {NZ}) and No Compromise (NZ) (Pins {Aus}). Third dam was the outstanding racing mare User Warm (GB) (Slip Anchor {GB}), a winner of the G1 St Leger, G1 Irish Oaks, G1 Oaks, G1 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud and G1 Yorkshire Oaks. She also came second in the G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.
Saturday, Kyoto, Japan
RADIO NIKKEI HAI KYOTO NISAI Stakes-G3¥63,020,000, Kyoto, 11-23, 2 years, 2000 mT, 2:00.90, fm.
1–ERI KING (JPN), 123, c, 2, Kizuna (JPN)
1st Dam: Youngstar (Aus) (G1SW-Aus, $766,777),
by High Chaparral (Irish)
2nd mother: Starspangled (Ire), by Danehill
3. Mother: User Warm (UK), by Slip Anchor (UK)
1. BLACK VICTORY. 1. GROUP WIN. (¥210,000,000 High '23
JRHAJUL). O Susu Fujita; B-Northern Farm (Jpn);
T Mitsumasa Nakauchida; J Yuga Kawada; ¥33,294,000.
Lifetime record: 3-3-0-0, 56,620,000 yen. Click for that
Free catalog style pedigree from Equineline.com. Work, Nick
Rating: B. Click for the eNicks report and 5-cross family tree.
2–John (Jpn)123, c, 2, Epiphaneia (Jpn) – Barefoot
Lady (Irish), from Footstepsinthesand (GB). 1. BLACK TYPE. 1
GROUP BLACK TYPE. O-KR Japan; B-Taihei Farm (Jpn);
13,084,000 yen.
3–Claudiai (Jpn)123, c, 2, Saturnalia (Jpn)–My Heart (Jpn), by
Deep Impact (Jpn). 1. BLACK TYPE. 1. GROUP BLACK TYPE.
OK is Japan; B-Kasamatsu Farm (Jpn); ¥8,342,000.
Margins: 1 1/4, 1, 1 1/4. Odds: 0.90, 5.50, 7.70.
Also running: Water Clark (Jpn), Three Kings (Jpn), Take It All (Jpn), Sarakosth (Jpn), Laurel Orb (Jpn). Click for that JRA diagram and video.
