Yes, Ian Mackay, former Chief Executive of The Championships was correct when stating ‘The Championships is all about being the best of the best in thoroughbred racing, the grand-final of horse racing in the southern hemisphere.’
In adhering Ian Mackay’s words, the Japanese have nominated 11 entries for the $3m The Star Doncaster Mile of 1600m, run on Day 1 of The Championships, Saturday 7 April at Royal Randwick.
The Star Doncaster Mile has received a record 181 nomination’s, up 30 entries, making it the highest number of entries the Group 1 Doncaster has attracted in the five years of The Championship. A total of 1,454 entries were received for this year’s 10 race The Championships which is up 5%, or 75 entries.
It is fitting that Japanese expatriate Tosen Stardom, now trained by Darren Weir is allotted 57.5kg, and 4th in order-of-entry, in The Star Doncaster Mile. Tosen Stardom was recently second in the Futurity Stakes to fellow Japanese import and stable mate Brave Smash, who is on 56kg and 7th in order-of-entry for the Doncaster.
Tosen Stardom came to The Championships in 2015, finishing a credible fifth to Criterion in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes, and previously second in the Ranvet Stakes. On returning to Japan Australian Bloodstock purchased a majority share, and he has now won the LKS Mackinnon Stakes and Toorak Handicap.
Tosen Stardom is to retire to Woodford Park Stud in Victoria following The Championships. A 7yo son of the champion Japanese racehorse and sire Deep Impact, his 3yo full-sister Centelleo was a recent 2000m winner in Japan. He is from the Japanese winning End Sweep mare, Admire Kirameki, who is a half-sister to the Group 1 winner Tosen Jordan.
The Tokyo Victoria Mile winner Admire Lead is the highest weighted Japanese entry for the Doncaster Mile with 54kg and is 7th on the order-of-entry. Trained by Naouuke Sugai the $2.4m winning 5yo mare has been twice placed in the 1600m Himba Stake and is by the outstanding Japanese sire Stay Gold.
The Ippo Sameshima trained 4yo mare Mozu Katchan is 13th in order-of-entry and weighted 53kg, being the winner of over $2.8m in stakes including the Queen Elizabeth II Cup and second in the Japanese Oaks. She is by the successful young sire Harbinger, winner of the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes.
The duel Group winning 4yo grey colt Win Bright is weighted 54.5kg and placed equal 15th on the order-of-entry. Owner by Win Co Ltd and trained by Yoshihiro Hatakeyama Win Bright is another top-line son of Stay Gold.
The U Carrot Farm owner Kluger, weighted on 54kg, is a winner of the Yomiuri Milers Cup. Trained by Tomokazu Takano, Kluger was bred by Northern Farm and is by the leading Japanese sire King Kamehameha, a winner of the Japanese Derby and NHK Mile Cup.
The Group 3 winner Meiner Honey, trained by Hironori Kurita and owned by K Thoroughbred Club Ruffian is weighted on 53.5kg, along with fellow Group 3 winner Win Gagnant, owned by Win Co Ltd and trained by Masato Nishizono.
Weighted on 52kg is the Hanshin Cup winner Shuji, sired by the Arrowfield Australian bred Kinshasa No Kiseki, and trained by Naosuke Sugai. The Mitsuru Hashida trained duel Group 2 placed stakes winner Suzuka Devious has also been allocated 52kg, while his Group 1 winning 4yo mare Deirdre has 51.5kg.
The duel Group 3 winning 4yo mare Miss Panthere trained by Mitsugu Kon is weighted 50.5kg. Mozu Ascot, the Group 2 placed winning Frankel 4yo is trained by Yoshito Yahagi, who also has the Group 3 winner Logi Cry being allocated 50kg.
Now with Anthony Freedman at Mornington is the $2.9m duel Group winner Ambitious weighted on 56kg, while Darren Weir has the stakes winner Danon Liberty on 51.5kg and Kris Lees the duel 1600m winner Hallellujah Boy on 50kg.
Chris Waller at Rosehill Gardens now has the Group placed winning 4yo Admire Winner, by the English Derby winner Workforce, and Satono Rasen the Group 2 winning Japanese Derby second by Deep Impact, both weighted on 50kg.