Meliorem aims to gift his sire Cheval Grand first graded stakes title in G2 Kobe Shimbun Hai
Friday, 20 September, 2024 17:09
Meliorem (C)Netkeiba
Can Meliorem, a 3-year-old colt by Cheval Grand, deliver his sire's first graded stakes title in the G2 Kobe Shimbun Hai?
Meliorem is by Cheval Grand, out of Meliora, by Starspangledbanner. His sire, trained alike by Yasuo Tomomichi, enjoyed a long and successful career in the middle and long-distance ranks. Cheval Grand famously defeated Rey de Oro and Kitasan Black in the 2017 Japan Cup, earning G1 honours. However, his stud career has been more challenging. From two crops and 76 runners under the Japan Racing Association, only 11 have won races, with 10 being one-time winners. Notably, Karpuz Pelus' 5th place in the G3 Hakodate Nisai Stakes is his only graded stakes runner, leaving much to be desired.
Meliorem, Cheval Grand's standout progeny so far, has a record of 3 wins, 2 seconds, and 2 thirds from 7 starts, maintaining a 100% in-the-money rate. He narrowly missed a spot in the Japanese Derby after finishing 3rd in the Sumire Stakes and 2nd in the Principal Stakes, but secured his third win in the Seibu Sponichi Sho, earning enough prize money to target G1 races. His versatility and racing sense allow him to perform well in any scenario.
While his sire did not secure his first graded stakes win until his fifth attempt, Meliorem will aim to achieve it on his first try. A victory here would put him in the spotlight as a leading contender for the G1 Kikuka Sho.
Meliorem is by Cheval Grand, out of Meliora, by Starspangledbanner. His sire, trained alike by Yasuo Tomomichi, enjoyed a long and successful career in the middle and long-distance ranks. Cheval Grand famously defeated Rey de Oro and Kitasan Black in the 2017 Japan Cup, earning G1 honours. However, his stud career has been more challenging. From two crops and 76 runners under the Japan Racing Association, only 11 have won races, with 10 being one-time winners. Notably, Karpuz Pelus' 5th place in the G3 Hakodate Nisai Stakes is his only graded stakes runner, leaving much to be desired.
Meliorem, Cheval Grand's standout progeny so far, has a record of 3 wins, 2 seconds, and 2 thirds from 7 starts, maintaining a 100% in-the-money rate. He narrowly missed a spot in the Japanese Derby after finishing 3rd in the Sumire Stakes and 2nd in the Principal Stakes, but secured his third win in the Seibu Sponichi Sho, earning enough prize money to target G1 races. His versatility and racing sense allow him to perform well in any scenario.
While his sire did not secure his first graded stakes win until his fifth attempt, Meliorem will aim to achieve it on his first try. A victory here would put him in the spotlight as a leading contender for the G1 Kikuka Sho.