Trainer Mitsumasa Nakauchida not only landed the opening lot at Keeneland September last year, but the bumper yearling sale has unveiled a potential Kentucky Derby candidate for the stable after Keeneland graduate Magna Victor’s stunning victory at Hanshin on Saturday.
The first son of Darley America’s freshman sire Maxfield to race in Japan, Magna Victor was sent out as the 1.1 favourite in the 1400m two-year-old newcomer race on dirt.
Ridden by Yuga Kawada, he jumped and led at quick fractions early before the pressure eased mid-race. Upon straightening, Kawada hardly needed to flick the reins at the colt as he lengthened well clear of his rivals, the jockey just riding him out late as education as Magna Victor recorded a 10-length success.
“He is not the easiest horse, but there is no doubt about his ability,” Kawada said. “I was relieved that he pulled up well. We want to take things slowly so that he can continue to develop well.”
Magna Victor is likely to be seen in one of two Japanese points races for the Kentucky Derby later in the year: the Cattleya Stakes at Tokyo on November 29 or the JPN1 Zen-Nippon Nisai Yushun at Kawasaki on December 17. Both are over 1600m.
Magna Victor was Nakauchida’s second winner out of last year’s Keeneland sale in the space of a week. Last Sunday saw Matenro Da Vinci, a $1 million Uncle Mo colt, win by six lengths on debut over 1800m on the Niigata dirt.
While Nakauchida – best known as the trainer of Liberty Island, Prognosis and Serifos among others – was one of the big spenders of the headline early sessions at last year’s Keeneland September, Magna Victor is further proof that value can be found in the sales ring.
Catalogued as Hip 2003, Magna Victor – the second foal out of New York stakes winner Eyeinthesky – was not sold to Nakauchida but to pinhooking partnership Polo Bloodstock for $75,000.
The colt was then pinhooked for $1 million earlier this year, with Nakauchida the successful buyer on behalf of Sanshisuimei Co Ltd.
Nakauchida still has last year’s opening hip yet to make his debut. A Curlin colt named Gun Finger, he will race in the colours of Umamusume founder and Forever Young owner Susumu Fujita.
Nakauchida and Fujita also have $1.25 million colt Boom Bap Beat, a son of Into Mischief out of Grade 2 winner Point Of Honor, and another Into Mischief colt, Wayny Su, who they purchased for $1 million. Both are yet to race, although Wayny Su is scheduled to debut this Sunday at Hanshin.
Future Outlook: A horse that is likely to continue Japan’s progression as a dirt force on the world stage. ∎
