Birth Cry takes third in G3 Ocean Stakes

Birth Cry saw her consistency rewarded with a first G3 placing as she finished a close third in the Ocean Stakes at Nakayama, Japan, on Saturday, 2 March.

The Teruhiko Chida-trained four-year-old, who had ended 2023 with a pair of Stakes wins over the same six-furlong trip, broke on terms and soon raced in mid-division of the 16 runners on the inside rail.

Having moved up to sixth turning in, Mirai Iwata looked to switch Birth Cry wide at the top of the straight but the Godolphin filly was hemmed in by Big Caesar and Kimiwa Queen.

Birth Cry quickened bravely between horses and briefly went second in the final strides, only for Big Caesar to grab the runner-up spot by a nose on the line.

Harry Sweeney, President of Godolphin in Japan, said: “Birth Cry has been very reliable, especially at sprinting distances, and deserves her first G3 Black Type. She has plenty of volume and substance and has raced very honestly and consistently in her eight races in the last year.

“She was against colts today and you would be hopeful she could do even better against her own sex. If she remains healthy and sound she will remain in training until the end of next year so we should have many good days out with her.”