Ice Storm narrowly denied in G3 Chunichi Shimbun Hai

Ice Storm produced a strong late run to finish a close third in the G3 Chunichi Shimbun Hai over a mile and a quarter at Chukyo, Japan, on Saturday, 7 December.

The Keiji Yoshimura-trained four-year-old, 11th on his only previous G3 appearance in the Kokura Kinen in August, was slightly slow into his stride and was held up towards the rear of the 16 runners by Hayato Yoshida.

Ice Storm still had much of the field in front of him with two furlongs left but quickened markedly down the centre of the course in the straight. The Storming Home colt galloped out well to go down by a head and a neck to Satono Garnet and Last Draft.

Harry Sweeney, President of Godolphin in Japan, said: “It was a very pleasing run by Ice Storm. He broke somewhat slowly, as he often does, but accelerated brilliantly in the home straight to take third in this G3 and earn his first international Black Type.

“As he is already a winner of four races in the JRA, he is now restricted to running in Listed and Group races and it is really encouraging to know that he can be competitive in this class.

“He is still only a four-year-old and will stay in training next year. If we can sharpen his exit from the gates, he could win a few nice races in 2020. My feeling is that he is best at nine furlongs.”