Triple Ace just denied in G3 Kokura Nisai Stakes

Triple Ace was edged out on the line when going down by a neck to Meiner Grit in the G3 Kokura Nisai Stakes over six furlongs at Kokura, Japan, on Sunday, 1 September.

The two-year-old Shamardal colt, a debut winner for Takashi Saito on his only previous start at Hanshin in June, was outpaced leaving the stalls and raced in a clear last under Ryuji Wada before moving up three places after the first quarter-mile.

He started to make good progress at the top of the straight and accelerated strongly between horses to dispute the lead with Meiner Grit inside the final half-furlong. Meiner Grit asserted in the shadow of the post to narrowly prevail in 1m 10.5s on yielding ground.

Harry Sweeney, President of Godolphin in Japan, said: “Triple Ace ran a brilliant race to take second in the G3 Kokura Nisai Stakes. He completely missed the start and early on was trailing the field of 14 by about four lengths.

“However, he fought back with great courage and class to lead close home only to surrender the lead at the line. There is no doubt that he was the best horse in the race and, had he not fluffed the start, he would have won easily.

“He is a colt with a very bright future and the trainer believes that he will have no problem getting a mile. The G1 Futurity Stakes in December will be his main target for the rest of this year, but he may run once again in the interim.

“Overall, it was a very pleasing weekend for our two-year-olds. In addition to Triple Ace, Darlington Hall finished third in a G3 yesterday and earlier today, Cape Cod, a homebred filly by Daiwa Major, won a Black-Type race in great style. She will join Woman’s Heart in the G1 Juvenile Fillies in December.”