Japan’s international Champion Maurice is in hot demand at home and in Australia where his Magic Millions 2022 yearlings averaged $213,750. (PHOTO: Bronwen Healy)

New Maurice stakeswinner sensational in Japan

A big, bold chestnut son of Maurice with four white stockings and a relentless, ground-eating stride lit up Tokyo Racecourse on Saturday afternoon with a sensational victory in the ~A$600,000 Shirafuji S. 2000m LR.

Jack d’Or took early charge of the race and never gave his rivals a look-in as he romped to victory in a 1:57.4 – a time that astonished even Graham Pavey, a seasoned observer of racing on Japan’s famously fast tracks.

1.57.4 for 2000m at Tokyo!

Fastest time outside 6 faster G1 Tenno Sho times.

A brutal front running performance by 4c 4. JACK D’OR (Maurice x Ravarino 🇺🇸 (Unbridled’s Song)) under Yusuke Fujioka.

4th win in a row, 5 / 8 overall

Write his name down !pic.twitter.com/aWMA2xNKpt

— Graham Pavey (@LongBallToNoOne) January 29, 2022

The 4YO entire is the sixth winner left by Ravarino, herself a winner over 10 furlongs in Britain, but more importantly a half-sister to Group winners Porte Bonheur (in the US) and Slip Stream (in Germany), from the well-related Gainsborough Farm mare Sous Entendu. 

That name rings a bell in Australia, especially at Arrowfield, home of the  Group 1 winner Alverta (2003-19), who also claimed Sous Entendu as her second dam. 

As it happens, Arrowfield also stood Ravarino’s sire Unbridled’s Song, who shuttled for three seasons, 1997-99, to Australia where his daughters have left Group 1 winners Once Were Wild & Mrs Onassis among a dozen stakeswinners.

Jack d’Or is the 5th stakeswinner in Japan for Maurice, who finished second to the deceased Duramente on Japan’s 2021 2nd Season Sires’ list. He currently holds the same position on the equivalent 2021/22 Australian list, with $2.5 million prizemoney and 24 winners including Hitotsu (Victoria Derby G1) and Sydney stakeswinner Mazu.

Maurice has 15 lots in the Inglis Classic Sale, including two colts & a filly offered by Arrowfield.