from Japan Bathrat Leon (Jpn) (Kizuna {Jpn}) led his opponents in a joyous dance during the $1 million G2 Godolphin Mile sponsored by Nakheel, and gave his famous trainer Yoshito Yahagi another victory on the international stage in Meydan on Saturday. Second winner to fly the flag of the Land of the Rising Sun since Utopia (Jpn) (Forty Niner) in 2006, Bathrat Leon wears the colors of Hiroo Race Co. Ltd. Wisdom of the Desert (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) tried to make it a run in the stretch, but never quite reached the winner, while the much-loved Storm Damage (GB) (Night of Thunder {Ire}) applied some early pressure but eventually faded to a distant third.

Not the fastest but immediately dispatched to challenge the pace with Storm Damage, the bay established a half-length advantage while being pressed by this foe. Entering the bend gently, the positions were largely unchanged, but Bank (Central Banker) stopped outside Storm Damage. Desert Wisdom was glued to the fence inside this pair, but they all had Bathrat Leon to catch at the 600-yard mark.

Christophe Soumillon gave his signal to the runner from Godolphin, but Bathrat Leon had stolen a step from his rivals and opened up to lead by more than a length with less than a quarter of a mile to go. Desert Wisdom stormed the rail as Bankit faded, but the writing was on the wall. Storm Damage started to fall back and Desert Wisdom fought their way up to second place, but lacked ground to reach the leader. On the line, Yahagi’s runner was 1 1/4 lengths ahead of Desert Wisdom, who had put 3 1/4 between him and Storm Damage. It was four lengths back to Soloist Thunder (Jpn) (Toby’s Corner) fourth.

Winning jockey Ryusei Sakai said: “The plan was to go forward and go fast. Everything went well and the horse continued. I think he preferred clay here more than in Japan. Mr. Yahagi is one of the best coaches in the world. It is an excellent result.

Sakai, who has been riding for Yahagi in Japan for seven years since he was an apprentice, added: “It was my dream and dreams come true. He [was expected] run a good race the last three days. His concentration is very good. I took the lead easily. He traveled very well. I was still not very confident because you have American horses behind you who have speed and are very good.

Yahagi has really shown his coaching skills over the past five months or so, with wins in both the GI Breeders’ Cup Distaff with Marche Lorraine (Jpn) (Orfevre{Jpn}) and the GI Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf with Loves Only You (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) in November. The latter also won the G1 Longines Hong Kong Vase in December, and the Yahagi runners’ success continued on Saudi Cup day, February 26. Son Stay Foolish (Jpn) (Stay Gold) {Jpn}) won the G3 Longines Red Sea Turf H., and will win the G2 Dubai Gold Cup just one race after Bathrat Leon’s victory on Saturday.

Yahagi said: “He’s a good leader and we know the corners well, so he got off to a good start and he pushed and he was able to hold it to the line. We understood our tactics well.

Cristian Demuro, who rode Soloist Thunder, said: “Good run from a wide gate. The dirt here is different from that of Japan. Pretty happy with him.

Of well-beaten favorite Al Nefud (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), jockey Tadhg O’Shea said: “He ended up lame.”

The last time Bathrat Leon visited the winner’s circle was during the New Zealand G2 Trophy in April 2021. Since that effort he has wandered off course, failing to complete the G1 NKH Mile Cup in May , then landed five straight shots. – plank finishes. Thirteenth to Soloist Thunder in this distance in the G3 Tokyo Chunichi Sports Hai Musashino S. in November, he ran ninth on firm turf in the G3 Sports Nippon Sho Kyoto Kimpai in Chukyo on January 5 during his last visit.

Genealogical notes

One of 16 black-type and 10 group-level winners for his sire Kizuna, Bathrat Leon joins G2 Prix hero Foy Deep Bond (Jpn) and last month’s G3 1351 Turf Sprint hero Songline (Jpn) as black-type winners outside of Japan for their young father. Kizuna also have G1 Queen Elizabeth II Cup winner Akai Ito (Jpn) as their first and so far only Group 1 winner.

The second colt, first runner and only winner for his unplaced dam, Bathrat Leon (Jpn) is followed by a juvenile filly named Letter My Heart (Jpn) (Daiwa Major {Jpn}). Bathrat Amal (Jpn), bred by Darley Japan, finished ninth in a 10 furlong racing double at Windsor and Doncaster in 2014 for Godolphin and Charlie Appleby. Bred by the late Shamardal in 2015, this filly passed away and she was subsequently sold for just 8,000 gns at Tattersalls July 2016 sale to Poet’s Voice (GB). Bathrat Amal has finally returned to her native land, and her latest foal is a colt by Duramente (Jpn) born this year.

The second dam, Zameyla (Ire) (Cape Cross {Ire}), produced GI Nearctic S. and G1 Cheveley Park S. winner of Serious Attitude (Ire) to cover Mtoto (GB), who in turn gave birth to several Japanese group winner Stiffelio (Jpn) (Stay Gold {Jpn}). He was a G1 Tenno Sho (Spring) finalist in 2020.

Saturday, Meydan, Dubai
GODOLPHIN MILE SPONSORED BY NAKHEEL-G2$1,000,000, Meydan, 3-26, 3yrs/up, 8f, 1:36.03, fs.
1-BATHRAT LEON (JPN), 126, c, 4, by Kizuna (Jpn)
1st Dam: Bathrat Amal (Jpn), by New Approach (Ire)
2nd dam: Zameyla (Ire), via Cape Cross (Ire)
3rd dam: Angelic Sounds (Ire), by The Noble Player
O-Hiroo Race Co Ltd; B-Mishima Bokujo (JPN); T-Yoshito
Yahagi; J-Ryusei Sakai. $580,000. Lifetime record: GSW-Jpn,
14-4-0-2, $1,488,602. Rating Werk Nick: A+++. *Triple Plus*.
Click for it eNicks report and 5-cross pedigree.
2–Wisdom of the Desert (GB)126, g, 4, Dubawi (Ire)–Tulips (Ire), by
Pivot (GB). (70,000UAE HRA ’21 DUBSEP). O-Hassan Saleh Al
Hamadi; B-Godolphin (GB); T-Ahmed Al Shemaili. $200,000.
3–Storm Damage (GB)126, g, 4, Night of Thunder (Ire)–
Sundrop (Jpn), by Sunday Silence. 1ST TYPE BLACK GROUP.
O/B-Godolphin (GB); T-Saeed bin Suroor. $100,000.
Margins: 1 1/4, 3 1/4, 4.
Also raced: Soloist Thunder (Jpn), Mubakker, Bankit, Great Scot (GB), Alger (Ire), Dubai Icon (GB), Snapper Sinclair, Secret Ambition (GB), Tuz, Golden Goal (Ire), Full Flat , Pogo (Ireland), Al Nefud (GB). Click for it free Equineline.com catalog style pedigree. VIDEO.