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Maurice has been hailed as Japan’s newest champion after he continued his rise to the top ranks with his fourth successive win in the G1 Yasuda Kinen in Tokyo on Sunday.
Maurice earned the title of best miler for the spring when he beat Vincennes by a neck with Clarente a further one and a quarter lengths back in third.
The win was Maurice’s first at Group One level and also the first at the top level for progeny by his sire Screen Hero, winner of the 2008 Japan Cup.Trainer Noriyuki Hori registered his eighth JRA G1 win, a week after he won the Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby) with Duramente, and his third Yasuda Kinen title after previous wins with Real Impact in 2011 and Strong Return in 2012.
Jockey Yuga Kawada captured his sixth G1 title and first Yasuda Kinen.Maurice won twice as a 2YO but finished only fifth, fourth, seventh and third in his four starts during his three-year-old season.
After moving to the Hori stable and taking a break of over six months, he regained his form to land three consecutive wins since coming back in January including his first grade-race victory in the Lord Derby Challenge Trophy.Hori’s 2011 Yasuda Kinen winner Real Impact, having his first start since his campaign in Sydney in March and April, rushed out to set the pace with Victoria Mile runner-up Keiai Elegant pressing the pace in second.
The odds on favourite Maurice settled fifth and gradually advanced, passing the tiring Real Impact through the uphill climb then responding to Kawada’s urgings to take the lead before the 200m.He galloped on powerfully to fend off the strong charge from behind by Vincennes.
“We were able to break smoothly. He was a bit eager to go but I was able to keep him under control,” Kawada said.“He ran a really smooth race and we were able to slip out of the pack entering the straight. I thought that we would be able to win easily but when Vincennes closed in behind us, I urged him to go.
“He has matured a lot since I last rode him over a year ago and I was able to ride him with confidence.”Vincennes managed to thread through the horses and once finding an opening unleashed a ferocious late charge in the fastest time for the last 600m.
Clarente stalked behind Maurice and surged out behind the favourite in the straight before he was overtaken by Vincennes in the last 100m.