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Bravas lands Niigata Kinen

The Yasuo Tomomichi-trained Bravas (4 c ex Verxina by Deep Impact) came out on top of a close finish Niigata Kinen (Gr 2, 2000m) and in the process handed the late Shadai Stallion Station-based King Kamehameha (Kingmambo) with his 80th stakes winner. 

Last seen running third in the Tanabata Sho (Gr 3, 2000m), the well-bred four-year-old colt beat Jinambo (Deep Impact) by a head, while Sanrei Pocket (Jungle Pocket) finished another neck away in third. 

Bravas is the only winner out of dual Victoria Mile (Gr 1, 1600m) winner Verxina (Deep Impact), who is herself a half-sister to Japan Cup (Gr 1, 2400m) winner Cheval Grand (Heart’s Cry) and fellow elite level winner Vivlos (Deep Impact). 

The colt’s third dam is Halwa Song (Nureyev), who in turn produced Grade 3 winners Martinborough (Deep Impact) and Frere Jacques (Deep Impact). 

Further back this is the family of Grade 1 winner Mezzo Soprano (Darshaan), the dam of Grade 3 winner Claremont (Sadler’s Wells), while she is also the grandam of Grade 2 winner Strathspey (New Approach) and Listed Territorial (Teofilo). 

King Kamehameha died in 2019.