Grenadier Guards Third JRA Grade 1 Winner for Frankel

Frankel's legend added another chapter Dec. 20 at Hanshin Racecourse as Grenadier Guards rolled to a smooth victory in the Asahi Hai Futurity (G1), relegating the favorites to second and third.

Grenadier Guards, out of the Harlington mare Wavell Avenue, is the third horse by Frankel to win a grade 1 Japan Racing Association race, following Soul Stirring and Mozu Ascot. And he did it in course-record time of 1:32.3 for 1,600 meters (about one mile).

With Yuga Kawada at the controls, Grenadier Guards raced in the second flight as Mondreise and Christophe Lemaire sprinted off to a big lead. Rounding the bend and entering the stretch run, Kawada got Grenadier Guards rolling. He was in front just inside the 200-meter mark and built up enough cushion to hold off the fast-closing favorites and win by three-quarters of a length.

Stella Veloce and the favorite, Red Belle Aube, both came from farther back to finish second and third.

Kawada said Grenadier Guards needs a bit of care once the barriers fly.

"My concern was to keep him happy and in good rhythm because the colt has a difficult temper and can run off like he did in his second career outing," the rider said. "So you have to be careful to keep him controlled.

"But he has great potential if he can bring out his best and I am looking forward for another good season for him next year," he added.

Grenadier Guards was bred by Northern Racing and carries the colors of Sunday Racing Co. Ltd. He is trained by Mitsumasa Nakauchida, who also won the Futurity with Danon Premium in 2017.

Grenadier Guards finished second in his career debut July 26 at Nigata, reported fourth in a maiden event at Chukyo Sept. 19, and broke through to the winner's ranks in his third start Nov. 7 going 1,400 meters (about seven furlongs) at Hanshin.

Coming into the Futurity, assistant trainer Yuya Katayama noted the colt's lineage.

"He's by Frankel, so his pedigree is good," Katayama said after Grenadier Guards drew the No. 2 gate. "One of the keys is to keep him relaxed, but usually when he goes to the race, he doesn't get worked up and things go alright with him. In his second race, he didn't quite find a good enough rhythm, but 1,600 meters should be good for him."

Frankel's record needs no elaboration. Grenadier Guard's dam, Wavell Avenue, competed at the highest levels in the United States for trainer Chad Brown, winning the TwinSpires Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (G1) at Keeneland in 2015 and finishing second in the same race a year later at Santa Anita Park.

Grenadier Guards is her first foal, delivering nicely on what obviously were high expectations. She produced a Deep Impact filly in 2019 and a Lord Kanaloa filly this spring.

The Futurity has been a springboard to success at middle distances. The 2018 winner, Admire Mars went on to win the 2019 NHK Mile Cup (G1) and the Longines Hong Kong Mile (G1). Juveniles eyeing the following year's classics are more likely to be found in the Hopeful Stakes (G1) at Nakayama Racecourse Dec. 26, taking on 2,000 meters (about 1 1/4 miles).