Pixie Knight Looks a Star for Japan in Sprinters Stakes

Japan unveiled another in its long line of star sprinters Oct. 3 at Nakayama Racecourse as 3-year-old Pixie Knight authoritatively saw off older and more accomplished rivals in the Sprinters Stakes (G1).

In the process, the colt gave his sire, Maurice , his first grade 1 winner and served notice he, like his sire, could have international competition in his future.

With Yuichi Fukunaga up, Pixie Knight got out smoothly in the 1,200-meter (about six-furlong) race and tracked the early leaders around the turn into the stretch. Fukunaga then found a narrow gap between rivals. Pixie Knight shot through and had no problem negotiating the sharp rise in the final 200 meters.

At the finish, Pixie Knight was two lengths to the good of Resistencia with longshot Shivaji third. The favorite, Danon Smash , had every chance turning for home but retreated to finish sixth.

Pixie Knight reported in 1:07.1, just :0.4 off the race and course record held by another Japanese superstar and international traveler, Lord Kanaloa .

The outcome reversed the order of finish in the Sept. 12 Sankei Sho Centaur Stakes (G2) at Chukyo Racecourse, where Pixie Knight served notice, finishing just a neck behind 4-year-old Resistencia.

Danon Smash, last year's Sprinters Stakes runner-up, won the Longines Hong Kong Sprint (G1) and the Takamatsunomiya Kinen (G1) in the interim. In his most recent start, the 6-year-old returned to Hong Kong to finish sixth in the Chairman's Sprint Prize (G1) in April at Sha Tin Racecourse.

Looking forward to the Sprinters Stakes, Pixie Knight's trainer, Hidetaka Otonashi, said it could be a turning point for his colt, who finished 12th in his only previous start at the grade 1 level.

"It'll be a pretty quick tempo over the same distance this time, as well as the strong opponents in a grade 1. But I'm interested to see just how things will go for him this time also. Looking to the future, a good result would be pleasing," Otonashi said.

Coming out of the victory, Fukunaga said Pixie Knight exceeded his high expectations and likely has more to give.

"From the beginning of his career, I've always believed in the strength and potential this colt obtains and have voiced it too," the jockey said. "But, to be honest, I never thought he would give such a strong performance and land a grade 1 win this fast.

"He's still not physically balanced yet but he will improve, mature, and definitely become a target to beat in numerous future sprint races in or outside the country," Fukunaga added.

While Pixie Knight's early career has concentrated on distances of one mile or shorter, his pedigree suggests he might be dangerous going a bit longer. Maurice won four straight grade/group 1 events going a mile in 2015 and 2016, two of them in Hong Kong and two at home, and won the Tenno Sho (Autumn, G1) and Longines Hong Kong Cup (G1) in 2016, both at 2,000 meters (about 1 1/4 miles).

Out of the King Halo  mare Pixie Hollow, Pixie Knight was bred by Northern Racing and races in the silks of Silk Racing.