Duramente Storms Home in Japanese Guineas

Regally bred Duramente unfurled a dramatic closing kick from the back and won the Satsuki Sho (Jpn-I, Japanese Two Thousand Guineas) April 19 at Nakayama, turning the tables on runner-up Real Steel, who defeated him last time out.

 

Showing his determination when Mirco Demuro gave the cue, Duramente unleashed a scintillating rally and swept past Real Steel, who led briefly inside the final furlong, for a 1 1/2-length triumph.

 

There was a moment of high anxiety for Demuro when he angled Duramente to the outside on the final turn for a clear run. The skittish colt overreacted and swerved far out, interfering with several opponents. The action cost Demuro a suspension until May 3, but Duramente's antics did not eclipse his powerful will to win.

 

Real Steel defeated Duramente in the Kyodo News Service Hia (Jpn-III) Feb. 15 at Tokyo, but while that rival was no match when Duramente came calling Sunday, holding on for second, with Kitasan Black taking third in the 15-horse field. Favorite Satono Clown was sixth. Both the winner and runner-up are owned by Sunday Racing and were bred by Northern Farm, but each has a different trainer.

 

Duramente, trained by Noriyuki Hori, was timed in 1:58.20 for 2,000 meters (about 1 1/4 miles) on firm turf. 

 

"He felt good in his workout before this race and I thought he felt very much like Neo Universe (2003 Satsuki Sho winner)," Demuro said of Duramente. "He was easy to ride early in the race, but he's very highly strung. It was his first time going right-handed and the crowd was very loud too, so he may have overreacted at the fourth corner. He gave me a bit of a fright. We'll have to work on that towards the Derby but he certainly is a very strong colt."

 

With the victory, his third in five career starts and first stakes win, Duramente becomes the second classic winner in a week for sire King Kamehameha. The stallion's daughter Let's Go Donki won the fillies' equivalent, the Oka Sho (Jpn-I, Japanese One Thousand Guineas) April 12.  

 

 

Duramente's dam is the Japanese group I winner Admire Groove (by Tony Bin), a half sister to group I winner Rulership, who also is by King Kamehameha. His second dam is Japanese champion older mare and classic winner Air Groove.