Agent In Charge At Nakayama

[Wandering Eyes]

Japan's road to the Classics shifted up a gear on Sunday with the victory of Nishino Agent (Jpn) (Isla Bonita {Jpn}) in the 2000-metre G3 Keisei Hai at Nakayama.

Able to secure an ideal position against the fence, the eventual winner raced in the back third of the field, as Taisei Ricordo (Jpn) (Gold Ship {Jpn}) and Ghardaia (Jpn) (Epiphaneia {Jpn}) battled in the vanguard. Well in hand after six furlongs in 1:10.40, Nishino Agent charged up in between horses and earned several lucky breaks on the far turn. In fourth and closing in determined fashion down the lane, his sustained rally resulted in a neck victory over Dragon Boost (Jpn) (Screen Hero {Jpn}). Mini Transat (Jpn) (Epiphaneia {Jpn}) rallied from last, but could not overcome all his rivals, and settled for a half-length back in third.

Placed in his first two starts in August and September, the winner ran fourth in a maiden at Tokyo over this trip on Nov. 3. He broke his maiden by a length as the crowd's pick over 1800 metres at this venue on Dec. 8 and Sunday was his 3-year-old bow.

Pedigree Notes

Nishino Agent is the seventh stakes winner and fifth group winner for Shadai stallion Isla Bonita. His other group winners are led by Yamanin Salvum (Jpn), who has the G3 Chunichi Shimbun Hai and G3 Niigata Daishoten to his name.

The second foal out of Victoria Smile (Jpn) (Novellist {Ire}), Nishino Agent counts G1 Prix d'Astarte heroine Marbye (Ire) (Marju {Ire}) as his great granddam. She, in turn, is the dam of Japanese group winners Marcellina (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}), G1 Oka Sho, and Grandezza (Jpn) (Agnes Tachyon {Jpn}), who scored three times at group level and was third in the G1 Mile Championship. Victoria Smile has a 2-year-old filly by Real Steel (Jpn), a yearling colt by Admire Mars (Jpn), and she was covered by Gold Dream (Jpn) last spring.

Sunday, Nakayama, Japan
KEISEI HAI-G3, ¥78,010,000, Nakayama, 1-19, 3yo, 2000mT, 1:59.90, fm.
1–NISHINO AGENT (JPN), 126, c, 3, Isla Bonita (Jpn)
                1st Dam: Victoria Smile (Jpn), by Novellist (Ire)
                2nd Dam: Gitana (Jpn), by Dance in the Dark (Jpn)
                3rd Dam: Marbye (Ire), by Marju (Ire)
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN. 1ST GROUP WIN. O-Shigeyuki
Nishiyama; B-Kamii Stud (Jpn); T-Naoto Chiba; J-Akihide
Tsumura; ¥41,497,000. Lifetime Record: 5-2-1-1, ¥52,127,000.
Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
Werk Nick Rating: C+. Click for the
   eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Dragon Boost (Jpn), 126, c, 3, Screen Hero (Jpn)–Toko Dione
(Jpn), by Empire Maker. O-Miho Mizutani; B-Z Stable (Jpn);
¥16,142,000.
3–Mini Transat (Jpn), 126, c, 3, Epiphaneia (Jpn)–Ichiokuno
Hoshi (Jpn), by Zenno Rob Roy (Jpn). 1ST BLACK TYPE. 1ST
   GROUP BLACK TYPE. (¥56,000,000 Ylg '23 JRHAJUL). O-Tatsuo
Tanikake; B-Shadai Farm (Jpn); ¥10,071,000.
Margins: NK, HF, HF. Odds: 48.40, 16.30, 28.60.
Also Ran: King No Jo (Jpn), Paatihaan (Jpn), Matenro Move (Jpn), Shimasan Black (Jpn), Scents Bloods (Jpn), Passion Rich (Jpn), Goltzschtal (Jpn), Cosmo Storm (Jpn), Interposer (Jpn), Taisei Ricordo (Jpn), Ghardaia (Jpn). Click for the JRA chart & video.

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