Arma Veloce Bids To Become Harbinger’s Next Classic Victrix

[Wandering Eyes]

Not just any stallion can sire a champion, and 2010 King George and Queen Elizabeth Stakes hero Harbinger (GB) accomplished that feat thrice when the JRA Awards were announced in January. Now, the Northern Hemisphere is just a handful of days away from the first Classic of the season–Japan's G1 Oka Sho (Japanese 1000 Guineas) this coming Sunday–and the Shadai Stallion Station resident is poised to add a third individual Classic scorer and fourth Classic win.

His newly fledged 2024 champions range from the two-for-three Arma Veloce (Jpn)–more on her later–who claimed the G1 Hanshin Juvenile Fillies, to Cervinia (Jpn), a winner of the latter two-thirds of the Japanese Fillies' Triple Crown (Yushun Himba/Shuka Sho) and sixth in the G1 Dubai Sheema Classic earlier this month. The title of champion steeplechaser was bestowed upon Nishino Daisy (Jpn), a winner of 1800-metre Group 3s on the Flat and third in the G1 Hopeful Stakes earlier in his career, before adding his second Nakayama Daishogai over jumps this past December at the ripe age of eight. (He won the 2022 edition, too).

Nor is the trio the first such champions in the Land of the Rising Sun for the son of Dansili (GB). That honour belongs to 2018 Japanese Champion 3-Year-Old Male Blast Onepiece (Jpn), who claimed the 2500-metre G1 Arima Kinen.

Not bad for a sire that cost just 180,000gns as a Tattersalls October yearling when purchased by John Warren in 2007. Bred by Anita Ooi, Harbinger didn't start at two, and managed to win the G3 Gordon Stakes from five starts at three for the recently retired Sir Michael Stoute and Highclere Thoroughbred Racing.

The highest-rated horse in the world at one point in 2010, Harbinger swept all before him that year until an injury ended his racing days, taking the G3 John Porter Stakes, G3 Ormonde Stakes, G2 Hardwicke Stakes and the King George in succession. In the latter, he set a new course record of 2:26.78 for the 1 1/2 miles over good turf, defeating that year's G1 Derby winner, his stable-mate Workforce (GB) and G1 Irish Derby winner Cape Blanco (Ire), before a fracture sustained on the Newmarket gallops later that summer sent him into retirement.

Connections waxed bullish on King George Day, with the general consensus there was more to come.

“He was comfortable throughout, and all I needed was to give him just one flick of the whip,” said Olivier Peslier, an eventual four-time champion jockey in France, at the time. “I knew he was very good beforehand, but he is a truly wonderful horse and today he is 'the king'.”

“There have been so many great winners of the King George, and I'd say he'd certainly be up there as one of the most visually impressive winners ever,” Highclere's Harry Herbert said after the 11-length romp.

Secured by the Shadai Group for stallion duty, Harbinger left for Japan to begin his second career. This year marks the 15th season at stud for the 19-year-old, and, although his 2025 fee is listed as private, he could yet add to his legacy.

Which brings us back to Arma Veloce, one of 29 stakes winners and 21 group/graded scorers worldwide for Harbinger. The field for the 1600-metre Oka Sho was drawn yesterday (Thursday), and the TO Racing runner will leave from stall nine in the 18-horse field. Currently second choice in the ante-post markets, she would be her sire's first winner of the Japanese 1000 Guineas, although Cervinia had the aforementioned pair of Classic scores, and the indomitable Deirdre (Jpn) carved out her own slice of history when winning the 2017 Shuka Sho and, half a world way, the 2019 G1 Nassau Stakes at Goodwood.

Arma Veloce, out of the three-time winner Rakuami (Jpn) (Daiwa Major {Jpn}), took a spin over the Ritto woodchip course on April 9, covering six furlongs in an easy 1:21.20. Her final three-furlong split was :36.70, while her last furlong went in :11.40 while easily outclassing her two stable-mates.

“I focused on maintaining her rhythm into the straight, wondering how much she'd be able to quicken,” jockey Mirai Iwata told NetKeiba of the work. “She responded beautifully with a strong finish and a convincing win. She's full of energy and very easy to ride. Her race sense is exceptional. She's put on weight and grown physically, she's looking much stronger now.”

Harbinger himself strengthened as his racing career progressed, so hopes are high for Arma Veloce at Hanshin on April 13.

 

Oka Sho Contenders

• Currently the crowd's pick ahead of Sunday, Erika Express (Jpn) (Epiphaneia {Jpn}) is the unbeaten winner of the G3 Fairy Stakes; she leaves from stall two under Keita Tosaki.
• Embroidery (Jpn) (Admire Mars {Jpn}) breaks near Arma Veloce in gate seven, and will attempt to weave some magic with Brazilian Joao Moreira aboard. Her latest victory–of-three–was in the G3 Daily Hai Queen Cup going this trip over Ma Puce (Jpn) (Mind Your Biscuits).
• One to the inside of Embroidery is Hanshin Juvenile Fillies runner-up Vip Daisy (Jpn) (Satono Diamond {Jpn}), third in the G2 Tulip Sho last month.
• Mirco Demuro, the older brother of Cristian who prevailed with Soul Rush (Jpn) (Rulership {Jpn}) in the G1 Dubai Turf last Saturday, rides the group-placed Lynx Tip (Jpn) (Kitasan Black {Jpn}) from stall 12.

 

Click here for the fields.

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