Victory And Heartbreak For Japan, As Tastiera Secures QEII Cup

[Wandering Eyes]

Sunday's G1 FWD QEII Cup featured a Japanese winner in 2023 G1 Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby) hero Tastiera (Jpn) (Satono Crown {Jpn}), but that joy quickly turned to heartbreak, as Japanese Fillies' Triple Crown heroine Liberty Island (Jpn) (Duramente {Jpn}) succumbed to injuries sustained during the running of the 2000-meter event.

Second favourite in the betting at 11-4, the 5-year-old entire was forwardly placed and soon perched three wide into the first turn while New Zealand multiple Group 1 winner El Vencedor (NZ) (Shocking {Aus}) enjoyed an uncontested lead. They were crawling on the front end with a first half-mile in :50.22, but the Carrot Farm runner and Damian Lane were unperturbed. The pacesetter was pulling hard through six furlongs in 1:13.94, but held daylight on his foes and Tastiera was winding up just off Cap Ferrat (Aus) (Snitzel {Aus})'s left shoulder, still caught wide.

Taking over roughly 300 metres from the wire, the winner employed a sharp turn of foot to deny the fast-finishing Prognosis (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}), runner-up for the third consecutive year, by 1 3/4 lengths. Calif (Ger) (Areion {Ger}) was third, another two lengths behind. G1 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes hero Goliath (Ger) (Adlerflug {Ger}) wound up ninth, while Liberty Island went amiss battling in the stretch. Vanned off, she could not be saved.

Said Damian Lane, “Noriyuki Hori is an amazing conditioner of horses and this horse is just a star. A great success for Carrot Farm.

“I just feel privileged and lucky to be here on these days, let alone having great chances on these horses. It is what being a jockey is all about, competing on these big international carnivals. It's very rewarding.”

It was the second success in the race for Hori after Neorealism (Jpn) (Neo Universe {Jpn}) won in 2017 and Japan's seventh win overall since 2002.

“I'm very, very grateful for all the support from the Jockey Club to travel to Hong Kong and give us a great opportunity to come over here,” Hori said.

“It's been a while since my last runner in Hong Kong, but I'm very grateful to win today. In my stable, only Maurice (Jpn) won on his first trip to Hong Kong.

“Since Tastiera's third in the Hong Kong Cup, we targeted this race considering he was suitable to the track conditions and change in environment.”

“Just his barrier manners let him down,” said James McDonald of Prognosis. “He ran well.”

Second in the G1 Satsuki Sho (Japanese 2000 Guineas) and the G1 Kikuka Sho (Japanese St Leger) on either side of his Derby Triumph, Tastiera went winless in four 2024 starts, with a second in the G1 Tenno Sho (Autumn) last October to go with his third-place finish to Romantic Warrior (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}) in the G1 Longines Hong Kong Cup in December. It is likely that Tastiera will return to Sha Tin for another try at the Hong Kong Cup later this year.

Pedigree Notes

Four of Satono Crown's progeny have won stakes, with the QEII Cup hero his first group/Group 1 winner. The son of Last Tycoon (Ire) horse Marju (Ire) stands at Shadai Stallion Station this year.

Out of the triple winner Partitura (Jpn) (Manhattan Café {Jpn}), Tastiera is followed by three fillies–4-year-old Spartito (Jpn) (Bricks And Mortar), 3-year-old Cento Porte (Jpn) (Rey De Oro {Jpn}) and a yearling full-sister. This is the family of G1 Tenno Sho (Autumn) and G1 Mile Championship-winning sire Company (Jpn).

 

Tastiera takes out the FWD QEII Cup at Sha Tin with @LaneDamian for trainer Noriyuki Hori! #タスティエーラ | #競馬 | @WorldPool pic.twitter.com/rtJnH9rRpq

— HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) April 27, 2025

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