JRA Blackbook: Screen Hero filly makes it three straight at Fukushima
Screen Hero filly Soleil Vita added to her picket fence with another stylish win at Fukushima, while a son of Big Arthur turned heads with a dominant display in a 2YO Newcomer.
Soleil Vita (R10 Fukushima, Class 2 Win, Matsushima Tokubetsu, 1800m, 1 July)
The Haruki Sugiyama-trained filly Soleil Vita continues to show her middle distance ability after notching her third consecutive win over 1800m at Fukushima on Saturday.
A ¥42,900,000 purchase at the 2021 Select Sale, Soleil Vita is out of the Carnegie mare Stapes Mitsuko, making her a half-sister to the 2017 UAE Derby runner-up Epicharis. Her previous wins were in an 1800m Kokura maiden and over 2000m at Fukushima.
Jumping smartly for jockey Atsuya Nishimura, Soleil Vita enjoyed a nice run in second before and looked to have the race in her keeping a long way from home, sprinting clear at the top of the straight to win by two-and-a-half lengths, and with plenty in reserve.
“I think she has grown up. She looks like a racehorse now,” said Nishimura.
“She is a good and versatile horse, her racing style is flexible. She can lead or hold back a little bit after jumping out from the gate.”
Big Dream (R6 Fukushima, Newcomers, 2-year-old, 1200m, 2 July)
A son of G1 Takamatsunomiya Kinen sprinter Big Arthur, two-year-old colt Big Dream did further justice to his name in tipping the scales at a hefty 506kg for his debut outing at Fukushima on Sunday.
A full-brother to the smart three-year-old and four-time JRA winner Big Caesar, the dominant 1.4 favourite jumped well for jockey Hideaki Miyuki before settling behind the leaders for his 1200m assignment.