Right On Cue tastes maiden G3 success
- Last updated: November 25, 2019 | 20:51
Right On Cue secured a first victory at the G3 level with a blistering display in the Keihan Hai over six furlongs at Kyoto in Japan on Sunday.
The Mitsugu Kon-trained Shamardal colt, a fast-finishing fourth over the same distance in the G3 Keeneland Cup at Sapporo in August, was held up in ninth of the 18 runners by Yoshihiro Furukawa.
Right On Cue was angled out turning for home and accelerated strongly in the straight, hitting the front approaching the final half-furlong. The four-year-old readily quickened clear in the closing stages to win by a length and three-quarters over I Love Tailor in 1m 8.8s on firm ground.
Harry Sweeney, President of Godolphin in Japan, said: “It was an extremely impressive performance by Right On Cue. He came very wide and won going away under a largely hands and heels ride, which is not easy to do in an 18-runner six-furlong sprint.
“He has certainly come of age this year. He didn’t win or place in any of his three races last year but has won four this year and added more than $1,000,000 to his bank account. We got a taste in the summer of his ability when he finished a fast-finishing close fourth in the G3 Keeneland Cup at Sapporo and we had been expecting a big run.
“He will now be rested for the remainder of the year and we will look at a G2 or G3 race for him in late February or early March before either a trip to Dubai or a run in the G1 Takamatsunomiya Kinen.”
G1 Railway Stakes second for Best Of Days
Earkier, a second G1 victory has narrowly evaded the Best Of Days in the Saturday’s Railway Stakes at the Ascot in the Perth, Western Australia.
The former UK-trained runner who recorded the best result of his career in the G1 Cantala Stakes in Melbourne last spring appeared to be set for success with 100m to run, only to be cut down in the final few strides by the local galloper Regal Power.
Best Of Days had drawn awkwardly in his latest test, but a brilliant ride from Brad Rawiller had him perfectly placed after 100m of the 1,600m race.
Turning for home, Rawiller and Best Of Days worked into the clear, joining the lead at the 200m and hitting the front soon after.
Best Of Days was the winner of the G2 Royal Lodge Stakes at Newmarket when trained by Hugo Palmer and has raced 14 times in Australia winning a G3 event as well as his G1.