Triple Ace, a Takashi Saito-trained colt, steps up in trip after a staying-on fourth in the seven-furlong G3 Falcon Stakes at Chukyo last month. File / Japan Racing Association

Triple Ace looks to build on a promising start to his three-year-old campaign on his return to a mile in the G3 Arlington Cup at Hanshin, Japan, on Saturday.

The Takashi Saito-trained colt, whose sire Shamardal passed away earlier this week, steps up in trip after a staying-on fourth in the seven-furlong G3 Falcon Stakes at Chukyo on March 14.

Triple Ace finished down the field in the G1 Futurity Stakes, run over the course and distance of the Arlington Cup in December, but ran a better race over the same trip when fourth in the G2 Daily Hai Nisai Stakes at Kyoto in November.

He was beaten a neck in the six-furlong G3 Kokura Nisai Stakes at the start of September and made a winning debut when cosily scoring in a Hanshin newcomers’ race, also over six-furlongs, in June.

Harry Sweeney, President of Godolphin in Japan, said: “Triple Ace has already been placed three times in Group races and it would be especially emotional if this three-year-old son of Shamardal was to record his first Black Type win this weekend.

“While he finished fourth last time out in a G3 over seven furlongs on soft turf, I remain slightly concerned as to whether he will fully get the mile trip. His debut win was over six furlongs and he was very narrowly beaten in a G3 over the same distance in the very early Autumn last year.

“Triple Ace was probably slightly undercooked for his last outing and indeed weighed in 14kg heavier than his previous race and will certainly be sharper this time. He will be ridden on Saturday for the first time by Yuga Kawada, who is currently leading the jockeys’ table, and we can expect a good positive ride.

“Taisei Vision is, on previous form, a better horse but Triple Ace has been working really well and we are hoping he will make the frame. We are considering running him in the G1 NHK Mile in May and will make a decision after this race.”

Three-year-old colt Al Satwa (Takashi Saito/Hideaki Miyuki), a 10-furlong maiden winner at Kyoto in January, lines up over the same trip in the Listed Wakaba Stakes also at Hanshin.

Meanwhile, Shamardal, dual Champion racehorse and a leading light on the Darley stallion roster for well over 10 years, has sadly been euthanised at Kildangan Stud as a result of health issues.

From the moment he stepped onto the racecourse, Shamardal marked himself as one to watch, leading from pillar to post to win his maiden by no fewer than eight lengths.

Lining up in the G2 Vintage Stakes on only his second start, Shamardal rewarded the faith shown in him by his then trainer Mark Johnston in spades, landing the seven-furlong contest by two and a half lengths from future Breeders’ Cup Juvenile winner Wilko.

Another step up in class followed, this time against a high-class field in the G1 Darley Dewhurst Stakes. Shamardal, in what was by now his customary style, made all the running to win by two and a half lengths – not once seeing another rival.

He was duly named Champion two-year-old and was transferred to Godolphin, and the care of Saeed Bin Suroor, at the end of the season.

Shamardal’s greatest performer to date is of course Pinatubo. This outstanding colt carried all before him in 2019, winning all six of his starts including the G1 National and G1 Darley Dewhurst. His Timeform rating of 134 was the highest allotted to a two-year-old for 25 years.

Suroor, who trained Shamardal at three said, “We were all very sad to hear of the passing of Shamardal. He was a Champion two-year-old and became one of Godolphin’s best horses, winning two Classics in France as well as the St James’s Palace Stakes.

“He went on to establish himself as a top sire, producing exceptional horses throughout the world, and everyone is going to miss him. It is a sad day but I am sure that his progeny will continue his legacy both on the racecourse and in the breeding sheds.”