Arrowfield Stud’s handsome Japanese shuttle sire ADMIRE MARS (JPN) sired his first Group 1 winner after classy three-year-old filly EMBROIDERY captured the Gr1 Oka Sho (Japanese 1000 Guineas (1600m)) at Hanshin Sunday 13/4.
Trained by Kazutomo Mori and ridden by Joao Moreira, the Magic Man Moreira was at his brilliant best!
EMBROIDERY won by a neck in the big field of 18 and has the overall record of four (4) wins and a second (1) from six (6) starts.
EMBROIDERY is the best of two winners from Stakes Winner Rottenmeier, a grand-daughter of Champion Japanese 2YO Filly Biwa Heidi, the dam of 2010 Japanese Horse of the Year Buena Vista.
ADMIRE MARS has sired 20 winners (27 wins) and 10 placegetters including 2 Stakes Winners in Japan from his first crop that are now three-year-olds. EMBROIDERY is now a dual Group Winner.
In Australia, his oldest progeny are two-year-olds and he’s has had only a handful of starters.
ADMIRE MARS was champion 2yo in Japan but all wins were at a mile, and it’s expected like he is doing in Japan, that his progeny are bred to by 3yo’s to aim at the classic races at a mile.
EMBROIDERY weaved her way to Group 1 success in the Oka Sho (Japanese 1,000 Guineas).
This win was her third in a row and 4th in six race starts. EMBROIDERY rallying between rivals to take the lead in the final furlong to score her first Group 1 victory in the 85th running of the US$2,115,769 Oka Sho, which is Japan’s version of the 1,000 Guineas for 3-year-old fillies going 1600m on good-rated turf at a rainy Hanshin.
Sent out as the third choice in the market, EMBROIDERY (4-1) broke smoothly and settled off the rail midfield going into the one turn.
Jockey Joao Moreira waited for an opening as the field straightened for the home straight run.
He swiftly guided the bay filly outward to overtake post-time favourite Erika Express (2-1), who weakened before the final furlong marker. Then EMBROIDERY was joined by Arma Veloce (5-2) who was rallying down the outside.
EMBROIDERY was too strong and won that duel recording a neck victory.
“We didn’t really know how she was going to handle the track, as it’s been raining for nearly half of the day, and there was a lot of moisture out there, and not many of the horses out there could handle it, but she proved that she can, and I was just a lucky boy to have been able to sit on a nice horse to another Group 1 race in Japan,” Moreira said.
“When she was able to get the split between horses, then really fight as there was company (with Arma Veloce) coming from the outside. She really had to let down and show what she’s got. I was riding her along really strongly hoping that she would give it to me, and she did. She really won well. The surface definitely didn’t affect her at all.”
The winning time was 1:33.1 for the 1,600 meters. The early sectionals were 23.0, 46.6 and 1:10.3.
Arma Veloce, Japan’s 2024 champion juvenile filly, also raced midfield with a close watch on EMBROIDERY throughout the trip. While EMBROIDERY saved ground by taking the inside route coming out of the turn, jockey Mirai Iwata angled Arma Veloce to secure a clear path down the outside but missed by a neck for second spot.
Lynx Tip (5-1) was unhurried early and trailed at the rear of the 18-horse field early but rapidly advanced along the outside from the 600m with impressive speed. She had too much ground to make up to threaten the top two finishers, crossing 2 1/2 lengths behind for third place.
EMBROIDERY after a runner-up effort on her debut in June, then broke her maiden in her following start at Niigata. Then finished a close fifth against boys in the Saffron Sho before concluding her 2-year-old season in November with her second win.
She kicked off this season with a win in the Gr3 Queen Cup.
Mori, in his second year as a trainer in Japan, called on Moreira to ride EMBROIDERY for the second time after the filly’s debut last year.
Magic Man Moreira’s most recent Gr1 win was just two weeks earlier in the Takamatsunomiya Kinen aboard Satono Reve. Moreira also won the 84th edition Oka Sho last season on Stellenbosch and has now collected four Japan Group 1 victories.
Owned by Silk Racing, EMBROIDERY is an ADMIRE MARS filly who took her career record to:
6 starts: 4-1-0 and raised her earnings to AUD $2,468,881.
ADMIRE MARS
ADMIRE MARS was Japan’s Champion 2YO Colt, undefeated in 4 starts at two at 1600m, a three-time Group 1-winning miler and the only 3YO winner of the Hong Kong Mile Gr1.
ADMIRE MARS is one of an elite group of stallions who won Group 1 races at two & three and won Gr1 races in different countries.
ADMIRE MARS has much to add to the growing story of Japanese stallion success in Australia.
A son of Group 1 winner & leading sire DAIWA MAJOR (by Sunday Silence) - from the French Group winner Via Medici. The female family stems from Rossellina, a full sister to Champion European racehorse & legendary sire - RIBOT.
ADMIRE MARS is the best son of DAIWA MAJOR who won the Japanese 2000 Guineas Gr1 & Yasuda Kinen Gr1 and was twice named Champion Sprinter-Miler.
DAIWA MAJOR
Daiwa Major is a leading sire son of breed-shaper SUNDAY SILENCE.
Daiwa Major is responsible for 48 SW and 59 SP including four 2YO Champions.
ADMIRE MARS was Japan’s unbeaten Champion 2YO Colt of 2018, after winning all four of his 2yo starts.
His 2YO season culminated with victory in the 1600-metre Hanshin Asahi Hai Futurity S. Gr1, where he pulled clear of the field to score by two lengths in 1:33.9.
ADMIRE MARS returned at three to claim the Tokyo NHK Mile Cup Gr1, overcoming a difficult, wide run in transit to sprint hard in the straight and score in 1:32.4.
The colt ended 2019 by playing his part in a Japanese clean-up at the Hong Kong International Races, defeating Waikuku and champion Beauty Generation in 1:33.25 to become the first 3YO Winner of the Hong Kong Mile Gr1.
ADMIRE MARS lived up to his name with a fighting spirit to match his speed & strength as a specialist miler. Add his good-sized physique, professional racing temperament, and Danehill-free pedigree, a competitive service fee, plus the support he’s receiving from Arrowfield Stud ADMIRE MARS is a compelling option for many Australian mares.
At the 2025 Magic Millions Team Dynamic purchased a half-brother to 2 Stakes Winners by ADMIRE MARS
LOT 194 ADMIRE MARS (JPN) ex BANKSIA (Redoute’s Choice)
Chestnut Colt 27/8/23.
Vendor: Arrowfield Stud
Price: $120,000 + GST.
Trainer: Ciaron Maher
Our Colt
A tremendous colt offering incredible bang for buck with a pedigree page suggesting genuine sire prospect with racetrack performance.
By ADMIRE MARS (JPN) ranked the Champion 2yo of Japan. Winner of 6 races-4 at 2-at 1600m inc Tokyo HKM Mile Cup Gr1. Sire of 52 runners in Japan, 20 winners of 27 races and 10 placegetters of earnings over $5m. His oldest in Australia are 2yo’s.
From BANKSIA (by Redoute’s Choice). 2 wins at 1000m. BANKSIA is the Dam of 3 foals to race – all winners inc 2 Stakes Winners:
BANK MAUR (3 wins-1 at 2-Gr2 Winner $824,525)
NAMESAKE (3 wins-2 at 2-LR Winner $241,350).
Bank Book – Winner at 1000m in 2024-25.
BANKSIA is a Half-Sister to Gr1 winner & Successful Sire FOXWEDGE, SHE’S A FOX, SP PAULOWNIA (dam of LILAC), She’s a Wildcat (dam of UNTAMED- SUPER BUDDY (HK)).
BANKSIA is a daughter of Stakes Placed FOREST NATIVE (3 wins-2 at 2-to 1000m).
Genetic Rating A+++; A 453%; Q6 with a veterinary grade score of 7+.
Colts bred on the 3 x 3 Sunday Silence over Danehill cross
Colts: 286 Runners, 179 Winners (62.6%), 507 Wins, 11 SW inc 3 Gr1 winners, 9 SP
Also he is bred on the similar cross to :
HORSE NAME YEAR G1 G2 G3 E CSI
Sunday Joy F 1999 1 0 1 0 22
Silent Name M 2002 0 2 0 0 22
Six Sense M 2002 0 1 0 0 22
SUNDAY JOY Sunday Silence over Joie Denise (Danehill)
G1 AJC Australian Oaks 2003 AUS 2400m Turf
G3 VRC W H Stocks Stakes 2003 AUS 1600m Turf
LR Tommy Smith Slipper 2001 AUS 1200m Turf
SILENT NAME Sunday Silence over Danzigaway (Danehill)
G2 C’wealth Breeders Cup 2007 USA 1400m Dirt
G2 Arcadia Handicap 2006 USA 1800m Turf
SIX SENSE Sunday Silence over Daneskaya (Danehill)
Gr2 Kyoto Kinen 2006 JPN 2200m Turf
ADMIRE MARS x BANKSIA Colt
PROGRESS PHOTOS BELOW in Chronological Order
LATEST PHOTOS taken 27 March 25
ADMIRE MARS x BANKSIA Colt getting ready for his next lesson!
ADMIRE MARS x BANKSIA Colt (left) works with TOO DARN HOT x FARLINGAYE Colt right
JOB DONE for today !
LATEST PHOTOS taken 17 March 25
NEXT - Out on the sandtrack 17-3-25
Early Education with Shane Rose 8 March
5% SHARES $11,550 to 30/6/25
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ADMIRE MARS x BANKSIA Colt with CIARON MAHER