Natural Rise kicks off Japan Road with victory in Cattleya Stakes

Nov 23, 2024 Kellie Reilly/Brisnet.com

Hiroyuki Yoshioka’s Natural Rise emerged as the early leader on the Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby by capturing Saturday’s Cattleya S. at Tokyo. Rallying down the stretch, the son of leading sire Kizuna forged clear to earn the first 10 points on the Japan leaderboard.

A six-length winner in a newcomers’ race at Sapporo on July 20, Natural Rise went off as the 2.60-1 second choice here. Godolphin’s homebred Snappy Dresser ranked as the 3-2 favorite, but he could get no nearer than fourth.

Natural Rise, who broke from post 12 in the 16-horse field, raced well off the early pace before steadily advancing on the outside. Meanwhile, Reina de Arcilla was setting strong fractions tracked by Dragon Welds. Although Dragon Welds ranged up to challenge at the top of the lane, he already appeared vulnerable to better-traveling rivals.

Most prominent among them was Natural Rise. After going wide on the turn, the Keizo Ito trainee gained momentum in the stretch and rolled past Snappy Dresser.

Clay King, the 5.2-1 third choice, didn’t have such clear sailing when trying to close toward the inside. Finally finding room, the son of unbeaten Grade 1 star Nadal turned in an eye-catching rally, but the winner was gone.

Natural Rise negotiated the metric mile in 1:36.4 on a track labeled good to extend his record to 2-for-2.

Jockey Takeshi Yokoyama observed that Natural Rise, whose debut came at right-handed Sapporo, found it more difficult to adapt to turning left.

“I had no doubt that he had great ability,” Yokoyama said according to umatoku.hochi.co.jp, “so I just had him race the traditional way. It was his first time on a left-handed course, and he showed a strong tendency to run away to the right, which presented another new challenge, but he has the ability, so I would like to continue to overcome his challenges and further develop this ability.”

Natural Rise wins the Cattleya Stakes and earns 10 points on the Japan Road to the #KyDerby! 🏆 pic.twitter.com/MSBk7RCOWA

— Kentucky Derby (@KentuckyDerby) November 23, 2024

Clay King came up three-quarters of a length short in second, picking up five points. Note that his final kick was just as fast as Natural Rise; both rattled off their last 600 meters (about three furlongs) in :36.4.

Third-placer T O Elvis (three points) checked in a further 1 3/4 lengths adrift, but deserves credit for faring best of those who raced in proximity to the pace. Snappy Dresser closed for fourth (two points), and late-running Kanreiski fired his final sectional in :36.4 to get up for fifth (one point). Next came Tagano Babylon, Bolt Tesoro, Fiddle Faddle, Dragon Welds, Buggy Whip, Reina de Arcilla, Panalangin, Piko Red, Malibu Orange, Kianu, and Lewis Tesoro.

Bred by Grand Stud in Japan, Natural Rise is out of the Distorted Humor mare Lady Madonna. She comes from the immediate family of millionaires Carpe Diem and Farrell.

Carpe Diem, whose signature wins came in the 2014 Breeders’ Futurity (G1) and 2015 Blue Grass (G1), wound up 10th behind American Pharoah in the Kentucky Derby (G1). Farrell won four straight stakes, including the 2017 Fair Grounds Oaks (G2), before trailing in the Kentucky Oaks (G1).

Natural Rise is under consideration for the next scoring race on the Japan Road, the Dec. 11 Zen-Nippon Nisai Yushun at Kawasaki.