THE Group 1 Satsuki Sho (Japanese 2000 Guineas) has been a very lucky race for jockey Mirco Demuro. On April 19th he won the first leg of the colt’s Triple Crown for the fourth time, the only jockey in the race’s 75-year history to do so.

The affable Italian won this prestigious race for the first time in 2003 when he scored on board Neo Universe while riding in Japan on a short-term three month licence. He won again a year later on Daiwa Major and following a nine-year hiatus, scored in 2013 on board Logotype.

Demuro has now 11 JRA Group 1 races to his name though his most recent win was his first since being granted a full-time JRA jockey licence in March of this year.

He will be optimistic of adding to his role of honour as Duramente, his Guineas winner two weeks ago, was very impressive indeed and is the short-priced favourite to emulate Neo Universe by following up in the Derby on the last Sunday of May.

Though lightly-raced and not yet a group race winner, Duramente was nevertheless not overlooked by punters before the Satsuki Sho and the impressive bay started the first colt’s classic of the year as the third favourite in the 15-runner field.

He had won his maiden at the second time of asking as a two-year-old and also won a listed race on his 2015 season bow. However, most recently, he was second best to Real Steel in the Group 3 Kyodo News Hai in his prep for his first tilt at a Group 1.

He also caught the eye in the paddock before the race, not alone for his striking good looks but for his persistent goose-stepping which was reminiscent of the great Zenyatta.

Drawn in stall 2, he broke well but opted to take his time early on as Clarity Sky set a sensible pace at the front. Turning for home, Duramente had still a wall of horses on front of him but eventually bullied his way out and accelerated brilliantly to win comfortably by one and a half lengths. The clock stopped at 1m 58.2secs for the 10 furlongs on firm turf, the second fasted time in the race’s 75-year history.

Real Steel, the second choice in the betting, was runner-up. Kitasan Black, a son of Deep Impact’s full-brother Black Tide, was third.

Satono Crown, a Japan-born son of Marju, was unbeaten before the Guineas and started as favourite. However, he could do no better than sixth. Another disappointment was last year’s champion two-year-old Danon Platina. The son of Deep Impact was never a factor and finished 11th.

For winning jockey Mirco Demuro, there was however a significant sting in the tail as the stewards were not happy with the manner in which he angled for space at the last corner and handed him a four-day suspension which keeps him off the track for two weeks.

The winner is trained in Miho by Noriyuki Hori who has established himself as one of Japan’s top horsemen and currently heads the trainers’ rankings.

While Duramente was in fact his first classic success, he has however trained a number of other top flight winners including multiple Group 1 winners Kinshasa No Kiseki and Strong Return. He also trains Real Impact, a Group 1 winner at home who additionally carried the flag successfully for Japan in the Group 1 George Ryder Stakes in Sydney last month.

Duramente’s bloodlines will have the pedigree purists purring. He is by King Kamehameha, a son of Kingmambo, who has been champion sire in Japan in 2010 and 2011 and has been runner-up to Deep Impact for the last three years. He is currently leading the 2015 rankings. Progeny of note include Lord Kanaloa, Rulership, Apapane, Let’s Go Donki and Rose Kingdom, all Group 1 winners on turf. Interestingly, he has also sired an almost equal number of Group 1 winners on dirt. Unfortunately for Japanese breeders, King Kamehameha has been afflicted with significant fertility issues for the last two seasons.

Durament’s pedigree on the distaff side is equally impressive. Admire Groove, Air Groove and Dyna Carla, his first, second and third dam respectively, were all champion racehorses.