On Saturday at Hanshin we saw the fillies go round and the boys will run at Nakayama on Sunday.

At Hanshin the Tulip Sho over 1600m trial for the 1000 Guineas was G2 for the girls and the favourite, Namur, a daughter of Harbinger, produced a great turn of foot to come from midfield and grab the win going away.  The margin back to the second Pin High, by Mikki Isle was 1 ½ lengths with Pin High having gone off at 229.8!  A neck away third was the more-fancied Circle of Life.

At Nakayama the Ocean Stakes also went to the favourite Gendarme who led home Naran Huleg and Bien Fait in what did not appear to be a very fast running of the 1200m.

Sunday will see the 3yo colts tackle the 2000m in the Hochi Hai Yayoi Sho Deep Impact Kinen, the trial for the 2000 Guineas.  Do Deuce, a son of Heart's Cry, has looked very promising and comes into this as favourite on 2.5 with Take riding.  The Leontes progeny are starting to appear and two of them will race in this – Industrial, on 5.4 and Justin Rock on 8.4.  There is a Deep Impact here – Ask Victor More – on 7.0.

A good day in Australia yesterday for the progeny of Maurice with Hitotsu winning the Australian Guineas first up since his win in the Victoria Derby, and Mazu winning the appropriately sponsored by Tokyo City Keiba Fireball Stakes over 1100m.