Ludovicus scores at Niigata.
Arrowfield Stud shuttler Maurice (Screen Hero) sired a new winner on Sunday which saw his overall tally of first-crop winners swell to six, after the Takashi Kubota-trained Ludovicus (2 c ex Peach Blow Fizz by Symboli Kris S) made a winning debut over 1800 metres at Niigata.
Ludovicus beat Baji O (Rulership) by three-quarters of a length and they pulled well clear of Tosen Indigo (Daiwa Major), who finished five lengths further back.
Purchased by Katsuko Muraki ¥28,000,000 at the 2018 JRA Select Yearling and Foal Sale, the two-year-old colt becomes third winner out of Peach Blow Fizz (Symboli Kris S), who is herself a half-sister to Listed scorer Kahuna (King Kamehameha).
The colt's third dam is Listed winner and Grade 1-placed Malli Star (Baldski), who in turn produced Listed scorer Bella Rheia (Narita Top Road).
Meanwhile, Kaiser Nova (2 c Maurice - Stellar Lead by Special Week) - who handed the stallion his first ever winner when he broke his maiden on debut at Hakodate in July and he was last seen running fifth in the Nisai Stakes (Gr 3, 1200m), but he bounced back to form with a victory over 1500 metres at Sapporo.
The Shadai Stallion Station-based Maurice - whose first Australian-bred yearlings hit the sales ring next year - stood at Arrowfield Stud for the past three seasons, but due to coronavirus the son of Screen Hero (Grass Wonder) will not return to the Hunter Valley stud for the upcoming breeding season.
LUDOVICUS made all the running to win the 2yo Newcomers race over 1800m at Niigata. First-crop winner #6 for Maurice. #shadai @ArrowfieldStud @HorseRacing_JPN @netkeiba @JUN_HorseRaces pic.twitter.com/Or96RK8k7q
— Pedigree Update (@pedigreeupdate) August 23, 2020
