Kalandula breaks through at Tokyo

Having finished second on his first three career starts, the Kazuo Fujisawa-trained Kalandula (2 c ex Last Groove by Deep Impact) shed his maiden status when he broke his maiden over 2000 metres at Tokyo on Sunday and in the process handed Arrowfield Stud shuttler Maurice (Screen Hero) with his 21st first-crop winner. 

The two-year-old colt came out on top of a close finish to beat Saimon Mega Rise (Cape Blanco) by a head, while Purple Lady (Deep Impact) was the same distance back in third. 

The colt is one of four winners out of the winning Deep Impact (Sunday Silence) mare Last Groove, whose progeny is headed by Grade 3-placed duo Run For The Roses (King Kamehameha) and Red Le Reve (King Kamehameha).

Last Groove herself is a daughter of multiple stakes winner Air Groove (Tony Bin), making her a half-sister to Grade 1 winner and now successful sire Rulership (King Kamehameha), Grade 2 scorer Forgettable (Dance In The Dark), Gullveig (Deep Impact), who won at Grade 3 level and stakes winner Admire Groove (Deep Impact) - the dam of dual Grade 1 winner and first-season sire Duramente (King Kamehameha). 

This is the second winner in as many days for Maurice, who added to his tally when Buena Ventura landed a race over 1600 metres at Tokyo on Saturday. 

The Shadai Stallion Station-based Maurice has stood at Arrowfield Stud for the past three seasons, but due to coronavirus the son of Screen Hero (Grass Wonder) did not return to the Hunter Valley stud this season. He currently sits at the head of the leading first season sires table in Japan by earnings.

Took length of the straight and C. Lemaire to lift the 1.80 fav home in Race 3 at Tokyo

Beautifully bred 2c 1. KALANDULA (Maurice x Last Groove (Deep Impact)) fell in after having all the favors on pace to win 2000m 2YO Maiden.

7. PURPLE LADY next time!pic.twitter.com/BOHxJ27KJv

— Graham Pavey (@LongBallToNoOne) November 1, 2020