Danon The Kid wins Grade 1 Hopeful Stakes at Nakayama

Danon The Kid (2 c ex Epic Love by Dansili) confirmed himself as one of the best juveniles in Japan with victory in Saturday's Hopeful Stakes (Gr 1, 2000m) at Nakayama and in doing so became the first Grade 1 winner for his sire Just A Way (Heart's Cry). 

Bred by Northern Farm, Danon The Kid is now unbeaten in three starts having broken his maiden in June bdfore adding the Hai Nisai Stakes (Gr 3, 1800m) last month. On Saturday he made a wide move approaching the home turn and entered the straight first. He ran on well in the final 100 metres and scored a one and a quarter length victory over Orthoclause (Epiphaneia), with Yoho Lake (Deep Impact) another half length back in third. 

"I'm just so happy that I have at last been able to win on one of my mentor and teacher Mr Yasuda's runners," said winning jockey Yuga Kawada. 

"The stable staff did a great job in tuning up the colt and he ran much better than he did in his previous start but still, he couldn't find a good rhythm and was not steady in the last two corners today. There is still a lot of room for improvement and we intend to work hard so he can kick off a good three-year-old campaign." 

Bought for Y100,000,000 (approximately A$1.25 million) at the 2018 JRHA Select Yearling & Foal Sale by Danox Company Limited, Danon The Kid is one of three winners, from as many foals to race, out of the Group 3 winning and Group 1 placed Dansili (Danehill) mare Epic Love. She has also produced the stakes placed colt Mikki Brillante (Deep Brillante) whilst his third dam is the Grade 1 winning mare Alcando (Alzao).