Breakthrough Group 1 win for Saturnalia

Japanese sire Saturnalia has joined his half-brothers Epiphaneia and Leontes as a Group 1 producer after the win of Cavallerizzo in Sunday’s Asahi Hai Futurity Stakes at Hanshin.  

Cavallerizzo, trained by Tatsuya Yoshioka and ridden by Cristian Demuro, charged home late to nab Diamond Knot, winning by three-quarters of a length with Admire Quads in third.

Shadai-based Saturnalia, the 2019 Satsuki Sho winner, is the sire of four other Group winners, but had yet to produce a Group 1 winner, with his first crop about to turn four.

Saturnalia’s dam Cesario is regarded as one of the best performed broodmares in Japan with three Group 1 winners among her progeny, all of which have now produced Group 1 winners themselves.

Cavallerizzo is out of Hearts Cry’s mare Balladist and was bred by Northern Farm.