Tastiera (horse)

Tastiera（ Japanese: タスティエーラ, Foaled March 22, 2020）is an active Japanese Thoroughbred racehorse. His major wins include the Yayoi Sho and the Tōkyō Yūshun.

His name was derived from an Italian word which means " Keyboard", which is related to his Dam's name. He was awarded the JRA Award for Best Three-Year-Old Colt for 2023.

Racing career

2022: Two-year old season

Tastiera made his debut at the Tokyo Racecourse on November 27, 2022, in a two-year old newcomer race on turf at the distance of 1800m. He was ridden by Ryan Moore and won the race.

2023: Three-year old season

In Tastiera's first race of his three-year old season, he was entered in the Kyodo Tsushin Hai on February 12 for his first Graded stakes race challenge. He was ridden by Yuichi Fukunaga and was the second most popular horse behind Danon the Tiger. He got off to a good start, and although he seemed to slow down a bit on the way, he pursued the middle group from a good position. In the straight line, he ran from the middle of the field with his quick turn of foot, closing in on the group up front, but he fell just short and placed 4th behind the winner Phantom Thief. He was pointed to Yayoi Sho for his next race, held at the Nakayama Racecourse on March 5. Kohei Matsuyama was in his saddle this time following Yuichi's retirement. He maintained a good position throughout the race, and in the final straight he took the lead early and pushed through, gaining a one-length lead over the Top Knife who has pushing through the inside, and winning his first graded stakes race. This is the first graded stakes race won by a Satono Crown offspring.

His next race was the Satsuki Shō (Japanese 2000 Guineas) on April 16, the first leg of the Japanese Triple Crown, at the same racecourse as his previous race. He drew gate number 14 and was the 5th most favorite horse behind the Kyodo Tsushin Hai winner Phantom Thief, Keisei Hai winner Sol Oriens, Spring Stakes winner Bellagio Opera, and Kisaragi Sho winner Hrimfaxi. After the race had started, he maintained a good position near front and approached from the outside at the final corner, and at one point he completely broke through and took the lead by two horse lengths, but Sol Oriens caught him late from the outside and lost to 2nd place. After the race, his jockey Kohei said, "I was able to place him in a good position and with a good rhythm. The traveled well throughout the track. It was frustrating because it was just a few strides away, but he did a good job. There's a lot to look forward to.''

On May 7th, it was announced that he will run the Tōkyō Yūshun (Japanese Derby) as his next race. Since Kohei Matsuyama had a prior commitment with Aoba Sho runner-up Hearts Concerto, he was to be ridden by Damian Lane instead.On May 28th, the day of Tōkyō Yūshun, he was the 4th most favorite behind Satsuki Sho winner Sol Oriens, Aoba Sho winner Skilfing, and Phantom Thief. He also drew gate number 12 prior and will run from that position. He maintained good position from the start, moved upfront after the final corner into the straight, and broke away with the lead around 200m left, entering the finish line winning the race before the late charges of Sol Oriens, Hearts Concierto, and Bellagio Opera. This marks as his first GI victory and he topped all the 7,708 thoroughbreds produced or imported to Japan in 2020. With this, Satono Crown has produced his first derby horse in his first year as a stallion.

This is the first time in 69 years since Golden Wave in 1954 that a jockey who have never ridden the winning horse prior has won the derby. This marks as Damian Lane's first japanese derby victory, while for the horse owner, Carrot Farm, this marks as their second victory right after Rey de Oro in 2017. This is the third consecutive japanese derby victory for a horse bred by Northern Farm, following Shahryar and Do Deuce, and also their third consecutive G1 victory in 2023 following Victoria Mile ( Songline) and Yushun Himba ( Liberty Island).

Racing statistics

Below data is based on data available on JBIS Search, and netkeiba.com.

''Legend:''

Pedigree

*Kyoei Forte's older brother is Big Shori ( Miler's Cup), and her younger brother is Big Taste ( Nakayama Grand Jump).
*Other close relatives include Company ( Tenno Sho Autumn, Mile Championship), Tosen Jordan (Tenno Sho Autumn), and Tosen Stardom (VRC Champion Stakes, Toorak Handicap), via Crafty Wife's damline.

References

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Racehorses trained in Japan
Racehorses bred in Japan
Thoroughbred racehorses
2020 racehorse births
Tokyo Yūshun winners
Thoroughbred family 9