Almond Eye's Second Foal Wins on Debut in Japan

The Japan-bred Promesa al Mundo, the second foal out of Almond Eye (JPN), made a successful on-track debut at Niigata Racecourse Aug. 3, when he won a 1,600-meter (about one mile) maiden contest for unraced 2-year-olds on turf. Almond Eye, by Lord Kanaloa (JPN) and bred by Northern Farm, won 11 of 15 starts, including nine grade 1 stakes. Under the Silk Racing banner, she holds the record for the most grade 1 turf victories in Japan. She won the 2018 Japan Cup (G1) in 2:20.6, setting a world record for a 2,400-meter (about 1 1/2-mile) turf race. Almond Eye earned ¥1,915,263,900 (approx. US$12.6 million) and was inducted into the Japanese Racing Hall of Fame in 2023. Owned by Silk Racing, trained by Sakae Kunieda, and ridden by Christophe Lemaire, like his dam, Promesa al Mundo is by Maurice (JPN). In his debut, Promesa al Mundo settled in the middle of the field of 13 and delivered an impressive challenge on the homestretch. He hit the front a furlong out and held off a late challenge of Badrinath by neck. "He is a smart horse and has a sharp turn of foot, like his mother," Lemaire said after the race. Aaron's Rod, a 3-year-old colt by Epiphaneia (JPN), who is the first foal out of Almond Eye, has started four races and won one so far. Almond Eye's third foal is a yearling filly by Kitasan Black (JPN), and her fourth foal is a weanling colt by 2023 World's Best Racehorse Equinox (JPN).