2017 Japan marked the third G1 offspring of Halwa Sweet – Cheval Grand, put the broodmare in the same rank as Dancing Key. People wondered if there would be the third broodmare to achieve this
Background
Saturnalia was foaled on 21 March 2016
Name meaning: Saturnalia was an ancient Roman festival characterized by the reversal of social roles, a custom that also influenced the Twelfth Night traditions of Elizabethan England. This motif of role reversal is noted as central to *Twelfth Night*.
His sire was Lord Kanaloa
His dam was Cesario
Cesario okayodon hehhe
(SLAP)
Ouch!
(Beep)
His trainer was surprisingly Katsuhiko Sumii, same trainer for Epiphaneia and Leontes
2yo (2018)
The debut race had only nine runners.
Despite the small field, Saturnalia was boxed in by the pack when they turned into the straight.
However, he forcefully squeezed through the two horses in front to take the lead and then ran away with it.
He won his debut race by 1 1/4 lengths
Trainer Katsuhiko Sumii was later arrested for drunk driving
And in his next race …
WOAH WOAH WOAH, WHAT THE HECK?!
Well since we are talking about horse let’s just set aside middle-age drunk crisis
The temporary trainer would be Kazuya Nakatake
Saturnalia was scheduled to race in Sapporo Nisai Stakes but due to fatigue. It was replaced by Hagu Stakes (OP)
He won by 1.75 length but his two victories were earned without jockey going full all out
The race started in an unexpected way, with Saturnalia seemingly about to take the lead.
However, Cosmo Calendula quickly took the lead, with Admire Justa in second place. These two horses cut wide from the outside, completely boxing in Saturnalia.
However, the pace was slow, which is Saturnalia's specialty.
As they entered the final straight, Admire Justa easily overtook Cosmo Calendula, who had been holding on to the lead, to take the front.
From the far outside, Vin De Garde, Mikki Black, and Breaking Dawn began their charge.
However, there was one horse that felt different.
Admire Justa broke away to take the lead, behind him was SATURNALIA
A GAP WAS OPENED
SATURNALIA USED THE GAP TO SURGE TO THE LEFT OF ADMIRE JUSTA
THE SON OF SPRINT KING
THE SON OF SUPER STAR
THE ROMAN FESTIVAL ON NAKAYAMA
SATURNALIAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!
—
Here too, jockey Mirco Demuro held the horse back. He delivered a complete victory, demonstrating an overwhelming difference in skill.
Cesario officially became the third Japan broodmare to have 3 G1 offsprings
3 yo (2019)
Aiming to achieve an undefeated victory, a feat not accomplished since Deep Impact, Saturnalia competed in the Satsuki Sho (Japanese 2000 Guineas).
Running at a fast pace under jockey Christophe Lemaire, Saturnalia entered final stretch in outer position
Danon Kingly overtook Daddy’s Mind
BUT FAR OUTSIDE ARE VELOX AND SATURNALIA!!!
ALL THE THREE HORSES ENTERING THE FINAL DUEL!!!
2019 Satsuki Sho – Final stretch
Tatsuya Aoshima:
Saturnalia!
SATURNALIA!!
SATURNALIA!
SATURNALIA!
And entering the finish is … SATURNALIAAAA!!!
Japanese Derby:
There was a theory that Roger Barrows, stablemate with Saturnalia, was planned to run in the front to raise the pace. As the front horses would be tired after chasing him, Saturnalia would eliminate from the back
Roger Barows had the same sire and came from same damline as Gentildonna.
BANG!
Too bad that, the difficult attitude inherited from his dam Cesario caused the horse to start too late
He failed to catch up with the horses ahead
In a miraculous development, likely to refuse to be the pawn for someone else’s victory. Roger Barows, in second place in the final stretch, overtook the breakaway horse Lion Lion
THE PACK IS STRUUGLING TO CATCH UP
BUT LOOK DANON KINGLY IS PURSUING!
THE GAP IS SHRINKING
IT IS SHRINKING!!
BUT THE TWELVE FAVORITE ROGER BARROWS AND JOCKEY SUGURU HAMANAKA HELD ON!!!
GOAL!!!!!
IT IS ROGER BARRROOOOOOOOOOOWS!!!
It was an incredible victory that even the jockey couldn’t believe it. His mentor, Masahiro Sakaguchi, who treated Suguru Hamanaka like a son was filled with emotion and cried, saying, "I'm at a loss for words!"
Saturnalia finished fourth under jockey Damian Lane
Christophe Lemaire returned to ride him in Kobe Shimbun Hai (G2)
Despite being pursued by Velox after taking the lead in the final stretch, Saturnalia showed that he still had it by widening the gap to 3 lengths before winning
Instead of running in Kikuka Sho, the team decided to let Saturnalia faced against Almond Eye
With Christophe Lemaire had already took Almond Eye, Saturnalia was given to Christophe Soumillon
However, in the Tenno Sho Autumn, his tendency to get off to a slow start once again proved to be a problem, and he struggled to settle down throughout the race.
In the final straight, he briefly took the lead, but it was only for a moment before he was overtaken by Almond Eye, Danon Premium, and others, and finished in 6th place, missing the top three for the first time in his career.
Almond Eye won by 3 lengths by the way
Seeking revenge against the mare with same sire, Saturnalia participated in Arima Kinen as the fourth favorite, again partnered with Soumillon
Of course Almond Eye was the third favorite, main target for the “blood debt”
The second favorite was a mare with same silk and same jockey who rode him in Derby, Damian Lane
BANG!!!!
Almond Eye chose to ran in the middle of the pack, Saturnalia ran a bit far back
Having Marked Almond Eye, Saturnalia waited patiently
His half brother Epiphaneia, also under jockey Soumillion, defeated the mare Gentildonna in Japan Cup. Would this history repeat?!
Entering the final stretch, when Almond Eye made her move along with 2-time Tenno Sho Spring winner Fierement
“YOU FOOLS!!!
IN TOKYO, YOU ARE A MASTER … MAYBE EVEN THE GOD, ALMOND EYE
BUT IN THIS RACE COURSE, THIS IS THE DOMAIN OF SATURNLIA
THE ROMAN FESTIVAL ON NAKAYAMA STRIKE AGAIN!!!
Commentator Tatsuya Aoshima:
Saturnalia!
SATURNALIA!!
—
THIS IS THE END
NOTHING WILL STOP HIM
HAHA-
(Glass breaking)
Once upon a time, there was a lily. Like other flowers, it tried it best to bloom and made people see it but another flower always shone more and took away people’s attention
Did that lily give up?
No
Every time she lost, she tried again
She did it so many times and finally she got 2 G1 victories
In her final day with jockey Damian Lane, she would show people her full beauty
Her name is …
LYS GRACIEUX FROM OUTSIDE!!!
SHE OVERTOOK SATURNALIA IMMEDIATELY!
Impossible, both Almond Eye and Lys are mare and this race track have the hills that could make horses deplete stamina quickly …
But one fell out
One was still even ran faster!
DON’T FRET! CHASE HER BACK NOW SATURNALIA
But Lys Gracieux as if to respond back the attempt, widened the gap more
Saturnalia came to this race for revenge, enthusiasm of a junior and a good aptitude for race course
Lys Graceiux came to this race for final bloom, experience of a veteran and the desire to thank all the people supporting her
In the end, Lys Gracieux won by 5 length. Saturnalia finished second
Maybe finish lower than second place could have never put a greater humiliation on Saturnalia than this
A total difference in strength
A convincing defeat
2021 (4yo)
Okay, we need to bounce back!
Just entered senior year, we still have a chance
Exactly, Saturnalia started his year by winning Kinko Sho G2 and became the favorite in Takarazuka Kinen
Sadly, the rainy track made Saturnalia unable to spurt strongly and finished fourth while the second favorite Chrono Genesis claimed the victory by 6 lengths
Almond Eye, Lys Gracieux, Chrono Genesis … Saturnalia clearly always lost to mare with great margins. He was just a male horse getting swept in the golden era of mares and fillies
Unlike Leontes who got career ending at age 3 and Epiphaneia who got career ending at age 5. Saturnalia got career ending at age 4 … the fuck?!
But his retirement decision was heavily influenced by his rising stud fee. Almond Eye was so good that she pushed the value of other Lord Kanaloa progenies.
So yeah Almond Eye was indirectly responsible for Saturnalia’s retirement but winning two G1 is not too bad and careful is not redundant
Breeding Career
He sired two G1 winners Cavallerizzo and Rodeo Drive, who won in Mile distances
Like Epiphaneia, he had the advantage of being Sunday Silence’s great grandson, suitable for 3×4 inbred combo
Since Epiphaneia and Saturnalia lived in the same place in Stud duty. They covered some same mares and a gag started which two brothers steal the wives of each other
Chrono Genesis, Lys Gracieux, Geraldina, Gran Alegria, … Except Almond Eye, Saturnalia got umapyoid by the mares he lost to hehe
There was funny case that Lei Papale, who was liked by Efforia, was bred with Epiphaneia and Saturnalia
Father and Uncle are so terrible, aren’t they?!
Lord Kanaloa later became next partner for Papale didn’t help either
In other side, Roger Barows, who couldn’t race after Derby due to injury, died early at age 8, leaving people one of the most tearful and tragical story
Hates horses, loves humans
Back to Saturnalia
Everytime he was bored, he growled in anger against Epiphaneia
People had to separate them
Currently Do Deuce was between them, hope they don’t traumatize this cute horse
Saturnalia was sealed off when he started to attack other horses getting past him, proving that he was the true grandson of Special Week
Conclusion
Even though his popularity was kind of overshadowed by the strong mares but he helped Cesario joined the rank of great broodmares and earned his own popularity
While Gigligato, daughter of Epiphaneia and Lys Gracieux, left JRA without a single win. Lys Gloire, daughter of Saturnalia and the same broodmare, won debut. Finishing second is Heart Note, half-sister of Star Anise sired by Efforia
On the back of Lys Gloire was none other than Damian Lane
Great isn’t it?!
Thank you Saturnalia for the Pretty Derby
Hope you get more success as a sire and proved the legacy of Cesario
https://www.reddit.com/gallery/1wasggt
Source: r/UmaMusume · by /u/doomslayer30000