Sheikh Fahad’s homebred Art House wins third Stakes race

Japanese 4yo filly Art House won the Gr.3 Aichi Hai over 200m at Chukyo Racecourse on Saturday 14 January, strong in the finish and taking her record over the distance to four wins from six starts. She looks very exciting and can hopefully go one better than her dam, Pearl Code, who was runner-up at Gr.1 level.

Art House had won a Listed race on her 3yo return last April and, after finishing midfield in the Gr.1 Japanese Oaks, quickly got back to winning ways in the Gr.2 Sho Rose in September.

Art House finished fifth in the Gr.1 Shuka Sho next time – in which her own dam had finished second in 2016 – and took advantage of the drop in grade to beat 14 rivals in the Aichi Hai under Yuga Kawada.

After coming with a strong run down the centre, Art House won by 1¾ lengths for trainer Mitsu Nakauchida. The next target is naturally to win a Gr.1 but there aren’t many options for fillies-only over 2000m, with a race at Tokyo on March 14 the most likely.

Art House is by Screen Hero and out of Pearl Code, who, like Art House, carried Sheikh Fahad’s Pearl Bloodstock colours. Pearl Code won twice and was also second in the Gr.2 Sho Flora Stakes (as well as the Gr.1 mentioned above).