Three on the bounce for Great Pearl

Another convincing victory for Great Pearl, his third in succession, kicked off the year in style for Pearl Bloodstock's racing interests in Japan.

The Mitsu Nakauchida-trained four-year-old returned to Kyoto earlier today exactly one year after making a winning debut at the same course and landed a 1,900m dirt race by a length and three-quarters and one and a half lengths in a field of 15. Christophe Lemaire, who rides in France for most of the year, but is becoming a regular visitor to Japan, was in Great Pearl's saddle.

Today's race was a step up in grade for the colt, but Nakauchida was not short of confidence in advance, saying: ‚"He has been training good and worked nicely at the weekend.‚"

Great Pearl was bought as a foal by Sheikh Fahad and David Redvers at the 2013 JRHA Select Sale on the island of Hokkaido.