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.