Grenadier GuardsGrenadier Guards © Japan Racing AssociationEurope

Christmas Day Group win for Grenadier

Grenadier Guards, a Japanese-bred son of Frankel, scooped the Gr.2 Hanshin Cup on Christmas Day. It was his second Group level success and became Frankel's 16th Group winner of the season.

Taken from the Thoroughbred Daily News, 27th December 2021:

Just over a year since his victory in the Gr.1 Asahi Hai Futurity Stakes, Grenadier Guards regained the winning thread in the Gr.2 Hanshin Cup over 1400 metres.

The Sunday Racing colourbearer and 4-1 third choice settled in midfield through the early stages one off the fence. Carried wider on the bend, he surged toward the front with a strong bid inside the final 300 metres. Storming down the centre of the course, the bay swooped past the rallying Ho O Amazon to win going away by a length and a half. Danon Fantasy was a neck back in third.

After his juvenile Group 1 win, the colt ran second in the Gr.3 Chunichi Sports Sho Falcon Stakes this March and rolled a pair of thirds in the Gr.1 NKH Mile Cup in May and in the September Gr.3 Keisei Hai Autumn Handicap.