Japanese Champion Maurice put his first winner on the board when 2YO colt Kaiser Nova won his first start in good style at Hakodate in Japan on Saturday.
He is prepared by Japan’s current leading trainer Yoshito Yahagi, known in Australia as the man who trained last year’s Cox Plate G1 winner and subsequent Japanese Horse of the Year Lys Gracieux.
Kaiser Nova is the third winner out of 2YO stakeswinner Stellar Lead (by Special Week), from the family of Group 1 winners Second Empire, Salsabil, Northern Spur and New Zealand Oaks G1 winner More Than Sacred.
Maurice’s first Australian yearlings have averaged $121,000 in 2020, achieving top prices of $300,000 for the Eagle Magic colt and $220,000 for the Gibraltar Campion filly – both sold by Arrowfield at Magic Millions in January.
The first southern hemisphere-bred “baby beasts” will race from several of Australia’s leading stables including Chris Waller, Peter & Paul Snowden, Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young, Bjorn Baker, Hawkes Racing, Matthew Smith and Leon & Troy Corstens.
Maurice stood his first three Australian seasons at Arrowfield in 2017, 2018 & 2019 but remains in Japan this year.
