Epiphaneia was crowned as Champion 2-Year-Old Sire in Japan for 2025 after a close battle with Saturnalia. The margin was close as 2-year-olds by Epiphaneia earned ¥409,627,000 while 2-year-olds by Saturnalia earned ¥382,038,000, a difference of only ¥27,599,000 (approx. US$175,165).
In fact, Epiphaneia, by Symboli Kris S, and Saturnalia, by Lord Kanaloa, are half brothers. Their dam is Cesario, who won the Japanese Oaks (G1T) and American Oaks (G1T) in 2005.
At the end of October, Epiphaneia was in the lead by a wide margin. By then, he had sent Firostefani, who won the Artemis Stakes (G3T) at Tokyo Oct. 25, in addition to sending three other stakes winners, including Fuyo Stakes winner Winners Nine.
Saturnalia pursued fiercely in November and December, when Festival Hill won the Fantasy Stakes (G3T) at Kyoto Nov. 1; Justin Vista won the Kyoto Nisai Stakes (G3T) at Kyoto Nov. 29, and Cavallerizzo won the Asahi Hai Futurity Stakes (G1T) at Hanshin Dec. 21.
The Hopeful Stakes (G1T), which carried a total purse of ¥152.9 million (approx. US$970,424), was conducted at Nakayama Dec. 27. Epiphaneia was represented by Winners Nine, while Saturnalia was represented by Ivy Stakes winner Anduril and Justin Vista.
As prize money to the runner-up was ¥28 million (approx. US177,710), Saturnalia could have overtaken Epiphaneia had Anduril or Justin Vista finished within the first two. However, both of them were well beaten.
