PDF(927KB)

March 2016
The Japan Racing Association

Exclusive Topics for Horse Racing in Japan - Spring Edition -

• Ten Runners from Japan Contending in Dubai World Cup Day
• Tosen Stardom to Start in The Championships in Australia
• Japan Hoping for Another Success in Hong Kong
• Who Will Replace Gold Ship as Japan's Top Stayer?
• Tough Competition Among Older Fillies/Mares
• Hong Kong's Aerovelocity Returns to Defend Takamatsunomiya Kinen Title
• Predicted Yasuda Kinen Lineup
• Dirt Racing Recap
• Nakayama Daishogai Top Finishers Continue to Dominate Toward Grand Jump
• Triple Crown Prospects Heading for the Classics

The JRA horse racing season starts in earnest with the three-year-old classic trials in March, whilehorses begin to prepare towards the spring 2016 G1 events. We take this opportunity to bring you up to date on the progress of last year’s stars and this season’s key runners, hoping that this special spring edition of the seasonal Japan Autumn International Newsletter will assist you in reporting on upcoming events.

In Dubai’s biggest international horse racing event, which takes place this year on March 26, Japanese runners have been successful seven times already: the 2011 Dubai World Cup with Victoire Pisa (JPN, by Neo Universe); three titles in the Dubai Sheema Classic with Stay Gold (JPN, by Sunday Silence), Heart’s Cry (JPN, by Sunday Silence) and Gentildonna (JPN, by Deep Impact) in 2001, 2006 and 2014, respectively; twice in the Dubai Turf with Admire Moon (JPN, by End Sweep) in 2007 and with Just a Way (JPN, by Heart’s Cry) in 2014; and the 2006 Godolphin Mile with Utopia (JPN, by Forty Niner).

Hokko Tarumae
in the 2014 Champions Cup

This year, Japan again has high hopes with ten starters in the world’s richest racing carnival, beginning with Hokko Tarumae (JPN, H7, by King Kamehameha), who will be making his third consecutive challenge in the Dubai World Cup (G1, dirt, 2,000m). The multiple dirt G1 winner in Japan was unsuccessful in his first try in 2013, which was held over an all-weather track, finishing a disappointing 16th. Last year, however, over a renewed dirt surface, he impressively made pace for most of the 2,000-meter trip and did not weaken until the last furlong for fifth place. Hokko Tarumae, the 2014 Champions Cup (G1, dirt, 1,800m) winner and the JRA’s 2014 Best Dirt Horse, kicked off another potentially great season with his third consecutive title in the Kawasaki Kinen (dirt, 2,100m) on January 27, marking his 10th career G1 title.

Duramente in the 2015 Tokyo Yushun

Three Japanese horses are contesting for the Dubai Sheema Classic (G1, 2,410m). Duramente (JPN, C4, by King Kamehameha), the 2015 Best Three-Year-Old Colt as winner of two Triple Crown titles—the Satsuki Sho (Japanese 2000 Guineas, G1, 2,000m) and the Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby, G1, 2,400m)—was forced to sit out the rest of last season with fractures in both forelimbs. Now, however, he is ready for the international challenge after a successful comeback with a solid victory in the Nakayama Kinen (G2, 1,800m) on February 28. His trip to Dubai will test how he can travel and compete at the international level as a prelude to his main target, the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (G1, 2,400m) this coming fall.

One and Only (JPN, H5, by Heart’s Cry), the 2014 Tokyo Yushun winner, turned in a third-place effort in last year’s Dubai Sheema Classic. Since then, however, he has been rather low key, finishing no better than seventh in four G1 starts and sixth in the Kyoto Kinen (G2, 2,200m) in February. Last Impact (JPN, H6, by Deep Impact), who was an impressive runner-up in the Japan Cup (G1, 2,400m) for trainer Hiroyoshi Matsuda as seventh choice last year, kicked off his 2016 debut finishing sixth in the Nakayama Kinen. Katsuhiko Sumii, who saddled Victoire Pisa to victory in the Dubai World Cup, has taken over his training this season upon Matsuda’s retirement.

Real Steel (JPN, C4, by Deep Impact), a prominent turf runner who was second, fourth and second in his Triple Crown starts as a three-year-old and then impressive again in his four-year-old debut with a third-place finish in the Nakayama Kinen, will be taking on the Dubai Turf (G1, 1,800m).

Bel Canto in the 2015 Kitakyushu Kinen

Meanwhile, 2015 Tenno Sho (Spring) (G1, 3,200m) fifth-place finisher Neo Black Dia (JPN, H8, by Zenno Rob Roy) will take part in the Dubai Gold Cup (G2, 3,200m) and 2015 Summer Sprint Series champion Bel Canto (JPN, M5, by Sakura Bakushin O) in the Al Quoz Sprint (G1, 1,000m).

Finally, the UAE Derby (G2, dirt, 1,900m) will be contested by Lani (USA, C3, by Tapit), who won his last two starts as a two-year-old and was a close fifth in his three-year-old debut in the Hyacinth Stakes (dirt, 1,600m) on February 21, as well as Hideyuki Mori-trained Yu Change (JPN, C3, by Swift Current), who finished fourth in the Asahi Hai Futurity Stakes (G1, 1,600m) on December, and his stable-mate On the Rocks (JPN, C3, by Samurai Heart).

Tosen Stardom to Start in The Championships in Australia

Meanwhile, the Australian racing season is nearing The Championships racing carnival on the first and second Saturday of April. The event encompasses 10 championship races, including eight G1 events, at Royal Randwick Racecourse in Sydney. The two-day carnival, now in its third year, will be another great opportunity for Japanese milers and middle-distance runners to test their abilities at the international level.

Japan almost claimed victory in the Doncaster Mile (G1, 1,600m) last year with Real Impact (JPN, by Deep Impact), who had come off a G1 win in the George Ryder Stakes (G1, 1,500m). Hana’s Goal (JPN, by Orewa Matteruze) was sixth in the 2014 race and subsequently won a G1 title in the All Aged Stakes (G1, 1,400m).

Tosen Stardom (JPN, H5, by Deep Impact), who finished second in the Ranvet Stakes (G1, 2,000m) and fifth in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes (G1, 2,000m) last year, is registered to run in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes again this year on April 9. He was ninth in his last start, the Tokyo Shimbun Hai (G3, 1,600m) on February 7, and is scheduled to leave Japan on March 21.

Meanwhile, 2013 Satsuki Sho winner and 2012 Best Two-Year Old Colt Logo Type (JPN, H6, by Lohengrin) and 2014 Satsuki Sho winner and Best Three-Year-Old Colt Isla Bonita (JPN, H5, by Fuji Kiseki), both planned to take part in The Championships, had their trips to Australia cancelled after having disappointed to seventh and ninth, respectively, in the Nakayama Kinen. Instead, Logo Type will head for the Lord Derby Challenge Trophy (G3, 1,600m) and Isla Bonita to the Sankei Osaka Hai (G2, 2,000m) on April 3. Tosen Reve (JPN, H8, by Deep Impact), a three-quarter brother to Buena Vista (JPN, by Special Week), also was withdrawn after finishing ninth in the Kyoto Kinen.

The Japanese runners turned in remarkable results at Sha Tin in Hong Kong last year where Japan’s Maurice (JPN, H5, by Screen Hero) claimed victory against Hong Kong’s top milers in the Hong Kong Mile (G1, 1,600m) and A Shin Hikari (JPN, H5, by Deep Impact) added another trophy in the Hong Kong Cup (G1, 2,000m) in December. Maurice, 2015 Horse of the Year following victories in the Yasuda Kinen (G1, 1,600m), the Mile Championship (G1, 1,600m) and the Hong Kong Mile, cancelled his trip to Dubai due to a minor hoof problem but is scheduled to have a go at becoming the first Japanese winner of the Champions Mile (G1, 1,600m) on May 1.

Two other Japanese runners are scheduled for the Queen Elizabeth II Cup (G1, 2,000m) in which Rulership (JPN, by King Kamehameha) was Japan’s most recent victor in 2012, before which Eishin Preston (USA, Green Dancer) won consecutive titles in 2002 and 2003. Staphanos (JPN, H5, by Deep Impact), runner-up last year and tenth in the Hong Kong Cup in December, is not scheduled to begin his 2016 campaign until the Niigata Daishoten (G3, 2,000m) on May 8.

2014 Yushun Himba (Japanese Oaks, G1, 2,400m) victor Nuovo Record (JPN, M5, by Heart’s Cry), finished a length behind in second in the Hong Kong Cup. She followed this with a consecutive runner-up in the 2015 Queen Elizabeth II Cup, succumbing to A Shin Hikari, although she was 1-1/4 lengths clear of the third-place finisher. Lovely Day (JPN, H6, by King Kamehameha) rose to stardom in his five-year-old season by validating his first G1 victory in the Takarazuka Kinen (G1, 2,200m) with another major G1 win in the Tenno Sho (Autumn) (G1, 2,000m), which were among his six grade-race titles that year. If his trip to Hong Kong works out well, another trip to the Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1, 2,400m) in the fall is under consideration. Both Nuovo Record and Lovely Day are set to start in the Sankei Osaka Hai, prior to the big day in Hong Kong.

Satono Crown (JPN, C4, by Marju), a third-place finisher in the 2015 Tokyo Yushun, landed his third grade-race title in the Kyoto Kinen so his connections may decide to run him in Hong Kong depending on his condition; otherwise he will run in the Sankei Osaka Hai. H. H. Sheikh Mohammed-owned Decipher (JPN, H7, by Deep Impact), who kicked off the 2016 season with his fourth grade-race victory in the American Jockey Club Cup (G2, 2,200m) on January 24, may also run in Hong Kong after his start in the Nikkei Sho (G2, 2,500m) on March 26.

A Shin Hikari won five in a row from his late three-year-old debut in April 2014. After finishing ninth to Tosen Stardom in his grade-race debut in the 2014 Challenge Cup (G3, 1,800m), he scored another three wins, including the 2015 Epsom Cup (G3, 1,800m) and Mainichi Okan (G2, 1,800m). He then ran out of steam and finished ninth in his first G1 challenge in the Tenno Sho (Autumn), but bounced back to claim the Hong Kong Cup with a characteristic wire-to-wire victory, a feat he has accomplished in eight of his nine wins. However, his condition has not allowed him enough time to prepare for another stint in Hong Kong this year.

Who Will Replace Gold Ship as Japan's Top Stayer?

With Gold Ship (JPN, by Stay Gold) having retired to stud as of the end of last season, two Kikuka Sho (Japanese St. Leger, G1, 3,000m) winners appear to have a good chance in the Tenno Sho (Spring) on May 1. One of them is Toho Jackal (JPN, H5, by Special Week), who marked a sensational victory in the 2014 Kikuka Sho just 149 days after his debut, claiming the last leg of the Triple Crown while renewing the previous record by 1.7 seconds. Although he had just two starts thereafter last year due to health issues and a problem in his hoof, he is expected to become a threat once again.

Sounds of Earth (JPN, H5, by Neo Universe) and Gold Actor (JPN, H5, by Screen Hero), whom Toho Jackal had beaten to second and third, respectively, in the Kikuka Sho, both have proven to be of high quality by finishing second and first, respectively, in the 2015 Arima Kinen (G1, 2,500m). Sounds of Earth (JPN, H5, by Neo Universe), after scoring just two wins out of 15 career starts, more recently has finished second in two G1 and three G2 starts, plus a close fifth by 0.3 second in last year’s Japan Cup. Gold Actor was sidelined for eight months following the Kikuka Sho but has been undefeated in all four starts since his comeback, including as a G1 winner in the 2015 Arima Kinen. His sire, Screen Hero (JPN, by Grass Wonder), also made late but rapid improvement to claim the 2008 Japan Cup in his four-year-old season.

Kitasan Black in the 2015 Kikuka Sho

The other Kikuka Sho winner is Kitasan Black (JPN, C4, by Black Tide), who overcame skepticism of his ability to handle longer distances by claiming the 2015 Kikuka Sho, which he then validated by finishing a 0.1-second third against older G1 winners in the Arima Kinen. Fame Game (JPN, H6, by Heart’s Cry) and Hokko Brave (JPN, H8, by Marvelous Sunday), who finished 13th and 17th, respectively, in the 2015 Melbourne Cup (G1, 3,200m), are still in training this year and expected to run in the Tenno Sho (Spring). Other possible starters in the race include last year’s third-place finisher Curren Mirotic (JPN, G8, by Heart’s Cry), along with Tanta Alegria (JPN, C4, by Zenno Rob Roy), who finished fourth in the 2015 Kikuka Sho, and Reve Mistral (JPN, C4, by King Kamehameha), winner of the Nikkei Shinshun Hai (G2, 2,400m) on January 17.

Fame Game, Hokko Brave and Tanta Alegria ran in the Diamond Stakes (G3, 3,400m) on February 20, finishing 2nd, 14th and fourth, respectively. Toho Jackal, Curren Mirotic and Tanta Alegria are expected to start in the Hanshin Daishoten (G2, 3,000m) on March 20, Gold Actor and Sounds of Earth in the Nikkei Sho, and Kitasan Black in the Sankei Osaka Hai.

Tough Competition Among Older Fillies/Mares

Straight Girl in the 2015 Sprinters Stakes

The Victoria Mile (G1, 1,600m), limited to older fillies and mares, will be held on May 15. Straight Girl (JPN, M7, by Fuji Kiseki) won the race last year and went on to claim the Sprinters Stakes (G1, 1,200m) and then was set to retire following the Hong Kong Sprint (G1, 1,200m) in December, but after finishing ninth her connections decided to keep her in training this year.

Mikki Queen in the 2015 Yushun Himba

The JRA’s 2015 Best Three-Year-Old Filly, Mikki Queen (JPN, F4, by Deep Impact), who claimed two of three fillies’ Triple Crown races—the Yushun Himba and the Shuka Sho (G1, 2,000m)—is aiming for either the Yasuda Kinen on June 5 or the Takarazuka Kinen following her run in the Victoria Mile. After which, she will head for the Queen Elizabeth II Cup in the fall.

Also contesting for the Victoria Mile title will be three notable starters from the Hanshin Himba Stakes (G2, 1,600m) on April 9, namely, 2013 Best Two-Year-Old Filly Red Reveur (JPN, M5, by Stay Gold), Win Primera (JPN, M6, by Stay Gold) and Smart Layer (JPN, M6, by Deep Impact). Win Primera won against male rivals in the Kyoto Kimpai (G3, 1,600m) on January 5 prior to finishing third in the Kyoto Himba Stakes (G3, 1,400m) on February 20, while Smart Layer beat out her male opponents in the Tokyo Shimbun Hai (G3, 1,600m) on February 7.

Also appearing are Rouge Buck (JPN, F4, by Manhattan Cafe), who was runner-up to Mikki Queen in the Yushun Himba last year, and multiple grade-race winner Sing with Joy (JPN, F4, by Manhattan Cafe), who are coming off their respective second and 15th place starts in the Nakayama Himba Stakes (G3, 1,800m) on March 13. Sundarbans (JPN, M5, by Heart’s Cry) took that title. 2015 Shuka Sho runner-up Queens Ring (JPN, F4, by Manhattan Cafe) will be following her Kyoto Himba Stakes victory.

Shonan Pandora in the 2015 Japan Cup

Meanwhile, 2015 Japan Cup winner Shonan Pandora (JPN, M5, by Deep Impact), who also claimed the JRA Award for the season’s Best Older Filly or Mare, will kick off this season with the Sankei Osaka Hai. She also could run in the Victoria Mile depending on her condition, but her main goal is to validate her Japan Cup win in the Takarazuka Kinen.

Marialite
in the 2015 Queen Elizabeth II Cup

Marialite (JPN, M5, by Deep Impact), who finished an impressive fourth place in the year-end Arima Kinen following her first G1 victory in the Queen Elizabeth II Cup last year, will make her 2016 debut in the Nikkei Sho, but then will pass up the short-distance Victoria Mile and head for the Takarazuka Kinen after her prep start in the Meguro Kinen (G2, 2,500m) on May 29.

Hong Kong's Aerovelocity Returns to Defend Takamatsunomiya Kinen Title

The JRA’s first turf G1 event of the season will be the Takamatsunomiya Kinen (G1, 1,200m) on March 27. Aerovelocity (NZ, G8, by Pins) came off a victory in the Hong Kong Sprint and, as the first foreign contingent in 12 years to take part in the JRA’s spring season G1 sprint, won impressively. He returns again this year with two more G1 titles, the KrisFlyer International Sprint (G1, 1,200m) in Singapore and the Centenary Sprint Cup (HK-G1, 1,200m) in Hong Kong.

The Takamatsunomiya Kinen will also feature last year’s third-place finisher, Mikki Isle (JPN, H5, by Deep Impact), who is in great form after winning the Hankyu Hai (G3, 1,400m) on February 28, tying the course record by making a sharp break and then maintaining the lead throughout the 1,400-meter trip. Winner of the 2015 Oka Sho (Japanese 1000 Guineas, G1, 1,600m), Let’s Go Donki (JPN, F4, by King Kamehameha), pressed the pace set by Mikki Isle before tiring in the last stages to finish sixth, hopes to improve in her next G1 sprint challenge.

2014 Sprinters Stakes victor and 2014 Best Sprinter or Miler Snow Dragon (JPN, H8, by Admire Cozzene), who had missed the entire 2015 with a leg problem, was third in his comeback start in the Ocean Stakes (G3, 1,200m ) on March 5. A Shin Bullseye (USA, H5, by Belgravia) claimed his first graded title in the same race, while 2015 Takamatsunomiya Kinen runner-up Hakusan Moon (JPN, H7, by Admire Moon) was second and race favorite Albiano (USA, F4, by Harlan’s Holiday) finished fifth.

Dance Director (JPN, H6, by Aldebaran), who won his first grade-race victory in the Silk Road Stakes (G3, 1,200m) on January 31, and Satono Lupin (JPN, H5, by Deep Impact), winner of the Keihan Hai (G3, 1,200m) last November, will head straight to the Takamatsunomiya Kinen.

Predicted Yasuda Kinen Lineup

With Japan’s champion miler Maurice heading for another Hong Kong run in May, the possibility of his defending the Yasuda Kinen title this year will depend on how well he is able to recover and prepare for another big competition in the short time available after his return to Japan.

2014 Best Two-Year-Old Colt Danon Platina (JPN, C4, by Deep Impact), who ran in the Hong Kong Mile in December but finished seventh to Maurice, was fourth in his comeback in the Tokyo Shimbun Hai this year. Both he and Fiero (JPN, H7, by Deep Impact), who was ninth in the Hong Kong Mile, are expected to run in the Milers Cup (G2, 1,600m) on April 24 prior to their G1 challenges in the Yasuda Kinen. Clarity Sky (JPN, C4, by Kurofune), winner of the three-year-old limited NHK Mile Cup (G1, 1,600m) last year, is sidelined for the spring due to health issues.

Dirt Racing Recap

Moanin in the 2016 February Stakes

The February Stakes (G1, dirt, 1,600m) on February 21 concluded the early part of the 2016 dirt season with Moanin (USA, C4, by Henny Hughes) claiming his first dirt JRA-G1 victory in only his seventh career start, a record in terms of career starts and time—282 days—since his three-year-old debut in May last year. Copano Rickey (JPN, H6, by Gold Allure), who was aiming for his third consecutive title, disappointed to seventh, while 2015 Japan Dirt Derby (dirt, 2,000m) victor and Champions Cup runner-up Nonkono Yume (JPN, C4, by Twining) closed impressively but was unable to reach the winner and finished second.

2015 Champions Cup third-place finisher Sound True (JPN, G6, by French Deputy) claimed his first G1 title in his following race, last year’s Tokyo Daishoten (G1, dirt, 2,000m), and then was second to Hokko Tarumae in the Kawasaki Kinen in January. He passed up the February Stakes, however, owing to the turf surface at the start, which works against dirt specialists. Copano Rickey, Nonkono Yume, Moanin and Sound True are all scheduled to start in the Kashiwa Kinen (dirt, 1,600m) on May 5.

Nakayama Daishogai Top Finishers Continue to Dominate Toward Grand Jump

Up to Date
in the 2015 Nakayama Daishogai

Best Steeplechase Horse of 2015 Up to Date (JPN, H6, by Kurofune), winner of the Nakayama Grand Jump (J-G1, 4,250m) and the Nakayama Daishogai (J-G1, 4,100m), kicked off this season with a second-place finish in the Hanshin Spring Jump (J-G2, 3,900m) on March 12. He looked to be in good form for another strong performance in the coming J-G1 event.

Sanacion
in the 2016 Hanshin Spring Jump

Acorn Path (JPN, H7, by Time Paradox) was runner-up in the Nakayama Daishogai, won his next start in the Ushiwakamaru Jump Stakes (3,170m) on January 30, and was runner-up again in the Shunrei Jump Stakes (3,100m) on February 13. Sanacion (JPN, H7, by Symboli Kris S), who finished third in the Nakayama Daishogai, faced Up to Date again in the Hanshin Spring Jump and took command right from the start. He was allowed to travel in front uncontested and opened enough room to hold back the steeplechase champion by a comfortable five-length victory.

Triple Crown Prospects Heading for the Classics

Makahiki in the 2016 Yayoi Sho

Three-year-olds bidding for the Triple Crown’s first title, the Satsuki Sho on April 17, have begun their preparation towards the big day. The Yayoi Sho (G2, 2,000m) on March 6 was won by Makahiki (JPN, C3, by Deep Impact), who came off a victory in the Wakagoma Stakes (2,000m) on January 23 to face 2015 Best Two-Year-Old Colt Leontes (JPN, C3, by King Kamehameha) and Air Spinel (JPN, C3, by King Kamehameha), the top two finishers in the Asahi Hai Futurity Stakes last December. Sent to post as the second choice, Makahiki was slow out of the gate and initially raced at the back of the 12-horse field. However, he gradually made ground along the backstretch and showed a terrific turn of speed to launch a rally against Leontes, who took command coming into the homestretch with Air Spinel also close behind. Ultimately, Makahiki had the most in the tank among the three colts, as Air Spinel weakened after the furlong pole and Leontes finally gave way in the last strides for a neck second, although both were strong in defeat as the first runs of their three-year-old seasons. 2015 Sapporo Nisai Stakes (G3, 1,800m) winner Admire Eikan (JPN, C3, by Heart's Cry) showed improved form since his ninth-place finish in February but was beaten by almost eight lengths to fifth place.

2015 Niigata Nisai Stakes (G3, 1,600m) winner Lord Quest (JPN, C3, by Matsurida Gogh) and 2015 Kyoto Nisai Stakes (G3, 2,000m) winner Dreadnoughtus (JPN, C3, by Harbinger) will start in the Spring Stakes (G2, 1,800m) on March 20. Other possible Satsuki Sho starters will run in either the Wakaba Stakes 2,000m) on March 19 or the Mainichi Hai (G3, 1,800m) on March 26. Logi Cry (JPN, C3, by Heart’s Cry), already a winner this year in the Shinzan Kinen (G3, 1,600m) on January 10, was initially scheduled for the Spring Stakes but has been sidelined with a blind splint and is hoped to recover in time for either the NHK Mile Cup on May 8 or the Tokyo Yushun on May 29.

Among those who have already earned a ticket to the Satsuki Sho are two from Yasutoshi Ikee stables—Satono Diamond (JPN, C3, by Deep Impact), who is undefeated in three career starts, his last being the Kisaragi Sho (G3, 1,800m) on February 7, and Prophet (JPN, C3, by Harbinger), who won the Keisei Hai (G3, 2,000m) on January 17. Both will head straight to the Satsuki Sho. George Cinq (JPN, C3, by Victoire Pisa), who was invited to run in the UAE Derby but has opted to stay in Japan this season, will also start in the Satsuki Sho after a victory in the Sumire Stakes (2,200m) on February 28.

Dee Majesty (JPN, C3, by Deep Impact) won the Kyodo News Service Hai (G3, 1,800m) on February 14. In the same race, 2015 Tokyo Sports Hai Nisai Stakes (G3, 1,800m) victor Smart Odin (JPN, C3, by Danon Chantilly) and the Hopeful Stakes (G2, 2,000m) winner Hartley (JPN, C3, by Deep Impact) finished sixth and ninth, respectively.

Sinhalite in the 2016 Tulip Sho

One of the main Oka Sho trials, the Tulip Sho (G3, 1,600m) on March 5, featured a number of potential three-year-old fillies, including Hanshin Juvenile Fillies runner-up Win Fabulous (JPN, F3, by Stay Gold) and third-place finisher Blanc Bonheur (JPN, F3, by Deep Impact), who won the Hakodate Nisai Stakes (G3, 1,200m) in July 2015. The race also featured Denko Ange (JPN, F3, by Meisho Samson), a grade-race winner of the Artemis Stakes (G3, 1,600m) last year, and Red Avancer (JPN, F3, by Deep Impact), who was coming off a victory in the Elfin Stakes (1,600m) on February 6. However, none of them finished within the first three, with only Denko Ange finishing as high as fifth. Red Avancer was eighth while Win Fabulous and Blanc Bonheur disappointed to 10th and 14th in a field of 16. Sinhalite (JPN, F3, by Deep Impact), who came into the race undefeated in two starts since her debut in October last year, claimed her first grade-race victory while renewing the race record previously set by Vodka (JPN, by Tanino Gimlet) by 0.9 second. Jeweler (JPN F3, by Victoire Pisa), who was coming off a runner-up effort against male runners in the Shinzan Kinen, was a mere nose behind in second.

Cecchino (JPN, F3, by King Kamehameha) and Alla Salute (JPN, F3, by Daiwa Major), first and second, respectively, in the Anemone Stakes (1,600m) on March 12, also earned their tickets to run in the Oka Sho. Meanwhile, Solveig (JPN, F3, by Daiwa Major) closed in strongly on the pace set by 2015 Fantasy Stakes (G3, 1,400m) winner Candy Barows (JPN, F3, by Deep Impact) in the Fillies’ Revue (G2, 1,400m) on March 13. Solveig took command in the last 100 meters and drew away for a 1-1/4-length victory as At the Seaside (JPN, F3, by King Kamehameha) also pinned Candy Barows in the last strides for second place to secure a berth in the Oka Sho. Other possible Oka Sho starters will also be running in the Flower Cup (G3, 1,800m) on March 21.