2019 News

March 21, 2019

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March 2019
The Japan Racing Association

Exclusive Topics for Horse Racing in Japan - Spring Edition -

The JRA’s 2019 horse racing season will start in earnest with the three-year-old classic trials in March as horses begin to prepare towards the spring G1 events. In this special Spring edition of our international newsletter, we are pleased to bring you up to date on the progress of last year’s stars and this season’s key runners, part of our ongoing effort to support your reporting of JRA events.

 

High Expectations for Almond Eye's Further Success

Challenges abroad by Japanese-trained horses resulted in one or more G1 titles every year from 2011 to 2017, but expectations are high for renewed success this spring when a number of top Japanese runners will seek success against international competitors.

The focus is centered on Almond Eye (JPN, F4, by Lord Kanaloa), JRA’s 2018 Horse of the Year and winner of the fillies’ Triple Crown, who is slated to run in the Dubai Turf (G1, 1,800m) on March 30. Trainer Sakae Kunieda explained the reason why he chose the Dubai Turf instead of the Dubai Sheema Classic (G1, 2,410m), stating that “the filly is more comfortable at 1,800 meters” and that “Japanese runners have come up with favorable results at this distance in the past three Dubai Turf races, producing two wins and a second.”

The coming Dubai Turf will be Almond Eye’s first start in four months, since she claimed the Japan Cup (G1, 2,400m) in a record 2:20.6. Her Shuka Sho (G1, 2,000m) victory last autumn came off a five-month break following a victory in the Yushun Himba (Japanese Oaks, G1, 2,400m), so the only concern will be whether she can handle the long overseas travel. Her racing plan for this year after the Dubai Turf is yet to be determined but expectations are running high for a long-awaited Japanese title in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (G1, 2,400m) in the fall, so the outcome of her first overseas trip this spring is attracting much attention.

Two other Japanese runners will start in the Dubai Turf, including Vivlos (JPN, M6, by Deep Impact), who won the race in 2017 but was second last year. The Deep Impact (JPN, by Sunday Silence) mare has been winless since, finishing fourth and eighth after her return to Japan, but she was second in the Hong Kong Mile (G1, 1,600m) in December and reversed her retirement plan as of the end of 2018 for another shot at claiming her second Dubai Turf title.

The other Dubai Turf entrant, 2017 Shuka Sho winner Deirdre (JPN, M5, by Harbinger), placed third in the race last year. She followed up two more grade-race titles back home and then confirmed her ability to travel well with a runner-up effort in the Hong Kong Cup (G1, 2,000m).

Almond Eye in the 2018 Japan Cup
Almond Eye
in the 2018 Japan Cup
Vivlos in the 2017 Dubai Turf
Vivlos
in the 2017 Dubai Turf
Deirdre in the 2017 Shuka Sho
Deirdre
in the 2017 Shuka Sho

The Dubai Sheema Classic has three Japanese starters. 2017 Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby, G1, 2,400m) victor Rey de Oro (JPN, H5, by King Kamehameha), who was affected by the slow pace in last year’s race and finished fourth, won his comeback start in the fall and registered his second G1 title in the Tenno Sho (Autumn) (G1, 2,000m). The subsequent 2018 Best Older Colt or Horse was a neck short in the year-end Arima Kinen (G1, 2,500m), carrying 2 kg more than the winner.

Suave Richard (JPN, H5, by Heart’s Cry) claimed his first G1 title in the Osaka Hai (G1, 2,000m) last year. Winless in three G1 starts thereafter, but finishing third in two, he passed up the Arima Kinen to prepare for his first overseas challenge in Dubai.

The 2017 Japan Cup victor, Cheval Grand (JPN, H7, by Heart’s Cry), is also winless since but remains consistent over distances of 2,400 meters or more, finishing second and third in the Tenno Sho (Spring) (G1, 3,200m) and the Arima Kinen, respectively. The mature seven-year-old has plans for more overseas travel if he’s successful in Dubai.

Rey de Oro in the 2018 Tenno Sho (Autumn)
Rey de Oro
in the 2018 Tenno Sho (Autumn)
Suave Richard in the 2018 Osaka Hai
Suave Richard
in the 2018 Osaka Hai
Cheval Grand in the 2017 Japan Cup
Cheval Grand
in the 2017 Japan Cup

The Dubai World Cup (G1, dirt, 2,000m) will be contested by K T Brave (JPN, H6, by Admire Max), winner of the 2017 Teio Sho (dirt, 2,000m), 2018 Kawasaki Kinen (dirt, 2,100m) and JBC Classic (dirt, 1,900m). Although disappointed to 11th as second favorite in last year’s Champions Cup (G1, dirt, 1,800m), the son of Admire Max (JPN, by Sunday Silence) is well suited over distances between 1,900 and 2,100 meters at which he has registered 6-4-2 out of 14 starts. The key will be how well he is able to handle the dirt surface in Dubai.

Matera Sky (USA, H5, by Speightstown) makes his second consecutive Dubai Golden Shaheen (G1, dirt, 1,200m) challenge this year. Fifth last year, the US-bred five-year-old won his first two starts back in Japan, including his first grade-race victory, and emerged as a top-class dirt sprinter, finishing a neck-second in the JBC Sprint (dirt, 1,200m) in the fall.

Nonkono Yume (JPN, G7, by Twining), winner of the 2018 February Stakes (G1, dirt, 1,600m), will be running in the Godolphin Mile (G2, dirt, 1,600m). Three-year-old Derma Louvre (JPN, C3, by Pyro), who has three wins including the Hyogo Junior Grand Prix (dirt, 1,400m) out of six starts on dirt, will start in the UAE Derby (G2, dirt, 1,900m) and possibly challenge the U.S. Triple Crown depending on the outcome of the race.

K T Brave in the 2018 JBC Classic
K T Brave
in the 2018 JBC Classic
Matera Sky in the 2018 Procyon Stakes
Matera Sky
in the 2018 Procyon Stakes
Nonkono Yume in the 2018 February Stakes
Nonkono Yume
in the 2018 February Stakes

Among the above-mentioned Dubai challengers, Suave Richard and Deirdre both kicked off their 2019 campaigns in the Nakayama Kinen (G2, 1,800m) on February 24, finishing fourth and sixth, respectively.

Runners traveling overseas other than to Dubai include Kluger (JPN, H7, by King Kamehameha) who will fly to Australia for the Doncaster Mile (G1, 1,600m) on April 6. The King Kamehameha (JPN, by Kingmambo) horse was sidelined for a year after sustaining a knee fracture in his right foreleg following a victory in the 2016 Milers Cup (G2, 1,600m). Since then he has only managed a second and a third at the G3 level.

Lys Gracieux (JPN, M5, by Heart's Cry) will head for the Hong Kong’s Queen Elizabeth II Cup (G1, 2,000m) on April 28 after a runner-up effort in the Kinko Sho (G2, 2,000m) on March 10. The 2018 Best Older Filly or Mare scored her first G1 victory in the Queen Elizabeth II Cup (G1, 2,200m) last fall, and then finished second in the Hong Kong Vase (G1, 2,400m), proving herself well suited to the track in Hong Kong. Win Bright (JPN, H5, by Stay Gold), who has already scored two wins this season and successfully defended his title in the Nakayama Kinen, will join Lys Gracieux in the Hong Kong’s Queen Elizabeth II Cup.

Kluger in the 2016 Milers Cup
Kluger
in the 2016 Milers Cup
Lys Gracieux in the 2018 Queen Elizabeth II Cup
Lys Gracieux
in the 2018 Queen Elizabeth II Cup
Win Bright in the 2019 Nakayama Kinen
Win Bright
in the 2019 Nakayama Kinen
 

Four-Year-Olds Likely Lead Spring G1 Campaign in Japan

 

Blast Onepiece in the 2018 Arima Kinen
Blast Onepiece
in the 2018 Arima Kinen

Last season’s three-year-old group upstaged their senior rivals by claiming the majority of fall G1 majors, including the Mile Championship (G1, 1,600m), the Japan Cup, the Champions Cup and the Arima Kinen. This year they are likely to continue dominating into their four-year-old seasons. The Osaka Hai on March 31 will stage a line-up of top turf runners of all ages beginning with a tough group of four-year-olds, including Arima Kinen champion Blast Onepiece (JPN, C4, by Harbinger), who could be targeted at the Arc depending on how his spring campaign progresses.

 

Wagnerian (JPN, C4, by Deep Impact), who out-finished Blast Onepiece in the Tokyo Yushun, proceeded to win the Kobe Shimbun Hai (G2, 2,400m) in his fall debut but was turned out for the rest of the season to recover properly and start fresh into his four-year-old season, which begins with the Osaka Hai.

Stelvio (JPN, C4, by Lord Kanaloa), fourth and eighth in his two classic starts, demonstrated his best form over a mile when the 2017 Asahi Hai Futurity Stakes (G1, 1,600m) runner-up claimed his first G1 title against his seniors in the Mile Championship last fall. Meanwhile, Epoca d’Oro (JPN, C4, by Orfevre) won the Satsuki Sho (Japanese 2000 Guineas, G1, 2,000m) and was also a close second in the Tokyo Yushun. In the fall, however, he was unable to maintain his form, finishing fourth and eighth, and then was given the rest of season off after the Kikuka Sho (Japanese St. Leger, G1, 3,000m). Both Stelvio and Epoca d’Oro kicked off their four-year-old seasons in the Nakayama Kinen, collecting a third and a fifth, respectively.

Wagnerian in the 2018 Tokyo Yushun
Wagnerian
in the 2018 Tokyo Yushun
Stelvio in the 2018 Mile Championship
Stelvio
in the 2018 Mile Championship
Epoca d’Oro in the 2018 Satsuki Sho
Epoca d’Oro
in the 2018 Satsuki Sho
Kiseki in the 2017 Kikuka Sho
Kiseki in the 2017 Kikuka Sho

The 2017 Kikuka Sho winner Kiseki (JPN, H5, by Rulership) remains one of the most consistent five-year-olds, having finished third in the Tenno Sho (Autumn) and second in the Japan Cup. Other Osaka Hai starters from the five-year-old group include Al Ain (JPN, H5, by Deep Impact) and Persian Knight (JPN, H5, by Harbinger), winners of the Satsuki Sho and the Mile Championship, respectively, during their three-year-old seasons. Both horses also ran in the Kinko Sho, finishing fourth and fifth, respectively, along with 2018 Tenno Sho (Autumn) runner-up Sungrazer (JPN, H5, by Deep Impact) and multiple grade-race winners Danburite (JPN, H5, by Rulership) and Stiffelio (JPN, H5, by Stay Gold).

 

Al Ain in the 2017 Satsuki Sho
Al Ain
in the 2017 Satsuki Sho
Persian Knight in the 2017 Mile Championship
Persian Knight
in the 2017 Mile Championship
Sungrazer in the 2018 Sapporo Kinen
Sungrazer
in the 2018 Sapporo Kinen

Mozu Katchan (JPN, M5, by Harbinger), the 2017 Queen Elizabeth II Cup winner, was unable to recover after finishing ninth in the Kinko Sho and will pass up her entry in the Osaka Hai.

Danburite in the 2019 Kyoto Kinen
Danburite
in the 2019 Kyoto Kinen
Stiffelio in the 2019 Kokura Daishoten
Stiffelio
in the 2019 Kokura Daishoten
Mozu Katchan in the 2017 Queen Elizabeth II Cup
Mozu Katchan
in the 2017 Queen Elizabeth II Cup

Although 2016 Best Three-Year-Old Colt Satono Diamond (JPN, by Deep Impact) and last year’s Takarazuka Kinen (G1, 2,200m) victor Mikki Rocket (JPN, by King Kamehameha) have both retired to stud, derby winner Makahiki (JPN, H6, by Deep Impact) remains in training to face the aforementioned younger age group in the Osaka Hai, coming off a third-place finish in the Kyoto Kinen (G2, 2,200m) on February 10.

In addition to the Osaka Hai runners headed for the Tenno Sho (Spring) on April 28 as their next target, other probable starters in the race include Glory Vase (JPN, C4, by Deep Impact), winner of this year’s Nikkei Shinshun Hai (G2, 2,400m) on January 13, and Sciacchetra (JPN, H6, by Manhattan Cafe), who kicked off the year with a win in the American Jockey Club Cup and turned in an overwhelming five-length victory in the Hanshin Daishoten (G2, 3,000m) on March 17.

Makahiki (right) in the 2016 Tokyo Yushun
Makahiki (right)
in the 2016 Tokyo Yushun
Glory Vase in the 2019 Nikkei Shinshun Hai
Glory Vase
in the 2019 Nikkei Shinshun Hai
Sciacchetra in the 2019 Hanshin Daishoten
Sciacchetra
in the 2019 Hanshin Daishoten

Fierement (JPN, C4, by Deep Impact), 2018 Kikuka Sho champion, kicked off his 2019 season with a runner-up effort in the American Jockey Club Cup (G2, 2,200m) on January 20. While 2018 Kikuka Sho third-place You Can Smile (JPN, C4, by King Kamehameha) will come off his first graded win in the Diamond Stakes (G3, 3,400m) on February 16, Etario (JPN, C4, by Stay Gold), runner-up in the 2018 Kikuka Sho, is expected to come off his four-year-old season kick-off, the Nikkei Sho (G2, 2,500m) on March 23, prior to the Tenno Sho (Spring).

Fierement in the 2018 Kikuka Sho
Fierement
in the 2018 Kikuka Sho
You Can Smile in the 2019 Diamond Stakes
You Can Smile
in the 2019 Diamond Stakes
Etario (right) in the 2018 Kikuka Sho
Etario (right)
in the 2018 Kikuka Sho

The JRA’s turf G1 begins with the Takamatsunomiya Kinen (G1, 1,200m) on March 24 at Chukyo Racecourse. Last year’s champion and 2018 Best Sprinter or Miler Fine Needle (JPN, by Admire Moon) has retired from racing, so attention has shifted to Danon Smash (JPN, C4, by Lord Kanaloa). The four-year-old, since stepping down in distance to 1,200 meters last summer, has proved successful with back-to-back graded victories in the Keihan Hai (G3, 1,200m) on November 25 and the Silk Road Stakes (G3, 1,200m) on January 27.

Danon Smash in the 2019 Silk Road Stakes
Danon Smash
in the 2019 Silk Road Stakes
Seiun Kosei in the 2017 Takamatsunomiya Kinen
Seiun Kosei in the
2017 Takamatsunomiya Kinen
Dea Regalo in the 2019 Kyoto Himba Stakes
Dea Regalo
in the 2019 Kyoto Himba Stakes

The field will also include 2017 Takamatsunomiya Kinen winner Seiun Kosei (JPN, H6, by Admire Moon), who finished 15th in his 2019 kick-off in the Silk Road Stakes; Dea Regalo (JPN, M5, by Manhattan Cafe), who registered her first grade-race title in the Kyoto Himba Stakes (G3, 1,400m) on February 16; last year’s Takamatsunomiya Kinen runner-up Let’s Go Donki (JPN, M7, by King Kamehameha), who is coming off a second in the Hankyu Hai (G3, 1,400m) on February 24; and Mozu Superflare (USA, F4, by Speightstown) and Nac Venus (JPN, M6, by Daiwa Major), who finished first and second, respectively, in the Ocean Stakes (G3, 1,200m) on March 2.

Let's Go Donki in the 2015 Oka Sho
Let's Go Donki
in the 2015 Oka Sho
Mozu Superflare in the 2019 Ocean Stakes
Mozu Superflare
in the 2019 Ocean Stakes
Nac Venus in the 2018 Keeneland Cup
Nac Venus
in the 2018 Keeneland Cup
Aerolithe in the 2017 NHK Mile Cup
Aerolithe
in the 2017 NHK Mile Cup

The Victoria Mile (G1, 1,600m) on May 12 for four-year-old-and-up fillies/mares is without the now-retired defending champion, Jour Polaire (JPN, by Deep Impact), and last year’s runner-up Lys Gracieux, who will be away in Hong Kong. This will raise the chances for Aerolithe (JPN, M5, by Kurofune), fourth last year and a G1 winner in the 2017 NHK Mile Cup, who hopes to bounce back from her ninth-place finish in the Pegasus World Cup Turf (G1, 1,900m) in the USA on January 26. The Kurofune (JPN, by French Deputy) mare has a record of 3-2-0 out of six starts at Tokyo Racecourse.

 

Lucky Lilac in the 2017 Hanshin Juvenile Fillies
Lucky Lilac
in the 2017 Hanshin Juvenile Fillies

Also aiming for a second G1 title in the Victoria Mile is Lucky Lilac (JPN, F4, by Orfevre), the 2017 Best Two-Year-Old Filly, who was winless in her three-year-old fillies’ Triple Crown last year, finishing no higher than second in the Oka Sho (Japanese 1000 Guineas, G1, 1,600m). The Orfevre (JPN, by Stay Gold) filly was second in the Nakayama Kinen, her first start of this season. Four-time graded winner Miss Panthere (JPN, M5, by Daiwa Major) finished fifth in the Kyoto Himba Stakes (G3, 1,400m) on February 16. Both Lucky Lilac and Miss Panthere will be starting in the Hanshin Himba Stakes (G2, 1,600m) on April 6.

 

Frontier Queen (JPN, M6, by Meisho Samson), winner of the Nakayama Himba Stakes (G3, 1,800m) on March 9, is scheduled to head towards the Victoria Mile. Connections of 2017 Victoria Mile champion Admire Lead (JPN, M6, by Stay Gold) announced her retirement following the Stay Gold (JPN, by Sunday Silence) mare’s 10th-place finish in the Nayakayama Himba Stakes.

Miss Panthere in the 2018 Turquoise Stakes
Miss Panthere
in the 2018 Turquoise Stakes
Frontier Queen in the 2019 Nakayama Himba Stakes
Frontier Queen
in the 2019 Nakayama Himba Stakes
Admire Lead in the 2017 Victoria Mile
Admire Lead
in the 2017 Victoria Mile

Last year’s Yasuda Kinen (G1, 1,600m) champion Mozu Ascot (USA, H5, by Frankel) was defeated to 13th due to disadvantages in the fall Mile Championship and was seventh in the following Hong Kong Mile. The son of Frankel (GB, by Galileo) is hoped to pick up his form this year beginning with the Milers Cup on April 21 or the Keio Hai Spring Cup (G2, 1,400m) on May 11. Smart Odin (JPN, H6, by Danon Chantilly), who scored his fourth grade-race title in the Hankyu Hai, will also run in the Keio Hai Spring Cup prior to the Yasuda Kinen on June 2.

Meanwhile, 2017 Best Two-Year-Old Colt Danon Premium (JPN, C4, by Deep Impact), who was sidelined with a hoof problem after finishing sixth in the Tokyo Yushun last year, will be stepping down in distance. After a dominating performance in his comeback start, the Kinko Sho, he will pass up the Osaka Hai in favor of the Milers Cup in mid-April and then head for the Yasuda Kinen.

Mozu Ascot in the 2018 Yasuda Kinen
Mozu Ascot
in the 2018 Yasuda Kinen
Smart Odin in the 2019 Hankyu Hai
Smart Odin
in the 2019 Hankyu Hai
Danon Premium in the 2017 Asahi Hai Futurity Stakes
Danon Premium
in the 2017 Asahi Hai Futurity Stakes

The Yasuda Kinen is expected to include runners from the Osaka Hai as well, including Stelvio, Persian Knight and Al Ain. Aerolithe is also expected to aim for the title after her start in the Victoria Mile. Other possible Yasuda Kinen starters include Pax Americana (JPN, C4, by Kurofune), winner of the Kyoto Kimpai (G3, 1,600m) on January 5, Indy Champ (JPN, C4, by Stay Gold), winner of the Tokyo Shimbun Hai (G3, 1,600m) on February 3, and 2018 NHK Mile Cup (G1, 1,600m) winner Keiai Nautique (JPN, C4, by Deep Impact)—with all three colts slated to run in the Milers Cup in April prior to the Yasuda Kinen.

Pax Americana in the 2019 Kyoto Kimpai
Pax Americana
in the 2019 Kyoto Kimpai
Indy Champ in the 2019 Tokyo Shimbun Hai
Indy Champ
in the 2019 Tokyo Shimbun Hai
Keiai Nautique in the 2018 NHK Mile Cup
Keiai Nautique
in the 2018 NHK Mile Cup
Oju Chosan in the 2018 Nakayama Grand Jump
Oju Chosan
in the 2018 Nakayama Grand Jump

Oju Chosan (JPN, H8, by Stay Gold), the three-time (2016-2018) Best Steeplechase Horse, switched to flat racing following his victory in the Nakayama Grand Jump (J-G1, 4,250m) and was not disgraced when beaten to ninth in the “All-Star” Arima Kinen. The history-making jumper made his 2019 comeback over obstacles and landed his 10th graded title in the Hanshin Spring Jump (J-G2, 3,900m) on March 9. He will aim for a fourth title in the Nakayama Grand Jump on April 13.

 

Nihonpiro Baron in the 2018 Nakayama Daishogai
Nihonpiro Baron
in the 2018 Nakayama Daishogai

Nihonpiro Baron (JPN, H9, by Fusaichi Richard), who won the Nakayama Daishogai (J-G1, 4,100m) last December in Oju Chosan’s absence and will make his first start since then in the Nakayama Grand Jump, will face the defending champion against whom he finished third last year.

 

The first JRA-G1 event of the season, the February Stakes, was won by Inti (JPN, H5, by Came Home), who came off a six-race winning streak to out-finish 2017 Best Dirt Horse Gold Dream (JPN, H6, by Gold Allure) by a neck, landing him his first G1 title. Inti and Gold Dream will join 2018 Best Dirt Horse Le Vent Se Leve (JPN, C4, by Symboli Kris S), who passed up the February Stakes with a minor problem in his left foreleg, in the Kashiwa Kinen (Dirt 1,600m) on May 6 and then the Teio Sho (dirt, 2,000) on June 26.

Inti in the 2019 February Stakes
Inti
in the 2019 February Stakes
Gold Dream in the 2017 Champions Cup
Gold Dream
in the 2017 Champions Cup
Le Vent Se Leve in the 2018 Champions Cup
Le Vent Se Leve
in the 2018 Champions Cup
 

Three-Year-Old Classic Hopefuls

 

Danon Fantasy in the 2018 Hanshin Juvenile Fillies
Danon Fantasy
in the 2018 Hanshin Juvenile Fillies

Aspiring three-year-olds are picking up steam towards their Classics bids. The Hanshin Juvenile Fillies (G1, 1,600m) victor, Danon Fantasy (JPN, F3, by Deep Impact), commenced her 2019 season in the Tulip Sho (G2, 1,600m) at Hanshin Racecourse on March 2, which is the main prep towards the first leg of the Triple Crown for fillies, the Oka Sho. The Best Two-Year-Old Filly of 2018, trapped behind a wall of horses in the early stretch, switched paths to the outside at the furlong marker and charged home to victory a length ahead of Shigeru Pink Dia (JPN, F3, by Daiwa Major) and Noble Score (JPN, F3, by Deep Impact), who was a nose late in third, as the three secured their tickets to the Oka Sho. 2018 Artemis Stakes (G3, 1,600m) winner Schon Glanz (JPN, F3, by Deep Impact) was fifth in the Tulip Sho.

 

No One (JPN, F3, by Heart’s Cry) and Pourville (JPN, F3, by Le Havre) earned their Oka Sho bookings a week later in the Fillies’ Revue (G2, 1,400m), where they tied for the win in a dead-heat photo-finish. They will be joined by Juranville (JPN, F3, by Kinshasa no Kiseki), who was a half-length back in third. Regard Calme (JPN, F3, by Lord Kanaloa) and Red Aster (JPN, F3, by Deep Impact) were also granted berths in the coming first leg of the fillies’ triple as the top two finishers in the Anemone Stakes (Listed, 1,600m), another Oka Sho trial that was held on the same day as the Fillies’ Revue. Red Aster made rapid headway rounding the last two turns but was a 3/4-length short of the winner, Regard Calme, who displayed a good burst of speed from a handy position earlier.

Prior to the above trial races, the Hanshin Juvenile Fillies runner-up Chrono Genesis (JPN, F3, by Bago) and third-place finisher Beach Samba (JPN, F3, by Kurofune) kicked off their three-year-old campaigns in the Queen Cup (G3, 1,600m) on February 11. Together they stormed down the stretch, picking off most of the field after advancing from rearward positions, before Chrono Genesis claimed a hard-fought win by holding off Beach Samba, who reached the wire a neck behind in second.

Schon Glanz in the 2018 Artemis Stakes
Schon Glanz
in the 2018 Artemis Stakes
No One (left) and Pourville in the 2019 Fillies’ Revue
No One (left) and Pourville
in the 2019 Fillies’ Revue
Chrono Genesis in the 2019 Queen Cup
Chrono Genesis
in the 2019 Queen Cup

Other key runners among the Oka Sho field will include Figlia Pura (JPN, F3, by Harbinger) and Aqua Mirabilis (JPN, F3, by Victoire Pisa), who respectively claimed the Fairy Stakes (G3, 1,600m) on January 12 and the Elfin Stakes (Listed, 1,600m) on February 2. Gran Alegria (JPN, F3, by Deep Impact), who finished third against male opponents in the Asahi Hai Futurity Stakes, will make her three-year-old season debut in the Oka Sho. Contra Check (JPN, F3, by Deep Impact), winner of the Flower Cup (G3, 1,800m) on March 16, is likely to head for the Yushun Himba, the second leg of the fillies Triple Crown.

Figlia Pura in the 2019 Fairy Stakes
Figlia Pura
in the 2019 Fairy Stakes
Gran Alegria in the 2018 Artemis Stakes
Gran Alegria
in the 2018 Artemis Stakes
Contra Check in the 2019 Flower Cup
Contra Check
in the 2019 Flower Cup

The 2018 Best Two-Year-Old Colt, Admire Mars (JPN, C3, by Daiwa Major), concluded a flawless two-year-old season by going undefeated in all four starts, including the Asahi Hai Futurity Stakes, but kicked off this season with a second by 1-1/4 lengths in the Kyodo News Service Hai (G3, 1,800m) on February 10. The Daiwa Major (JPN, by Sunday Silence) colt ran out of steam after setting the pace and was caught before the furlong marker by the hard-charging Danon Kingly (JPN, C3, by Deep Impact), who displayed a good turn of foot from sitting off the pace in third earlier. Admire Mars will now head towards the Satsuki Sho on April 14 then the NHK Mile Cup on May 6. Kyoto Nisai Stakes (G3, 2,000m) victor Courageux Guerrier (JPN, C3, by King Kamehameha) was four lengths further back in third.

Admire Mars in the 2018 Asahi Hai Futurity Stakes
Admire Mars
in the 2018 Asahi Hai Futurity Stakes
Danon Kingly in the 2019 Kyodo News Service Hai
Danon Kingly
in the 2019 Kyodo News Service Hai
Courageux Guerrier in the 2018 Kyoto Nisai Stakes
Courageux Guerrier
in the 2018 Kyoto Nisai Stakes

On March 3, Meisho Tengen (JPN, C3, by Deep Impact) claimed the Yayoi Sho (G2, 2,000m), the main trial race towards the Satsuki Sho, by holding off a hard-charging Schwarz Riese (JPN, C3, by Heart’s Cry) and Breaking Dawn (JPN, C3, by Victoire Pisa) in third, all three earning their tickets to the first leg of the Triple Crown. Meanwhile, two-time graded winner and Hopeful Stakes (G1, 2,000m) third-place finisher Nishino Daisy (JPN, C3, by Harbinger) and Keisei Hai (G3, 2,000m) victor Last Draft (JPN, C3, by Novellist) were sent off as the top two favorites in that order but finished fourth and seventh, respectively.

Meisho Tengen in the 2019 Yayoi Sho
Meisho Tengen
in the 2019 Yayoi Sho
Nishino Daisy in the 2018 Sapporo Nisai Stakes
Nishino Daisy
in the 2018 Sapporo Nisai Stakes
Last Draft in the 2019 Keisei Hai
Last Draft
in the 2019 Keisei Hai

 

Emeral Fight in the 2019 Spring Stakes
Emeral Fight
in the 2019 Spring Stakes

Other qualifiers for the Satsuki Sho include Velox (JPN, C3, by Just a Way) and World Premiere (JPN, C3, by Deep Impact), the top two finishers in the Wakaba Stakes (Listed, 2,000m) on March 16, and Emeral Fight (JPN, C3, by Kurofune), who bested a four-horse rally in the Spring Stakes (G2, 1,800m) on the following day, ahead of Fantasist (JPN, C3, by Lord Kanaloa) and Dixie Knight (JPN, C3, by Daiwa Major) in second and third. Asahi Hai Futurity Stakes runner-up Kurino Gaudi (JPN, C3, by Screen Hero) tired from setting the pace in the Spring Stakes and finished sixth.

 

Fantasist in the 2018 Keio Hai Nisai Stakes
Fantasist
in the 2018 Keio Hai Nisai Stakes
Dixie Knight in the 2019 Crocus Stakes
Dixie Knight
in the 2019 Crocus Stakes
Kurino Gaudi in the 2018 Asahi Hai Futurity Stakes
Kurino Gaudi
in the 2018 Asahi Hai Futurity Stakes
Saturnalia in the 2018 Hopeful Stakes
Saturnalia
in the 2018 Hopeful Stakes

Other notable Satsuki Sho contenders include Satono Lux (JPN, C3, by Deep Impact), who registered his third consecutive win in the Sumire Stakes (Listed, 2,200m) on February 24, and the 2018 Hopeful Stakes runner-up Admire Justa (JPN, C3, by Just a Way), who finished a 0.2 second behind in second. Saturnalia (JPN, C3, by Lord Kanaloa), the 2018 Hopeful Stakes champion, will head straight to the Satsuki Sho while Danon Chaser (JPN, C3, by Deep Impact), winner of the Kisaragi Sho (G3, 1,800m) on February 3, will pass the first leg of the Triple Crown and aim for a G1 title in the NHK Mile Cup on May 5 before proceeding to the Tokyo Yushun on May 26.

 

The New Zealand Trophy (G2, 1,600m) at Nakayama Racecourse on April 6 and the Arlington Cup (G3, 1,600m) at Hanshin on April 13 are regarded as trial races for the NHK Mile Cup, with Val d’Isere (JPN, C3, by Lord Kanaloa), who won the Shinzan Kinen (G3, 1,600m) on January 6, scheduled to run in the latter.

Admire Justa in the 2018 Shigiku Sho
Admire Justa
in the 2018 Shigiku Sho
Danon Chaser in the 2019 Kisaragi Sho
Danon Chaser
in the 2019 Kisaragi Sho
Val d'Isere in the 2019 Shinzan Kinen
Val d'Isere
in the 2019 Shinzan Kinen