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Cervinia Dominates in Shuka Sho-Last Gem of Triple Crown for Fillies

Race favorite Cervinia claimed this year’s Shuka Sho, the last jewel of the Triple Crown, becoming the fifth filly since Mikki Queen in 2015 to dominate both this and the Yushun Himba (Japanese Oaks, G1, 2,400m). The Harbinger filly registered her third grade-race title following the Artemis Stakes (G3, 1,600m) as a two-year-old and her latest Yushun Himba triumph in May. Both trainer Tetsuya Kimura and jockey Christophe Lemaire won their first JRA-G1 title since the Yushun Himba, and as for Lemaire, this is his third Shuka Sho victory—the other two was with Deirdre (2017) and Almond Eye (2018). This marks the third consecutive Shuka Sho title for owner Sunday Racing Co., Ltd. following their successes with Stunning Rose in 2022 and Liberty Island last year.

The field was on its way in front of the Kyoto stands with Sekitoba East gunning for the lead while Cervinia was unhurried in a mid-pack position. After the pacemaker extended her huge lead down the backstretch setting a rapid pace, the field gradually started making their bids after the third corner. Still surrounded by her rivals turning for home, the Yushun Himba victor readily responded before the 200-meter pole and easily kicked clear, stretching away to a 1-3/4-length victory.

“As always, it’s not easy to win a G1 race but Cervinia ran an incredible race today and everything went smoothly. The distance was right for her, we were able to sit in a good position, she found her own rhythm and was very calm throughout. The fast pace was also a good factor and she responded beautifully,” commented Christophe Lemaire after the race.

A touch late out of the gate, fifth pick Bond Girl was eased back near the rear early before making a wide bid into the lane. With the fastest late speed, the Daiwa Major filly closed strongly but had too much ground to make up and was second.

Second favorite and Oka Sho (Japanese 1000 Guineas, G1, 1,600m) champion Stellenbosch was off slow and traveled around 10th. After slightly angling out rounding the last corners, the bay filly switched to an inside path for running room 200 meters out and quickened willingly, improving to second but was pinned by Bond Girl just before the wire and finished third.

Other Horses:
4th: (12) Lavanda—raced around 4th, showed tenacity after overtaken by winner, weakened in final strides
5th: (13) Christmas Parade—tracked distant leader in 2nd, took brief lead passing 200m pole, outrun thereafter
6th: (2) Mi Anhelo—positioned around 10th, showed response until 100m out on inner stretch
7th: (4) Tagano Elpida—chased leaders in 3rd, rallied for lead 200m out, weakened in last 100m
8th: (7) Chilcano—saved ground in 13th, showed effort but had too much ground to make up
9th: (8) Koganeno Sora—sat 3-wide around 5th, lacked needed kick at stretch
10th: (1) Hohelied—hugged rails around 9th, even paced
11th: (6) Rabbiteye—trailed in rear, circled wide, showed good effort to pass tired rivals
12th: (9) Admire Belle—settled around 6th on rails, checked at 200m pole, failed to respond
13th: (15) Sekitoba East—set fast pace, faded after 200m pole
14th: (11) Lance of Queen—raced 4-wide around 6th, unable to reach contention
15th: (3) Queen’s Walk—stumbled at break, raced 2nd from rear, advanced in backstretch to enter lane around 7th, showed little at stretch

THE 29TH SHUKA SHO (G1)
3-year-olds, Fillies, 2,000 meters (about 10 furlongs), turf, right-handed
Sunday, October 13, 2024        Kyoto Racecourse         11th Race         Post Time: 15:40
Total prize money: ¥ 238,600,000 (about US$ 1,693,000 <US$1=¥141>)
3-y-o: 55 kg (about 121 lbs), 2 kg allowance for Southern Hemisphere-bred born in 2021
Course Record: 1:56.8            Race Record: 1:56.9 [Mikki Queen (JPN, by Deep Impact), 2015]
Safety factor: 18 runners          Going: Good to Firm      Weather: Fine

Turnover for the Race alone: ¥ 15,858,875,900       Turnover for the Day: ¥ 23,573,926,000       Attendance: 35,539

Winner= 6 starts: 4 wins & 1 second / Added & stakes money: ¥ 113,234,000 / Career earnings: ¥ 328,424,000

* Shuka Sho (G1)

The Shuka Sho, established in 1996, is run over 2,000 meters at Kyoto Racecourse as the third leg of the fillies’ Triple Crown following the Oka Sho (Japanese 1000 Guineas, G1, 1,600m) and the Yushun Himba (Japanese Oaks, G1, 2,400m) held in spring. The Queen Elizabeth II Cup (G1, 2,200m) was formally regarded as the third leg of the fillies’ Triple Crown until the race was opened to older fillies and mares; hence the Shuka Sho was established to take its place. Acquiring international G1 status in 2009, the Shuka Sho is open to foreign runners. The race was temporarily shifted to Hanshin Racecourse during 2021-2022 due to the renovation of Kyoto Racecourse, which has hosted the race since its establishment.
Past fillies’ Triple Crown winners include Mejiro Ramonu (JPN, by Mogami; 1986), Still in Love (JPN, by Sunday Silence; 2003), Apapane (JPN, by King Kamehameha; 2010), Gentildonna (JPN, by Deep Impact; 2012), Almond Eye (JPN, by Lord Kanaloa; 2018), Daring Tact (JPN, by Epiphaneia; 2020) and Liberty Island (JPN, by Duramente) who went on to finish second to Equinox in the following Japan Cup (G1, 2,400m) last year.
Commencing their fall campaigns in this year’s Shuka Sho were Oka Sho champion Stellenbosch and the Yushun Himba victor Cervinia, as well as Admire Belle and Koganeno Sora, respective winners of the Flora Stakes (G2, 2,000m) in April and the Queen Stakes (G3, 1,800m) in July. The top three finishers in each of the two trial races who earned their tickets to the Shuka Sho were: Christmas Parade (1st), Mi Anhelo (2nd) and Bond Girl (3rd) in the Shion Stakes (G2, 2,000m, Sep.7); and Queen’s Walk, Celesta (JPN, by Harbinger) and Sekitoba East, in that order, in the Rose Stakes (G2, 2,000m, Sep.15), however, Celesta was withdrawn due to a tendon injury in her right foreleg. The field also included Tagano Elpida, winner of the Wasurenagusa Sho (Listed, 2,000m) in April and Chilcano who came off a win in the Nagakute Tokubetsu (2 Wins Class, 2,000m, Aug.25).