12 November, 2018
As 2018 nears its conclusion, October brought with it the final legs of the Japanese Triple Crowns and the first leg of what has been called Japan's older horses' Triple Crown. This other "Triple Crown" consists of the Tenno Sho Aki in October, the Japan Cup in November, and the Arima Kinen in December. The trio of races are equally as difficult to capture for one horse in a single year as any three-year-old triple crown series. Plenty of great horses turned out this past October for all of the graded stakes races in the JRA.
There were two races for two-year-olds this past month, including the 1600m G3 Saudi Arabia Royal Cup at Tokyo Racecourse on October 6th. In a small field of just eight horses, favorite Gran Alegria(JPN) broke poorly and was in the back of the pack. The filly was keen to run on and quickly caught up with the rest of the horses, Christophe Lemaire tried to get her to settle but when she wouldn't he decided he'd best let her have her way and by the time they reached the turn she was in the second position behind pacesetter Taurus Gemini(JPN). Gran Alegria(JPN), a daughter of Deep Impact(JPN) out of two-time G1 winner and Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf winner Tapitsfly(USA), made her second major move of the race at the 400m mark where she sprinted away from the rest of the field to win by a comfortable three and a half lengths. De Gaulle(JPN), a Sakura President(JPN) colt and Amati(JPN) a Rulership(JPN) filly were second and third respectively.
The final two-year-old stakes race of October was on October 27th with the 1600m G3 Artemis Stakes for fillies at Tokyo Racecourse. Another royally-bred filly made a name for herself that day, when Schon Glanz(JPN), the Deep Impact(JPN) sired half-sister to G1 Japanese Oaks winner Soul Stirring(JPN) claimed her first stakes win of her brief career. She broke slow and was still far back in the pack as they turned for home. She showed shades of her father's famous closing style as she flew down the far outside just catching Beach Samba(JPN) at the wire to win by half a length. Beach Samba(JPN) by Kurofune(USA) was second, and Aile Voix(JPN) by Victoire Pisa(JPN) was third.
Based on his second favorite status, Lord Quest(JPN) shouldn't have been considered an "upset" win in the 1400m G2 Swan Stakes on October 27th, but he five-year-old son of Matsurida Gogh(JPN) had not seen the inside of a winners' circle in over two years. However, his fitness was well spotted by punters in Japan, making him the only real contender facing 2018 G1 Yasuda Kinen winner Mozu Ascot(USA) that day. Slow away, Lord Quest(JPN), found himself stuck behind Mozu Ascot(USA) and the rest of the field till they hit the top of the stretch in the sprint. Mozu Ascot(JPN) is always closing hard to win narrowly, but the G1 winning son of champion Frankel(GB) had the tables turned on him this time with Lord Quest(JPN), a Hokkaido Sales Summer Sale graduate, catching him by a narrow nose at the wire. Mozu Ascot(JPN) will likely go on to G1 Mile Championship in November, where he will meet his two biggest rivals Aerolithe(JPN) and Lord Quest(JPN) again, before ending his year in the G1 Hong Kong Mile in December.
The 1600m G3 Fuji Stakes at Tokyo Racecourse on October 20th was a relatively wide-open race this year is a launching pad for horses hoping to step into the G1 Mile Championship later in November. Logi Cry(JPN) a son of Heart's Cry(JPN), had a perfect run, sitting just off the pace before powering on to win by two lengths. One to One(JPN), a five-year-old daughter of Deep Impact(JPN), closed like a rocket from the back of the pack to finish second by a nose over another Deep Impact(JPN) filly Red Avancer(JPN).
The 1800m G2 Mainichi Okan at Tokyo Racecourse on October 7th is routinely one of the strongest G2s of the early fall season and a major prep race for the G1 Tenno Sho Aki. The race turned out to be the Aerolithe(JPN) show, as the four-year-old daughter of Kurofune(USA) who broke sharply and ran away with the race, going wire to wire and won by a comfortable length and a quarter. Stelvio(JPN), a promising three-year-old son of Lord Kanaloa(JPN) finished second and Kiseki(JPN) the 2017 G1 Kikuka Sho winning son of Rulership(JPN) finished third.
The 1800m G2 Fuchu Himba Stakes at Tokyo Racecourse on October 13th is on the last major prep races for older fillies and mares going to the G1 Queen Elizabeth II Hai in November. Though this year's impressive winner, Deirdre(JPN) by Harbinger(GB) will be headed to the G1 Hong Kong Cup instead, the runner-up and equally talented Lys Gracieux(JPN) by Heart's Cry and third-placed Frontier Queen(JPN) by Meisho Samson(JPN) will be headed to the 2200m G1 Queen Elizabeth II Hai on November 11th. At first glance it looked like Kawakita Enka(JPN), a daughter of Deep Impact(JPN) was going to upset the race after having drawn over a dozen lengths clear of the competition but as they entered the final furlong the massive lead deteriorated and it was open to several fillies but it looked like a dual between second favorite Lys Gracieux(JPN) and eighth favorite Frontier Queen(JPN) just when it looked like Lys Gracieux(JPN) would get there for the win, favorite Deirdre(JPN) came flying on the far outside to snatch the race for herself by a neck in a thrilling finish.
The 2400m G2 Kyoto Daishoten at Kyoto Racecourse on October 8th is a common final prep for older horses headed into the fall G1 stayer season, and it saw the revival of fan favorite Satono Diamond(JPN), who up until this victory had been running rather poorly. The overdue return to form for the son of Deep Impact(JPN) gave many of his fans hope that he will be a competitive force in the G1 Japan Cup at the end of November. Red Genova(JPN), a son Symboli Kris S(USA) was second, and Albert(JPN), a son of Admire Don(JPN), was third.
The 2000m G1 Shuka Sho at Kyoto Racecourse on October 14th was the final leg of the Filly Triple Crown, and for the third time in ten years, the crown was claimed by yet another exceptional filly. Almond Eye(JPN)'s win in the 1600m G1 Oka Sho was expected thanks to her sire, Lord Kanaloa(JPN)'s ability over a mile. Her domination in the 2400m G1 Japanese Oaks was shocking, as she destroyed any questions people had about her sire's ability to produce stayers. After all that her dominating performance in the 2000m Shuka Sho wasn't unexpected and she closed like the rocket we have come to expect. She will make her next start against males and older horses in the G1 Japan Cup in late November. Mikki Charm(JPN) by Deep Impact was second and Cantabile(JPN) also by Deep Impact(JPN) was third.
The 3000m G1 Kikuka Sho(Japanese St. Leger) at Kyoto Racecourse on October 21st was the last leg of the Triple Crown, but there was no potential triple crown winner this year. Many had hoped that G1 Satsuki Sho winner Epoca d'Oro(JPN) would show the same staying ability of his sire 2012 Kikuka Sho winner Orfevre(JPN); however, a slow pace and extra-long distance crippled the G1 winners' chances of claiming a second crown. The lightly raced Fierement(JPN), a son of Deep Impact(JPN) and Etario(JPN) a son of Stay Gold(JPN) found themselves locked in a stretch-long duel for G1 glory that lasted well into an agonizingly long photo finish review. In the end, it was Fierement(JPN) who made his fourth start a G1 win. The colt debuted in January and by winning the Kikuka Sho in only his fourth career start he became the first horse to complete such a feat as most horses that have gone on to win the final leg of the triple crown have had many more starts under their belt prior to competing in the G1 and the G1 Arima Kinen around Christmas time is being considered for his next start. Etario(JPN) finished second with You Can Smile(JPN) by King Kamehameha(JPN) in third.
The 2000m G1 Tenno Sho Aki, Emperor's Cup Fall, is one of the three most anticipated races of the fall calendar since it attracts nearly every top racehorse in the country. This year, on October 28th at Tokyo Racecourse saw a field packed with potential as they loaded into the gate. There were two notable defectors leading up to the race, both the 2017 Champion Two-Year-Old Danon Premium(JPN) and 2018 G1 Japanese Derby winner Wagnerian(JPN), both by Deep Impact(JPN) had to bow out due to minor issues. Both will be back, but the loss of those two notable contenders was felt on race day despite it being a strong field that included seven G1 winners. At the break, G1 winner Kiseki(JPN) took off to set the pace, a running style that has not suited him in the past. As they turned for home it looked like Kiseki(JPN)'s gambit was going to pay off as the son of Rulership(JPN) wasn't really challenged till the 100m mark when 2017 Derby winner Rey de Oro(JPN), a son of King Kamehameha(JPN) came storming past him win by a length and a quarter. Sungrazer(JPN), a son of Deep Impact(JPN) got his nose in front of Kiseki(JPN) to finish second.
All JRA graded stakes results and race replays are available on Japan Association for International Racing, and Stud Book (JAIRS)'s website: http://japanracing.jp/.
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