Classic Winners Battle In Shuka Sho

As autumn tightens its grip on racing nations in the Northern Hemisphere, one of the year's final Classics takes place, Kyoto's G1 Shuka Sho (Japanese Fillies' St Leger) over 2000 metres. Handed ante-post favouritism is Sunday Racing's G1 Yushun Himba heroine Cervinia (Jpn) (Harbinger {GB}).

The 2023 G3 Artemis Stakes heroine finished well back in the G1 Oka Sho (Japanese 1000 Guineas) field to rival Stellenbosch (Jpn) (Epiphaneia {Jpn}) in April, and the last time she was seen on a racecourse was in the May 19 Oaks, defeating that aforementioned rival by a half-length with the duo closing from out of the clouds. The Katsumi Yoshida colourbearer will break from stall five in the 15-horse field.

Said Sunday's pilot Christophe Lemaire, “The Kyoto inner 2000 meters is a tricky course. But, she's able to get a good position easily. I don't think the right-handed track will be a factor. She's capable of handling anything. The most important thing is that she is relaxed. She was a bit on edge in the Oka Sho and that caused her to tire in the end.”

Booked in stall 14, the consistent Stellenbosch has been first or second in all six of her starts to date. Second in the G1 Hanshin Juvenile Fillies at two, she claimed the Oka Sho in April before her Oaks defeat. However, that is also the last time Stellenbosch has raced, and this field is full of late bloomers who have already graced the racecourse in the past couple of months.

Trainer Sakae Kunieda said, “I've had her train at Ritto again, because we got good results before. And, we avoid having to ship right before the race and she can go to the gate in a much calmer frame of mind. Her weight is up and she has matured mentally. I'll leave the rest up to [Keita] Tosaki.”

Another Oaks runner, the fourth-place finisher Queen's Walk (Jpn) (Kizuna {Jpn}) is a half-sister to Group 1 winner Grenadier Guards (Jpn) (Frankel {GB}) and has already been seen in action this autumn when winning the G2 Rose Stakes at Chukyo over this trip on Sept. 15.

Yuga Kawada has the call on the Sunday Racing runner, and said, “She was in great shape for the Rose Stakes. She ran well and it was an excellent prep. Her overall balance is better. She's the kind of horse you get on, canter, and then the moment she picks up the speed, you know how good she is.”

Bond Girl (Jpn) (Daiwa Major {Jpn}) has yet to race in a fillies' Classic, and ran second in the G3 Saudi Arabia Royal Cup as a juvenile. Second again, this time in the Apr. 6 G2 New Zealand Trophy, she filled that position again two starts later in the 1800-metre G3 Hokkaido Shimbun Hai Queen Stakes on July 28. Warming up for this test, she ran third to Christmas Parade (Jpn) (Kitasan Black {Jpn}) and G3 Flower Cup victress Mi Anhelo (Jpn) (Duramente {Jpn}) in the G2 Shion Stakes going 2000 metres for the first time at Nakayama on Sept. 7.

Said trainer Takahisa Tezuka, “In her last race, the Shion Stakes, we did the same as the race before, and kept her best for the last. She tied for the fastest time over the final three furlongs and really gained ground, but she was just a bit too late. I think the track will be fast so it'll come down to how the race unfolds. She will definitely have good late speed and I do think she measures up to the contenders.”