By Alan Carasso
Though she makes her first start since cementing champion 2-year-old filly honours in the G1 Hanshin Juvenile Fillies over course and distance back in December, Sunday Racing's Liberty Island (Jpn) (Duramente {Jpn}) will jump a warm favourite in the first Classic on the Japanese racing calendar, Sunday's G1 Oka Sho (Japanese 1000 Guineas).
The daughter of two-time Australian champion and dual Group 1 winner Yankee Rose (Aus) (All American {Aus}) validated a quote of $2.10 (11-10) to open her account at first asking at Niigata July 30, then returned from a three-month freshening to finish second in the G2 Artemis S. (1600m) at Tokyo at the end of October, where she was held up at a critical stage and couldn't quite reel in the re-opposing Ravel (Jpn) (Kitasan Black {Jpn}). There were no such hindrances in the Juvenile Fillies, as she was produced wide by Yuga Kawada and raced away to defeat Shinryokuka (Jpn) (Satono Diamond {Jpn}) by 2 1/2 convincing lengths, with Doe Eyes (Jpn) (Rulership {Jpn}) a late-on-the-scene third after herself striking mild interference.
“I think her strong points are her acceleration and her ability to shift gears into top speed,” said trainer Mitsumasa Nakauchida. “She is still immature in some ways, so I am hoping she will mature more mentally. I would like to see her have a fast track on Sunday. I am really grateful to have a horse like this to run in the Oka Sho this year. I think she'll give us some good solid results.”
Star 3yo filly LIBERTY ISLAND (Duramente x Yankee Rose 🇦🇺) final fast ahead G1 1600m Oka Sho (1000 Guineas) on Sunday
She is hummmming
11.2 last 1F on the circle chip as she liked. She ran the fastest last 3F ever recorded on the JRA on debut (31.4)pic.twitter.com/o3QWkeaUYP
— Graham Pavey (@LongBallToNoOne) April 5, 2023
While Liberty Island would be providing her late sire with a second straight Guineas winner following on from Stars on Earth (Jpn) last year, Light Quantum (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) can become her legendary stallion's sixth Oka Sho heroine with his final runner in the race. The daughter of US Grade I winner Illuminant (Quality Road)–a $1.1-million purchase by Shadai at Fasig-Tipton November in 2017–is perfect in her two trips to the post to date, having built on a debut score at Toyko in November to add a fast-finishing success in the G2 Shinzan Kinen at Chukyo Jan. 8. She has the services of Yutaka Take again this weekend.
“She's been getting work over a long span of time and I feel that all has gone well,” said trainer Koshiro Take. “We'll have to be very careful in the gate and then be careful of the other horses. She has speed, so I think if she breaks well, she'll be able to get a pretty good forward position. I hope she'll get a fast track.”
Kona Coast (Jpn) (Kitasan Black {Jpn}) also carries the Sunday Racing colours and rates an outside chance. Victorious on Kokura debut over a bit further in August, she was runner-up in listed company at Chukyo in February and jumped out of the ground late to just fail behind front-running Mozu Meimei (Jpn) (Real Impact {Jpn}) in the G2 Tulip Sho over track and trip Mar. 4 while outfinishing Perifania (Jpn) (Maurice {Jpn}).
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