By Heather Anderson
Heavily favoured in the Japanese ante-post markets, juvenile Group 1 winner Regaleira (Jpn) (Suave Richard {Jpn}) is the pick versus 16 members of her own sex in the G1 Queen Elizabeth II Cup at Kyoto on Sunday.
The 2023 Hopeful Stakes heroine successfully faced males last December, and that theme continued through the Japanese Classics. She was not disgraced with a sixth in the G1 Satsuki Sho (Japanese 2000 Guineas) in April, and she repeated the dose in the G1 Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby), running with credit to take fifth in May. Returning to her own sex in the G2 Rose Stakes at Chukyo in September, she closed with gusto to take fifth once again, after being dead last for most of the 2000-metre trip.
Jockey Christophe Lemaire said, “Her weak point is her start, so I'd like to get a better early position this time and hope things go smoothly. She has great closing speed and she should be able to win another Grade 1 race. She's been a bit unlucky, with things like the slow pace in the Derby, and the widest gate in the Rose Stakes, so I'm hoping things go her way this time.”
Second choice Shinryokuka (Jpn) (Satono Diamond {Jpn}) also sports Group 1 form at two, running second to subsequent Japanese Filly Triple Crown winner Liberty Island (Jpn) (Duramente {Jpn}) in the G1 Hanshin Juvenile Fillies. She lost her way during her 3-year-old year, but showed a glimmer of her old talent when third to Conch Shell (Jpn) (Kizuna {Jpn}) in the G3 Nakayama Himba Stakes in March. Disaster struck in the G3 Fukushima Himba Stakes a month later, with the daughter of Lei Carla (Jpn) (King Kamehameha {Jpn}) falling approaching the final bend, and failing to finish. Encouragingly, she was back in the winner's circle by a nose in the G3 Niigata Kinen over 2000 metres on Sept. 1.
Trainer Masahiro Takeuchi said, “She's done some good training with other horses, and has also run solo in a relaxed manner, even when the training track hasn't been in good condition. She's a lot stronger now, and doesn't lack power like she used to. It was good to see her run much better in her last race, and her condition keeps improving. She should run well this time, even if the ground comes up softer on the day of the race.”
The consistent Wholeness (Jpn) (Lope De Vega {Ire}), a winner of four of her six starts, has yet to attain the status of group-race winner, but she ran third in the G3 Mermaid Stakes in June, and added the Listed Niigata Himba over this trip on Oct. 20.
Assistant trainer Nobuyuki Tashiro said, “She's been at the stable since her last race, but she's remained in good shape, and with just a short time between runs, she's done enough. We've taken care to bring her along in the right way, and mentally and physically she's developed nicely. She's won on left-handed tracks, but has also run well right-handed, when finishing third in a graded race, and it'll be better for her this time on the outer course. She'll be up against Grade 1 opponents this time, but I'll look forward to how she runs in the race.”
There is form through the 2023 Queen Elizabeth II Cup heroine Brede Weg (Jpn) (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}), who bested Scintillation (Jpn) (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}) last out in the Oct. 14 G2 Fuchu Himba Stakes by 1 1/4 lengths. Third in that edition of the QEII Cup was Harper (Jpn) (Heart's Cry {Jpn}). Stunning Rose (Jpn) (King Kamehameha {Jpn}) is aiming for some redemption, going winless in her last six starts since winning the 2022 G1 Shuka Sho (Japanese Fillies St Leger). She leaves from stall 11.
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