Stunning Rose (Jpn) (King Kamehmeha {Jpn}), runner-up in the G1 Yushun Himba (Japanese Oaks), thwarted Stars on Earth (Jpn)'s (Duramente {Jpn}) Triple Crown bid with a victory in third jewel of the sophomore fillies' Triple Crown in Kyoto's G1 Shuka Sho Sunday.
Breaking sharply, the third betting choice settled behind pacesetters Bright on Base (Jpn) (Kitasan Black {Jpn}) and Sound Vivace (Jpn) (Duramente {Jpn}) in a two-wide fourth down the backstretch. Meanwhile, race favorite Stars of Earth missed a beat at the start and was pinched back, forcing her to work out a trip from near the back of the field in the early going. Enjoying a much smooth time of it, Stunning Rose made headway about 600 meters out, shifting out slightly for the stretch drive. Gradually overtaking the late-leading duo of Art House (Jpn) (Victoire Pisa {Jpn}) and Sound Vivace in early stretch, she collared them midstretch, edged clear and had enough in reserve to fend off the fast-charging duo of Namur (Jpn) (Harbinger {GB}) and the finally unencumbered Stars on Earth enroute to a 1/2-length victory.
“I am grateful to have been given the chance to ride this filly and want to thank the connections for that and having her ready for today,” said winning jockey Ryusei Sakai. “I was able to assess the filly's style the last timed I rode her and I was able to position her near [stalking] Art House during the trip. Her response at the straight was way much better than her last start and although I was aware of the horses coming strongly from
behind, I felt her power under me would carry us to the wire in front.”
Fifth in her sole start at two at Hanshin, the bay returned a winner in the Kobushi Sho in February before making it two straight in the G3 Flower Cup at Nakayama in March. Second best to Stars on Earth in May 22 Yushun Himba, she rebounded to take the G3 Shion S. Sept. 10.
Pedigree Notes
The Shuka Sho heroine is one of five winners for her dam Rosa Blanca, a half-sister to Japanese champion juvenile colt and G1 Japan Cup hero Rose Kingdom (Jpn) (King Kamehameha {Jpn}). The Shuka Sho win gives Stunning Rose's sire, King Kamehameha, his 15 Group 1 winner.
Sunday, Kyoto, Japan
SHUKA SHO-G1, ¥214,800,000, Kyoto, 10-16, 3yo, f, 2000mT, 1:58.60, fm.
1–STUNNING ROSE (JPN), 121, f, 3, King Kamehameha (Jpn)
1st Dam: Rosa Blanca (Jpn), by Kurofune
2nd Dam: Rosebud (Jpn), by Sunday Silence
3rd Dam: Rose Colour (Jpn), by Shirley Heights (GB)
1ST GROUP 1 WIN. O-Sunday Racing; B-Northern Farm;
T-Tomokazu Takano; J-Ryusei Sakai; ¥113,360,000.
Lifetime Record: 10-5-2-1. Werk Nick Rating: A++.
Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Namur (Jpn), 121, f, 3, by Harbinger (GB)–Sambre et Meuse
(Jpn), by Daiwa Major (Jpn). O-Carrot Farm; B-Northern Farm;
¥44,960,000.
3–Stars on Earth (Jpn), 121, f, 3, Duramente (Jpn)–Southern
Stars (GB), by Smart Strike. O-Shadai Race Horse; B-Shadai
Farm; ¥28,840,000.
Margins: 1/2, 1/2, 1 1/2; Odds: 7.90, 4.60, 6.30.
Also Ran: Memory Raison (Jpn), Art House (Jpn), Eglantyne (Jpn), Sound Vivace (Jpn), Storia (Jpn), Presage Lift (Jpn), Lilac (Jpn), Win Eclair (Jpn), Water Navillera (Jpn), Erika Vita (Jpn), Love Pyro (Jpn), Tagano Finale (Jpn), Bright on Base (Jpn).
Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Click for the JRA chart and video.
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