G1 Oka Sho

Stellenbosch (Jpn) (Epiphaneia {Jpn}) reversed the form with her G1 Hanshin Juvenile Fillies conqueror, Ascoli Piceno (Jpn) Daiwa Major (Jpn), as she ran out an authoritative winner of Sunday's G1 Oka Sho (Japanese 1,000 Guineas) at Hanshin Racecourse, the first leg of the Japanese Triple Tiara. The hitherto unbeaten Ascoli Piceno was crowned champion Japanese two-year-old filly in 2023, though Stellenbosch didn't have much to find with the favourite on their Hanshin Juvenile Fillies running when she'd finished best of all from the rear of the field to be beaten...

Three starts, three wins, and now, Japanese Champion 2-Year-Old Filly Ascoli Piceno (Jpn) (Daiwa Major {Jpn}) will attempt to add a Classic to her haul when she breaks from gate nine in the 18-horse G1 Oka Sho (Japanese 1000 Guineas) at Hanshin on Sunday. Reuniting with Hiroshi Kitamura who she carried to G1 Hanshin Juvenile Fillies glory over this trip back in December, the near-black filly makes her 2024 bow in the first Classic of the Japanese season. Striking on a newcomers' affair in June and the G3 Niigata Nisai...

In a first Japanese Group win for her sire, Etes Vous Prets (Ire) (Too Darn Hot (GB)--Nahoodh {Ire} (GISW-Eng, G1SP-Ire, $443,612), by Clodovil {Ire}) stubbornly held on to her advantage in the final metres, and claimed Sunday's G2 Hochi Hai Fillies' Revue, a trial for the G1 Oka Sho on Apr. 7. Twice the bridesmaid in a pair of maiden contests, she broke through by two lengths in her first start at this venue last September on her third attempt. From there she took another step forward to win the...

Stars on Earth (Jpn) (Duramente {Jpn) closed from off the pace to get her nose down in front of Water Navillera (Jpn) (Silver State) in Sunday's G1 Oka Sho at Hanshin, the first leg in the Japanese Triple Crown for fillies. The victory marked the first black-type score for the Shadai homebred. The filly settled in midpack as Kafuji Tetragon (Jpn) (Kizuna {Jpn}) showed the way with Water Navillera in close pursuit. As the field constricted turning for home, Water Navillera gained control passing the furlong pole as Stars on...

Billed as the "Cherry Blossom Prize", Japan's G1 Oka Sho (Japanese 1000 Guineas) over 1600 metres is the first Japanese Classic of the season, and a full field of 18 faces the starter on Sunday. The diminutive three-for-four Namur (Jpn) (Harbinger {GB}) is the likely favourite, and she enters this test on the back of a victory in the Mar. 5 G2 Tulip Sho. Her only loss was in her third start, when a close fourth after a slow break and a rough trip to Circle Of Life (Jpn) (Epiphaneia...

The undefeated white filly Sodashi (Jpn) (Kurofune), once again defeated arch-rival Satono Reinas (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}), in the G1 Oka Sho (Japanese 1000 Guineas) at Hanshin on Sunday. The order of finish had been the same in the G1 Hanshin Juvenile Fillies last December and both fillies were making their 3-year-old bows. It was also a new course record of 1:31.10 for the 1600 metres, breaking the mark set by Black Moon (Jpn) (Admire Moon {Jpn}) in 2017. Second choice in the wagering at 5-2 versus Satono Reinas's 2-1...

Defending JRA juvenile champion filly Resistencia (Jpn) (Daiwa Major {Jpn}) has done very little wrong in her short career and connections hope to add a second Group 1 notch to her belt in Sunday's G1 Oka Sho at Hanshin. A first out winner at Kyoto last October, the chestnut added a win in the G2 Kyoto Sho Fantasy S. Nov. 2 before capping off her perfect season with a five-length tally in the G1 Hanshin Juvenile Fillies Dec. 8. Given some time off following that championship defining effort, the Takeshi...