Japanese Classics

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...

Sunday Racing's Geoglyph (Jpn) (Drefong) closed from off the pace to annex Sunday's G1 Satsuki Sho, the first leg in Japan's Triple Crown. The victory marked the first win top-level win for both Geoglyph and his trainer, Tetsuya Kimura. Ask Victor More (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) soon went to the front as Geoglyph--in tandem with Danon Beluga (Jpn) (Heart's Cry {Jpn})--traveled on the heels of stablemate Equinox (Jpn) (Kitisan Black {Jpn}) mid-pack. Fanned out a few paths wide turning for home, the colt battled for supremacy with the early pacesetter...

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...