Top Knife

While there is no Triple Crown at stake this season, Sunday's G1 Kikuka Sho (Japanese St Leger) over about a mile and seven furlongs (3000 metres) shapes an intriguing affair nonetheless, with the winners of the first two legs locking horns with--potentially--champion 3-year-old honours at stake. Shadai Farm's Sol Oriens (Jpn) (Kitasan Black {Jpn}) was late to begin his career, but was a quick study, winning his first three trips to the post and overcoming some immature habits to best Tastiera (Jpn) (Satono Crown {Jpn}) by a clear margin in...

For the first time in what seems a lifetime--13 years, to be precise--no 3-year-old son of Deep Impact (Jpn) heads to the gate for the opening leg of the Japanese Triple Crown, the G1 Satsuki Sho (Japanese 2000 Guineas) at Nakayama Racecourse. But the 2000-metre affair does not lack for intrigue, as a typically full field of 18 is set to face the starter Sunday afternoon. Sol Oriens (Jpn) (Kitasan Black {Jpn}) could continue a magical roll for his sire--who is also responsible for the world's top-rated runner Equinox (Jpn)--and...

Making his fifth career start and his first in Group 1 company in Wednesday's G1 Hopeful S. at Nakayama, Dura Erede (Jpn) parlayed a close fourth-place finish last out in the G2 Tokyo Sports Hai Nisai S. on Nov. 19 to claim victory at odds of 89-1 by a nose over 17-1 outsider and pacesetter Top Knife (Jpn). The colt received a stalking trip to the outside of the frontrunner for the first mile before reaching even terms with his leading rival at the top of the stretch. After falling...