Japan Horse Racing Tips-Umanity.jp

It is the third Classic of the year this coming Sunday (May 19), when the Grade 1 Yushun Himba (Japanese Oaks) will be run at Tokyo Racecourse, where the top-level action continues for the next few weeks. The race for 3-year-old fillies is run over 2,400 meters on the turf track at the course, and it will be the first time for many of them to attempt the mile and a half distance of the race.

First run in 1938, it was originally run in the autumn at Hanshin over a longer distance, before the switch to Tokyo in 1946, when it was first run in the spring over 2,400 meters. It has been held at Tokyo ever since then. Foreign-bred horses were permitted to run in 2003, and the race became an international Grade 1 in 2010.

Recent big-name winners of the race have included Almond Eye (2018), Loves Only You (2019), Daring Tact (2020), and just last year, Liberty Island. There are 18 fillies nominated for this year’s Grade 1 Yushun Himba (Japanese Oaks), which has a maximum field size of 18.

A couple of lead-up races to this Sunday’s big race have been the Grade 3 Flower Cup, run over 1,800 meters at Nakayama in March, and the Grade 2 Sankei Sports Sho Flora Stakes (an official Oaks trial), run over 2,00 meters at Tokyo in April.

All the fillies carry a set weight of 55kg, and there’s a JPY150 million (around USD1 million) first place check for the winner, out of total prize money of JPY325 million. First favorites have a fair record in the race, with five of them winning in the past 10 years, and Liberty Island has been the most recent, when she was sent off a very strong favorite in last year’s race. Record time for the race was set by Loves Only You, when she produced a time of 2 minutes, 22.8 seconds in 2019.

The 85th Grade 1 Yushun Himba (Japanese Oaks) will be race 11 on the Sunday card at Tokyo, with a post time locally of 15:40. Final declarations and the barrier draw will be available later in the week.

Here’s a look at some of this year’s top fillies expected to take on the race:

Stellenbosch: Never out of the first two in five starts, which have included three wins, the filly by Epiphaneia’s big win came in the Grade 1 Oka Sho (Japanese 1000 Guineas) last time. As with so many of the other runners, it’ll be her first time to race beyond 1,800 meters, but she could have what it takes to see out the distance this time. Trainer Sakae Kunieda commented: “She didn’t get a good position from the start last time, but the jockey did a great job to get her into the race, and she finished well to win with a bit in hand. She’s had her usual break at Northern Farm Tenei, and she’s returned to the stable refreshed. She weighed a little less for her last race, but the warmer weather is the reason for that.” Jockey Keita Tosaki has been booked this time for the ride on Stellenbosch.

Sweep Feet: Something of a bargain at the 2022 Hokkaido Summer Sale, the filly by Suave Richard must be pleasing her connections with the prize money she has secured so far. She had plenty of racing as a 2-year-old, and this year she won the Grade 2 Tulip Sho at Hanshin in March, and then went on to finish a close fourth to Stellenbosch in the Grade 1 Oka Sho (Japanese 1000 Guineas) in April. Trainer Yasushi Shono said: “She went to the farm after her last race, and returned to the stable at the end of April. She recovered quickly from her last run, and she was seen at her best in the Tulip Sho. This next race is at Tokyo, and she’ll have to transport over for it, so she won’t need such strong work in training. We’ll just monitor her condition as we see things.” It will be the first time for Sweep Feet to race beyond a mile this time. Jockey Yutaka Take, who brought up his 4,500th JRA win last weekend, rides the filly, and he’s won the Oaks three times.

Admire Belle: Another filly by Suave Richard, Admire Belle has raced three times at Tokyo over 2,000 meters - including a recent win in the Grade 2 Sankei Sports Sho Flora Stakes - so she might be able to see out the extra 400 meters at the track better than some of the other runners. “The race worked out perfectly for her last time, by getting a good position in behind the leaders and biding her time,” said trainer Yukihiro Kato. “She found a good rhythm, and completed the first five furlongs in about 60 seconds, and was then able to finish off strongly. On that run, the Oaks looks good for her.”

Queen’s Walk: The filly by Kizuna is from the stable of trainer Mitsumasa Nakauchida, and the horse has done little wrong in her four career starts, which have included two wins. She was last seen finishing eighth in the Grade 1 Oka Sho (Japanese 1000 Guineas), but she didn’t lose too much in defeat that day, as assistant trainer Taku Fukunaga explained: “With a tightly packed field in the Oka Sho, it was difficult for her to find a good rhythm. It didn’t matter so much about the final result, and since her break at Northern Farm Shigaraki, she’s returned to the stable, where we have been tuning her up for this next race. Hopefully, she’ll be able to show her best this time,” Fukunaga said.

Mi Anhelo: It is two wins from three starts for the Duramente filly, and her latest win came in the Grade 3 Flower Cup over 1,800 meters at Nakayama in March. Trainer Toru Hayashi is pleased with the filly’s development. “She ran a good race last time, thanks to the jockey’s efforts,” the trainer said. “The start was in front of the stands, but she was calm and I could take a lot from that. She’s returned from the farm in good condition, and she seems to be developing more after every race.”

Cervinia: The filly by Harbinger produced some good runs as a 2-year-old, including a win at Tokyo over a mile, but she was a little disappointing in her only run as a 3-year-old, when she could only finish 13th in the Grade 1 Oka Sho (Japanese 1000 Guineas) in April. She faded at the end of that race, but trainer Tetsuya Kimura thinks she is better than that result suggests. “She stayed at Ritto before the Oka Sho, and in the race itself, I don’t think she lost because of the draw she had,” the trainer said. “Coming off her break, I don’t think she had done enough in training, and it was an unfortunate result. On her return from the farm this time, she seems to be fine, as we keep an eye on things.”

Light Back: Although she didn’t win the Grade 1 Oka Sho (Japanese 1000 Guineas), Light Back produced the fastest final three-furlong time in the race, when she finished third to Stellenbosch. It could bode well for a good closing finish this time, if she can see out the distance of the race. Trainer Taiki Chaki said: “She was right at the back in the Oka Sho, but showed a great turn of foot at the end. It was easier for her to find a good rhythm in that race than it was for her in the Elfin Stakes. She’s improving all the time, and despite the fact that she can get a bit worked up, she’s returned from the farm a lot calmer.” Jockey Ryusei Sakai looks set to continue his association with the daughter of Kizuna.

Koganeno Sora: The daughter of Gold Ship has won her last three races, and the latest was the Listed Sweet Pea Stakes over 1,800 meters at Tokyo in April. Trainer Takanori Kikuzawa commented: “The pace was quick last time, and she was a little further back than usual, but she finished well to win with the best final three-furlong time. She’s really developed a lot this year, after a while without racing, so we can look to the Oaks with her. She ate up well after her last race, and I don’t think we’ll need to do too much with her this time, with the short interval between races.”

Ten Happy Rose, coming off a sixth-place finish in her previous start, the Hanshin Himba Stakes G2, 1,600m) and sent to post 14th favorite in this race, landed her first graded victory and G1 title in this year’s Victoria Mile, upsetting a quality field of proven grade-race winners. After winning her two-year-old debut over 1,200 meters, the Epiphaneia mare was winless in her next five starts over a mile and scored four wins after stepping down in distance to 1,400 meters in 15 of her following 17 starts, which included a listed win in the Toki Stakes (1,400m). Trainer Daisuke Takayanagi scored his second JRA-G1 title after saddling T O Keynes to victory in the 2021 Champions Cup while jockey Akihide Tsumura celebrated his first career G1 victory in his 18th grade-race win in his 21st season as a jockey.

Ten Happy Rose broke sharply but soon eased back to settle fourth from the rear. Gradually making up ground along the outside approaching the third corner and securing a clear path into the homestretch, the six-year-old mare showed terrific acceleration going uphill with 400 meters to go, reaching the leader soon after the furlong pole and continuing to pull away to a 1-1/4-length victory.

“I had long been waiting and working hard to be able to stand on this podium as a G1 winner and it feels really great that I have finally made it. The race development, from the start up until the final corner, exceeded my imagination and it was just a matter of how much the mare could extend her strides from there. When we were actually leading in the last 200 meters, it was almost unbelievable. I am grateful for the fans that have been rooting for me and I hope this is just the start of more victories like this,” commented jockey Akihide Tsumura.

Fierce Pride chased the leaders just off the rails in fourth position early, angled out entering the stretch to overtake the early leaders who began to run out of steam going uphill and assumed command before the furlong pole but was outrun by the powerful charge from the outside by the eventual winner and unable to match that foe while managing to hold off the fast closing race favorite to finish second.

Race favorite Masked Diva, breaking smoothly and eased back to mid-division, met disadvantages after shifting out for the stretch run, blocked by horses in front and, while showing a good turn of speed once finding some space inside the furlong pole, was too late to make up enough ground to catch the leaders to finish third.

Other Horses:

4th: (15) Doe Eyes sat around 7th, checked 300m out, showed effort thereafter
5th: (11) Rouge Lignage was off a slow, trailed in rear, launched fastest late speed, belatedly
6th: (5) Umbrail hugged rails around 5th, weakened in last 100m
7th: (13) Moryana positioned around 13th, circled wide, passed tired rivals
8th: (10) Namur broke poorly, ran 2nd from rear, lacked needed kick at stretch
9th: (3) Stunning Rose tracked leaders around 3rd on rails, remained in contention until 100m out
10th: (8) Sound Vivace raced around 5th, checked 300m out, weakened in last 200m
11th: (12) Kita Wing took economic trip around 12th, failed to reach contention
12th: (14) Feel Sympathy broke sharply, stalked leader in 2nd, dropped back after 200m pole
13th: (4) Conch Shell disputed lead and set pace, faded after 300m out
14th: (1) Lilac saved ground around 9th, no response when asked

Alongside the three 3-year-old top-level events at Tokyo Racecourse this month, comes the Grade 1 Victoria Mile, a distaff race that showcases older horses. The 19th running of the 1,600-meter turf competition is the only Japan Racing Association Grade 1 solely for females that excludes 3-year-olds and is open only to those fillies and mares aged 4 years old and up.

Fifteen horses, aged 4 to 6, have been nominated for the race, the smallest number to date for the race, but one that assures all will likely be able to compete. The nominees include two Grade 1 champions - Namur and Stunning Rose. All will vie for a purse now topping JPY281 million, with a first-place prize of JPY130 million.

The spotlight currently focuses on three runners - Namur, returning from Dubai, Masked Diva, coming off a win of the Hanshin Himba Stakes, and Umbrail, the runnerup in the same race.

The competition is also keen in the saddle, as Christophe Lemaire and Keita Tosaki, both tied with most wins of the race at three, vie to gain the lead. Also, Yuga Kawada, Japan’s current leading jockey, and Kenichi Ikezoe are chasing the one final win that will give them wins in all six of the Grade 1 distaffs. Accomplishing the feat would allow one of them to join ranks with only three other jockeys in Japan’s racing history - Yutaka Take, Masayoshi Ebina, and Christophe Lemaire.

The Victoria Mile has proven itself an especially hard race to pick. Over the past decade, though longshots have never won and double-digits outsiders have only appeared in the Top 3 twice (both in third place), the favorite has only won the race two times and finished second twice.

Though there are a couple exceptions, the Top 3 finishers in the Victoria Mile over the last decade have largely raced in either the Grade 2 Hanshin Himba Stakes over 1,600 meters at Hanshin, immediately prior to the Victoria Mile, or one of the Grade 1 events earlier in the year or in the previous year’s Arima Kinen (the Grand Prix). Last year’s Victoria Mile winner Songline surprised coming off a run in the Grade 3 1351 Turf Sprint at Riyadh. The growing number of Japanese horses competing in Saudi Arabia and Dubai earlier in the year could possibly indicate a new trend.

The Victoria Mile starts at the top of the backstretch, with 500 meters to the first turn. Halfway down the backstretch, a downward slope reverses sharply, then drops again around the bend. Runners hit the final hill with 450 meters to go, giving rise to Tokyo’s reputation as Japan’s hardest test of overall strength.

All runners carry 56kg. The race is the 11th on the Tokyo card of 12 and post time is 15:40 local time.

Here’s a look at some of the expected contenders.

Masked Diva: A 4-year-old filly by Rulership, the Ritto-based Masked Diva is an unusual standout, having not followed the usual paths to the heights. Debuting only in her 3-year-old year, she was started over 9-10 furlongs and continued at that distance for her first five races. She showed her talent early on, winning three of those five and capturing the Grade 2 Rose Stakes in record time on her fourth outing. That was followed with a second-place finish one length behind hotshot Liberty Island in the Grade 1 Shuka Sho. Dropping in distance to the mile, she returned four months later for the Grade 3 Tokyo Shimbun Hai, her only race at Tokyo. Boasting a 10-kg gain, she missed the break, which figured largely in her sixth-place finish, but still was only beaten by males, her age and older. Next out she scored her second graded-stakes victory, this time under Joao Moreira in the Grade 2 Hanshin Himba Stakes. She, along with Ten Happy Rose (sixth in the Hanshin Himba Stakes), is one of two Victoria Mile nominees bred by Shadai Farm. The farm has fielded runners in the race every year since its inauguration, but has failed to score another win since its 3-year winning streak came to an end in 2009. Trainer Yasuyuki Tsujino is gunning for his first win of the race and Moreira is expected up again.

Namur: Namur, a Harbinger 5-year-old, finished in seventh place here last year, with interference in the stretch a factor. She immediately returned in the Yasuda Kinen after that, but beat only two horses over the line in the field of 18. Four months later, however, she was back in form. Returning to Tokyo, she captured the Grade 2 Fuji Stakes over 1,600 meters, then a month later won the Grade 1 Mile Championship at Kyoto. From there, she jetted to foreign lands, scoring a third in the Hong Kong Mile, then a second in the Dubai Turf, both top-level events. Unlike Masked Diva, Namur is proven in mixed competition. She has gone up against the colts and horses and won or topped many of them. She has had seven different riders over her 15 outings, including three foreign-based jockeys. This time she looks to make it eight, with Yutaka Take expected up for the first time. Namur chases her second Grade 1 win and Take his second of the Victoria Mile, following his win with Vodka in 2009.

Umbrail: From the Miho stable of Tetsuya Kimura, comes the 4-year-old Lord Kanaloa filly Umbrail. Acing her first two starts, Umbrail quickly reached the heights, taking on her first mile with the Grade 1 Hanshin Juvenile Fillies. She missed the break and was never able to catch up, finishing 15th of 18. In her five starts since, she has failed to find the winner’s circle, but has come close, with three seconds, two in Grade 2s and one in last year’s Grade 1 NHK Mile Cup, where she missed the win by only a head. Last out in the Hanshin Himba Stakes, Umbrail, with new partner Yuga Kawada, scored a second half a length behind Masked Diva. Now back at the same venue as the NHK Mile Cup, Umbrail will try to make up the distance. Kawada is expected up again.

Moryana: A Miho-based 4-year-old by Ephiphaneia, Moryana finished third in the Hanshin Himba Stakes last out. Posting a lackluster 12-6-5 in her three Grade 1 bids, the first two over a mile, Moryana once again caught fans’ eyes when she won the Grade 2 Shion Stakes over 2,000 meters, at Nakayama after heading into the stretch with only one of the 17 runners behind her. She won the race with a blistering final three-furlong time of 34.3 seconds. In the Hanshin Himba Stakes, he also had the field’s top speed of 32.9 seconds over the final 600 meters. This talent may help her over the long Tokyo stretch in what will be only her second time at the venue.

Stunning Rose: Stunning Rose, a 5-year-old by King Kamehameha, was off to a fine start from her debut and rose to finish second in the 2022 Yushun Himba (Japanese Oaks) before capturing the Grade 1 Shuka Sho. From there, however, it was a downhill ride, one that saw her finish far off the front in her next four outings. Twelfth here last year, she was given nearly a year off due to injury. She returned in the Osaka Hai on March 31, where she finished in eighth place, but her time was only 0.5 seconds off the winner’s. Now, in her second start from her return, hopes are high her previous talent may once again be seen.

Others to keep an eye on include:

Harper recorded 4-2-3 in last year’s filly Classics respectively, and finished third in the Grade 1 Queen Elizabeth II Cup amid older fillies and mares. She won both of her mile events, but her 9-13 result in the Arima Kinen and Osaka Hai tarnished her popularity rating. Back with only females and at a mile, she’s not one to overlook.
It will be the first Grade 1 for Fierce Pride, a Deep Impact mare now 6 years old, who won the Grade 3 Turquoise Stakes over 1,600 meters at Nakayama at yearend. Prepped with the Grade 3 Nakayama Himba Stakes on March 9, she’s expected to be partnered once again with Christophe Lemaire.

Jantar Mantar, sent to post second pick, displayed a strong run to rule in this year’s NHK Mile Cup and took home his second G1 trophy. Undefeated in all three starts last season, which included victories in the Daily Hai Nisai Stakes (G2, 1,600m) and the Asahi Hai Futurity Stakes (G1,1,600m), the son of Palace Malice was duly named Best Two-Year-Old Colt of 2023. He kicked off his three-year-old campaign with a second in the Kyodo News Hai (G3, 1,800m) in February and had just come off turning in a third in the Satsuki Sho (Japanese 2000 Guineas, G1, 2,000m) on April 14. For both trainer Tomokazu Takano and jockey Yuga Kawada, this is their first JRA-G1 victory since the Asahi Hai Futurity Stakes win with the colt. Takano is now the proud owner of seven G1 titles while Kawada now boasts 27.

Jantar Mantar broke sharply from a wide stall and was settled in around fifth, next to the race favorite in the backstretch, before gradually making headway after the third corner to hit the straight in third. After a tenacious climb up the stretch hill, the dark bay colt kicked into gear, took over the front before the 200-meter pole and charged home in a comfortable 2-1/2-length victory.

“I had every confidence in my colt. Once we were off, I knew he was going to win, there were no doubts in my mind. He ran in good rhythm and showed his true strength. Concerns of his tight schedule—his latest Satsuki Sho start being only three weeks before—obviously was nothing to be worried about. I hope I can prove he is the best miler in Japan in the future,” commented Yuga Kawada who rode his second NHK Mile Cup winner after Danon Scorpion in 2022.

2023 Best Two-Year-Old Filly and race favorite Ascoli Piceno secured an early position in fifth to sixth before making her bid rounding the final turns with much left in the tank but found herself trapped behind horses in early stretch. Under jockey Christophe Lemaire, who just made his comeback after recovering from injuries sustained in March in Dubai, the Daiwa Major filly struggled for room and clipped heels but found her stride once on a clear path along the rails near the 200-meter marker and surged from there with good speed to steal second place.

Tenth choice Logi Leon ran around eighth behind the top two favorites, met traffic at the top of the stretch but found an opening at the 400-meter pole and launched a strong charge but while unable to cut the gap with the winner, was pinned by the fast-closing runner-up just before the wire, securing third place by a neck.

Other Horses:
4th: (12) Gonbade Qabus—traveled wide around 9th, launched 2nd fastest late kick but was too late
5th: (4) Ipheion—settled around 6th on rails, checked 300m out, ran willingly thereafter
6th: (7) Channel Tunnel—sat around 11th, passed rivals one by one in last 200m
7th: (3) Di Speranza—raced around 12th, drifted 300m out, showed effort thereafter
8th: (10) Water Licht—sat wide around 12th, failed to respond to reach contention
9th: (18) Arsenaal—broke poorly, ran 2nd from rear, circled wide, showed fastest late kick but belatedly
10th: (8) Enya Love Faith—settled wide around 6th, lacked needed kick at stretch
12th: (2) Noble Roger—saved ground around 9th, unable to reach contention
11th: (17) Yukino Royal—raced wide around 15th, even paced at stretch
13th: (1) Danon McKinley—hugged rails around 12th, showed effort after meeting traffic at early stretch
14th: (11) Arranger—traveled around 15th, struggled to find clear path, never threatened
15th: (15) Mask All Win—prominent in 2nd or 3rd, took brief lead at early stretch, dropped back
16th: (13) Strauss—unhurried and trailed in far rear, no factor
17th: (5) Bond Girl—rallied for lead then eased back to 2nd, checked 300m out, lost momentum
18th: (9) Captaincy—rallied for lead, sustained lead, checked 300m out, faded