Japan Horse Racing Tips-Umanity.jp|TENNO SHO(AUTUMN)(G1) is held this weekend

It’s the turn of the 3-year-old colts this coming Sunday (Oct. 24), when the final Classic of the year will be run at Hanshin Racecourse over 3,000 meters on turf, a true test of stamina. The Grade 1 Kikuka Sho (Japanese St. Leger) was first run in 1938 and received its current name in 1948. Usually run at Kyoto Racecourse, this will be the first time for Hanshin to stage the race since 1979. There are 24 nominations for a maximum 18 runner field this year, with two fillies nominated. If they get a run, they can claim a 2kg allowance, while all the colts will carry 57kg. No geldings are permitted to run in the race.

It’s looking to be a wide-open affair this year, with Satsuki Sho (Japanese 2000 Guineas) winner Efforia heading directly to the Tenno Sho (Autumn), and Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby) winner Shahryar not among the nominations. Despite these two missing the race, it looks like an intriguing contest all the same. Official trial races for the Grade 1 Kikuka Sho (Japanese St. Leger) have been the Grade 2 Asahi Hai St. Lite Kinen, run over 2,200 meters at Nakayama in September, and the Grade 2 Kobe Shimbun Hai, another race over 2,200 meters in September, but run at Chukyo.

In the last ten years, first favorites have won six times, with last year’s Triple Crown winner Contrail being the latest market leader to head into the winner’s enclosure, although he had to work very hard to win last year’s race by a neck, as the 1/10 favorite. Interestingly enough, horses trained at the Ritto Training Center in the west of Japan have won the race nine times in the last ten years. Record time for the autumn Classic is held by Toho Jackal, who won in a time of 3 minutes 1.0 seconds in 2014. Prize money for this year’s winner is JPY120 million (just over USD1 million).

The final line-up for the 82nd Grade 1 Kikuka Sho (Japanese St. Leger) will be out later in the week, together with the barrier draw. Sunday’s race will be race 11 on the Hanshin card, with a post time in Japan of 15:40.

Here’s a look at some of the main contenders:

Stella Veloce: The colt by Bago is gradually showing his potential, and it could be seen in his latest race, when he notched his first Grade 2 win in the Kobe Shimbun Hai, with Shahryar back in fourth. He finished third in both the Grade 1 Satsuki Sho (Japanese 2000 Guineas) and the Grade 1 Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby), so he could be the one to progress enough and come out on top here. “He was plus 18kg for his last race, but since the spring he’s certainly developed a lot. Despite the ground last time, he recovered well and there was no damage from that run, so we can look to the Kikuka Sho with him,” said trainer Naosuke Sugai. Jockey Hayato Yoshida also reported the horse to be “working well and showing no sign of tiredness” in recent work.

Orthoclase: Bred at Northern Farm, the son of Epiphaneia has just had the four starts, but has two wins to his name, although both as a 2-year-old. In just one start this year, he finished third in the Grade 2 Asahi Hai St. Lite Kinen over 2,200 meters at Nakayama in September, and while still a work in progress, it seems he too is on an upward path. Assistant trainer Kazutaka Ikeuchi said, “He ran well last time after a long break, which was encouraging. There have been issues with him in transporting, and his behaviour in the paddock, but he should become calmer as he gets used to things more.”

Asamano Itazura: Exploding onto the scene recently, Asamano Itazura landed the Grade 2 Asahi Hai St. Lite Kinen at odds of 42/1, when he finished off strongly to win by just a neck. It was his first graded win, and trainer Takahisa Tezuka, currently at the top of the trainers’ table, is pleased with the horse’s progress. “Last time was his first race in a while, but he relaxed throughout the run and came with a great late finish. He was a little tired after the race, but is back to himself now, and ticking over nicely in training. He should improve for that last run,” commented the trainer. Jockey Hironobu Tanabe, often punching below his weight in Grade 1s, will take the ride on Asamano Itazura, hoping to land just his third JRA Grade 1 victory.

Red Genesis: Trained by Yasuo Tomomichi, Red Genesis looks set for a big run here after improving from his eleventh place finish in the Grade 1 Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby) to finish second last time to Stella Veloce in the Grade 2 Kobe Shimbun Hai at Chukyo in September. The colt by Deep Impact has also won twice from his four starts at the Hanshin track. The trainer recently said: “He ran well last time despite the going. He was fine after the race, and in training he’s been his usual self once again. He’s got plenty of stamina and I’m not worried about the extra distance in this next race.” Jockey Yuga Kawada has been booked to team up with the horse once more.

Titleholder: It’s three Grade 1 races already for the son of Duramente, and his best placing so far has been his second place finish in the Satsuki Sho (Japanese 2000 Guineas) back in the spring. A few things to consider are he’s never raced outside of the Tokyo area and will have a long trip to the track this time, and his rather disappointing finish last time, when favorite, and finishing last but one in the Grade 2 Asahi Hai St. Lite Kinen. Trainer Toru Kurita thinks it’s all about getting the horse in the right frame of mind. “He didn’t seem to run his race last time, but since then he’s been relaxed and things have been smooth with him. He should improve in his training if we keep him that way, and right now there’s a calmness about him, which I’m pleased with,” said the trainer.

Weiss Meteor: A colt that seems to be going from strength to strength, the son of King Kamehameha is now three wins from just five career starts. He’s coming off a strong win (2 1/2 lengths) in the Grade 3 Radio Nikkei Sho over 1,800 meters at Fukushima in July. He will have to carry an extra 3 kg this time, as well as travel a lot further in the race itself, but the Silk Racing Co. Ltd owned horse should be sent off at quite generous odds. Assistant trainer Yu Ota said, “He handled the ground a lot better than some of the other horses last time, and proved he can run a strong race. Over the summer, he’s matured a lot, and seems to take things more seriously now.”

Monte Dio: The Shadai Farm bred Monte Dio is open to further improvement, and former jockey, now trainer, Hirofumi Shii has a chance of a big win here in his first year of sending out runners from his stable. The Just a Way colt seems to have stamina on his side, with his win two starts ago over 2,600 meters at Sapporo in August. He’s coming off a third place finish in the Grade 2 Kobe Shimbun Hai, not far behind Stella Veloce, and his best result in a graded race. “He might not be suited to a strong pace at the moment, but he handled the softer track well last time. He seems to be coming along really well, and he’s a horse for the future,” commented the trainer.

Fourth favorite Akaitorino Musume captured the last jewel of the fillies’ Triple Crown, the Shuka Sho, to capture her first G1 title. Out of Apapane, 2010 fillies’ Triple Crown winner, the Deep Impact bay finished seventh in her debut race in August last year then marked three consecutive wins by claiming the Queen Cup (G3, 1,600m) in February this year. Finishing fourth in the Oka Sho (Japanese 1000 Guineas, G1, 1,600m) in April, Akaitorino Musume came off a well-fought second, a length behind Uberleben, in the the Yushun Himba (Japanese Oaks, G1, 2,400m) in May. For trainer Sakae Kunieda, this win marked his 20th JRA-G1 title following his win in last year’s Japan Cup with Almond Eye, and his third Shurka Sho victory following his wins with Apapane in 2010 and Almond Eye in 2018. Jockey Keita Tosaki captured his ninth JRA-G1 victory following his Champions Cup title last year with Chuwa Wizard.

Akaitorino Musume broke smoothly and traveled wide in good striking position, around sixth from the front, while eyeing Andvaranaut on the inside. The Deep Impact filly made headway turning the last corners wide, produced an impressive turn of speed entering the lane, overtook race favorite Sodashi at the 200-meter pole and frontrunner A Shin Hiten 100 meters out, and found another gear to pull away from Andvaranaut and hold of the strong challenge by Fine Rouge before the wire.

“There was a strong idle horse in today’s race but I’m really glad we were able to claim the last leg of the Triple Crown. I was able to settle the filly in good position and race her in good rhythm. She responded willingly and stretched really well in the lane. I think she is a strong horse and felt that she has stepped up to the next level. I look forward to her performances going forward,” commented Keita Tosaki.

Second choice Fine Rouge, breaking well from stall 14, settled around 11th and waited patiently until entering the lane when the Kizuna filly unleashed an explosive late charge and closed in on Akaitorino Musume with the fastest last three-furlong drive but finished half a length short in second.

Hugging the rails in fifth, third pick Andvaranaut turned the last two corners two wide, threaded through horses in the stretch while overtaking Sodashi and A Shin Hiten and dueled briefly with Akaitorino Musume but weakened in the last 100 meters, succumbing to Fine Rouge before the wire to finish third.

Quick out of the gate, race favorite Sodashi settled behind frontrunner A Shin Hiten to chase the pace in second. Though showing signs of making bid after entering the lane in second, the Kurofune filly failed to respond after entering the lane and dropped to 10th.

Other Horses:
4th: (5) A Shin Hiten—set pace, sustained lead until 100m out, showed tenacity
5th: (6) Slyly—hugged rails around 9th, quickened between horses in last 200m
6th: (2) Stellaria—raced around 11th, switched to outside, showed belated charge
7th: (10) Art de Vivre—tracked leaders in 3rd, remained in contention until 200m pole, weakened
7th: (15) Another Lyric—traveled 3-wide around 9th, even paced at stretch
9th: (16) Miss Figaro—ran in 13th, angled out for stretch run, lacked needed kick
11th: (1) Through Seven Seas—saved ground around 4th, gradually outrun in stretch
12th: (7) Sulfur Cosmos—settled around 7th, showed brief effort until 200m pole
13th: (11) Uberleben—broke poorly, raced near rear, unable to reach contention
14th: (8) Enthusiasm—traveled around 13th, never threatened
15th: (3) Cool Cat—sat along rails behind eventual winner, failed to respond
16th: (13) Ho O Ixelles—was off slow, trailed in rear, no factor

Hanshin Racecourse west of Osaka hosts the Grade 1 Shuka Sho this Sunday as renovations continue at Kyoto, the filly classic’s usual venue. The Oct. 17 running will be the Shuka Sho’s 26th. The 2,000-meter turf event is the final race in Japan’s triple crown for 3-year-old fillies and 16 of the 22 nominees are expected in the gate.

The filly triple crown is not on the line this year as it was in 2020, when Daring Tact came through to cap the classic trio with a spotless 5-for-5 record. Excitement will still be high, however, with a lineup sporting bold new blood, strong competition and the pure-white star Sodashi.

And a long rivalry brings added interest as Sodashi and Uberleben meet once again. Sodashi, winner of both the Grade 1 Hanshin Juvenile Fillies and the Grade 1 Oka Sho (Japanese 1000 Guineas) will meet Yushun Himba (Japanese Oaks) winner Uberleben for their fifth time. Sodashi is currently out in front at 3-1.

The spotlight won’t linger on the Grade 1 champs. Promising standouts include Oka Sho third-place finisher Fine Rouge, and the second, third and fourth-place finishers in the Japanese Oaks - Akaitorino Musume, Tagano Passion and Art de Vivre. In addition, there’s Andvaranaut, just off her first graded-stakes victory and turning heads.

Races are run to the right at Hanshin, the turf 2,000-meter starts before the grandstand and the Shuka Sho will take place on the inner course. The first turn is 325 meters from the gate and the early pace tends to be subdued. Bids from far off the pace are less successful but horses with early speed and the stamina to conquer the homestretch hill tend to do well.

Though the venue change this year will make previous results less relevant, the Shuka Sho top three finishers over the last decade have tended to be popular at the betting windows. That said, the favorite only won three times and made the top 3 four times. Two of the top 3 picks have finished in the top three only once in the last decade and double-digit picks were in the top three only three times in the same period.

The Shuka Sho is the No. 11 race on the Hanshin Sunday card and post time is set for 3:40 p.m. Each filly will carry 55 kg. First place is worth JPY100 million.

Here’s a look at the likely popular picks.

Sodashi: Star Sodashi returned from the first loss of her career, an 8th in the Oaks, to score a more-in-keeping win of the Grade 2 Sapporo Kinen on Aug. 22. Though she ran under only 52 kg, it was a strong win nonetheless, amid a largely male field, older horses and G1 winners. More importantly, it was won over her first start at 2,000 meters, her longest victory yet, and one that lifted the believed jinx on Kurofune progeny’s inability to win at anything over and including 2,000 meters. Unlike Sapporo, with its flat stretch and the type of grass Sodashi is said to prefer, Hanshin has a hill to conquer just before the finish line and Sodashi will have 3 kg more on her back.

Andvaranaut: With three wins and three seconds from six starts, this daughter of King Kamehameha leapt into the limelight when she took on and won her first graded-stakes race last out on Sept. 19, just five months following her debut. The Kansai Telecasting Corp. Sho Rose Stakes, a Grade 2 over 2,000 meters at Chukyo, handed her a ticket to the Shuka Sho. Racing from sixth position, Andvaranaut clocked a blistering field-best 33.8 seconds over the final three furlongs. Though both her starts over 2,000 meters have been at left-handed tracks, she has done well at Hanshin as well and, with regular rider Yuichi Fukunaga expected up on Sunday, should be in good hands.

Fine Rouge: Previously raced over nothing longer than a mile, Oka Sho third-place finisher Fine Rouge took on the Japanese Oaks and disappointed in 11th place. In the Shion Stakes (G3, 2,000 meters) on Sept. 9, she returned to the track after nearly four months and displayed fine form to top a field that included numerous Shuka Sho hopefuls. Based at Miho, this will be only her second long haul westward since the Oka Sho and how she weathers the trip should be noted on raceday. Current jockey leader Christophe Lemaire, who brought the filly home a winner in both his previous rides, is expected in the saddle.

Akaitorino Musume: The blue-blooded Akaitorino Musume heads, as planned, straight from the Oaks to the Shuka Sho. Fourth in the Oka Sho, second in the Oaks, the daughter of triple crown team Deep Impact/Apapane will be given only her second start over longer than a mile. Looking good in trackwork and already having proven she can handle the trip from Miho, the Sakae Kunieda-trained dark bay looks more than capable of bringing the trainer his third win of the Shuka Sho.

Art de Vivre: With a 5-5 from the filly triple crown first two legs, Art de Vivre returned from the Oaks with a run in the Rose Stakes. It was her first time over 2,000 meters, her first race in almost four months, and she failed to move decisively at a key point. Nonetheless, Art de Vivre finished third, 0.3 seconds off the winner Andvaranaut. The King Kamehameha filly has struggled to maintain condition and was far below her winning debut weight of 446 kg for her next three starts. Last out, at 430 kg, her weight was up and maintaining that will be key. Art de Vivre has matured mentally, is reported to have recovered well from her last start and, shipping from Ritto, should have ample chance.

Uberleben: The striking black daughter of Gold Ship won her debut in June 2020 and only missed the top 3 once in her next six starts, all of them at the graded level. Third in the 2-year-old Grade 1 Hanshin Juvenile Fillies, Uberleben skipped the Oka Sho and scored her second win in her next G1 bid, the Japanese Oaks at Tokyo. She returned to her Miho later than expected and, as of last week, was showing improvement in work but was reported not quite at her best though this week’s fast work reports may be more promising. Trainer Takahisa Tezuka says he believes her talent will carry her and, with jockey Mirco Demuro expected in the saddle, there’s talent aplenty. If Demuro can ace the Shuka Sho, he will join Yutaka Take, Yuichi Fukunaga and Christophe Lemaire in having won all seven of the JRA Grade 1s open only to 3 year olds.

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Others of interest are:

Tagano Passion returned after her fourth in the Oaks to score a shocking 12th place as second pick in the Rose Stakes. Hanshin 2000 meters, where she broke her maiden, may be more suitable than Chukyo for her.
Through Seven Seas ran second to Fine Rouge in the Grade 3 Shion Stakes. The only time she finished out of the top three was in her only start to the left, her ninth in the Oaks. She is 3-1-2 in her three career starts over 2,000 meters.
Front-running A Shin Hiten was second to Andvaranaut in the Rose Stakes and, since getting more ground, has turned in a consistent 2-4-2 over 2,000 meters, which includes her second behind Stellaria in the Wasurenagusa Stakes over the Hanshin 2,000 meters in April. Stellaria, it should be noted, holds the best time (1:58) of the Shuka Sho field over 2,000 meters and will have a new rider with Yutaka Take expected up.

Of Japan's four hopefuls to Paris Longchamp this year, only one succeeded in making the top three spots - Entscheiden in the Group 1 Prix de la Foret.

Before that, Chrono Genesis and Deep Bond in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe came home in 7th and 14th place, respectively, hampered by going brought on by heavy rains in the week preceding the race. Ikat was Japan's last runner for the day with a 13th in the Group 1 Prix de l'Opera.

Though the results were less than stellar, fan support in Japan was sky high, with turnover on betting on the Arc alone amounting to nearly JPY5.4 billion, a record high and nearly double last year's amount.

First up for Japan was the 2,400-meter Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, the day's No. 4 race with a local 4:05 p.m. post time. This year marked the 100th running of the world's arguably most prestigious race and the historic event ended in a shocking victory by longshot Torquator Tasso, a German-based 4-year-old colt trained by Marcel Weiss. Trainer Dermot Weld's Tarnawa, race second favorite in Japan, was second. Finishing third was the race favorite Hurricane Lane, trained by Charlie Appleby, who also fielded the 4th-place finisher, Adayar.

Japan's Chrono Genesis managed a seventh place under jockey Oisin Murphy, while Deep Bond, who had captured the Group 1 Prix Foy on Sept. 12 wire to wire, had to settle for last in the field of 14.

Going off as third favorite in Japan, Chrono Genesis was kept wide from the No. 14 gate and away from the pack for the first three furlongs. She continued to race well when Murphy brought her in for position and she chased the leader from just before midway. Chrono Genesis made a good effort in the stretch, but was spent from about 150 meters out.

Chrono Genesis had arrived in France only nine days prior to the Arc some three months after bagging her second Grade 1 Takarazuka Kinen in a row. Prior to that she'd just missed winning the Dubai Sheema Classic by a neck following her win of the Grade 1 Arima Kinen (the Grand Prix).

Trainer Takashi Saito expressed his satisfaction with the ride. "She was able to run relaxed and I think her position was good. She looked to still have something left when she turned into the stretch," said the Ritto-based 39-year-old. "But, she couldn't make headway on the heavy track and in the end, she just got tired."

Oisin Murphy, a native of Ireland, said he'd expected a strong pace "so I decided to take her to the outside away from the others and wait to get a position. She traveled smoothly and still felt good at the top of the stretch. But, when I gave her the go sign she wasn't able to pick it up." The 26-year-old Murphy, who has ridden hundreds of races in Japan, added, "The turf was heavy but it was nothing like heavy turf in Japan. It's too bad she's couldn't win. She was in great shape and the staff really did a good job. This doesn't change the fact that she is a star."

Chrono Genesis, a 5-year-old daughter of Bago, has eight wins from 16 starts and has only missed top 3 twice. The Arc was her first time to finish off the board.

Deep Bond, who had given much hope to Japan after his runaway win of the Prix Foy (G2, 2,400 meters) on Sept. 12, was the sixth choice of punters in Japan. Yet to win a top-level race, he came closest with his second in the Grade 1 Tenno Sho (Spring) this year and had made the board last year in both the Grade 1 Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby) and Kikuka Sho (Japanese St. Leger). Having enjoyed fast turf in the Foy, however, Deep Bond was to meet his match in the heavy, slippery ground of the main event.

Though ridden by 2020 Arc winner jockey Cristian Demuro in the Foy, it was jockey Mickael Barzalona up in the Arc, with Demuro aboard Raabihah. Breaking from the No. 5 gate, Barzalona stayed wide rear of midfield and urged Deep Bond on from 600 meters. The 4-year-old colt, however, struggling with the ground, quickly tired, and was eased over the final furlong.

"I was told that he would be keen in spots," Barzalona said. "I simply wasn't able to get the position I'd wanted," the 30-year-old Frenchman said. This race was just too much for him. He was exhausted."

Trainer Ryuji Okubo met the finish with concern that something had gone terribly wrong. "I thought he'd been injured," he said of his first Arc runner. "But when I saw how he was moving over the last the final stage, his legs and heart seemed OK."

"He wasn't able to get any traction early on and he ran over the worst ground, but he had no choice. He rallied a bit in the final turn. This feels like the Longchamp baptism," said Okubo.

"The results were unfortunate this time but with the heavy rain this week, Deep Bond was up against a surface that you could say he had yet to experience. I did have my hopes up though and I heard from Barzalona that he was unable to get a forward position. The horse gave it his all but was exhausted."

"He's been checked and there's nothing wrong. I'm hoping to get back on our feet and move forward," Okubo said.

Deep Bond was unable to better sire Kizuna's Arc result, a 4th-place finish in 2013 after winning the Prix Niel (G2, 2,400 meters).

There was also no luck to be had by the only Japanese jockey riding in the Arc - Yutaka Take. Take was not on a Japan-based horse, but with the Aidan O'Brien-trained, Japanese-owned Broome, who had finished second to Deep Bond in the Prix Foy and only managed an 11th-place result in the Arc. "He was slow at the break but we were able to recover nicely and get a good position," said Take. "He traveled well but was starting to flag going in to the stretch.

"I'm feeling quite proud to have been given a leg up by Aidan O'Brien and definitely hope to come back next year and win," said the 52-year-old Take, who was riding in his sixth Arc and for the first time for a non-Japan-based trainer. Take's previous Arc rides include Kizuna in 2013 and Deep Impact, who in 2006, crossed the line in third place but was later disqualified.

Japan-based horses last made the top three in the Arc in 2013, when Orfevre finsihed second for the second year in a row. Japan has yet to win the Prix de l'Arc Triomphe, a prize they've sought since 1969, when Speed Symboli took on the challenge under jockey Yuji Nohira.

On the heels of the Arc was the Prix de l'Opera, a 2,000-meter top-level distaff race. Japan's 4-year-old Deep Impact filly Ikat, the second Japan-based horse to take on the Prix de l'Opera, finished 13th of 14 to match L'Arc's 13th-place finish in the race in 2018.

"She was in good shape," said trainer Takashi Saito, "but the ground just didn't suit. She couldn't get any traction the whole way." Rider Oisin Murphy praised his mount. "She really tried hard but the ground was incredibly slow and not for her."

The 1,400-meter Group 1 Prix de la Foret had a 6 p.m. post time and was won by the Irish-bred Space Blues under William Buick. Japan's Entscheiden, a longshot locally, revenged the poor assessment of his chances with a third-place finish under jockey Ryusei Sakai amid the field of 15.

Sakai gave the Yoshito Yahagi-trained Entscheiden an aggressive ride that saw the 6-year-old pressing the leader Pearls Galore at the 200-meter mark, but the gray had no more to give in the final strides and was passed by winner Space Blues. "He was in excellent condition," said Sakai of Entscheiden, "and I'd been looking forward to the race. It was a G1 though and the lineup was strong. I really did think he was going to win for a moment. He gave it his all."

The Deep Impact-sired Entscheiden was Japan's third runner in the Foret and bettered both Blarney Stone's 8th in 2013 and Geniale's 14th in 2018.

Please refer to the following website for further details.

France Galop
Results of Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe
Results of Prix de l'Opera
Results of Prix de la Foret