Second pick Almond Eye captured the first of the 2018 three-year-old fillies’ Triple, the Oka Sho (Japanese 1000 Guineas) to give sire Lord Kanaloa his first G1 title as a sire. The speedy filly’s winning time of 1:33.1 renewed the previous race record held by Apapane in 2010 by 0.2 seconds. Out of 2006 Queen Elilzabeth II Commemorative Cup winner Fusaichi Panndora, Almond Eye made her two-year-old debut in August last year and broke her maiden in her second career start in October. Her G1 triumph in the race came after the filly scored her first grade-race victory in January in the Shinzan Kinen. Trainer Sakae Kunieda, who had previously won the Oka Sho in 2010 with Apapane, subsequent winner of all three of the fillies’ Triple, scored his 12th JRA-G1 title with win—his latest being with Danon Platina in the 2014 Asahi Hai Futurity Stakes. Jockey Christophe Lemaire, who finally captured his first Oka Sho title after two misses with race favorites, Major Emblem (fourth) and Soul Stirring (third) in 2016 and 2017, respectively. Lemaire collected his 15th JRA-G1 title after his most recent win with Deirdre in the Shuka Sho last year.
Almond Eye was unhurried early, raced second from the rear and, while still way back entering the homestretch, exerted an impressive turn of speed that marked the fastest finish over the final 600 meters that carried the Lord Kanaloa filly past her rivals and close in on Lucky Lilac in the final strides for a 1-3/4-length victory.
“Her response and speed at the stretch was unbelievable and felt great! Her strides kept getting bigger and all I had to do was to keep her straight. A step up in distance shouldn’t be a problem for this talented filly who has great potentials to win the Triple,” commented Lemaire
Lucky Lilac, who was sent to post race favorite and undefeated in four career starts including the two-year-old championship G1, the 2017 Hanshin Juvenile Fillies over the same course and distance at Hanshin, broke sharply from the innermost stall and settled nicely in fourth position along the rails and within striking distance from the leader. Advancing to third position at the third corner and shifting out slightly turning for home, the Orfevre filly came forth as expected down the center lane, assumed command passing the furlong pole but failed to exert her trademark burst of speed despite her jockey’s left-hand urgings and, while staying in contention to the wire, was unable to match the finishing speed of the winner and succumbed to second.
Lily Noble was rated not far back from the leaders in mid-division and outside rivals, allowing her to make smooth headway approaching the final corner. Securing a clear path along the outside route entering the stretch, the Rulership filly commenced her chase but overtaken by the fast closing winner on her outside and only really picked up her speed in the closing stages for the share.
Other Horses:
4th: (7) Tosen Bless―raced in mid-division, showed good late drive but failed to threaten
5th: (17) Mau Lea―traveled wide in mid-pack, lacked needed kick at stretch
6th: (3) Liberty Heights―saved ground in mid-group, quickened at stretch then faded
7th: (5) Red Sakuya―ran in 5th, ran willingly but overtaken by rivals in final strides
8th: (6) Scarlet Color―settled in mid-division, showed belated effort at stretch
9th: (18) Tsuzumimon―advanced to 2nd from widest stall, led at early stretch, weakened in last 200m
10th: (15) Primo Scene―was off slow, met traffic, belated kick from 300m out
11th: (4) Encore Plus―hugged rails in mid-pack, quickened until 100m out, weakened thereafter
12th: (16) Finift―sat wide towards rear, checked 300m out then showed belated effort
13th: (12) Dernier Or―trailed in rear, angled wide, passed tired rivals
14th: (8) Harlem Line―raced in mid-group, ran gamely until 200m out, dropped back thereafter
15th: (14) Red Regnant―traveled wide in mid-division, found little room after entering to lane
16th: (11) Cordierite―set pace, gradually fell back at stretch
17th: (10) Aonbharr―prominent early in 3rd, faded after final corner
Scratched: (2) Amalfi Coast―due to lameness in her left foreleg
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