Heavy favorite Almond Eye landed the last leg of the Three-Year-Old Fillies’ Triple, the Shuka Sho to become the fifth Triple Crown winner in JRA history after previously claiming both the Oka Sho (Japanese 1000 Guineas) and the Yushun Himba (Japanese Oaks) earlier in the season—previous Triple Crown fillies were Mejiro Ramonu (1986), Still in Love (2003), Apapane (2010) and Gentildonna (2012). Almond Eye was runner-up in her two-year-old career debut, won her only other start that year and kicked off her three-year-old campaign with her first grade-race victory in the Shinzan Kinen (G3) followed by her three consecutive G1 victories in the fillies’ G1 triple. Her career record stands at five wins out of six career starts. Trainer Sakae Kunieda became the winner of a Triple Crown filly for the second time after Apapane in 2010 and his JRA-G1 titles totals 14 with the Shuka Sho win. Jockey Christophe Lemaire collected his 18th JRA-G1 title—his last G1 victory was with Mozu Ascot in the Yasuda Kinen this year.
Almond Eye was restless before the start and didn’t break too sharply but her rider, Christophe Lemaire, kept his cool and patiently rated her a little further back in mid-field around tenth position. The first 1,000 meter was timed at a slower than moderate 59.6 seconds, allowing pacesetter Mikki Charm to maintain a clear lead through most of the way and still have plenty left for the stretch run while Almond Eye, unable to find herself behind a wall of horses turning for home, had to circle wide into the turn. It appeared as though Mikki Charm was a sure winner with a lead of two to three lengths from the rest of the field at the furlong pole. However, Almond Eye came flying along the outside past her foes and finally the leader in the last 50 meters, and continued to pull away to a 1-1/2-length victory.
“I was a bit worried today because Almond Eye was rather nervous and highly strung than usual, so the start wasn’t that good, then our path was blocked and we had to go wide, but from there she just showed just how exceptional she was. She’s such a fantastic filly and I have to give credit to the trainer and stable staff because it’s so difficult to maintain a horse’s condition at the top of her form throughout the season. So becoming a Triple Crown winner isn’t easy even with the best horse,” commented Christophe Lemaire.
Mikki Charm, while succumbing to Almond Eye in the closing stages, still managed to maintain her advantage over the rest of the field for second. Rose Stakes winner Cantabile was rated just off the rails, kept close behind the eventual winner and exerted her late charge as Almond Eye made her attack but unable to match the winner’s stride while just short of reaching Mikki Charm for third.
Other Horses:
4th: (5) Salacia—took economic trip in mid-division, angled out and wide into stretch, showed effort
5th: (1) Lathyros—saved ground in mid-pack, advanced to 3rd 200m out, outrun by rivals in final strides
6th: (4) Randonnee—hugged rails in 3rd or 4th, 2nd entering stretch, weakened in last 100m
7th: (16) Primo Scene—settled 3rd from rear, timed 2nd fastest over last 3 furlongs, belatedly
8th: (14) Gorgeous Lunch—traveled 3-wide in mid-group, met traffic 300m out, then accelerated
9th: (7) Lucky Lilac—raced in mid-pack, driven after 3rd corner, lacked needed kick at stretch
10th: (9) Satono Garnet—was off slow, trailed in rear, showed belated charge along rails at stretch
11th: (8) Tosen Bless—sat 2nd from rear, quickened between horses, ran gamely up to 100m pole
12th: (6) Pioneer Bio—settled towards rear, improved position along rails at stretch
13th: (18) Dancar—raced 3-wide towards rear, turned last to home, passed tired rivals at stretch
14th: (10) All for Love—traveled in mid-division, showed little at stretch
15th: (15) Harlem Line—chased leader in 3rd or 4th, faded 300m out
16th: (12) Oscar Ruby—stalked leader in 2nd early, faded after entering to stretch
17th: (17) Sayakachan—sat 3-wide in 5th early, outrun after 3rd corner
scratched: (3) Scarlet Color—lameness in the left hind leg
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