Liberty Island From The Clouds In Oka Sho

Ridden with supreme confidence by Yuga Kawada, reigning champion Japanese 2-year-old filly Liberty Island (Jpn) (Duramente {Jpn}) was given her cue with 400 metres to race and stormed home down the centre of the course to post a breathtaking victory in Sunday's G1 Oka Sho (Japanese 1000 Guineas) at Hanshin Racecourse. Kona Coast (Jpn) (Kitasan Black {Jpn}) was swamped late and completed a Sunday Racing 1-2, while Carrot Farm colourbearer Perifania (Jpn) (Maurice {Jpn}) checked in a sound third.

Void of early speed, the odds-on favourite was content to drop out to race with just two rivals behind her as G2 Tulip Sho winner Mozu Meimei (Jpn) (Real Impact {Jpn}) showed the way at a good clip in advance of Kona Coast, who just failed to reel in Mozu Meimei in the Tulip Sho. Still third last, but quietly ridden by Kawada as the Oka Sho field raced midway on the turn, Liberty Island peeled off heels once heads were turned for home, with the better part of 10 lengths to find. Kona Coast took over from the weakening front-runner at the 200-metre mark and Perifania also laid down a challenge, but by this time, Liberty Island was in high gear and she whistled home to score a shade cosily in the finish. She covered her final three furlongs in a wicked :32.9.

“I feel relieved to have done my job of guiding her to the wire in time,” said Kawada. “We [landed] an inside draw and she wasn't keen to hurry out of the gate so the position was where it was going to be. But she was relaxed today, was in good rhythm in the race and clicked into gear nicely so this is where she ended up [winning], so I am glad. Now that we have accomplished our aim in the first of the Triple Crown, I hope that we can meet expectations in the following title.”

The late Duramente also accounted for last year's Oka Sho heroine Stars on Earth (Jpn), who doubled up in the G1 Yushun Himba (Japanese Oaks) (2400m) before falling just short in the G1 Shuka Sho (2000m) when attempting to sweep the Classic series. This year's Oaks takes place at Tokyo Racecourse May 21.

A debut winner over a mile last July–in which she finished off in an other-worldly :31.4–Liberty Island struck trouble and was second to Ravel (Jpn) (Kitasan Black {Jpn}) in the G2 Artemis S. in October before stamping her authority on the G1 Hanshin Juvenile Fillies over this course and distance Dec. 11.

Pedigree Notes:

A son of the late King Kamehameha (Jpn), Duramente was sadly lost to a bout of acute colitis in September 2021, but had already left his mark as the leading first-crop sire in Japan the previous season. From just three crops of racing age, Duramente is already responsible for Classic and three-time Group 1 winner Titleholder (Jpn) and last year's G1 Hopeful S. hero Dura Erede (Jpn), recent runner-up in the G2 UAE Derby and pointing towards the G1 Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby). Duramente has now accounted for the winner of four Classic races.

Liberty Island's dam was purchased for just A$10,000 at the 2015 Inglis Sydney Classic Yearling Sale and went on to take three of her first four career starts, inclduding the G1 Inglis Sires' S. two weeks after finishing a half-length second to Capitalist (Aus) (Written Tycoon {Aus}) in the G1 Longines Golden Slipper S. She would add the G1 Spring Champion S. in October 2016 and retired with four wins from 10 runs and earnings in excess of US$1.6 million before being acquired privately and exported to Japan.

Yankee Rose's first foal, the current 4-year-old filly Romneya (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}), was purchased by that sire's owner Kaneko Makoto for $1.9 million as a foal at the 2019 JRHA Select Sale and won her most recent start at Kokura back in February. The current 2-year-old out of the mare, a colt by Lord Kanaloa (Jpn), fetched $3.35 million at the same event in 2021. Yankee Rose produced a filly by Kizuna (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) in 2022 and was among the first book of mares served by Triple Crown winner Contrail (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}).

 

 

Sunday, Hanshin, Japan
OKA SHO (JAPANESE 1000 GUINEAS)-G1, ¥304,020,000, Hanshin, 4-9, 3yo, f, 1600mT, 1:32.10, fm.
1–LIBERTY ISLAND (JPN), 121, f, 3, by Duramente (Jpn)
1st Dam: Yankee Rose (Aus) (Ch. 2yo & 3yo Filly & MG1SW-Aus, $1,627,487), by All American (Aus)
2nd Dam: Condesaar (Aus), by Xaar (GB)
3rd Dam: Condescendance, by El Gran Senor
O-Sunday Racing; B-Northern Farm; T-Mitsumasa Nakauchida; J-Yuga Kawada; ¥166,614,000. Lifetime Record: Ch. 2yo Filly-Jpn, 4-3-1-0, ¥252,046,000. Werk Nick Rating: B. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Click for the free Equineline.com pedigree.
2–Kona Coast (Jpn), 121, f, 3, Kitasan Black (Jpn)–Kona Brewers (Jpn), by King Kamehameha (Jpn). O-Sunday Racing; B-Northern Farm; ¥63,604,000.
3–Perifania (Jpn), 121, f, 3, Maurice (Jpn)–Katies Heart (Jpn), by Heart's Cry (Jpn). O-Carrot Farm; B-Northern Farm; ¥38,802,000.
Margins: 3/4, NK, 1 3/4. Odds: 0.60, 17.40, 16.60.
Also Ran : Harper (Jpn), Doe Eyes (Jpn), Shinryokuka (Jpn), Sing That Song (Jpn), Light Quantum (Jpn), Bouton d'Or (Jpn), Emu (Jpn), Ravel (Jpn), Kita Wing (Jpn), Mozu Meimei (Jpn), Dura (Jpn), Conch Shell (Jpn), June Orange (Jpn), Moon Probe (Jpn), Tosen Laurier (Jpn). Click for the JRA chart.

 

 

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Notable US-Bred Runners in Japan: Oct. 9, 2021

In this continuing series, we take a look ahead at US-bred and/or conceived runners entered for the upcoming weekend at the tracks on the Japan Racing Association circuit, with a focus on pedigree and/or performance in the sales ring. Here are the horses of interest for this weekend running at Hanshin and Tokyo Racecourses. While no Group 1 racing is scheduled for the weekend, 'TDN Rising Star' Command Line (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}–Condo Commando) makes a much-anticipate second trip to the races in Saturday's G2 Saudi Arabia Royal Cup (1800mT) at headquarters:

Saturday, October 9, 2021
4th-TOK, ¥13,400,000 ($120k), Newcomers, 2yo, 1600m
WORLD CONNECTOR (c, 2, Connect–Wild Hoots, by Unbridled's Song) was the most expensive of 29 of his sire (by Curlin)'s first-crop weanlings (38 ring) to sell in 2019, hammering for $250K at Keeneland November and was a $285K buyback at last year's Fasig-Tipton Selected Sale. The March foal would go on to fetch $410K at FTFMAR after breezing a furlong in :10 1/5 (see below). A half-brother to SW & GISP Savings Account (Medaglia d'Oro)), the gray is out of a SW & GSP full-sister to GISW Buddha and out of a half to the dam of MSW Road Ready (More Than Ready) and 2008 GI Darley Alcibiades S. runner-up Be Smart (Smarty Jones). Wild Hoots was the top-selling short yearling at KEEJAN in 2005 when Dell Ridge signed the winning ticket at $900K. B-Dell Ridge Farm LLC (KY)

 

6th-HSN, ¥13,400,000 ($120k), Newcomers, 2yo, 1800m
CHARITABLE THOUGHT (c, 2, Nyquist–Relaxing Green, by Formal Gold), a $335K purchase as a weanling by Harry Sweeney's Paca Paca Farm at FTKNOV in 2019, looks to become the 10th winner from as many to race from his dam, whose produce include GISW Marley's Freedom (Blame), SW Noble Charlotte (Include) and the dam of SW Noble Commander (Forestry). The Godolphin colorbearer is out of a half-sister to GSW Mythical Gem (Jade Hunter) and SW/MGSP Apple Charlotte (Smart Strike), the dam of MGSP Lottie (Arch). This is also the female family of GISW Noble Bird (Birdstone). B-Jack Swain III (KY)

JASPER GREAT (c, 2, Arrogate–Shop Again, by Wild Again), a $200K acquisition by trainer Hideyuki Mori at FTKSEL last September, is a half-brother to Grade I-winning juvenile Power Broker (Pulpit); SW Fierce Boots (Tiznow), the dam of GSP Portos (Tapit); and SP Smart Shopping (Smart Strike), whose yearling daughter by Uncle Mo made $435K at FTSAUG this summer. The stakes-winning Shop Again is a half-sister to GISW Miss Shop (Deputy Minister), the dam of MGSW Tin Type Gal (Tapit); GSW & MGISP Trappe Shot (Tapit); and SW & GSP Bought In Dixie (Dixieland Band). B-Jamm Ltd (KY)

7th-TOK, ¥14,360,000 ($129k), Allowance, 3yo/up, 2100m
YUINO ZAPPER (c, 3, Ghostzapper–Baruta {Brz}, by Crimson Tide {Ire}), a $180K KEESEP graduate, was sixth in a single appearance at two and filled the same spot on his sophomore debut before breaking his maiden over this track and distance when last seen May 1. His dam, twice Group 1-placed in Brazil, won the 2015 GIII Sen. Ken Maddy S. down the hill at Santa Anita and was runner-up to the late 'TDN Rising Star' Taris (Flatter) in that year's GIII Rancho Bernardo H. on the dirt. These breeders are to be represented by both defending champ Ivar (Brz) (Agnes Gold {Jpn}) and last-out TVG S. winner In Love (Brz) (Agnes Gold {Jpn}) in Saturday's GI Keeneland Turf Mile. B-Bonne Chance Farm & Stud RDI (KY)

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