Two-Time Japanese Champion, Fan-Favourite Sodashi Retired

Kaneko Makoto Holding Co Ltd's Sodashi (Jpn) (Kurofune–Buchiko {Jpn}, by King Kamehameha {Jpn}), whose snow-white colouring combined with considerable racetrack ability made her a fan favourite in every corner of the globe, has been retired, according to multiple reports.

The homebred, whose year-younger full-sister Mama Cocha (Jpn) won Sunday's G1 Sprinters S. at Nakayama, was an immediate hit while carrying the Deep Impact (Jpn) colours. Undefeated in four tries at two, including a victory in the G1 Hanshin Juvenile Fillies to secure her first championship, Sodashi made the one-mile G1 Oka Sho (Japanese 1000 Guineas) her fifth straight success before finishing eighth in the G1 Yushun Himba over a stamina-stretching 2400 metres. Sodashi defeated the globetrotting Loves Only You (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) in the G2 Sapporo Kinen en route to being named the tops of her generation in 2021.

Third in the G1 February S. on the dirt in February 2022, Sodashi returned to the grass and easily handled her peers in the G1 Victoria Mile last May before closing out her 4-year-old season with a third against the boys in the G1 Mile Championship S. In two starts this term, Sodashi missed by a head in defence of her title in the Victoria Mile and was a latest seventh in the G1 Yasuda Kinen. On both occasions, she was defeated by Songline (Jpn) (Kizuna {Jpn}), who is slated to travel to America for the GI Breeders' Cup Mile Nov. 4.

Sodashi retires with a record of 7-2-1 from 14 starts and earnings of $5,346,186.

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Liberty Island Far Too Strong In Hanshin Juvenile Fillies

Sunday Racing's Liberty Island (Jpn) (Duramente {Jpn}) all but locked up champion 2-year-old filly honours in Japan with a thoroughly convincing defeat of 17 rivals in Sunday's G1 Hanshin  Juvenile Fillies.

Yuga Kawada, who was forced to miss this past Wednesday's Longines International Jockeys' Championship in Hong Kong after testing positive for COVID prior to his departure, was cleared to ride the Sunday feature and settled the 8-5 favourite right in midfield and a few paths off the inside for the opening half-mile. Traveling with cover as they raced around the turn, the homebred was produced wide into the stretch and was a bit late switching her legs, but raced away in the final 200 metres to score by daylight.

Liberty Island got her career off on a higly impressive note, covering her final 600 metres in a near-unfathomable :31.4 at Niigata in late July and had just one start since, a troubled runner-up effort to Ravel (Jpn) (Kitasan Black {Jpn}) in the G3 Artemis S. at Toyko Oct. 29.

“I am happy that the filly was at her best today,” said Kawada. “She cruised along smoothly and her response when asked was just as I had imagined, so I was quite confident that she would make it to the finish line. She has given us a promising view on what to expect and aim for in her coming future.”

Pedigree Notes:

Liberty Island becomes the eighth stakes winner and third Group 1 winner for her sire, who was unfortunately lost to the Japanese breeding industry in August 2021.

Yankee Rose was purchased for a mere A$10,000 by Darby Racing at the 2015 Inglis and was runner-up to Capitalist (Aus) in the 2016 G1 Longines Golden Slipper S. before taking out the G1 Inglis Sires' S. She added the G1 Spring Champion S. at three and was third to Winx (Aus) in the 2016 G1 W. S. Cox Plate before being acquired by Northern Farm.

The second foal for her dam, Liberty Island is also a half-sister to a colt by Lord Kanaloa (Jpn) that fetched ¥370 million (US$3.3 million) to rank as the second-priciest foal at the JRHA Select Sale in 2021. Yankee Rose foaled a filly by Kizuna (Jpn) this past February and was covered by Contrail (Jpn).

Sunday, Hanshin, Japan
HANSHIN JUVENILE FILLIES-G1, ¥125,200,000, Hanshin, 12-11, 2yo, f, 1600mT, 1:33.10, fm.
1–LIBERTY ISLAND (JPN), 119, f, 2, by Duramente (Jpn)
1st Dam: Yankee Rose (Aus) Ch. 2yo Filly, Ch. 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
1ST STAKES WIN. 1ST GROUP WIN. 1ST GROUP 1 WIN. O-Sunday Racing; B-Northern Farm; T-Mitsumasa Nakauchida; J-Yuga Kawada; ¥66,330,000. Lifetime Record: 3-2-1-0, ¥85,432,000. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Werk Nick Rating: B. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Shinryokuka (Jpn), 119, f, 2, Satono Diamond (Jpn)–Lei Carla (Jpn), by King Kamehameha (Jpn). O-Kentaro Yui; B-Shimokobe Farm; ¥26,380,000.
3–Doe Eyes (Jpn), 119, f, 2, Rulership (Jpn)–Roseman Bridge (Jpn), by Deep Impact (Jpn). O-G1 Racing HD; B-Northern Farm; ¥16,190,000.
Margins: 2HF, NK, 3/4. Odds: 1.60, 52.90, 43.50.
Also Ran: Aroma de Rosa (Jpn), Mississippi Tesoro (Jpn), Dura (Jpn), Santee Tesoro (Jpn), Aim in Life, Miss Yokohama (Jpn), Bouton d'Or (Jpn), Ravel (Jpn), Moryana (Jpn), Itinerator (Jpn), Kita Wing (Jpn), Umbrail (Jpn), Haupia (Jpn), Moon Probe (Jpn), Rivara (Jpn). Click for the JRA chart & video.

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First-Timers Can Aid Justify In Freshman Sire Battle

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 Nakayama Racecourses. While much of the local focus will be on the 14 runners entered across the four races that comprise the Longines Hong Kong International Races, Sunday's action at home includes the G1 Hanshin Juvenile Fillies:

Saturday, December 10, 2022
6th-NKY, ¥13,400,000 ($98k), Newcomers, 2yo, 1800m
LAP STAR (c, 2, Justify–Guest Suite, by Ghostapper) looks to give his first-crop sire (by Scat Daddy) a winner on the competitive JRA circuit for the third week running. A $400,000 Keeneland September acquisition by trainer Hideyuki Mori on behalf of owner Susumu Fujita, the Feb. 5 foal is a half-brother to GIII Lecomte S. winner Guest House (Quality Road). The dark bay colt is out of a winning daughter of Grade III winner Welcome Surprise (Seeking the Gold), who sadly passed away this year, and the third dam includes the likes of A.P. Indy, Summer Squall and Court Vision. This is also the family of this year's GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies third Raging Sea (Curlin). B-Hartmut H Malluche & Silesia Farm (KY)

Sunday, December 11, 2022
4th-HSN, ¥13,400,000 ($98k), Newcomers, 2yo, 1800m
DONA SWEAT (f, 2, Justify–No Sweat, by Blame) is the first foal out of her twice stakes-placed dam, who was purchased by Ashview Farm for $300,000 at the 2018 Keeneland November sale before visiting this stallion for her first covering. A $425,000 graduate of last year's KEESEP sale, Dona Sweat is a granddaughter of MSW & MGSP Coolwind (Forest Wildcat), herself the dam of GIII Iowa Derby winner Looking Cool (Candy Ride {Arg}). The filly's third dam is Grade III heroine Scoop (Gone West). B-Ashview Farm & Colts Neck Stables (KY)

11th-HSN, HSN Juvenile Fillies-G1, ¥123m ($903k), 2yo, f, 1600mT
AIM IN LIFE (f, 2, Kitten's Joy–Elisheva, by Smart Strike) debuted victoriously over course and distance Oct. 15 (video, SC 2) and gave a solid account of herself when sixth facing winners for the first time Nov. 27. The North Hills homebred is the first produce from her dam, a daughter of champion Believe (Jpn) (Sunday Silence), whose G1 Sprinters' S.-winning son Gendarme (Kitten's Joy) breaks from the eight hole in Sunday's G1 Longines Hong Kong Sprint. Believe is also responsible for MSW & G1SP Faridat (Kingmambo) and SW/GSP Fiducia (Medaglia d'Oro). B-North Hills Co Limited (KY)

 

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Japan: Circle Of Life Wraps Up 2-Year-Old Filly Title In Hanshin Juvenile Fillies

Circle of Life marked her first G1 victory in this year's Hanshin Juvenile Fillies, her third win in a row from four career starts to become the champion two-year-old filly of 2021.

Kicking off her career in August with a third over 1,800 meters, the filly broke her maiden in her following start at a mile and landed her first grade-race title in her next Artemis Stakes (G3, 1,600m, or one mile) on Oct. 30. Trainer Sakae Kunieda picked up his 21st JRA-G1 title, the first since with Akaitorino Musume (the Shuka Sho) in October, and his second victory in this race after with Apapane in 2009. Jockey Mirco Demuro, whose last G1 victory this year was in the Yushun Himba (Japanese Oaks) with Uberleben, is now a winner of 34 JRA-G1 titles.

Circle of Life, after a smooth break, was unhurried while the race opened with a rush of horses scuffling for a good position in front and traveled in mid-field and three-wide throughout most of the trip. Still way behind turning for home, the Epiphaneia filly still had plenty of energy left to carry her further out for a clear path and mow down the stretch to reach contention after the furlong pole and engaged in a four-horse rally in the last 100 meters. While still having to brush off her foes once taking command with just 50 meters to the wire, the improving filly prevailed to a half a length victory.

“She was great today, she had a good break, and we had a smooth trip. We went wide at the stretch but the track was really good on the outside and the horses (in previous races of the day) seemed to stretch well along that path. My filly was closed well over the smooth track so I trusted her to make it and indeed she exhibited strong finishing speed. I was certain in the last 200 meters that she would win. I've ridden her since her debut and she really takes it in her stride in new surroundings and unfamiliar tracks so she has plenty of energy to use in the race. I'm sure she can further extend her distance in future races so I'm really looking forward that too,” commented jockey Mirco Demuro in the post-race interview.

Eight favorite Lovely Your Eyes was smooth out of the gate and was checked briefly as the horses in front disputed for the lead. Settling between rivals in mid-division around sixth along the backstretch, the Logotype filly met traffic into the stretch but escaped smartly for a clear run along the center lane inside Water Navillera who assumed command before the furlong pole. Joined by the eventual winner and Namur who loomed to contention from the inside, Lovely Your Eyes gave her all stretching her legs to out-finishing Water Navillera by 1/2 lengths while short of the winner by the same margin for second.

Water Navillera was smartly positioned in third along the rails and had a smooth trip and a clear run at the homestretch where she assumed command at early stretch. She continued gamely while joined by foes in the last 100 and while sustaining her bid to the end, was outrun by the first two finishers for third.

Race favorite Namur broke poorly and cost her the race as she traveled well behind the pace while saving ground. Her jockey smartly guided her along the inside route after turning for home and the filly showed a good turn of speed to reach contention in the critical stages but was unable to sustain her bid in the last strides and finished fourth, one-plus lengths from the winner.

Other Horses:
5th: (1) Namura Clair—hugged rails around 11th, switched to outside at early stretch, showed effort but no match for top finishers
6th: (16) Belle Cresta—settled 4-wide around 13th early, advanced after 3rd corner, failed to sustain bid
7th: (8) Sternatia—traveled 3-wide around 6th, lacked needed kick
8th: (5) Statistics—sat 2nd from rear, angled out, passed tired rivals
9th: (12) Anegohada—ran 3-wide around 4th, remained in contention up to 200m pole
10th: (7) Kimiwa Queen—took economic trip around 4th, showed response up to 200m pole
11th: (14) Saku—made headway from last to 13th, circled wide, never fired
12th: (9) Sea Cruise—positioned 3-wide around 13th, showed little at stretch
13th: (4) Toho la Vie en—chased leader in 2nd, faded after 300m out
14th: (15) Dark Page—set pace from wide draw, maintained lead until early stretch
15th: (6) Tana the Wing—raced around 13th, never threatened
16th: (18) Personal High—sat 4-wide around 6th, outrun at stretch
17th: (2) Namura Lycoris—saved ground around 6th, gradually fell back
18th: (3) Hinokuni—traveled around 10th, unable to reach contention

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