Sent off as the 5-1 third choice, the bay broke well from the widest gate in 18, but was stuck wide as the field strung out in the wake of Nishino Love Wink (Jpn) (Epiphaneia {Jpn}). Sitting in eighth, Christophe Lemaire had his filly relaxed on the backstretch and she remained there entering the second and final turn.

Wheeling into the straight with plenty of horse, Lemaire cut Stars On Earth loose and she immediately began to pick up with a quarter-mile to travel while out in the centre of the course. The pacesetter still maintained her advantage, but Nishino Love Wink was starting to flag and several rivals were ready to pounce.

Flashing the greatest turn of foot, Stars On Earth grabbed the lead inside the final furlong and fended off a late run from Stunning Rose (Jpn) (King Kamehameha {Jpn}) by 1 1/4 lengths. It was the same margin back to Namur (Jpn) (Harbinger {GB}) in third. Favoured Circle of Life (Jpn) (Epiphaneia {Jpn}), the champion juvenile filly in Japan last year was a 2-1 shot, but she broke slowly and never engaged, trailing in 12th of 18.

“I am really thrilled to have won in front of a big crowd today– it's really not fun to win with an empty stand so I appreciate all you fans for coming,” said Lemaire, who was winning his first Group 1 of 2022 and third Oaks after Soul Stirring (Jpn)        (Frankel {GB}) in 2017 and Japanese Fillies Triple Crown victress Almond Eye (Jpn) (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}) one year later.

“The filly was in great condition coming into the race but it requires a lot of effort to start from an outside draw, so I was easy with her in early. She stayed calm and responded really well in the closing stages so I was happy. It was her first attempt at 2400 meters but her pedigree showed that she should be up in terms of stamina so I thought it shouldn't be a problem. She's already won at 1600 meters and shown to handle 2400 meters, so I think she has a pretty good chance to win her third Group 1 triple over 2000 meters.”

Never off the board in six previous starts, Stars On Earth broke her maiden at second asking last October and ran third in the Akamatsu Sho to Namur locally in November. She resumed with a runner-up performance to Lilac (Jpn) (Orfevre {Jpn}) (11th) in the G3 Fairy S. at Nakayama in January and filled the bridesmaid role again in the G3 Daily Hai Queen Cup here on Feb. 12. The Japanese 1000 Guineas, where she defeated Water Navillera (Jpn) (Silver State {Jpn}) (13th) was only her second victory on Apr. 10.

Pedigree Notes

Stars On Earth joins Titleholder (Jpn) as a dual Group 1 winner by Duramente, and the duo are half of the sire's tally of four stakes winners. The late Smart Strike was a highly successful sire Stateside and he is the grandsire of 144 black-type winners so far, 57 graded/group winners and an even dozen Grade/Group 1 winners. Since the start of the year, the former Lane's End stalwart has seven black-type winners, led by GI Kentucky Derby hero Rich Strike (Keen Ice) and GIII Robert B. Lewis S. and GI Santa Anita Derby runner-up Messier (Empire Maker). Also the damsire of 2009 Kentucky Derby scorer Mine That Bird (Birdstone), Smart Strike's Japanese triumphs span G1 Yasuda Kinen winner Strong Return (Jpn) (Symboli Kris S {Jpn}), Group 2 winner Epos (Jpn) (Just A Way {Jpn}) and G1 Oka Sho runner-up Red Oval (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) just to name a handful.

The second foal, runner and winner for her dam, who won once as a 3-year-old over 2000 metres in England, Stars On Earth is followed by a 2-year-old colt by Daiwa Major (Jpn). A homebred for Teruya Yoshida, Southern Stars, a half-sister to Lemaire's 2017 Japanese Oaks winner Soul Stirring and G3 Artemis S. victress Schon Glanz (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}), was covered by Mikki Isle (Jpn) last spring.

Stars On Earth's second dam is the American champion grass mare Stacelita (Fr) (Monsun {Ger}), who gained a similar honour in France from 9 1/2-11 furlongs. A winner of the G1 Prix de Diane (French Oaks), GI Beverly D. S., GI Flower Bow Invitational S., G1 Prix Vermeille, G1 Prix Saint-Alary and G1 Prix Jean Romanet, Stacelita is out of German listed winner Soignee (Ger) (Dashing Blade {GB}).

Sunday, Tokyo, Japan
YUHUN HIMBA (JAPANESE OAKS)-G1, ¥306,220,000, Tokyo, 5-22, 3yo, f, 2400mT, 2:23.90, fm.
1–STARS ON EARTH (JPN), 121, f, 3, Duramente (Jpn)
                1st Dam: Southern Stars (GB), by Smart Strike
                2nd Dam: Stacelita (Fr), by Monsun (Ger)
                3rd Dam: Soignee (Ger), by Dashing Blade (GB)
O-Shadai Race Horse; B-Shadai Farm (Jpn); T-Mizuki
Takayanagi; J-Christophe Lemaire; ¥168,154,000. Lifetime
Record: 7-3-3-1. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the
   eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Stunning Rose (Jpn), 121, f, 3, King Kamehameha (Jpn)
                1st Dam: Rosa Blanca (Jpn), by Kurofune.
                2nd Dam: Rosebud (Jpn), by Sunday Silence
                3rd Dam: Rose Colour (Jpn), by Shirley Heights (GB)
1ST GROUP 1 BLACK TYPE. O-Sunday Racing; B-Northern Farm
(Jpn); ¥52,280,000.
3–Namur (Jpn), 121, f, 3, Harbinger (GB)
                1st Dam: Sambre et Meuse (Jpn), by Daiwa Major (Jpn)
                2nd Dam: Vite Marcher (Jpn), by French Deputy
                3rd Dam: Kyoei March (Jpn), by Dancing Brave
1ST GROUP 1 BLACK TYPE. O-Carrot Farm; B-Northern Farm
(Jpn); ¥32,140,000.
Margins: 1 1/4, 1 1/4, 1. Odds: 5.50, 27.20, 6.10.
Also Ran: Pin High (Jpn), Presage Lift (Jpn), Rouge Eveil (Jpn), Art House (Jpn), Nishino Love Wink (Jpn), Erika Vita (Jpn), Belle Cresta (Jpn), Lilac (Jpn), Circle of Life (Jpn), Water Navillera (Jpn), Sea Glass (Jpn), Love Pyro (Jpn), Personal High (Jpn), Ho O Vanilla (Jpn). SCR: Sound Vivace (Jpn).
Click for the JRA chart & video or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.

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Winner of the 1600-metre G3 Artemis S. at headquarters last October, the bay–whose sire has accounted for 2020 Oaks heroine Daring Tact (Jpn) and reigning Horse of the Year Efforia (Jpn)–came from worse than midfield to post a half-length success in the G1 Hanshin Juvenile Fillies in December before taking some time off. A sound third to Namur (Jpn) (Harbinger {GB}) and Pin High (Jpn) (Mikki Isle {Jpn}) in the G3 Tulip Sho going the metric mile Mar. 5, Circle of Life endured a wide passage from a high draw in the G1 Oka Sho (Japanese 1000 Guineas) last time Apr. 10 and kicked home to be fourth, beaten 3/4 of a length behind Stars on Earth (Jpn) (Duramente {Jpn}). She has a much cosier barrier this time in six, and that could just be the difference-maker. Jockey Mirco Demuro goes for a third Oaks in the last four years.

“If she's able to run nicely balanced, she has a great late kick,” said trainer Sakae Kunieda, who won the Oaks in 2010 with Apapane (Jpn) (King Kamehameha {Jpn}) and in 2018 with Almond Eye (Jpn) (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}). “She won the Grade 1 at the end of her 2-year-old year but I've always thought she would do better with more distance. The change to Tokyo is a plus and I'm expecting her to do better than she did in her last race.”

JRA 2yo Filly of the year last year, now 3f CIRCLE OF LIFE (Epiphaneia) final fast ahead of the world's richest Oaks, #56

11.1 close on the Miho circle chip…. = tough to beat #HeroIsComing pic.twitter.com/91ercmZAbC

— Graham Pavey (@LongBallToNoOne) May 18, 2022

Stars on Earth was runner-up to Lilac (Jpn) (Orfevre {Jpn}) in January's G3 Fairy S. and to Presage Lift (Jpn) (Harbinger {GB}) in the G3 Daily Hai Queen Cup Feb. 12 before overcoming some anxious moments in the straight to just touch off Water Navillera (Jpn) (Silver State {Jpn}) in the Oka Sho. While she had a middle gate in the Guineas, she will have to overcome the widest alley in the Oaks for Christophe Lemaire.

Namur was a disappointing 10th as the favourite in the Oka Sho, but she was done no favours by the barrier draw, as she was never able to get in from the 18 hole. That effort is best taken with a grain of salt. Conversely, Water Navillera sat a clean trip just off the pace last time and was unlucky not to win. She has theoretically the shortest way around from the rail. Yutaka Take has won the Oaks three times, but not since 1996 aboard Air Groove (Jpn).

Sheikh Fahad's lightly raced Art House (Jpn) (Screen Hero {Jpn}) will have her share of admirers off a visually impressive victory beneath Yuga Kawada in the Listed Wasurenaugusa Sho (2000m) Apr. 10.

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Uberleben was out early for a Japanese 2-year-old, breaking her maiden at first asking last June before finishing a neck second to Sodashi in the G3 Sapporo Nisai S. after a three-month rest. After dropping to ninth behind that rival in the G3 Artemis S., Uberleben was third behind Sodashi in the G1 Hanshin Juvenile Fillies S.

Jockey Mirco Demuro noted in the aftermath of Sunday's race that Uberleben had suffered a bout of colic in February, and she returned with a pair of third-place finishes in the lead-up to the Yushun Himba: in the G3 Flower Cup and the G3 Sankei Sports Sho Flora S. over 2000 metres. Upped to 2400 meters for the first time on Sunday, Uberleben broke on terms from gate nine and settled midpack while Sodashi stalked the pace racing keenly. Moving wide rounding the turn while looking for running room, Uberleben saw daylight down the middle of the course upon straightening and put in a sustained rally down the lane, getting to the lead inside the final furlong and holding on to win by a comfortable length despite switching leads late on. Sodashi faded late on to be eighth.

Pedigree Notes

The fifth foal out of the winning Meine Theresia (Jpn) (Roses In May), Uberleben is a half-sister to the dual group-placed Meiner Fanrong (Jpn), who is by Gold Ship's sire Stay Gold (Jpn). Their second dam, Meine Nouvelle (Jpn) (Brian's Time), won the Flower Cup when it was a listed race and is a full-sister to stakes winners Meiner Hourglass (Jpn) and Meiner Charles (Jpn).

Sunday, Tokyo, Japan
YUSHUN HIMBA (JAPANESE OAKS)-G1, ¥251,400,000, Tokyo, 5-23, 3yo, f, 2400mT, 2:24.50, fm.
1–UBERLEBEN (JPN), 121, f, 3, by Gold Ship (Jpn)
                1st Dam: Meine Theresia (Jpn), by Roses in May
                2nd Dam: Meine Nouvelle (Jpn), by Brian's Time
                3rd Dam: Meine Pretender (NZ), by Zabeel (NZ)
1ST STAKES WIN. O-Thoroughbred Club Ruffian; B-Big Red
Farm; T-Takahisa Tezuka; J-Mirco Demuro; ¥138,980,000.
Lifetime Record: 7-2-1-3. *1/2 to Meiner Fanrong (Jpn) (Stay
Gold {Jpn}), MGSP-Jpn, $956,608. Werk Nick Rating: B+. Click
   for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Akaitorino Musume (Jpn), 121, f, 3, Deep Impact (Jpn)
Apapane (Jpn), by King Kamehameha (Jpn). O-Makoto Kaneko
Holdings; B-Northern Farm; ¥52,280,000.
3–Hagino Pilina (Jpn), 121, f, 3, Kizuna (Jpn)–Hagino Arc (Jpn),
by Admire Moon. O-Mitsuko Yasuoka; B-Akihiro Murashita;
¥32,140,000.
Margins: 1, NO, 1 1/4. Odds: 7.90, 3.50, 214.40.
Also Ran: Tagano Passion (Jpn), Art de Vivre (Jpn), Miyabi Heidi (Jpn), Kukuna (Jpn), Sodashi (Jpn), Through Seven Seas (Jpn), Purple Lady (Jpn), Fine Rouge (Jpn), Slyly (Jpn), Stellaria (Jpn), Cool Cat (Jpn), Win Aglaia (Jpn), Nina Dress (Jpn), Stripe (Jpn),  Enthusiasm (Jpn).
Click for the JRA chart and video or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.

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Ridden by Mirco Demuro for trainer Takahisa Tezuka, the 3-year-oid filly by Gold Ship (a grandson of Sunday SIlence) scored by one length over Akaitorino Musume as the 8-1 third betting choice in the field of 18 runners. Hagino Pilina finished third, a nose behind the runner-up and 1 1/4 lengths ahead of Tagano Passion in fourth. Sodashi, the eye-catching white daughter of Kurofune who came into the race unbeaten in five starts, finished eighth after being forwardly placed until deep stretch. Coming off a victory in the G1 Oka Sho (Japanese 1000 Guineas), Sodashi was the 9-10 favorite.

Time for the 2,400 meters (about 1 1/2 miles) on good to firm turf was 2:24.50, compared to the race record of 2:22.80 set by Loves Only You in 2019.

The victory was the eighth in a G1 race for trainer Tezuka and the 33rd G1 in Japan for Demuro, who rode Loves Only You to her record-setting win.

“She suffered from colic in February and has shown a slow but steady recovery,” Demuro said after the Oaks. “She broke smoothly today and it did worry me a bit that we were dead last in the backstretch but she responded well when the pace accelerated from the third corner and showed her tenacity in steadily advancing in the straight. She was strong pulling away and holding off the others. The added distance wasn't a problem for her at all. I'm thrilled—it's always wonderful to win a G1 race.”

The win was the second in seven starts for Uberleben. She was bred by Shigeyuki Okada's Big Red Farm. The victory was the first in a G1 race for the offspring of Gold Ship, a six-time G1 winner whose victories included the first and third legs of the Japanese Triple Crown in 2012. He stands at Big Red Farm. Uberleben was produced from Meine Theresia, a daughter of G1 Whitney Handicap and G1 Dubai World Cup winner Roses in May (by Devil His Due) for trainer Dale Romans and owners Kenneth and Sarah Ramsey. Roses In May also stands at Big Red Farm.

With attendance at Japanese race courses still limited because of COVID-19, an on-track crowd of 4,791 was reported. Wagering on the race was US$161 million with US$248.5 million bet on the day's 12-race program.

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The Yushun Himba, otherwise known as the Japanese Oaks, follows the Oka Sho (Japanese 1000 Guineas) in early April and represents a substantial increase in distance, from 1,600 meters (one mile) to 2,400 meters (1 1/2 miles). Racing shifts from the righthanded Hanshin Racecourse west of Osaka to the spacious Tokyo Racecourse, where races are run to the left.

Many of the entrants who have risen through the ranks to the heights as 2-year-olds last year will have participated in the Grade 1 Hanshin Juvenile Fillies, and followed this year with the Grade 1 Oka Sho, both over 1,600 meters, both run to the right. The Japanese Oaks is a different test, not only of speed but also of stamina, and stars that have shone brightly until now may find the spotlight shift.

Twenty-one fillies have been nominated the 82nd running of the Japanese Oaks. Eighteen berths are available for a shot at the JPY110 million (about US$1 million) winner's share. The hands-down current star of the field is Sodashi. The pure white filly is unbeaten and has already brought home top prize in two Grade 1 events.

Here is a look across the standouts of the field:

Sodashi: Sodashi's performance is nothing less of spectacular. She's a two-time Grade 1 champion at this young age, and unbeaten from five starts. All but her debut was at the graded stakes level as she jumped from her first outing to two Grade 3 events before taking on the 2-year-pinnacle Hanshin Juvenile Fillies. Last out, she captured her second Grade 1 with victory in the Oka Sho. Experience at Tokyo came in her second Grade 3, the Artemis Stakes, but the question this time is whether she can handle the distance. Her winning margins have never been more than a few lengths and in her two G1 wins, she was over the line in first by but a nose, then a neck. It could be her keen sense of competition, but it could be an indication that 2,400 meters, 600 meters longer than she's ever experienced, may be out of her reach. Adding to the questions is the fact that she's the daughter of Kurofune, whose progeny have claimed 40 graded stakes races, but all over no more than 1,800 meters. With her win of the Oka Sho, Sodashi became only the third filly to win the race unbeaten. If she can claim the Oaks, she'll be the 16th to do so with a pristine record, and only the third filly to claim the first two legs of the filly triple crown unbeaten.

“She was strong in the Oka Sho,” said trainer Naosuke Sugai. “Often when there's a lot of Deep Impact progeny in the race, the question is how well others will measure up in a speed showdown. But she really did well amid them. She came out of the race without a scratch and after that has been at the training center nearly the whole time. She has handled all the work we've given her with ease. She's been more than ideal and, in a good way, nothing has changed. She worked with a partner this week and we made sure to not overdo it and just get her breathing right. There were no problems whatsoever. People ask about the distance, but I've had my sights set on the Oaks from her debut and though she was great in the Oka Sho, I know she can handle more ground. I'm hoping she'll listen well to jockey Hayato Yoshida and not get in any fights with him. She has a lot of power, so I think a track that has a bit of cushion to it would be best.”

Akaitorino Musume: The Oaks distance is also a first for Oka Sho fourth-place finisher Akaitorino Musume. She's only been raced over the mile, from which she has three wins from five starts. All her wins have come at Tokyo and include a first-place in the Grade 3 Daily Hai Queen Cup. Unlike Sodashi, who runs on or close to the pace, Akaitorino Musume likes to settle midfield. Her fourth in the Oka Sho was only 0.2 seconds slower than Sodashi's winning time. Also, Akaitorino Musume has a confidence-boosting pedigree. Sired by Triple Crown champion Deep Impact, and light on her feet as he was, the blue-blooded Akaitorino Musume also has good prospects from her dam, five-time G1 champion Apapane, who landed the Japanese Oaks (and the filly triple crown) in 2010. Apapane was also trained by the Miho-based Sakae Kunieda. Jockey Christophe Lemaire is expected to have the ride and it will be his first time to partner the filly.

Uberleben: A length and a nose behind Cool Cat in the 2,000-meter Grade 2 Sankei Sports Sho Flora Stakes (her most recent race), just a bit further off the top in the Grade 3 Flower Cup and only 0.1 seconds behind Sodashi in the Hanshin Juvenile Fillies, Uberleben has always been in the picture, just not in the winner's circle. In fact, she failed to make the Top 3 only once in her six starts thus far, in the Grade 3 Artemis Stakes over the Tokyo mile. With her far-off-the-pace running style, it's ground she's been wanting, the more the better, just like her sire, the six-G1 champion stayer Gold Ship. Jockey Mirco Demuro, who rode two of her last three starts, is expected in the saddle.

Fine Rouge: A filly by Kizuna, Fine Rouge has only four starts behind her, but has figured in the money in all and won two of them. Started over a 1,200-meter sprint, she broke her maiden next out with a furlong more, then aced the Grade 3 Fairy Stakes over the mile. Last out was the Oka Sho, where she crossed the line in third place only 0.1 seconds behind Sodashi. Based at Miho, she's already well traveled, starting at a different venue each time she raced. Tokyo is where she notched her first win, but 2,400 meters is a huge leap up. She has shown versatility and good racing sense and owns a mean final kick. Though her dam was a winning sprinter, her Derby-winning sire, and Jockey Yuichi Fukunaga in the saddle gunning for his fourth Oaks victory, should help her to stay the distance.

Stellaria: Another Kizuna filly who has impressed and one that is taking on her first Grade 1, is Stellaria. She hasn't reached the heights of several of the other competitors, but she has finished in the top three in all but one of her six starts and has recorded the field's top speed over the final three furlongs in all but one as well. She's been consistent over a range of distances from 1,400 to 2,000 meters and has proven well-suited to the Tokyo course, where she picked up a second in the Begonia Sho and, following a slow break, a sixth-place finish 0.3 seconds behind the winner in the Grade 3 Queen Cup, both over the mile. She is primed with a 1:58.0 win of the Wasurenagusa Sho over the Hanshin 2,000 meters. In the last 10 runnings of the Oaks, three fillies (including Loves Only You in 2019) coming off a win of the Wasurenagusa Sho, went on to win the Oaks. Although Yuichi Fukunaga rode her last four races, this time Stellaria is to be partnered with jockey Yuga Kawada for the first time. Kawada, who has 10 graded wins so far this year, last won the Oaks in 2012, when he joined up with Gentildonna for the first time.

Kukuna: Her sixth in the Oka Sho was the only time this daughter of King Kamehameha missed the board. Kukuna has done well in two Grade 3 races at Tokyo, a second to Sodashi in the Artemis Stakes, and a close third in the Queen Cup. Though Kukuna has only been raced over 1,500-1,600 meters, she is out of the Deep Impact mare Culminar, who, in 2015, was second in the Oka Sho and third in the Oaks only 0.2 seconds off the winner. The extra distance should be welcome and young jockey Takeshi Yokoyama, who made his debut as a jockey only four years ago but already No. 7 in the JRA Jockeys Rankings, is slated for the ride.

Others to keep an eye on are:

Cool Cat, a big Screen Hero filly weighing in at 506 kg last out, captured the Grade 2 Flora Stakes. Following her winning debut, she has done better each time she's gotten more ground and looks to welcome the extra two furlongs. Her ability to race from a number of positions and her suitability to Tokyo should work in her favor. The Orfevre-sired Slyly returned after two and a half months, looked much improved and finished second in the Flora Stakes. Further improvement is expected. Tagano Passion, by King Kamehameha, is 3-1-1 over starts in the 1,800-2,000 meters range and coming off a win of the Sweetpea Stakes over the Tokyo 1,800 meters. Art de Vivre, also with only three starts, all over the mile, finished fifth in the Oka Sho and is 1-2 at Tokyo. With the trip from Ritto, her condition on raceday will be key.

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Not one of the 68 horses Sodashi has faced through her five career starts have managed to finish ahead of her, even if she never wins by a space. The Makoto Kaneko runner debuted with a 2 1/2-length victory over 1800 metres last summer, but has since been restricted to the metric mile, her defeat of Satono Reinas (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) in the G1 Hanshin Juvenile Fillies securing her divisional honours. She made her seasonal debut in the G1 Oka Sho (Japanese 1000 Guineas), raced prominently throughout and just held a late lunge from the outposted Satono Reinas to remain undefeated, if only just. Sunday's trip looms a question mark for Sodashi, and to be fair, most of the field, but trainer Naosuke Sugai is bullish on Sodashi's chances.

“People ask about the distance, but I've had my sights set on the Oaks from her debut and though she was great in the Oka Sho, I know she can handle more ground,” he said. “I'm hoping she'll listen well to jockey Hayato Yoshida and not get in any fights with him. She has a lot of power, so I think a track that has a bit of cushion to it would be best.”

A half-dozen of those who ran behind Sodashi in the Guineas return to see if they can turn the tables here.

Fine Rouge (Jpn) (Kizuna {Jpn}), who won her maiden at second asking at headquarters last October, sat a midfield trip in the Oka Sho and struck a bit of interference in the straight before staying on to be a close third. She has the right to improve second-up.

“I rode her in fast work this week in between two training partners,” commented jockey Yuichi Fukunaga. “She was listening and responding to my cues well. I think she's in excellent condition. The competition is strong but her racing in the Oka Sho was totally on par with the horses that finished ahead of her.”

Akaitorino Musume (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}), a daughter of 2010 Filly Triple Crown winner Apapane (Jpn) (King Kamehameha {Jpn}) narrowly defeated Art de Vivre (Jpn) (King Kamehameha {Jpn}) in the G3 Daily Hai Queen Cup (1600mT) Feb. 13 and exits a fourth to Sodashi and one spot ahead of Art de Vivre in the Guineas while never looking truly dangerous.

Kukuna (Jpn) (King Kamehameha {Jpn}) is an intriguing upset possibility. Though she only owns a single victory from sixt trips to the post, she has held her own against some of these, including a close third as the favorite in the aforementioned Queen Cup. The Carrot Farm galloper raced in a detached last for the first half of the Guineas, but she was running hard through the final stages, and despite crossing the line in sixth position, clocked a slick :33.2 for her final 600 metres. That time was second only to the :32.9 turned in by the Japanese Derby-bound Satono Reinas and was 0.6 seconds faster than Sodashi.

Uberleben (Jpn) (Gold Ship {Jpn}) will have her fair share of supporters off a late-on-the-scene third in the G2 Flora S. (2000mT), a local trial Apr. 25, in which Cool Cat (Jpn) (Screen Hero {Jpn}) outlasted longshot Slyly (Jpn) (Orfevre {Jpn}) by a length.

WATCH: Sodashi makes it five in a row in the Oka Sho

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