“This filly is a completely different type of horse comparing to her famous sister, but she has good potential in her own right to become a good sprinter,” said winning jockey Yuga Kawada. “While still winless in grade-level race coming into this, I felt she had a good chance.”

The third betting choice at just under 4-1, Mama Cocha bounced away beautifully from gate six and raced fairly handy as the fleet-footed American-bred Jasper Krone (Frosted)–who defeated Mama Cocha in the Aug. 20 G3 Kitakyushu Kinen–showed the way early from T M Spada (Jpn) (Red Spada {Jpn}). Mad Cool was also forwardly placed, with Namura Clair off his flank and Mama Cocha in the three-wide line as they approached the turn. Kawada allowed his mount to roll up three wide leaving the 600-metre peg and was more or less on even terms at the top of the straight, but despite having gone the opening half-mile in :44.5, Jasper Krone was still battling hard at the fence. Mama Cocha finally got the better of that tussle, but Mad Cool emerged from between rivals and looked to perhaps nose in front in the dying strides, but was on the losing end of a tight photo. It was the second straight win in the race for trainer Yasutoshi Ikee, who saddled Gendarme (Kitten's Joy) to an upset victory 12 months ago.

Whereas Sodashi was an instant hit, securing championship honours in her first two seasons at the races, Mama Cocha had been slower to come around. Group 3-placed at age two, the filly strung together three wins in the lower grades late last year, but was found out in a pair of group efforts over the 1600 metres. She recorded her first black-type success in a 1400-metre contest at Kyoto in May and ran on well to just miss behind all-the-way winner Jasper Krone last time out.

Kawada feels there is better still to come.

“She still has a lot of room for improvement and there were moments where I had to be careful in keeping her in good rhythm while she was forced out slightly by pressure from the horses in the inside between the last two corners,” the leading rider commented. “She did respond well though when challenged at the straight and I am glad that she was able to sustain her bid to the wire to claim the win.”

Pedigree Notes:

Mama Cocha is the 20th winner at group level for the French Deputy stallion Kurofune, who also counts 2008 Sprinters heroine Sleepless Night (Jpn) among his now seven elite-level scorers. The late King Kamehameha (Jpn) has now accounted for 30 individual group winners as a broodmare, including 10 G1SWs, among them Dubai World Cup hero and GI Breeders' Cup Classic-bound Ushba Tesoro (Jpn) (Orfevre {Jpn}).

Though she never earned black-type, Mama Cocha's dam Buchiko had a cult following of her own, based mostly on her physical appearance, but she was something other than an abject failure at the races, with four wins and three minor placings from 16 starts. Buchiko's half-sister Yukichan (Jpn) (Kurofune) was a three-time listed winner on the dirt, while her half-sister Marshmallow (Jpn) (Kurofune) produced dual Group 3 winner Hayayakko (King Kamehameha {Jpn}). Shirayukihime is also the third dam of Meikei Yell (Jpn) (Mikki Isle {Jpn}), fifth in Sunday's race.

Buchiko is the dam of the white 2-year-old colt Kalpa (Jpn) (Maurice {Jpn}), third on Hakodate debut July 9, a yearling dark bay colt by the same sire and foaled a white Maurice filly Feb. 9.

We can't forget the lovely Buchiko! https://t.co/vAaK2s2FBb pic.twitter.com/F462sYWYrj

— Alex H. (@hmlaa) October 1, 2023

Sunday, Nakayama, Japan
SPRINTERS S.-G1, ¥328,860,000, Nakayama, 10-1, 3yo/up, 1200mT, 1:08, gd/fm.
1–MAMA COCHA (JPN), 123, f, 4, by Kurofune
1st Dam: Buchiko (Jpn), by King Kamehameha (Jpn)
2nd Dam: Shirayukihime (Jpn), by Sunday Silence
3rd Dam: Wave Wind, by Topsider
1ST GROUP WIN. 1ST GROUP 1 WIN. O-Kaneko Makoto Holdings Co Ltd; B-Kaneko Makoto Holdings Inc; T-Yasutoshi Ikee; J-Yuga Kawada; ¥173,402,000. Lifetime Record: 13-6-2-2, ¥284,449,000. *Full to Sodashi (Jpn), Ch. 2yo & 3yo Filly, MG1SW-Jpn, $5,346,186. Click for the free Equineline.com catalog-style pedigree.
2–Mad Cool (Ire), 128, c, 4, Dark Angel (Ire)–Mad About You (Ire), by Indian Ridge (Ire). 1ST GROUP 1 BLACK-TYPE. (€225,000 Wlg '19 GOFNOV). O-Sunday Racing; B-Moyglare Stud Farm Ltd; ¥68,972,000.
3–Namura Clair (Jpn), 123, f, 4, Mikki Isle (Jpn)–Sun Queen, by Storm Cat. O/B-Mutsuhiro Namura; ¥43,486,000.
Margins: NO, 1, 1. Odds : 3.90, 13.00, 1.90.
Also Ran: Jasper Krone, Meikei Yell (Jpn), Win Marvel (Jpn), Aguri (Jpn), Pixie Knight (Jpn), Naran Huleg (Jpn), Kimiwa Queen (Jpn), A Shin Spotter (Jpn), Dolce More (Jpn), All at Once (Jpn), T M Spada (Jpn), Jubilee Head (Jpn), Mozu Meimei (Jpn). Click for the JRA chart.

The post Sodashi Sis Spectacular In Sprinters appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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Third choice at 7-2 in this Group 1 bow, Vela Azul raced in the back half of the field as Unicorn Lion (Ire) (No Nay Never) cut out steady fractions of :24 flat and :48.80. In close quarters entering the clubhouse turn, the Shiraoi Farm-bred was in a good rhythm, and held his position as he edged up to midpack. The pacesetter threw in the towel with a quarter mile remaining, as several foes loomed up with chances in the straight.

Stonewalled behind a wall of horses in upper stretch, gaps kept slamming in Moore's face, and it was not until the 200-metre mark, that a razor-thin hole appear. Just as Moore was sending Vela Azul through, that too, disappeared, and the Englishman redirected his charge back toward the inside. Miraculously a path opened 100 metres from home, and Vela Azul bulled his way through, hitting the front in the dying strides to clinch the victory. Favoured at 12-5, Shahryar, too, came from well off the pace, to master Weltreisende (Jpn) (Dream Journey {Jpn}) who had briefly anchored the vanguard and was a neck back in third. Tom Marquand was a half-length behind aboard Japanese Filly Triple Crown Winner Daring Tact (Jpn) (Epiphaneia {Jpn}) in fourth. 2022 G1 Grand Prix de Paris scorer Onesto (Ire) (Frankel {GB})'s momentum was halted 400 metres from the wire, and he also lacked racing room in deep stretch to take seventh.

“He broke OK,”said trainer Kunihiko Watanabe. “The pace was rather slow, but my horse has a good late charge and I trusted him to make a good run and. He was in good condition coming into this race but he exceeded our expectation. He is five years' old but he gets better and better and still has room for improvement. The reason for racing him on dirt early in his career was because he had leg issues [fractures] as a young colt and in order to race him with less risk he was raced on dirt. However, I did think he had an aptitude to race well on turf and it was only a matter of timing as to when to shift to turf racing.”

“I was very lucky to ride a talented horse,” said Moore, who was winning his second Japan Cup after piloting Gentildonna (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) to her second consecutive edition in 2013. “The pace was very steady for the Japan Cup. The horse never had much room, but when he did he quickened up very well so he was very impressive today. I had a good horse that got me out front and we had a nice spot–it wasn't too far off the pace and following a good horse, the horse in front was having to wait and I was having to wait [too], and when he found a bit of room he quickened up very well. I suppose for today being towards the inside wasn't a disadvantage.”

Making his first 16 starts on dirt, without a black-type race on his resume, although he did win once at three and once last term, Vela Azul became an entirely different creature switched to firm turf second up this year, running off with the Awaji Tokubetsu over 2600 metres in March. Third in both the Sunshine S. and Ryokufu S. at Nakayama in April and Tokyo in May, respectively, the 5-year-old sealed the first half of his season with an 1 3/4-length score in the June S. over course and distance on June 11. He returned on Oct. 10 to take the G2 Kyoto Daishoten from off the pace at Hanshin by 2 1/2 lengths in 2:24.30 against several of these as second favourite.

Pedigree Notes

Tops of a trio of stakes winners for his G1 Japanese Derby/G1 Tenno Sho (Autumn)-winning sire, Eishin Flash, Vela Azul is the son of King's Best's first scorer at Group 1 level. He becomes the fifth top-shelf victor for the French Deputy horse Kurofune as a broodmare sire.

The sixth of seven foals of racing age and one of five winners for his dual-winning dam who did her best work when breaking her maiden in the mud going 1800 metres at Hanshin at three and over a fast dirt strip at Fukushima over 1800 metres later that year, Vela Azul is by some margin the best of the septet. Vela Blanca (Jpn) (Kurofune)'s latest progeny is a yearling filly by World Ace (Jpn), and, although she was covered by Bago (Fr) later that spring, she did not produce a foal this term.

Second dam Admire Sunday (Jpn) (Sunday Silence), runner-up at listed level, did an admirable job in the paddocks with five black-type horses to her credit led by G1 Shuka Sho heroine and Japanese Champion 3-Year-Old Filly Adventura (Jpn) (Jungle Pocket {Jpn}). Adventura's full-sister, Tall Poppy (Jpn) (Jungle Pocket {Jpn}), was also a Classic winner and a champion of her generation as a juvenile. Third dam Moon Indigo (El Gran Senor), herself a half-sister to Group 1 winner Moonlight Dance (Alysheba), is a product of French champion and Group 1 winner Madelia (Fr) (Caro {Ire}), who claimed both the 1977 French 1000 Guineas and the French Oaks alongside the Prix Saint-Alary.

Sunday, Tokyo, Japan
JAPAN CUP-G1, ¥765,580,000, Tokyo, 11-27, 3yo/up, 2400mT, 2:23.70, fm.
1–VELA AZUL (JPN), 126, h, 5, Eishin Flash (Jpn)
                1st Dam: Vela Blanca (Jpn), by Kurofune
                2nd Dam: Admire Sunday (Jpn), by Sunday Silence
                3rd Dam: Moon Indigo, by El Gran Senor
1ST GROUP 1 WIN. O-Carrot Farm; B-Shiraoi Farm (Jpn);
T-Kunihiko Watanabe; J-Ryan Moore. ¥403,906,000. Lifetime
Record: 22-6-4-5. Werk Nick Rating: A+++. *Triple Plus*. Click
   for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Click for the
   free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Shahryar (Jpn), 126, c, 4, Deep Impact (Jpn)–Dubai Majesty,
by Essence of Dubai. O-Sunday Racing; B-Northern Farm (Jpn);
¥161,116,000.
3–Weltreisende (Jpn), 126, h, 5, Dream Journey (Jpn)–
Mandela (Ger), by Acatenango (Ger). O-Sunday Racing; B-Northern Farm (Jpn); ¥100,558,000.
Margins: 3/4, NK, HF. Odds: 3.50, 2.40, 8.50.
Also Ran: Daring Tact (Jpn), Danon Beluga (Jpn), Grand Glory (GB), Onesto (Ire), Karate (Jpn), Tunnes (Ger), Uberleben (Jpn), Heart's Histoire (Jpn), Shadow Diva (Jpn), Trust Kenshin (Jpn), T O Royal (Jpn), Simca Mille (Ire), Unicorn Lion (Ire), Boccherini (Jpn), Ridge Man (Jpn). Click for the JRA chart & video.

Ryan Moore is simply world class!

The top jockey times it perfectly aboard Vela Azul to win his second Japan Cup @TomMarquand and Daring Tact finish 4th.pic.twitter.com/Q62mqYxjrt

— Champions Series (@ChampionsSeries) November 27, 2022

The post Blue Is The Colour In Japan Cup, As Euros Strike Out appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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Breaking alertly from stall 5, the fourth betting choice settled in along the inside in a close-up fourth before moving slightly outward for the stretch run. Emerging from the pack passing the 200-meter pole, the 4-year-old caught pacesetter Rosa Noir (Jpn) (Manhattan Café {Jpn}) late and drew clear to win by two lengths over the closing Fine Rouge (Jpn) (Kizuna (Jpn}). Resistencia (Jpn) (Daiwa Major {Jpn}) was a neck back in third, nosing out the pacesetter.

Sodashi reeled off four consecutive wins at two, capping off the season with a win in the G1 Hanshin Juvenile Fillies while earning a championship in the process. Victorious in the G1 Oka Sho (Japanese 1000 Guineas) in her sophomore debut, the striking grey was well beaten in the Japanese Oaks at Tokyo in May but bounced back to take the G2 Sapporo Kinen later that summer. Well beaten in her final two starts of the season in the Oct. 17 G1 Shuka Sho and G1 Champion's Cup Dec. 5, she returned at four with a credible third over the course in the Feb. 20 G1 February S. last time out.

Sunday, Tokyo, Japan
VICTORIA MILE-G1, ¥253,400,000, Tokyo, 5-15, 4yo & up fillies, 1600mT, 1:32.20, firm
1–SODASHI (JPN), 121, f, 4, by Kurofune
1st Dam: Buchiko (Jpn), by King Kamehameha (Jpn)
2nd Dam: Shirayukihime (Jpn), by Sunday Silence
3rd Dam: Wave Wind, by Topsider
O-Makoto Kaneko Holdings; B-Northern Farm; T-Naosuke
Sugai; J-Hayato Yoshida; ¥133,780,000. Lifetime Record:
Ch. 2yo & 3yo Filly-Jpn, 11-7-0-1. *Full to Mama Cocha (Jpn), GSP-Jpn.
2–Fine Rouge (Jpn), 121, f, 4, Kizuna (Jpn)-Passion Rouge (Jpn),
by Boston Harbor. (¥33,000,000 wnlg '18 JRHAJUL). O-Genichi
Mutsui; B-Northern Farm; ¥53,080,000.
3–Resistencia (Jpn), 121, m, 5, Daiwa Major (Jpn)–Malacost-
umbrada (Arg), by Lizard Island. O-Carrot Farm; B- Northern
Farm; ¥33,540,000.
Margins: 4, NK, NK; Odds: 0.30, 74.20, 13.70.
Also Ran: Rosa Noir (Jpn), Songline (Jpn), Daring Tact (Jpn), Ablaze (Jpn), AkaiIto (Jpn), Shadow Diva (Jpn), Miss New York (Jpn), Divina (Jpn), Lei Papale (Jpn), Terzetto (Jpn), Andvaranaut (Jpn), Des Ailes (Jpn), Kurino Premium (Jpn), Magic Castle (Jpn), Meisho Mimosa (Jpn).
Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Click for the JRA chart and video.

The post Sodashi Tops Victoria Mile appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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Having registered two G1 wins on turf, including the Oka Sho (Japanese 1,000 Guineas) in April, Japan's 'idol horse' will switch surface to contest the G1 Champions Cup at Chukyo on Dec. 5.

Trainer Naosuke Sugai is taking the route knowing she is bred from a family of dirt winners. Her sire Kurofune won the Japan Cup Dirt in 2001, and her mother Buchiko also scored all four wins in the dirt.

Sugai referred to her pedigree in announcing he would “try it once” and “keep an eye on it” with the race set be run over her ideal distance of 1,800m [9f], adding there would be more options for her if the switch proves successful.

Sodashi, also referred to as a 'unicorn', has become one of Japan's most popular horses, not just because of her rare color but on the track where she has established a record of six wins from eight starts.

She became the first officially white horse to win a G1 during an unbeaten two-year-old campaign and, in addition to winning the Oka Sho, defeated Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf winner Loves Only You in the G2 Sapporo Kinen in September.

She suffered her two defeats in the Japan Oaks and Shuka Sho last time out when she banged her mouth on the starting gate and subsequently had a tooth removed.

This story was reprinted with permission by Horse Racing Planet. Find the original piece and more content here.

The post Japan: All-White Sodashi Makes The Switch To Dirt In Dec. 5 Champions Cup appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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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.

The post Unbeaten White Filly Sodashi Will Be Tested For Stamina In Sunday’s Japanese Oaks appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Second choice in the wagering at 5-2 versus Satono Reinas's 2-1 favouritism, the striking white filly jumped well and found an ideal position tracking Stutti (Jpn) (Maurice {Jpn}) from the fence in second. Passed by several foes to sit fourth entering the far turn, Sodashi split horses in upper stretch, took command from distance relation and new leader Meikei Yell (Jpn) (Mikki Isle {Jpn}) at the 200-metre mark and flashed home to win by a neck.

Satono Reinas broke a step slowly from the widest gate in 18, and was trapped very wide near the rear of the field for the backstretch run. She started to weave up in between horses by the 300-metre mark, and let down strongly out in the centre of the course to just miss. Fine Rouge (Jpn) (Kizuna {Jpn}) also rallied well from midfield to take third, a half-length back. Akaitorino Musume (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) was another neck back in fourth.

“It's a great feeling,” said pilot Hayato Yoshida, who was celebrating his first Classic win and third Group 1 win. “There was a lot of pressure with many doubting how strong a white filly could be, so I'm thrilled we were able to prove them wrong. I was a bit worried that the fast track would be a disadvantage, but she responded beautifully and ran well holding off the others closing in on us which I saw and made me driver her to the wire. Her potential is limitless and I look forward to her future starts.”

Sodashi won on debut at Hakodate going 1800 metres on July 12 and stepped up to take the G3 Sapporo Nisai S. on Sept. 5. She added yet another win in the G3 Artemis S. at Tokyo on Halloween cutting back to 1600 metres for the first time and sealed her championship season with a victory over her rival Satono Reinas in the Hanshin Juvenile Fillies on Dec. 13.

Pedigree Notes

The first foal out of the four-time winner and popular painted wonder Buchiko, Sodashi has a 2-year-old full-sister. Her dam is a half-sister to Japanese MSW Yukichan (Jpn) (Kurofune), the granddam of G2 Tulip Sho, G3 Kokura Nisai S. and G3 Fantasy S. heroine Meikei Yell (Jpn) (Mikki Isle {Jpn}), who ran last in the Japanese 1000 Guineas behind Sodashi on Sunday. Buchiko was barren to the cover of Maurice (Jpn) for 2020, but returned to that stallion last spring.

Fourth dam Storm and Sunshine (Star de Naskra), who struck in the 1986 GII Test S. and GIII Post-Deb S., foaled GII Bel Air H. hero Smile Again (Wild Again), SW & MGSP Halo Sunshine (Halo) and SW & MGSP Montecito (Seeking the Gold). The last-named threw SW and G3 Give Thanks S. and G3 Athasi S. runner-up Bunairgead (Ire) (New Approach {Ire}).

Sunday, Hanshin, Japan
OKA SHO (JAPANESE 1000 GUINEAS)-G1, ¥237,870,000, Hanshin, 4-11, 3yo, f, 1600mT, 1:31.10 (NCR), fm.
1–SODASHI (JPN), 121, f, 3, by Kurofune
           1st Dam: Buchiko (Jpn), by King Kamehameha (Jpn)
           2nd Dam: Shirayukihime (Jpn), by Sunday Silence
           3rd Dam: Wave Wind, by Topsider
O-Makoto Kaneko Holdings; B-Northern Farm (Jpn); T-Naosuke
Sugai; J-Hayato Yoshida. ¥131,859,000. Lifetime Record: Ch.
2yo Filly-Jpn, 5-5-0-0. Werk Nick Rating: F. Click for the
   eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Satono Reinas (Jpn), 121, f, 3, Deep Impact (Jpn)
           1st Dam: Balada Sale (Arg), by Not For Sale (Arg)
           2nd Dam: La Balada (Arg), by Confidential Talk
           3rd Dam: La Baraca (Arg), by Mariache II (Arg)
(¥100,000,000 Wlg '18 JRHAJUL). O-Satomi Horse Company;
B-Northern Farm (Jpn); ¥49,170,000.
3–Fine Rouge (Jpn), 121, f, 3, Kizuna (Jpn)
           1st Dam: Passion Rouge (Jpn), by Boston Harbor
           2nd Dam: Sexy Coconuts (Jpn), by Dance in the Dark (Jpn)
           3rd Dam: Coco Passion (Fr), by Groom Dancer
(¥33,000,000 Wlg '18 JRHAJUL). O-Genichi Mutsui; B-Northern
Farm (Jpn); ¥29,595,000.
Margins: NK, HF, NK. Odds: 2.60, 2.30, 14.30.
Also Ran: Akaitorino Musume (Jpn), Art de Vivre (Jpn), Kukuna (Jpn), Stutti (Jpn), Enthusiasm (Jpn), Ho O Ixelles (Jpn), Minnie Isle (Jpn), Ginestra (Jpn), Dtripe (Jpn), Elizabeth Tower (GB), Blue Bird (Jpn), Songline (Jpn), Shigeru Pink Dia (Jpn), Yoka Yoka (Jpn), Meikei Yell (Jpn).
Click for the JRA chart & video or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.

The post Classic Laurels For Kurofune’s Sodashi appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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The daughter of the grey American-bred Kurofune set a new course record of 1:31.1 for the 1,600 meters (about one mile). Owned by her breeder, Kaneko Makoto Holdings Co. Ltd. and trained by Naosuke Sugai, Sodashi was ridden to victory by Hayato Yoshida. She was the second choice in the wagering behind Satono Reinas, a Deep Impact filly ridden by Christophe Lemaire.

Sodashi broke quickly and was prominent throughout the Oka Sho, traveling along the rail in third or fourth position on the right-handed course while Satono Reinas did not get away cleanly and was far back in the field 18. After reaching the straight, Yoshida shifted Sodashi off the rail and found a seam in the three path, taking command with about 300 meters remaining and then just having enough to withstand the late run of  Satono Reinas, who was flying in the final yards and just missed.

The Oka Sho is the first leg of the fillies' Triple Crown in Japan, which continues with the Yushun Himba (Japanese Oaks at 2,400 meters) and the Shuka Sho  (2,000 meters). Six fillies have swept the series, most recently by Daring Tact, who became the first undefeated filly to complete the sweep last year.

“It's a great feeling,” said jockey Yoshida. “There was a lot of pressure with many doubting how strong a white filly could be, so I'm thrilled we were able to prove them wrong. I was a bit worried that the fast track would be a disadvantage, but she responded beautifully and ran well holding off the others closing in on us which I saw and made me drive her to the wire. Her potential is limitless and I look forward to her future starts.”

Sodashi, produced from the white King Kamehameha mare Buchiko, is now undefeated in five career starts.

With Japanese racecourse attendance still limited, only 3,137 were on hand to witness Sodashi's victory. Wagering on the Oka Sho totaled roughly $166.7 million and the day's handle  was $247.7 million.

The post Champion White Filly Sodashi Remains Undefeated With Oka Sho Triumph To Kick Off Japanese Classics appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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The top-level action remains at Hanshin for the 81st running of the fillies' 3-year-old classic Oka Sho (Japanese 1,000 Guineas) on Sunday, April 11. The Grade 1 event is the first race in Japan's filly triple crown and, at 1,600 meters (one mile), is the shortest of the three races.

Twenty four of Japan's top fillies have been nominated to the Oka Sho gate and 18 will make the cut. The winner's prize is JPY105 million (approximately $950,000).

The final field should boast three of the top four finishers in the Grade 1 Hanshin Juvenile Fillies last December and no matter what the racing action, the Oka Sho will look like it's straight from a fairytale, thanks to an appearance by the unbeaten stunning white filly Sodashi. She'll likely be the race favorite and will be meeting Juvenile Fillies runnerup Satono Reinas and fourth-place finisher Meikei Yell once again, as they try to turn the tables on her.

The Oka Sho is not one to favor the favorite. The race No. 1 choice has only won twice in the last 10 runnings and has only made the Top 3 five times. That said, double-digit picks have never won the race in the last decade and have only made the Top 3 twice in the same period.

Following is a look at the expected top picks.

Sodashi – Sodashi is not only the field standout in looks, her record is a stellar 4 for 4, with two of those starts over 1,600 meters. She has a Grade 1 in her cap along with two Grade 3 victories, was awarded the JRA Award for Best Two-Year-Old Filly of 2020, is the first white horse to win a JRA top-level competition, and will be the first white horse to run in a Japan classic race. In addition, the daughter of Kurofune could become only the eighth filly in the history of the Oka Sho to bag the race unbeaten. Sodashi hasn't raced in four months, not since the Hanshin Juvenile Fillies, and a winner of that race hasn't won the Oka Sho since Apapane in 2010. After returning to Ritto, Sodashi has trained primarily up the hill course, and on March 31 clocking 52.4 seconds over the four furlongs, with a final furlong in 11.8 seconds.

“She can be overly sensitive, so we brought her back to the training center early and gave her gate practice and a hard workout last week,” said trainer Naosuke Sugai. “This week, I just plan to breeze her.”

Expected to be in the saddle on Sunday is jockey Hayato Yoshida, currently No. 5 in the jockey standings and gunning for his first win of the Oka Sho.

Satono Reinas – Following Sodashi over the line in second in the Hanshin Juvenile Fillies was Satono Reinas. She lost by a mere nose and that despite being slow out of the gate. But her speed in the final stage topped that of Sodashi's and she was able to make up the lost ground. Though she debuted a month earlier than Sodashi, the Deep Impact-sired Satono Reinas has had only three starts, all over the mile, and from them a record of 1-1-2. Based at the Miho stable of trainer Sakae Kunieda, Satono Reinas worked on March 31 over the woodchip flat course under current leading jockey Christophe Lemaire. She looked powerful, clocking 64.4 seconds over five furlongs with Lemaire urging her on only a bit just before the finish. Satono Reinas is also unraced since the Hanshin Juvenile Fillies, as Kunieda says he wanted to give her a rest.

“She'd earned enough so I decided to give her some time off with an eye to this race,” Kunieda said. “She hasn't changed that much physically from her last race, but she's much more relaxed now and has matured mentally.”

Nonetheless, the long trip from Miho to Hanshin was never a worry. Last time, Satono Reinas recorded no significant change in weight and remained calm throughout.

Meikei Yell – Meikei Yell suffered her first and only loss of her five-race career in her fourth start and first mile, the Hanshin Juvenile Fillies. Drawn wide and missing the break, she was forced to race from much farther back than her usual fourth position. Able to make up ground, however, she finished only 0.2 seconds behind Sodashi in fourth place. Sired by Mikki Isle, who usually led the field in his races and captured two Grade 1s wire to wire, Meikei Yell took on the Grade 2 Tulip Sho at Hanshin on March 6 and finished in a dead heat with Elizabeth Tower. The biggest concern with Meikei Yell is her reluctance to settle. In the Tulip Sho, she traveled in fourth position but jumped into the lead early from the final turn.

“She did a good job letting off some steam with that last start and that made her easier to prepare this time,” says trainer Hidenori Take. “I have no concerns about her physical condition, but key will be getting her to run more balanced.”

With regular rider Yutaka Take sidelined with injuries, pegged for the ride is jockey Norihiro Yokoyama, who has 27 G1 wins to his name but has yet to notch the Oka Sho. “If Norihiro Yokoyama is able to bring out her best, we'll just have to see how it goes,” says trainer Take.

Akaitorino Musume – Daughter to 2005 Triple Crown winner Deep Impact and 2010 filly triple crown champion Apapane, Akaitorino Musume has some big shoes to fill. Like Satono Reinas, she's from the stable of Sakae Kunieda, and though chronically slow from the gate, has nevertheless notched three wins from four starts, with only one finish off the board. All of her outings have been over the mile and last out mid-February she topped Art de Vivre by a neck in winning the Grade 3 Queen Cup at Tokyo. Slow from the gate, she was still able to travel farther forward than usual in midfield and took the lead about halfway down the stretch. With three starts at Tokyo and one at Niigata, Akaitorino Musume will be racing to the right for the first time. It will also be her first time to haul from her Miho base to western Japan.

“Even though she traveled farther forward than before in her last race and moved earlier, I watched it without worry,” says Kunieda. “After that I kept her at the training center, so there hasn't been any gain in weight. I think she's matured both physically and mentally and I'm looking forward to seeing how she'll do to the right and with the long trip to the track.”

Jockey Takeshi Yokoyama is expected to have the ride Sunday.

Others to watch are Fine Rouge and Elizabeth Tower. Fine Rouge has been given one furlong longer in each of her three starts and jumped from her maiden win to victory in the Grade 3 Fairy Stakes at Nakayama in mid-January. Since, she has remained at Miho. Her versatility in racing styles and keen racing sense should stand her well.

Elizabeth Tower has had three starts, all over the mile and topped the Grade 2 Tulip Sho at Hanshin last out on March 6. She will most likely be piloted by Osaka Hai winning jockey Yuga Kawada.

In only the second start of her career, Art de Vivre finished second to Akaitorino Musume in the Grade 3 Queen Cup. Based at Ritto, Art de Vivre won her debut racing to the right over the Kyoto mile.

The Maurice-sired Shigeru Pink Ruby shares her dam Moonlight Bay with 2019 Oka Sho runnerup Shigeru Pink Dia and captured the Grade 2 Fillies Revue at Hanshin on March 14. It was her second win from three starts, both wins coming over seven furlongs.

“This time will be one furlong longer, but I'm hoping her excellent maneuverability will stand her well,” says Ritto trainer Kunihiko Watanabe.

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Ridden by Hayato Yoshida, the Kaneko Makoto Holdings Co. homebred trained by Naosuke Sugai nosed out Satono Reinas and Chrisophe Lemaire while favored at odds of 2-1, with Uberleben and Mirco Demuro a neck back in third in the field of 18 Japanese-breds.

Sodashi covered 1,600 meters (one mile) on firm turf in 1:32.40. The win in the Grade 1 Hanshin Juvenile Fillies likely assured her the title of champion 2-year-old filly.

The win was the fourth without a defeat for Sodashi, who was produced from the white mare, Buchiko (registered as white but had spots throughout her body), a daughter of the Kingmambo stallion King Kamehameha. Buchiko was produced from the white mare Shirayukihime, a daughter of the nearly jet-black Sunday Silence.

Sodashi defeated maidens in her July debut, then took both the G3 Sapporo Nisai Stakes in September and the G3 Artemis Stakes in October. After being reluctant to load into the starting gate in the Hanshin Juvenile Fillies, the white filly raced in fourth early, moved to the lead in the final quarter mile then resolutely held off Satono Reinas in the closing stages.

Buchiko is the dam of Sodashi

“Going into the race as favorite was a bit of a load, but I'm thrilled with the outcome,” jockey Yoshida said. 'She hated to even go near the gate but I'm relieved that all went well and that we were able to be positioned just as I hoped. The going affected her good turn of foot but she gave all she had. There is room for improvement, and I hope we can get her ready for next year's classics.”

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The crowd’s pick at 2-1, the undefeated filly balked a bit prior to entering the stalls, but soon settled in fifth as Yoka Yoka (Jpn) (Squirtle Squirt) cut out moderate fractions of :23.20 and :46.80, with the first 1000 metres in :58.70. Sodashi was poised to make her bid and edged closer to the head of affairs on the far turn. She had to wait for a gap, but soon bulled her way through in upper stretch. Satono Reinas rallied up on her inside with less than 50 metres remaining, but Sodashi won the bob and defended her perfect record. Uberleben made a late run on the winner’s outside, but was also thwarted. Fellow late runner Meikei Yell (Jpn) (Mikki Isle {Jpn}) let down at the end as well, which was good for fourth, another half-length back. Yoka Yoka was a staying on fifth.

“Going into the race as favourite was a bit of a load, but I’m thrilled with the outcome,” said pilot Hayato Yoshida. “She hated to even go near the gate but I’m relieved that all went well and that we were able to be positioned just as I hoped. The going affected her good turn of foot but she gave all she had. There is room for improvement, and I hope we can get her ready for next year’s Classics.”

Sodashi first surfaced with a win in an 1800-metre juvenile newcomer race at Hakodate in July, and she progressed to land the G3 Sapporo Nisai S. in a snappy 1:48.2, a new record, on Sept. 5. In her latest effort prior to Sunday’s contest, the white filly blitzed a mile in the G3 Artemis S., covering the 1600 metres in 1:34.90.

Pedigree Notes
The sixth Group 1 winner for her former Japanese Champion 3-Year-Old sire, Sodashi was already the 18th group winner and 35th black-type winner. The four-time winner Buchiko, herself a half-sister to Japanese MSW Yukichan (Jpn) (Kurofune), was a fan favourite during her racing days partially due to her uniquely marked coat, and Sodashi is her first foal. She has a yearling full-sister to Sunday’s Hanshin Juvenile Fillies heroine and a weanling by leading  Japanese freshman sire Maurice (Jpn). Yukichan is the granddam of MGSW Meikei Yell (Jpn) (Mikki Isle {Jpn}), while fourth dam Storm and Sunshine (Star de Naskra) won the GII Test S. and was a half-sister to GSW Smile Again (Wild Again), SW & MGSP Halo Sunshine (Halo), and SW & MGSP Montecito (Seeking the Gold).

Sunday, Hanshin, Japan
HANSHIN JUVENILE FILLIES-G1, ¥125,120,000 (US$1,202,769/£909,405/€993,143), Hanshin, 12-13, 2yo, f, 1600mT, 1:33.10, fm.
1–SODASHI (JPN), 119, f, 2, Kurofune
                1st Dam: Buchiko (Jpn), by King Kamehameha (Jpn)
                2nd Dam: Shirayukihime (Jpn), by Sunday Silence
                3rd Dam: Wave Wind, by Topsider
1ST GROUP 1 WIN. O-Makoto Kaneko Holdings; B-Northern
Farm (Jpn); T-Naosuke Sugai; J-Hayato Yoshida. ¥66,274,000.
Lifetime Record: 4-4-0-0. Werk Nick Rating: F. Click for the
   eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Satono Reinas (Jpn), 119, f, 2, Deep Impact (Jpn)
                1st Dam: Balada Sale (Arg), by Not For Sale (Arg)
                2nd Dam: La Balada (Arg), by Confidential Talk
                3rd Dam: La Baraca (Arg), by Mariache II (Arg)
(¥100,000,000 Wlg ’18 JRHAJUL). O-Satomi Horse Company;
B-Northern Farm (Jpn); ¥26,364,000.
3–Uberleben (Jpn), 119, f, 2, 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)
O-Thoroughbred Club Ruffian; B-Big Red Farm (Jpn);
¥16,182,000.
Margins: NO, NK, HF. Odds: 2.20, 3.40, 29.00.
Also Ran: Meikei Yell (Jpn), Yoka Yoka (Jpn), Opal Moon (Jpn), Geraldina (Jpn), Salvia (Jpn), Aoi Gold (Jpn), Luxon (Jpn), A Shin Hiten (Jpn), Ringoame (Jpn), Win Aglaia (Jpn), Infinite (Jpn), Namura Meter (Jpn), Hula Liona (Jpn), Shigeru Pink Dia (Jpn), Paul Neyron (Jpn).
Click for the JRA chart & video or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.

The post Sodashi Scores Unique Win in Hanshin Juvenile Fillies appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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