No Astral Projection Here, As ‘Stars’ Lands Japanese Oaks

Chances for a 2022 Japanese Fillies' Triple Crown are alive and well after G1 Japanese 1000 Guineas heroine Stars On Earth (Jpn) (Duramente {Jpn}) delivered the Classic double in the G1 Yushun Himba (Japanese Oaks) for Shadai Race Horse and trainer Mizuki Takayanagi at Tokyo Racecourse on Sunday.

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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Gibeon Shocks Kinko Sho at 226-1

The G2 Kinko Sho was supposed to be 2020 Japanese Fillies' Triple Crown winner and heavy favourite Daring Tact (Jpn) (Epiphaneia {Jpn})'s coming out party, but she had to settle for second behind 226-1 Deep Impact (Jpn) horse Gibeon (Jpn).

Able to set off on an uncontested lead, the 6-year-old entire was shadowed by Satono Flag (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) just off his right flank. He dawdled through a half-mile in :49.50 and six furlongs in 1:13.10. Still going easily with four furlongs to go, he caught the more fancied runners sleeping and held on to win by a neck as Daring Tact just missed on the wire. Potager (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) was a half-length back in third, a nose to the good of Hong Kong Group 1 winner Glory Vase (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) in fourth.

The first and third across the wire are both out of mares sourced at the Fasig-Tipton November Sale-Contested was knocked down for $2.3 million in 2012, and Ginger Punch, the dam of Potager, was purchased for $1.6 million in 2009.

Both winless and off the board since winning the G3 Chunichi Shimbun Hai in December of 2018 two starts after a second in the G1 NKH Mile Cup in May of that year, Gibeon was most recently fifth in the Listed Shirafuji S. at Tokyo in his 6-year-old bow on Jan. 30.

Pedigree Notes

One of 170 black-type winners and 135 group winners for his late sire, Gibeon was bred by Shadai Farm and races in the colours of Shadai Race Horse.
The most decorated of GI Acorn S. and GI Test S. heroine Contested's six foals, Gibeon is also one of four winners. Contested has a Deep Impact 2-year-old colt, and she was covered by Isla Bonita (Jpn) and Lord Kanaloa (Jpn) for 2020 and 2021, respectively. Contested is a full-sister to MSW and GII Highlander S. runner-up Mosler (War Front). Under the third dam is GI King's Bishop S. and GI Forego S. hero and sire Pomeroy (Boundary).

Sunday, Chukyo, Japan
KINKO SHO-G2, ¥128,700,000, Chukyo, 3-14, 4yo/up, 2000mT, 2:01.80, sf.
1–GIBEON (JPN), 123, h, 6, Deep Impact (Jpn)
                1st Dam: Contested (MGISW-US, $633,754),
                                by Ghostzapper
                2nd Dam: Gold Vault, by Arch
                3rd Dam: Questress, by Seeking the Gold
O-Shadai Race Horse; B-Shadai Farm (Jpn); T-Hideaki Fujiwara;
J-Atsuya Nishimura. ¥67,700,000. Lifetime Record: G1SP-Jpn,
18-4-2-0. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Werk
   Nick Rating: A+++. *Triple Plus*.
2–Daring Tact (Jpn), 121, f, 4, Epiphaneia (Jpn)–Daring Bird
(Jpn), by King Kamehameha (Jpn). (¥12,000,000 Ylg '18
JRHAJUL). O-Normandy Thoroughbred Racing; B-Hasegawa
Farm (Jpn); ¥27,200,000.
3–Potager (Jpn), 123, c, 4, Deep Impact (Jpn)–Ginger Punch,
by Awesome Again. (¥190,000,000 yrl '18 JRHAJUL) O-Makoto
Kaneko Holdings; B-Northern Farm (Jpn); ¥17,100,000.
Margins: NK, HF, NO. Odds: 226.30, 0.40, 18.80.
Also Ran: Glory Vase (Jpn), Kiseki (Jpn), Sanrei Pocket (Jpn), Satono Flag (Jpn), Persian Knight (Jpn), Jinambo (Jpn), Bravas (Jpn).
Click for the JRA chart & video or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.

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Kingman’s Elizabeth Tower Shares the Spoils in Tulip Sho

Saturday's G2 Tulip Sho, a prep for the upcoming G1 Japanese 1000 Guineas next month, resulted in a dead heat between Nagoya Keiba's Meikei Yell (Jpn) (Mikki Isle {Jpn}) and Shadai Race Horse's Elizabeth Tower (GB) (Kingman {GB}), with the latter the first black-type winner in Japan for her sire.

Very headstrong through the early stages against the fence, Meikei Yell raced just inside a tugging Elizabeth Tower. Yutaka Take gave the signal and Meikei Yell burst through the field to decisively take command with a half-mile remaining and entered the lane with a narrow lead. Elizabeth Tower joined her on the inside 250 metres from home and the duo were inseparable at the wire, with Stutti (Jpn) (Maurice {Jpn}) a neck back in third.

As a juvenile, Meikei Yell landed a Kokura newcomer affair on Aug. 22 and followed up in the G3 Kokura Nisai S. over 1200 metres on Sept. 6. She added the G3 KBS Kyoto Sho Fantasy S. that November and ended her season with a fourth in the G1 Hanshin Juvenile Fillies to her maternal relative Sodashi (Jpn) (Kurofune) on Dec. 13. The Tulip Sho was her 3-year-old bow.

More lightly raced than her rival, Elizabeth Tower saluted at Hanshin versus newcomers on Dec. 19 and was ninth in the Feb. 6 Elfin S. over this trip at Chukyo.

Pedigree Notes
Although unplaced on the racecourse, Shiroinger has hit the jackpot with Meikei Yell, who was winning her third group race on Saturday. She has foaled a juvenile colt by Just a Way and, although her date with Real Impact (Jpn) did not produce a foal, she was covered by Suave Richard (Jpn) last term. Meikei Yell's second dam is the MSW Yukichan (Jpn) (Kurfune), who is a half-sister to Buchiko (Jpn) (King Kamehameha {Jpn}), the dam of last year's Japanese Champion 2-Year-Old Filly, the aforementioned Sodashi.

A daughter of the G1 German Oaks heroine Turfdonna, Elizabeth Tower is her first foal and the 30th black-type winner for her Juddmonte sire. She has a juvenile half-sister by Postponed (Ire) and a yearling half-brother by Kizuna (Jpn). Turfdonna was bred to Kizuna (Jpn) last spring. This is the extended family of Italian champion and Group 1 winner Turfrose (Ger) (Big Shuffle), who is also the dam of Japanese dual Group 2 winner Rosa Gigantea (Jpn) (Fuji Kiseki {Jpn}) and Japanese listed winner Star of Persia (Jpn) (Daiwa Major {Jpn}), who was also group placed. German champion and sire Turfkonig (Ger) (Anfield {Ire}) is under the fourth dam.

 

Saturday, Hanshin, Japan
TULIP SHO-G2, ¥100,200,000, Hanshin, 3-6, 3yo, f, 1600mT, 1:33.80, gd.
1–MEIKEI YELL (JPN), 119, f, 3, by Mikki Isle(Jpn)
                1st Dam: Shiroinger (Jpn), by Harbinger (GB)
                2nd Dam: Yukichan (Jpn), by Kurofune
                3rd Dam: I Shirayukihime (Jpn), by Sunday Silence
(¥26,000,000 Ylg '19 JRHAJUL). O-Nagoya Keiba; B-Northern
Farm (Jpn); T-Hidenori Take; J-Yutaka Take. ¥37,040,000.
Lifetime Record: 5-4-0-0. Werk Nick Rating: A+. Click for the
   eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Click for the
   free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
1–ELIZABETH TOWER (GB), 119, f, 3, Kingman (GB)
                1st Dam: Turfdonna (Ger) (G1SW-Ger, $343,824),
                                by Doyen (Ire)
                2nd Dam: Turfaue (Ger), by Big Shuffle
                3rd Dam: Turfquelle (Ire), by Shaadi
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN. 1ST GROUP WIN. O-Shadai Race Horse;
B-Shadai Farm (Jpn); T-Tomokazu Takano; J-Yuga Kawada.
¥37,040,000. Lifetime Record: 3-2-0-0. Click for the
   free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Werk Nick
   Rating: B+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
3–Stutti(Jpn), 119, f, 3, Maurice (Jpn)–Lilavati (Jpn), by Zenno
Rob Roy (Jpn). O-Carrot Farm; B-Northern Farm (Jpn);
¥13,120,000.
Margins: DH, NK, NO. Odds: 0.60, 7.00, 7.40.
Also Ran: Tagano Diana (Jpn), Shirley Poppy (Jpn), Shadow Eris (Jpn), Tiny Romance (Jpn), Malina (Jpn), Rare Champagne (Jpn), Ten Happy Rose (Jpn), Barikono Yume (Jpn), A Shin Pixel (Jpn).
Click for the JRA chart or video.

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