The Japanese Triple Crown for fillies wasn’t conquered in 2022. At the Hanshin Race Course, Stars On Earth had such an unlucky trip in the G1 Shuka Sho that she couldn’t get past third place, while Stunning Rose triumphed on Sunday. A day before, Sodashi had to settle for second place in the G2 Fuchu Himba Stakes in Tokyo, defeated by outsider Izu Jo No Kiseki.
Fuchu Himba Stakes
The G2 turf race attracted a field of fifteen three-year-old and older fillies and mares. They covered the distance of a mile and a furlong, while favourite Sodashi (9-10) was always close to the front. She used the inner gate to settle behind the leader and subsequently took command in the final stretch; however, she couldn’t bring it home.
In the 106,340,000 Yen event, Izu Jo No Kiseki (34-1) belonged among the outsider, but her finish was lethal in the closing stages. Under Yasunari Iwata, the five-year-old navigated successfully through the field to suddenly appear next to Sodashi, bettering her by a head. The Koichi Ishizaka bound bay crossed the wire in 1m 44.50s, leaving Sodashi in second and Andvaranaut (73-10) in third.
As the odds suggest, Izu Jo No Kiseki wasn’t considered dangerous for the favourite in this race. She had never shown anything similar to Saturday’s form, as her previous results at the Graded stage weren’t really interesting.
Fuchu Himba Stakes Horse Race Video
@horseracingtote Izu Ko No Kiseki upsets Sodashi in the Fuchu Himba Stakes at Tokyo #Horseracing #Horseracingtips #Horsesoftiktok #Sports #FYP #Horses #Horse
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Last time out, the daughter of Epiphaneia narrowly delivered in a Listed, so she suggested some form, indeed. Despite the defeat, Sodashi ran another solid race here as she lost the victory only in the final few strides, while third Andvaranaut improved the impression she left when failing to impact the G1 Victoria Mile.
Shuka Sho
The third part of the Japanese Triple Crown for fillies was held over the distance of a mile and two furlongs while offering the purse of 214,800,000 Yen. On the turf surface, Stars On Earth (2-1) was favored in this G1 event after she bagged the previous two legs of the Triple Crown; however, she was unlucky on Sunday.
She got badly hampered at the start, and even though she was flying towards the finish from the rear of the field, she couldn’t complete the Triple Crown as she had to settle for third place. Progressive Stunning Rose (47-10) landed the spoils under Ryusei Sakai upon running in the midfield and taking command in the final stretch. She crossed the wire in 1m 58.60s, defeating second Namur (11-5) by half a length.
Although they finished in an unexpected order, the first trio home in the Shuka Sho oozed class. Stunning Rose is a progressive filly who finished second in the Japanese Oaks last time out, and this time, she left its victress, Stars On Earth, behind.
Shuka Sho Horse Race Video
@horseracingtote Stunning Rose wins the Shuka Sho at Hanshin #Horseracing #Horseracingtips #Horsesoftiktok #Sports #FYP #Horses #Horse
♬ original sound – horseracingtote
The favourite made a heroic bid after getting bumped at the start, which probably cost her the Triple Crown. Still, she lost even the fight for second place as Namur ran another great race here, affirming she definitely belongs among the elite of three-year-old fillies even though she was disappointing in the Japanese 1000 Guineas.
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