Heavy favorite Liberty Island continued to validate her 2022 champion 2-year-old filly status and last month’s triumph in the Oka Sho (G1) (Japanese 1000 Guineas) by staging another dominant performance in the Yushun Himba 2023 (G1) (Japanese Oaks) on Sunday at Tokyo Racecourse.
Yushun Himba Stakes
Grade 1 – Purse $2,335,000 – 2400 meters (1 mile 4 furlongs) miles) – Turf – 3-Year-Old Fillies
As expected this was run at a blistering pace and it was Light Quantum who broke smartly at the gate, and she led the field into the clubhouse turn followed by Kiminonawa Maria and England Eyes, while at the other end of the field, Doe Eyes had bobbled at the gate and was the slowest away.
Out of the clubhouse turn and down the backstretch and the four leaders were surely going too fast as they went four lengths clear. Halfway down the backstretch and the chalk and eventual winner LIBERTY ISLAND was stalking the speed just six lengths of the lead.
Yushun Himba Race Video
@horseracingtote Liberty Island takes the 2023 Yushun Himba (Japanese Oaks) #Horseracing #Horseracingtips #Horsesoftiktok #Horses #Horse #FYP #Sports
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Out of the far turn, the front runners began to tire and as they hit the top of the stretch Ravel widened by about three lengths but with two furlongs to go, Liberty Island moved effortlessly to the leader and when Yuga Kawada said go, the filly showed a blistering turn of speed to go six lengths clear at the wire.
She was only just in front of Harper at the two-furlong pole, so for that one to close for second, just shows what an extraordinary performance we saw from the chalk.
Without a doubt, the winner is one of, if not the best three-year-old filly on the planet at this time.
The 100/1 longshot Dura who was way out the back early was a very strong late closer for third on the wire, with Ravel, who was part of the early speed, hanging tough for the fourth spot.
Yushun Himba 2023 Payouts
| Horse | Win | Place |
| 1. Liberty Island | $1.40 | $1.10 |
| 2. Harper | $1.80 | |
| 3. Dura | $10.90 |
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