Japan’s Triple Crown wraps up this Sunday with the 86th running of the G1 Kikuka Sho (Japanese St. Leger). Run over 3,000 metres at Kyoto Racecourse, the Kikuka Sho is the longest of the three races in the country’s Triple Crown, which also includes the G1 Satsuki Sho (Japanese 2,000 Guineas) and the G1 Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby) in the spring.
Although the race is open to three-year-old colts and fillies, this year’s field will be made up of only colts, with 20 nominees, but only 18 runners permitted to race. Only one of the top three finishers from the first two Classics will be in the field on Sunday, namely Shohei (Saturnalia), who finished third in the Tokyo Yushun won by Croix Du Nord (Kitasan Black).
Trained by Yasuo Tomomichi, Shohei received an automatic ticket for the Kikuka Sho when last seen filling the runner-up spot in one of the key trial races, the G2 Kobe Shimbun Hai.
“The Kobe Shimbun Hai was his first race of the autumn and he went all out,” said Tomomichi. “However, the way the race unfolded worked more for the horse that won. The race has sharpened him up. This week, he worked alone under an assistant and breezed over the polytrack. He looked fresh and eager. I didn’t really feel his power this time, but he is mentally tough and doesn’t give up.
“His competitive spirit is his strongest point. I’d admit that 3,000 metres is a bit long for him, but I’ve been working him behind another horse to help him be better able to handle the distance. Competing against horses of the same age, I don’t foresee any problems. It shouldn’t be a problem if the ground is a bit slow, but I would like the pace to be fairly strong.”
The winner of the Kobe Shimbun Hai, Eri King (Kizuna), reopposes on Sunday, having beaten Shohei by a neck at Hanshin, along with Giovanni (Epiphaneia), who was beaten only two lengths into third.
“Of course, we had the Kikuka Sho in mind when racing in the Kobe Shimbun Hai,” trainer Mitsumasa Nakauchida said of Eri King. “He ran well-balanced and had a good turn of foot in the final stage. I think it was an adequate performance. He showed improvement after that race and his overall condition is better, too. He still isn’t fully mature but, in a test amongst his peers, I think he’s at a good place. I’ll be a bit concerned if the ground is slow. I’m hoping he’ll have firm ground.”
The likely race favourite is the Mizuki Takayanagi-trained Energico (Duramente), who made it three victories from as many starts when winning April’s G2 Aoba Sho at Tokyo, before forfeiting his unbeaten record with a runner-up finish in August’s G3 Niigata Kinen. Back against his own age group on Sunday, he will be ridden by Christophe Lemaire.
“He ran very well last out,” said Takayanagi. “He has a lot of talent and speed and he was able to bring that out. As for the distance this time, he’s able to settle well and, even though he hasn’t had any experience at this distance, I think he’ll handle it.”
He added, “After the Niigata race, he also needed some treatment at the farm. Though I had shipped him to Ritto right away, I could sense he was bothered somewhat by the change in surroundings. He almost went off his feed. Now he’s his usual self. That he’s only raced to the left is only by coincidence, but his balance isn’t the best. It may be a factor this time, but at the training level you can’t see any difference. I’d prefer ground that isn’t too heavy.”
Other notable contenders include the G2 St. Lite Kinen winner Yamanin Bouclier (Kitasan Black), the consistent My Universe (Rey de Oro) and Goltzschtal (Bricks And Mortar), who wasn’t far behind Energico when finishing third in the Aoba Sho.
AloJapan.com