Shuka Sho (Grade 1)
THE Triple Crown is a much revered accolade in Japanese racing circles. The title is reserved for a three-year-old who wins all three of their respective classics, for the female sex, coined as the Triple Tiara. The races include the Oka Sho (1,600 metres), Yushun Himba (2,400 metres) and the Shuka Sho (2,000 metres). Recent winners of the female Triple Crown include Almond Eye (2018) and Gentildonna (2012).
With Covid-19 restrictions on public gatherings being eased in Japan, for the first time since the Grade 1 February Stakes, a restricted number of spectators were allowed into Kyoto Racecourse’s grandstands. An online application and lottery resulted in 778 members of the public admitted to the racecourse.
Daring Tact entered the 25th running of the Grade 1 Shuka Sho with her chance to not only join the greatest fillies in JRA history but also an opportunity to secure her own piece of racing folklore. Never before has an undefeated filly secured the Triple Crown. Daring Tact has maintained a perfect record from her four career starts.
Regular race jockey Kohei Matsuyama once again resumed the partnership with Daring Tact. Drawn in stall 13, the duo broke evenly before being restrained to race in the rear of mid-division. Matsuyama began to move forward along the back straight, entering the home stretch three lengths behind the pace.
Edging towards the centre of the track, the Haruki Sugayama-trained filly hit the front at the furlong marker under a strong drive from Matsuyama. With echoing applause from the socially distanced crowd, Daring Tact passed the line a comfortable length-and-a-quarter winner in front of Magic Castle.
Godolphin’s Soft Fruit completely missed the start and raced last of the 18 runners before unleashing the fastest last-three-furlong sectional time to take the final podium position.
Bred by Hasegawa Farm in the Hidaka area of Hokkaido, Daring Tact is the second produce out of the nine-year-old Daring Bird (King Kamehameha). From the first crop of Japan Cup winner Epiphaneia, she was a €100,000 purchase by Normandy Thoroughbred Racing at the 2018 Select Sale as a yearling.
THE final classic of the year will be run this Sunday, October 25th, the Kikuka Sho (Japanese St. Leger). The name at the forefront of all previews is that of Contrail. Unbeaten in six starts, Contrail is bidding to become the eighth winner of the colts’ Triple Crown in the JRA.
Contrail has been nothing short of sensational in all of his six starts to date, three of which have been at the highest level. An unbeaten Grade 1-winning juvenile, he has excelled in his classic year with foot perfect performances in both the Satuki Sho (2000 Guineas) and the Tokyo Yushun (Derby).
Since his decisive win in the Hopeful Stakes in December 2019, comparisons have been drawn to his sire Deep Impact. Subsequent performances have only fuelled these comparisons to a point where he is firmly believed to be the heir to Deep Impact’s throne as both a racehorse and eventually a sire. The fanfare surrounding the Yoshito Yahagi-trained colt is now at a level rarely seen in Japan, even the colt’s mid-week training reports regularly making the front pages of mainstream media publications.
On all known form and of course providing a clear run, it is difficult to envisage his unblemished record coming under threat in the Kikuka Sho. Contrail is currently 1/10 favourite to maintain his perfect record. A full-field of 18 runners is expected to go to post for the 3,000 metre contest with €1,000,000 on offer to the winner.
Contrail made his autumn reappearance in the Grade 2 Kobe Shimbun Hai on the final weekend in September. Second-placed Weltreisende reopposes Contrail in the Kikuka Sho and is widely believed to be one of his leading dangers. Contrail has convincingly beaten Weltreisende on four occasions.
However, the main danger may prove to come from a colt on a four-time winning streak: Babbit.
From modest beginnings, Babbit has slowly climbed through the JRA ranks to win the St. Lite Kinen last time out to automatically qualify himself for the Kikuka Sho. He was purchased for €40,000 as a two-year-old.