Queen Elizabeth II Cup (Group 1)

After a great weekend at the Breeders’ Cup for Japan, tomorrow sees the domestic Group 1 action return to the Hanshin, where the Queen Elizabeth II Cup will be run over 2,200 metres.

There are seventeen runners for this year’s Queen Elizabeth II Cup, including recent Grade 1 Shuka Sho winner Akaitorino Musume.

Third favourites have won four of the last 10 races. Four-year-olds have been dominant over the same time period, winning on six occasions with Lei Papale the leading older contender in this year’s renewal.

Akaitorino Musume is a three-year-old filly by Deep Impact and she managed to go one better last time than she did in the Grade 1 Yushun Himba (Japanese Oaks) back in May, when winning the Grade 1 Shuka Sho over 2,000 meters at Hanshin in October.

Lei Papale is another filly by Deep Impact. Her stunning six-win streak finally came to an end in the Grade 1 Takarazuka Kinen back in June, when she finished third, and most recently she had to settle for fourth in the Group 2 Sankei Sho All Comers over 2,200 meters at Nakayama in September.

Connections have been quick to secure the services of Christophe Lemaire this time, so a big run can be expected from Lei Papale.

Win Marilyn won the Grade 2 Sankei Sho All Comers at Nakayama on her last start, the four-year-old filly by Screen Hero looks set for a big run. Before her last victory she finished a creditable fifth in this year’s Grade 1 Tenno Sho (Spring) back in May.

Terzetto and Des Ailes are also Deep Impact fillies in with a chance of placing. Terzettio is Mirco Demuro’s big race ride, the improving filly is now six wins from eight career starts.