NAMED after a rare Sri Lankan gemstone, Sinhalite was beaten by a nostril into second in April’s Group 1 Oka Sho (Japanese 1000 Guineas) by Jeweler. However, the Sei Ishizaka-trained filly made amends by winning the 77th renewal of the Group 1 Yushun Himba (Japanese Oaks) at Tokyo racecourse in front of over 60,000 spectators on May 22nd.

With the absence of her nemesis Jeweler, who had been side-lined through injury since her Guineas win, Sinhalite, the mount of Kenichi Ikezoe, was sent off the even-money favourite for the 216,000,000 Yen (€1,750,000) classic.