Oka Sho (Japanese 1000 Guineas) (Group 1)

THE second favourite Stellenbosch used her late speed to claim this year’s Oka Sho on her three-year-old debut.

In winning her Group 1 she was reversing the form from last year’s Hanshin Juvenile Fillies where she was a neck-second behind winner Ascoli Piceno. This time the verdict between the two was a three-quarters of a length in favour of the daughter of Epiphaneia.

After breaking her maiden in her debut start last July, she had a close second and a win before contesting last December’s juvenile fillies’ Group 1.

Slow out of stall 12, Stellenbosch was settled a half-length behind rival Ascoli Piceno in mid-pack while the race was led by Shonan Manuela.

Making a wide move into the straight, the daughter of Epiphaneia got first run on Ascoli Piceno and with a good turn of foot, stormed down the straight to head Etes Vous Prets on the rails in the last 100 metres while holding off the favourite.

“She didn’t jump very well but she did nothing wrong during the race - she was very impressive. When we were approaching the home turn, we were trapped but as we passed by the 500 metre marker, we were able to split horses.

“She went up front a little bit too early and I was worried she couldn’t sustain her speed all the way to the end but as all good horses, she has proved to be capable,” Joao Moreira said in the interview after the race.

Moreira is riding in Japan under a short-term license, it was his second Group 1 victory since the 2018 Queen Elizabeth II Cup with Lys Gracieux.

Trainer Sakae Kunieda also won the Guineas with Apapane in 2010 and with Almond Eye in 2018.

The winner’s second dam Land’s Edge (Dance In The Dark - Wind In Her Hair) is a half-sister to Deep Impact and Black Tide.

The 2023 best two-year-old filly and race favourite Ascoli Piceno took a wide trip throughout in mid-pack, entered the stretch a beat behind the eventual winner and strived to keep up but finished second three-quarters of a length behind, while fending off the late charge by Light Back.

Irish-bred Etes Vous Prets chased the leader in second, took control 300m out, but weakened late to finish fifth.