It’s Oka Sho (Japanese 1000 Guineas) day, the start of the classics! Alan Carasso from the TDN provides some breeding insights on a great card of racing from Hanshin.
Alan has a great Oka Sho analysis on the TDN site – https://www.thoroughbreddailynews.com/oka-sho-goes-through-the-comebacking-sodashi/
OKA SHO DAY — Saturday, April 11, 2021 (Sunday in Japan)
Race 3, Maidens, 3yo, 2000m, post time: 10:05 p.m. ET
#8 — SUZUKA PHAROAH (AUS) (c, 2, American Pharoah–Berrimilla {Aus} by Fastnet Rock {Aus}) spots his Northern Hemisphere-bred opponents a significant amount of maturity, but, in broad terms, Australian imports typically hold their own at this level. An A$120K purchase out of the 2020 Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale, the September 18 foal is a maternal grandson of the stakes-placed Purrfection (NZ) (Tale of the Cat), resulting in Storm Cat inbreeding that has proved successful with this successful young sire. The colt’s third dam is responsible for G1 New Zealand Oaks winner and G1 Australian Oaks runner-up Boundless (NZ) (Van Nistelrooy).
Race 4, Maidens, 3yo, 1400mT, post time: 10:35 p.m. ET
#15 — VANTAGE POINT (JPN) (c, 3, Maurice {Jpn}–Fleeting Spirit {Ire}, by Invincible Spirit {Ire}) is the third Japanese foal for her dam, Europe’s champion sprinter and the English highweighted sprinter of 2009, whose victories included the G1 Darley July Cup. After producing the stakes-winning Khaleesy (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) for her first foal, Fleeting Spirit was purchased for 1.1 million guineas (US$1,482,910) when pregnant again to Galileo at the 2013 Goffs November Sale and was exported to Japan. Vantage Point sold as a foal at the JRHA Select Sale for ¥72 million (US$649,440), while two subsequent produce have sold for a combined ¥200 million. Mirai Iwata has the call for Yasuo Tomomichi, tied atop the trainers’ premiership at the moment.
Race 11, G1 Oka Sho, 3yo, fillies, 2000mT, post time: 2:40 a.m. ET
Contention runs deep in this first leg of the Japanese Fillies Triple Crown and certainly–and deservedly–much of the focus from a pari-mutuel standpoint will be on champion #4 Sodashi (Jpn) (Kurofune). The daughter of fan-favorite Buchiko (Jpn) (King Kamehameha {Jpn}) went four-for-four in 2020, while never truly overpowering the opposition. In fact, the argument can be made that she was lucky to finish the season undefeated, as the re-opposing #18 Satono Reinas (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) surged to the lead with time ticking away in the G1 Hanshin Juvenile Fillies and Sodashi was the recipient of an extremely fortuitous bob. #8 Meikei Yell (Jpn) (Mikki Isle {Jpn}) was hands down the sob story of the Juvenile Fillies. Never able to get in on the track, she covered ground very deep on the turn, but remained very much in the thick of it before being outfinished in fourth. Having drawn widest of the 18 that day, Meikei Yell was on the fence in her return to action in the G2 Tulip Sho at this track March 6. Clearly unhappy and pulling furiously while buried down inside, she was allowed to roll to the front a half-mile from home. She was there for the taking in the stretch, but she fought on bravely only to share the spoils with #13 Elizabeth Tower (GB) (Kingman {GB}), who is also in the field. Trainer Hidenori Take hoped for a wide gate, and while he didn’t get exactly what he wanted, her draw in eight should give jockey Noirhiro Yokoyama some options. Tabbing Meikei Yell for a mild upset.
