Familiar opponents Stars on Earth and Life cycle achieved participation status in an extensive lineup for Yushun Himba (Japanese Oaks, G1) May 22 at Tokyo Racecourse.
Circle of Life flashed its potential when it won the Hanshin Juvenile Fillies (G1) to top her 2-year-old season. Third place in Tulip Sho (G2) on her 3-year-old debut was a disappointment, followed by fourth place behind the Stars on Earth winner in Oka Sho (Japan One Thousand Guineas, Japan). G1) in their last match.
Now, both fillings jump from that one-mile test to race 2,400 meters (about a mile and a half) in the Oaks, plus the added challenge of climbing the slopes through the Tokyo circuit.
Stars on Earth, by Duramente , was a surprise in Oka Sho, scoring the second win of her career when trying tier 1 company for the first time. She had to fight for her spot on that track and put on a beautiful foot spin to win when she saw the light of day. Coach Mizuki Takayanagi said the traffic could work in her favor.
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“In Oka Sho, she had a bit of an edge at the start of the race, and was in the right place,” said Takayanagi. “Even so, it was further back than ideal and she had trouble making progress. During this stretch, some of the horses on the inside moved out on top of her, but with the horses in the back. On both sides of her, she didn’t pull out as usual and she achieved uniqueness to the end.”
As for distance, he said Stars on Earth “launched at 1,800 meters and I think she would have liked to have a longer distance.”
Sakae Kunieda, the Circle of Life trainer, said the Oka Sho “opens up in such a way that it favors horses with inner gates and those with early speed. Riders are aware that racing loves races. Namur outside and that may have affected his time. She went wide into the long haul and, even so, was able to run solidly to the end. It wasn’t a bad performance. “
He also says his laziness will be able to handle longer distances and rates the move to Tokyo as “a plus”.
“I’m expecting her to do better than she did in her last race,” said Kunieda.
Water Navillerathird in Hanshin Juvenile Fillies and second one in Oka Sho, also returned.
Coach Koshiro Take said: “It’s frustrating to lose with your nose but there’s nothing to regret. “I don’t know how she’ll do at this distance but the horses are all in the same boat.”
Key trials for Yushun Himba include Sankei Sports Sho Flora Stakes (G2) at 2,000 meters in Tokyo and Flower Cup (G3) at 1,800 meters in Nakayama.
Erika Vitaa daughter of King Kamehameha , Personal highvia Deep impact and Sincere wishesone Kizuna filly, complete 1-2-3 in Flora and come back. Also back are the first two from the Flower Cup: Beautiful roses and Nishino love wink.
Erika Vita just started for the fourth time. She earned her first win in Tokyo, placing 10th in the Fairy Stakes (G3) in January, and then returned to win the Flora Stakes slow run on April 24 in the 2,000 metres. , also in Tokyo.
Art houseone Screen Hero docile, won the 2,000-meter-listed Wasurenagusa Sho at Hanshin, another race known as the birthplace of contenders for the Oaks, in her final start and will also take her chance on the Oaks.
