 Expert - Naohiro Goda | |
|---|---|
| Naohiro is a leading journalist and commentator in Japan with regular television shows on networks such as NHK Network and Green Channel. He is a regular contributor for newspapers, magazines and websites including Sports Nippon, Weekly Gallop, and netkeiba.com. He also operates a bloodstock business marketing firm. Naohiro is a frequent international racing traveler and a regular visitor to the Hong Kong International Races at Sha Tin. | |
Expert Column for Oka Sho (Japanese 1000 Guineas) (S3) (Naohiro Goda)
S3-1 Oka Sho (Japanese 1000 Guineas)
While there was an odd-on favorite, LIBERTY ISLAND, in Oka Sho (Japanese 1000 Guineas) last year, there is no outstanding filly in the field of this year’s Oka Sho, first leg of Triple Tiara for 3YO fillies at Hanshin on 7th April, and it looks wide open.
There are several uncertainties behind it. On one hand, many of leading contenders come straight to Oka Sho, without having any prep races, and we don’t know exactly how fit they are. On the other, If Oka Sho this year is going to run on the softish ground as expected, it can be a great challenge for most of runners as most of them have never experienced wet surface.
My favourite is Sunday Racing’s QUEEN’S WALK, trained by Mitsumasa Nakauchida, who tries to win Oka Sho in two consecutive years. I am impressed with her performance in G3 Queen Cup at Tokyo on 10th February. It was the first time for her to compete in Graded Stakes over 1,600m at Tokyo Racecourse. Under such tough circumstances, QUEEN’S WALK managed to win the Queen Cup, covering final 600m for 33.4 seconds, the quickest time in 13 runners, and I thought I saw the Oka Sho winner then. Though the ground of her three starts so far were Good, her sire KIZUNA has sent many runners who like softish ground and I believe QUEEN’S WALK is able to handle any kind of ground.
My second choice is STELLENBOSCH, second finisher in the G1 Hanshin Juvenile Fillies, championship race for 2YO fillies over the same course and distance as Oka Sho on 10th December. While this is the first start of season for the filly by EPIPHANEIA, she has been trained beautifully at Miho Training Centre. In addition, she is out of mare by RULERSHIP, who has sent many runners who like softish ground.
My third choice is CORAZON BEAT, who won G2 Keio Hai Nisai Stakes, beating colts, at Tokyo on 4th November, before finishing third in G1 Hanshin Juvenile Fillies. Though she was beaten second in the G2 Hochi Hai Fillies' Revue at Hanshin on 10th March, when she was supported as hot favourite, she had a minor training setback, suffering arthritic in her knee prior to that race, so she was not 100% fit in fact. She is now trained much better at Miho Training Centre and I believe CORAZON BEAT is ready to run her race on Sunday.
SWEEP FEET, winner of G2 Tulip Sho over the same course and distance as Oka Sho on 2nd March, is my fourth choice.
While I respect ASCOLI PICENO, JRA Champion 2YO Filly in 2023, I assess she is a precocious type of animal and rate her no better than fifth choice
SELECTIONS: 2. QUEEN’S WALK, 12. STELLENBOSCH, 8. CORAZON BEAT, 7. SWEEP FEET & 9. ASCOLI PICENO
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