Kamunyak aims to add to an expanding list of elite credits when the champion filly contests the JPY239 million (approx. HK$12.5 million) G1 Shuka Sho (2000m) at Kyoto Racecourse, Japan on Sunday (19 October).

The winner of her past three races, a streak highlighted by success in the G1 Japanese Oaks (2400m) under top German jockey Andrasch Starke, Kamunyak seeks her fifth career victory in seven starts for trainer Yasuo Tomomichi after winning the G2 Rose Stakes (1800m) at Hanshin on 14 September for gun Japanese rider Yuga Kawada.

Tomomichi believes Kamunyak has strengthened physically and mentally since overcoming difficulties to win the Rose Stakes after losing balance when bumped on the home turn.

“She settled well, was able to take that position, and everything felt good. She was composed, and the way she won was excellent,” said Tomomichi, who was pleased by the Black Tide filly’s fast work this week at Ritto.

“She settled early and picked up smoothly late. Her condition came back quickly, and I think there’s more to come.”

The Shuka Sho is the final leg of the Triple Tiara – Japan’s Triple Crown for fillies – after the G1 Oka Sho (1000 Guineas, 1600m) and G1 Yushun Himba (Oaks, 2400m).

Kamunyak did not contest the Oka Sho, which was won by Embroidery who will attempt to claim the winner’s prize of JPY110 million (approx. HK$5.76 million) this weekend after finishing ninth in the Japanese Oaks in May under Christophe Lemaire.

Sidelined since with hoof issues, Embroidery has pleased trainer Kazutomo Mori in work at Ritto this week with Lemaire bidding for his fourth Shuka Sho win after victories aboard Deirdre (2017), Almond Eye (2018) and Cervinia (2024).

Sena Style suffered her first career defeat in the Rose Stakes, finishing third after two wins at Chukyo, but trainer Shogo Yasuda is optimistic the Sottsass filly can continue to improve after overcoming a minor fracture.

“She has filled out more than I had thought she would, which is a pleasant surprise. Even with the time off due to a fracture, she has grown well,” Yasuda said.

While Kamunyak dominates discussions and is viewed by many pundits as the clear-cut winning selection, several other runners command respect.

Ma Puce, a daughter of Mind Your Biscuits, ran fourth in the Oka Sho before beating older opposition – including males – in the G3 Chukyo Kinen (1600m) on 17 August but is untried beyond 1600m.

Jocelyn, who is by Epiphaneia and is a full sister to champion Efforia, ran second in the G2 Shion Stakes (2000m) at Nakayama and rises to Group 1 company for the first time. She is trained by Yuichi Shikato, who recently claimed the G1 Sprinters Stakes (1200m) with Win Carnelian.

Theresa, runner-up to Kamunyak in the Rose Stakes, is also among the contenders along with Paradis Reine, who finished fourth in the Japanese Oaks, but has a habit of jumping slowly from the barriers.

The Shuka Sho is carded as S5-1 and will be run at 2:40pm (Hong Kong time) on Sunday, 19 October.