The absence of outstanding colts Museum Mile and Croix du Nord – respective winners of the first two legs of Japan’s three-year-old Triple Crown – has opened the door for a host of hopefuls in Sunday’s (26 October) G1 Kikuka Sho (Japanese St. Leger, 3000m) at Kyoto Racecourse.

With the victors in the G1 Satsuki Sho (Japanese 2000 Guineas, 2000m), and the G1 Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby, 2400m) missing out, this weekend’s Kikuka Sho offers prize money of JPY434 million (approx. HK$22.7 million) and Group 1 status to the winner.

For the first time since 2022, the final leg of the Triple Crown series will be staged without the winners of the first two legs and Eri King, winner of his first three starts before suffering a leg injury, looms as one of the main contenders after his blistering win in the G2 Kobe Shimbun Hai (2400m) at Hanshin on 21 September.

Clocking 32.3s for the final 600m, the Kizuna colt overhauled rival Shohei by a neck to claim his most important victory to date.

“That was the run of a ‘King’,” assistant trainer Taku Fukunaga said. “We went in leaving a little something in hand with an eye on what’s next. Even with a slow tempo that didn’t really set up for him, he was strong, came down the outside and got up to win.”

Ridden by trainer Mitsumasa Nakauchida, Eri King cruised over 1200m at Ritto this week, clocking 1m 20.9s with a final 200m burst of 11.7s.

Fukunaga said: “We’ve confirmed he’s in good order. As for the trip (3000m), you never truly know until you try, but that’s the same for everyone. We’ll line up with improvement in hand and trust him to handle it.”

Shohei has missed a place only once in six starts and ran a fine third in the Japanese Derby. The Saturnalia colt has won two of four starts at Kyoto, including the G2 Kyoto Shimbun Hai (2200m) on 10 May.

Trainer Yasuo Tomomichi, who won the Kikuka Sho with World Premiere in 2019, said: “He (Shohei) does grab the bit in his teeth at times, but he’s been patient in morning work. With a good pace expected this time, I think things will be easier for him.

“He’ll be up against other three-year-olds and if he can control himself coming off the hill the first time around, I think he has ample chance.”

The other main hopes are Duramente colt Energico, winner of the G2 Aoba Sho (2400m) at Tokyo, Giovanni and the promising Goltzschtal – a son of American sire Bricks and Mortar – as well as front-runner My Universe.

The Kikuka Sho is carded as S2-1 and will be run at 2:40pm (Hong Kong time) on Sunday, 26 October.