Horse Racing
Season
Kikuka Sho (Japanese St. Leger) - Form Comments

18/10/2024 13:00

G1 – 3000m – Turf

1 Peace One Duc Unbeaten in the last three starts. Won over the same course and distance as the Japanese Derby in a 1-win class race clocking 2:24.6, which was 0.1 second faster than the finish time of the runner-up Justin Milano in the Japanese Derby.
2 Noble Sky Finished on the board in the last four starts over 2000m.  Made all to win by 3L in a 1-win class race over the rain-affected track at Sapporo last time.
3 Ask Come On More A three-time winner from seven starts. Showed strong stretch run from the back to win at 2-win class (2000m) at Tokyo last time. First run over 3000m.
4 Danon Decile Sold at the 2022 JRHA Select Sale Yearling Session for 148,500,000 yen. Topped this year’s 3-year-olds when winning the G1 Japanese Derby (2400m) by 2L last time. 3000m should not be a concern for him.
5 Hayatenofukunosuke Showed consistency between 2000m and 2600m, finishing in the top four in seven of eight starts. Stretching out to 3000m should suit him.
6 Mr G T Yet to taste any success since winning a listed race (2000m) in March. Two-digit finishes in last three starts. Trainer Yoshito Yahagi aims to revenge the defeat in the G1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.
7 Byzantine Dream The G3 Kisaragi Sho (1800m) winner showed little in the first two legs of the Classic. Displayed closing speed to finish sixth on his return from a break of around four months in the G2 Kobe Shimbun Hai (2200m).
8 West Now The maiden race (1800m) winner changed tactics and took the lead from the start to finish 2nd in the G2 Kyoto Shimbun Hai (2200m) in only his second career start in May. Unsuited by the rain-affected track when 11th in the G2 Kobe Shimbun Hai (2200m) on his return from a break of around four months last time.
9 Cosmo Kuranda Finished a neck 2nd in the G1 Satsuki Sho (2000m).  Failed to justify favoritism but finished 2nd in the G2 St. Lite Kinen (2200m) last time.
10 Meisho Tabaru Versatile type of horse, but made all to win the G2 Kobe Shimbun Hai (2200m) on his return from a break of around five months last time. Handles all going. Should be a pacemaker this time.
11 Shonan La Punta Finished in the top three in three of four starts over 2200m and more. Never in contention when 15th in the G1 Japanese Derby (2400m) but showed lots of progress when 3rd in the G2 Kobe Shimbun Hai (2200m) last time.
12 Schwarze Kugel Runner-up in the G2 Tokyo Sports Hai Nisai Stakes (1800m). Finished in the top three in last two starts at Sapporo at 3-win class.
 
13 Urban Chic Finished 4th with an impressive closing speed in the G1 Satsuki Sho (2000m). Clocked the fastest time for the last 600m to take his first group race success in the G2 St. Lite Kinen (2200m), showing big improvement from the disappointing 11th in the G1 Japanese Derby (2400m).
14 Meliorem Finished on the board in all eight runs. Showed impressive staying power and widened the margin over 2600m in a 2-win class race in July before finishing 5th in the G2 Kobe Shimbun Hai (2200m) last time. No ground concern.
15 Ecoro Walz The runner-up in the G1 Asahi Hai Futurity Stakes (1600m) set the pace and showed tenacity until late in the G1 Japanese Derby (2400m).  Looks good in form.
16 Redentor A four-time winner in six starts. Finished eighth in the G2 Aoba Sho (2400m) but finish time was 2:24.8, 0.1 second quicker than the finish time that Shin Emperor clocked when 3rd in the G1 Japanese Derby (2400m).
17 Admire Terra By multiple G1 winner Rey de Oro out of G1-placed Admire Miyabi. Finished on the board in all six starts.  Beaten by a neck in a 2-win class race over 2600m in July before winning a 2-win class race over 2200m by 2L in September last time.
18 Allegro Brillante Winless since landing a newcomer race (1800m) in July 2023. Finished well 2nd in the G2 Spring Stakes (1800m) but had two digit finishes in the following two group races.