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The 82nd running of the Kikuka Sho will be held on Sunday, October 24th and it is a 3,000m turf event at Hanshin Racecourse.
It's the turn of the 3-year-old colts this coming Sunday (Oct. 24), when the final Classic of the year will be run at Hanshin Racecourse over 3,000 meters on turf, a true test of stamina. The Grade 1 Kikuka Sho (Japanese St. Leger) was first run in 1938 and received its current name in 1948. Usually run at Kyoto Racecourse, this will be the first time for Hanshin to stage the race since 1979. There are 24 nominations for a maximum 18 runner field this year, with two fillies nominated. If they get a run, they can claim a 2kg allowance, while all the colts will carry 57kg. No geldings are permitted to run in the race.
It's looking to be a wide-open affair this year, with Satsuki Sho (Japanese 2000 Guineas) winner Efforia heading directly to the Tenno Sho (Autumn), and Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby) winner Shahryar not among the nominations. Despite these two missing the race, it looks like an intriguing contest all the same. Official trial races for the Grade 1 Kikuka Sho (Japanese St. Leger) have been the Grade 2 Asahi Hai St. Lite Kinen, run over 2,200 meters at Nakayama in September, and the Grade 2 Kobe Shimbun Hai, another race over 2,200 meters in September, but run at Chukyo.
In the last ten years, first favorites have won six times, with last year's Triple Crown winner Contrail being the latest market leader to head into the winner's enclosure, although he had to work very hard to win last year's race by a neck, as the 1/10 favorite. Interestingly enough, horses trained at the Ritto Training Center in the west of Japan have won the race nine times in the last ten years. Record time for the autumn Classic is held by Toho Jackal, who won in a time of 3 minutes 1.0 seconds in 2014. Prize money for this year's winner is JPY120 million (just over USD1 million).
The final line-up for the 82nd Grade 1 Kikuka Sho (Japanese St. Leger) will be out later in the week, together with the barrier draw. Sunday's race will be race 11 on the Hanshin card, with a post time in Japan of 15:40.
Here's a look at some of the main contenders:
Stella Veloce : The colt by Bago is gradually showing his potential, and it could be seen in his latest race, when he notched his first Grade 2 win in the Kobe Shimbun Hai, with Shahryar back in fourth. He finished third in both the Grade 1 Satsuki Sho (Japanese 2000 Guineas) and the Grade 1 Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby), so he could be the one to progress enough and come out on top here. "He was plus 18kg for his last race, but since the spring he's certainly developed a lot. Despite the ground last time, he recovered well and there was no damage from that run, so we can look to the Kikuka Sho with him," said trainer Naosuke Sugai. Jockey Hayato Yoshida also reported the horse to be "working well and showing no sign of tiredness" in recent work.
Orthoclase : Bred at Northern Farm, the son of Epiphaneia has just had the four starts, but has two wins to his name, although both as a 2-year-old. In just one start this year, he finished third in the Grade 2 Asahi Hai St. Lite Kinen over 2,200 meters at Nakayama in September, and while still a work in progress, it seems he too is on an upward path. Assistant trainer Kazutaka Ikeuchi said, "He ran well last time after a long break, which was encouraging. There have been issues with him in transporting, and his behaviour in the paddock, but he should become calmer as he gets used to things more."
Asamano Itazura : Exploding onto the scene recently, Asamano Itazura landed the Grade 2 Asahi Hai St. Lite Kinen at odds of 42/1, when he finished off strongly to win by just a neck. It was his first graded win, and trainer Takahisa Tezuka, currently at the top of the trainers' table, is pleased with the horse's progress. "Last time was his first race in a while, but he relaxed throughout the run and came with a great late finish. He was a little tired after the race, but is back to himself now, and ticking over nicely in training. He should improve for that last run," commented the trainer. Jockey Hironobu Tanabe, often punching below his weight in Grade 1s, will take the ride on Asamano Itazura, hoping to land just his third JRA Grade 1 victory.
Red Genesis : Trained by Yasuo Tomomichi, Red Genesis looks set for a big run here after improving from his eleventh place finish in the Grade 1 Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby) to finish second last time to Stella Veloce in the Grade 2 Kobe Shimbun Hai at Chukyo in September. The colt by Deep Impact has also won twice from his four starts at the Hanshin track. The trainer recently said: "He ran well last time despite the going. He was fine after the race, and in training he's been his usual self once again. He's got plenty of stamina and I'm not worried about the extra distance in this next race." Jockey Yuga Kawada has been booked to team up with the horse once more.
Titleholder : It's three Grade 1 races already for the son of Duramente, and his best placing so far has been his second place finish in the Satsuki Sho (Japanese 2000 Guineas) back in the spring. A few things to consider are he's never raced outside of the Tokyo area and will have a long trip to the track this time, and his rather disappointing finish last time, when favorite, and finishing last but one in the Grade 2 Asahi Hai St. Lite Kinen. Trainer Toru Kurita thinks it's all about getting the horse in the right frame of mind. "He didn't seem to run his race last time, but since then he's been relaxed and things have been smooth with him. He should improve in his training if we keep him that way, and right now there's a calmness about him, which I'm pleased with," said the trainer.
Weiss Meteor : A colt that seems to be going from strength to strength, the son of King Kamehameha is now three wins from just five career starts. He's coming off a strong win (2 1/2 lengths) in the Grade 3 Radio Nikkei Sho over 1,800 meters at Fukushima in July. He will have to carry an extra 3 kg this time, as well as travel a lot further in the race itself, but the Silk Racing Co. Ltd owned horse should be sent off at quite generous odds. Assistant trainer Yu Ota said, "He handled the ground a lot better than some of the other horses last time, and proved he can run a strong race. Over the summer, he's matured a lot, and seems to take things more seriously now."
Monte Dio : The Shadai Farm bred Monte Dio is open to further improvement, and former jockey, now trainer, Hirofumi Shii has a chance of a big win here in his first year of sending out runners from his stable. The Just A Way colt seems to have stamina on his side, with his win two starts ago over 2,600 meters at Sapporo in August. He's coming off a third place finish in the Grade 2 Kobe Shimbun Hai, not far behind Stella Veloce, and his best result in a graded race. "He might not be suited to a strong pace at the moment, but he handled the softer track well last time. He seems to be coming along really well, and he's a horse for the future," commented the trainer.
