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The final classic of the Japanese season is the Kikuka Sho (Japanese St Leger) run at Hanshin on Sunday.
Contrail did the big treble last year. The 2021 Kikuka Sho (Japanese St Leger) (3000m) at Hanshin on Sunday could produce a top stayer?
2021 KIKUKA SHO (JAPANESE ST LEGER) - RACE HISTORY AND BACKGROUND
The Kikuka Sho (Japanese St Leger) is a Grade 1 race run under Set Weight conditions for three year old colts and fillies at Hanshin racecourse conducted by the Japan Racing Association.
The Kikuka Sho (Japanese St Leger) is run over 3000m. It was first run in 1938 and was won by Tetsumon.
The Kikuka Sho (Japanese St Leger) was worth JPY259,200,000 in 2021.
Hanshin racecourse is a right handed course with the start at the back straight.
The St Leger, like the English counterpart, forms the final leg of the Japanese Triple Crown after the 2000 Guineas the Derby.
Some of Japan's great stayers have tasted success with the likes of Deep Impact, Orfevre and Kitasan Black staying this right out.
A couple of other noteworthy winners were Epiphaneia who won the Leger by five lengths and 12 months later would win the Japan Cup almost as easily.
Obviously another famous winner was Delta Blues who took it out in 2004. Two years later he won a little race called the Melbourne Cup. Interestingly he was by a horse called Dance In The Dark who also won the Leger in 1996.
Contrail won the Triple Crown after the 2000 Guineas and Derby when he just scored in 2020.
Yutaka Take has taken five St Legers while Christophe Lemaire has won two of the last five editions.
Katsuhiko Sumii has the best recent record with three victories.
Notable winners of the Kikuka Sho (Japanese St Leger) include Contrail (2020), Satono Diamond (2016), Kitasan Black (2015), Epiphaneia (2013), Gold Ship (2012), Orfevre (2011), Oken Bruce Lee (2008), Deep Impact (2005), Delta Blues (2004), Manhattan Café (2001), Dance In The Dark (1996), Narita Brian (1994), Mejiro McQueen (1990), Symboli Rudolf (1984), Shinzan (1964) and St Lite (1941).
The 2020 Kikuka Sho (Japanese St Leger) was won by Contrail from Aristoteles and Satono Flag.