3 minute read

We have two G2s Saturday to get us into the swing of things

The New Zealand Trophy at Nakayama is over 1600m for 3yos of both sexes. Dolce More by Rulership holds the call on 2.2, with Eeyan by Silver State on 5.0, and then two Epiphanea fillies Rumino Meteore 7.7 and Moryana 9.3.

At Hanshin the Sankei Sports Hanshin Himba is also over 1600m and has a field of 12 headed by Rouge Stiria on 3.4 with Win Charlotte on 4.6 and Mama Cocha 5.2 the most popular in what is quite an open race.

Sunday sees the running of the Oka Sho, Japanese 1000 Guineas, over 1600m at Hanshin.  The Filly of the Year for 2022 Liberty Island is odds-on for this – she's by Duramente out of our wonderful Aussie mare Yankee Rose.  Kawada-san will ride.  With and odds-on favourite there is value in some of the other runners.  Light Quantum, who must be out of Deep Impact's last crop, recently won the G3 Shinzen Kinen and will be ridden by Take-san and they are on 6.1.  Harper, by Heart's Cry has won 2 from 4 and Lemaire will ride and they have a very generous quote of 14.2.  Mozu Meimei recently won the Tulip Sho wire-to-wire and may try to do the same here.  She's on 15.8.

Weather is forecast cool but dry.