3 minute read

That's on Sunday at Hanshin meantime we have two G2s on Saturday

The first of these is the NZ Trophy at Nakayama over 1600m where Bond Girl is on 2.8 with Yutaka Take riding.  She failed to make the cut for the Oka Sho so this is a fall-back race. Captaincy is on 3.9 with Mirco Demuro in the saddle and there are two on 6.1 – Rouge Suerte and Ecoro Bloom with Yokoyamas in the respective saddles.

At Hanshin the Sankeisports Hai Hanshin Himba has just 11 runners.  Masked Diva is the market leader on 2.4 with Moreira riding, then Doe Eyes is on 5.8 with Murzabayev in the irons and Lilac on 7.2 – Tosaki rides.

Sunday sees the running of the first of the Classics – the Oka Sho or 1000 Guineas over 1600m G1 for the 3yo fillies.  Ascoli Piceno was the 2yo of the year for 2023 and starts as favourite here on 3.9 – Kitamura rides and she's by Daiwa Major.  And is unbeaten.

Stellenbosch is a filly with a fast finish – she's by Epiphaneia and on 5.2 with Moreira riding.  Cervinia is a Harbinger filly with Murzabayev riding and is on 5.8 having won two of her three starts to date.