News

By Daithi Harvey

In a driving finish, it was Jeweler (Jpn) (Victoire Pisa {Jpn}), third choice in the wagering Sunday, that claimed this fillies’ Classic, landing the 1600-metre G1 Oka Sho (Japanese 1000 Guineas) by a nose from Sinhalite (Jpn)(Deep Impact {Jpn}). This race is the first leg of the fillies’ Triple Crown in Japan, a series last completed by Gentildonna (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) in 2012. Jeweler’s trainer Kenichi Fujioka is hopeful his charge can emulate that seven-time Group 1 winner.

“Her conformation tells us that she should be suited to longer distances, so I have high hopes for her to do well in the remaining two legs of the fillies’ Triple Crown,” said Fujioka.

Sunday, Hanshin, Japan
OKA SHO (JAPANESE 1000 GUINEAS)-G1, ¥213,410,000 (US$1,975,286), Hanshin, 4-10, 3yo, f, 1600mT, 1:33.40, fm.
1–#@&JEWELER (JPN), 121, f, 3, Victoire Pisa (Jpn)
1st Dam: Baldwina (Fr) (GSW-Fr), by Pistolet Bleu (Ire)
2nd Dam: Balioka (Fr), by Tourangeau (Fr)
3rd Dam: Bangalore (Fr), by Cadmus (GB)
O-Yoichi Aoyama; B-Shadai Farm; T-Kenichi Fujioka ; J-Mirco
Demuro; ¥118,747,000; Lifetime: 4-2-2-0. *1/2 to One Carat
(Jpn) (Falbrav {Ire}), MGSW-Jpn $2,990,353; Sunshine (Jpn)
(Heart’s Cry {Jpn}), GSP-Jpn $728,502. Werk Nick Rating: D+ .
Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Sinhalite (Jpn), 121, f, 3, by Deep Impact (Jpn)–Singhalese
(GB), by Singspiel (Ire). O-Carrot Farm; B-Northern Farm;
¥44,642,000.
3–At The Seaside (Jpn), 121, f, 3, King Kamehameha (Jpn)–
Luminous Harbor (Jpn), by Agnes Tachyon (Jpn).
O-Teruya Yoshida; B-Shadai Farm; ¥26,821,000.
Margins: NS, 1 3/4, HF. Odds: 4.00, 3.90, 35.90.
Also Ran: Major Emblem (Jpn), Admire Lead (Jpn), Lavender Valley (Jpn), Red Avancer (Jpn), Blanc Bonheur (Jpn), B B Barrel (Jpn), Denko Ange (Jpn), Meisho Suizuki (Jpn), Win Fabulous (Jpn), Candy Barows (Jpn), Quatre Rapport (Jpn), G Plumeria, Meisho Bird’s (Jpn), Silveig (Jpn), Alla Salute (Jpn). Click for the Racing Post Result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.JRA Video.

A winner in her debut and only juvenile start last November, Jeweler warmed up for her biggest task to date when showing some very smart form in her two starts this year. Reappearing in the G3 Nikkan Sports Sho Shinzan Kinen at Kyoto against colts Jan. 10, she failed by only a neck to beat Logi Cry (Jpn) (Heart’s Cry {Jpn}).

She backed up that display against her own sex in the G3 Tulip Sho at Hanshin Mar. 5, where she was again just touched off, this time losing by a nose to the reopposing Sinhalite. Jeweler chose a good occasion to reverse the placings and in so doing, provided trainer Kenichi Fujioka with his second Group 1 win in two weeks.

Pilot Mirco Demuro, riding his 16th JRA Group 1 winner, gave Jeweler a confident ride, settling her towards the rear of the field early on, as the vanguard set a strong pace on the front end. The race favourite Major Emblem (Jpn) (Daiwa Major {Jpn}) was sluggish from the stalls and raced around sixth position along the rails for most of the trip before hitting the front briefly around the home turn. She was unable to sustain her bid in the last 100 metres though, fading to finish fourth as Sinhalite galloped on strongly. Jeweler, having circled wide around the field coming into the stretch then arrived on the scene and demonstrated great determination under the Italian jockey to overtake eventual third-place finisher At The Seaside (Jpn) (King Kamehameha {Jpn}) and catch Sinhalite in the very last stride. In the process she provided a first top-level success for her sire, G1 Dubai World Cup winner Victoire Pisa (Jpn) (Neo Universe {Jpn}).

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