Almond Eye has completed a sweep of the fillies’ Triple Crown by winning the last leg - Shuka Sho. It has been 6 years since Gentildonna by Deep Impact achieved this feat in 2012.
It was also her fifth consecutive victory, including the Oka Sho and the 2400m Yushun Himba . Many hope she can emulate 2012 Horse of the Year Gentildonna in her attempt to become the second three-year-old filly to claim the Japan Cup title.
The Gr.1 Kikuka Sho or the Japanese St. Legerwas held in the week after the Shuka Sho and was won by seventh-favorite Fierement , who claimed one of the most coveted three-year-old titles in just his fourth career start, the shortest in JRA history. Unraced as a two-year-old, the Deep Impact colt won his career debut in January this year and was given plenty of time to recover before each race with just two other starts in April and July prior to his big G1 challenge.
After resting in the same manner following his major victory, the Arima Kinen could be a possibility as his next start. Meanwhile, Gr.1 Tokyo Yushun winner Wagnerian , who won impressively in the Gr.2 Kobe Shimbun Hai was to run in the Tenno Sho (Autumn) instead of the Kikuka Sho, but the Derby victor did not recover in time and is still out to pasture.
Credit: Ritesh Jamkhedkar ritesh.jamkhedkar@secretariatsworld.com