On Sunday, December 8, the 2-year-old fillies are in the spotlight in the Hanshin Juvenile Fillies, a Grade 1 turf event over 1,600 meters. Top prize is ¥65 million JPY (around $430,000 USD).
Despite its name, the Hanshin Juvenile Fillies is being held at Kyoto Racecourse this year, due to renovation work at Hanshin Racecourse.
Though the race, first held in 1949, has shape-shifted over the years, this year's running is considered its 76th. And, 14 years after opening to foreign-based horses, the race's 2024 lineup features a landmark, the first competitor from abroad. She's May Day Ready from the United States and she comes with a resume boasting three wins. In addition, she has a second-place finish in international Grade 1 competition, accomplishments none of the Japanese runners can match. And she's set to have legendary Italian rider Frankie Dettori in the saddle.
Standouts include the Grade 3 winner Brown Ratchet and Run for Vow, the latter a Grade 2 champ and the top earner among Japan's nominees. The remaining 23 nominees comprise something of a punter's nightmare, a wealth of up-and-coming talent. Many are unproven at the higher levels, but promising, and not to be dismissed at this early stage in their careers. From them, the oft-mentioned names are Vip Daisy, Teleos La La, Dantsu Elan, and Caught Alliciant.
Keep an Eye on the Lottery Entrants
Many Japan-based hopefuls have only two starts behind them, two have only one. With only 15 assured a gate, the biggest hurdle for the 10 fillies tied for earnings will be getting past the lottery for the remaining two berths. Since 1991, four fillies that won the race had gotten into the gate by the luck of the draw ― Vodka in 2006, Tall Poppy in 2007, Buena Vista in 2008 and Joie de Vivre in 2011.
About the Venue for the 2024 Hanshin Juvenile Fillies
Normally, when held at Hanshin, the Juvenile Fillies acts as a perfect stepping stone to the first of the filly classics, the Oka Sho. It is also held over the Hanshin 1,600 course, and scheduled to be held there in April 2025.
This Sunday, however, the race will be on the Kyoto outer course, which is straightforward, unbiased, and challenging. Starting off in the backstretch, there is a good 500 meters to the first turn, which significantly lessens any bias of the gate position. The Kyoto outer course is known for the climb at the end of the backstretch for about 150 meters, then the sharp drop around the bend where the tempo picks up.
All fillies will carry 55 kg. The Hanshin Juvenile Fillies is the 11th race on Kyoto's Sunday card of 12. Post time is 3:40 PM.
Here's a look at some of the likely popular picks:
Brown Ratchet is Adept at Varied Paces
Kizuna-sired Brown Ratchet's strength is her keen racing sense. The Northern Farm-bred filly is a half-sister to the globetrotting Forever Young, who was third in the 2024 Kentucky Derby and third in this year's Breeders' Cup Classic.
Brown Ratchet easily topped colts in her debut over the Nakayama 1,800 on September 16. Then she competed in the fillies-only Grade 3 Artemis Stakes over the Tokyo 1,600 on October 26. Racing handily in both, she easily adapted to the varied paces and displayed a strong late drive in both, clocking 11.2 and 11.0 over the final two furlongs of the Artemis. Proven racing in both directions, she's a big mover that should take well to the Kyoto outer course.
Leading jockey Christophe Lemaire, currently ahead of runner-up Yuga Kawada by 31 wins, is expected up.
May Day Ready Brings Impressive Credentials to Japan
In a country dominated by dirt races, May Day Ready's experience over turf is unusual. Not only have all her four starts been on grass, they've all been at different tracks. After debuting with a win at Saratoga in New York, the daughter of Tapit conquered Kentucky Downs, then continued her streak with a win of the Grade 2 Jessamine Stakes at Keeneland, in Kentucky, before skidding to a not-too-shabby second in the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf on November 1 at Del Mar, in California.
May Day Ready has proven herself more times than any on the home team over distances of 1,600-1,700 meters, on both fast going and slightly heavy. Trainer Joseph Lee, who has lived in Japan and has been traveling to and from the country for years, knows his way around, as does May Day Ready, who has adjusted well to her new surroundings since arriving in Japan on November 20. Calm, composed, curious, the one big question is whether her talent will translate well in her first performance over a clockwise track.
Vip Daisy is Unbeaten in Two Career Starts
Also unbeaten in her two career starts, the Satono Diamond-sired Vip Daisy handled the fast pace well in her debut at Chukyo, then displayed versatility next out in the Shigiku Sho (Kyoto, 1,800, October 12). Patient amid the early slow pace, she let rip and clocked 33.3 seconds over the final three furlongs to win. Looking good in work, she posted a time of 51.8 seconds up the Ritto hill on November 27.
"From her two races, I'd say she can do well from any position," said trainer Takeshita Matsushita. "I'm looking forward to the race."
Read the rest of this article about the Hanshin Juvenile Fillies and the Japanese horses in contention on JRA News.
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Author: JRA News
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