Japanese horsemen returned from the Breeders’ Cup with solely a handful of minor placings to point out from their massive squad of runners, however life goes on as a deep discipline of fillies and mares traces up for the Nov. 10 Queen Elizabeth II Cup (G1) at Kyoto.
The beginning gate within the QE II has some promising sorts, but when there may be star energy, it’s potential reasonably than demonstrated.
Regaleira is a living proof. The Suave Richard 3-year-old received the 2023 Hopeful Stakes (G1) over colts, emboldening her connections to ship her down the Triple Crown path. That didn’t work out nicely, as Regaleira completed sixth within the Satsuki Sho (Japanese Two Thousand Guineas-G1) and fifth within the Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby-G1).
She returned to the 3-year-old filly ranks within the Rose Sho (G3), ending fifth as the favourite whereas beginning slowly from gate No. 15. Final yr’s profitable jockey, Christophe Lemaire, as soon as once more rides Regaleira for coach Tetsuya Kimura.
“Her weak level is her begin,” Lemaire stated. “So I would wish to get a greater early place this time and hope issues go easily. She has nice closing pace and he or she ought to be capable of win one other grade 1 race. She’s been a bit unfortunate, with issues just like the sluggish tempo within the Derby and the widest gate within the Rose Stakes. So I am hoping issues go her means this time.”
Regaleira and Lemaire bought a lift when the filly drew No. 7 within the discipline of 17.
Wholeness enters the fray with 4 wins from six begins. Nonetheless, she completed third in her solely graded race begin, the Mermaid Stakes (G3) June 16 at Kyoto. After the summer time break, the 4-year-old Lope de Vega filly returned with a victory in a listed contest at Nigata.
Others are searching for a strategy to recapture previous glory within the turf race over 2,200 meters (about 1 3/8 miles).
Gorgeous Rose received the 2022 Shuka Sho (G1) however completed 14th within the QE II only one month later. She has not performed higher than fifth in 5 begins since, primarily in shorter races, however coach Tomokazu Takano stated he is optimistic.
“I believed in her final race she was beginning to discover her previous kind, and he or she is a grade 1 winner, in spite of everything,” Takano stated. “I am hoping she’ll present her greatest this time.”
Harper was second to Liberty Island within the 2023 Yushun Himba and returned within the autumn to complete third in each the Shuka Sho and the QE II. She has been badly crushed in 4 subsequent begins, together with a Fifteenth-place displaying within the Eire Trophy (G2) on Oct. 14.
Ryan Moore returns to Japan to take the mount on Saliera, a 5-year-old Deep Impression mare who additionally wants a turnaround. She was sixth within the 2023 QE II however twelfth in her final two begins. Moore received the race in 2010 and 2011 aboard Snow Fairy.
