Japan: Kamunyak looks to solidify superiority in Shuka Sho

Since late April, Kamunyak has won three consecutive starts to take a dominant role among Japan’s 3-year-old fillies.

Kamunyak will be the undisputed leader in the division if she can overcome a wide draw in Sunday’s Grade 1 Shuka Sho at Kyoto Racecourse. A winner of 4 of 6 career starts, Kamunyak drew post 17 in a field of 18 in the $1.43 million Shuka Sho, which is run at 1 1/4 miles on turf for 3-year-old fillies.

Kamunyak’s winning streak is highlighted by a head win at 13-1 in the Grade 1 Japanese Oaks at 1 1/2 miles at Tokyo Racecourse in May. In her only subsequent start, Kamunyak won the Grade 2, 1 1/8-mile Rose Stakes by 1 1/2 lengths at Hanshin Racecourse on Sept. 14, closing from seventh in a field of 17.

Her closing style helps her chances in the Shuka Sho, which starts in front of the stands on a right-handed course. Jockey Yuga Kawada has the mount, having ridden Kamunyak in the Rose Stakes and earlier this year before the winning streak began. He is likely to save ground in a relatively short run to the first turn.

As of Friday, Kamunyak, who is by the Sunday Silence stallion Black Tide, was expected to be around even money for the Shuka Sho.

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The Shuka Sho is the third race in a Triple Crown for fillies in Japan. Kamunyak did not start in the first race, the Grade 1 Japanese 1000 Guineas at a mile. The Japanese Oaks was the second race.

Embroidery, who won the 1000 Guineas, was ninth in the Japanese Oaks, fading in the final quarter-mile in the longest race of her career. A winner of 4 of 7 starts, Embroidery is part of the Shuka Sho field and rated as a logical alternative to Kamunyak. Embroidery won a maiden race for 2-year-olds at 1 1/8 miles in July 2024, the longest win of her career. She will be ridden by Christophe Lemaire, a former leading rider at Japan Racing Association tracks who currently ranks fifth in wins this year.

Jocelyn, a winner of 2 of 4 starts, starts in a Grade 1 for the first time in the Shuka Sho after finishing second by a neck in the Grade 2 Shion Stakes at 1 1/4 miles at Nakayama on Sept. 7. Jocelyn is rated as a lightly raced filly to watch in the Shuka Sho.

In the Shion Stakes, Jocelyn was beaten by 23-1 Kelly Fled Ask, who is expected to be a longshot in the Shuka Sho and should be part of the pace.

The Shuka Sho has a post time of 2:40 a.m. Eastern on Sunday.

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