Japan: Monroe Walk remains perfect, sets record in Shuka Sho

Monroe Walk had a perfect record before Sunday’s Grade 1 Shuka Sho for 3-year-old fillies in Japan.

Now Monroe Walk is a Grade 1 winner with an undefeated record.

Monroe Walk extended her unbeaten streak to five races with a neck win in the $1.36 million Shuka Sho at 1 1/4 miles on turf at Kyoto Racecourse. She finished in a stakes-record time of 1:56.10.

Ridden by Keita Tosaki for trainer Hiroyuki Uemara, Monroe Walk (who paid $3.80 in American pools) raced in fifth in a field of 17 to the turn, where she moved closer to the leaders with a three-wide rally.

T M I Run (62-1) led briefly in the stretch before she was overtaken by 21-1 Garavogue. Monroe Walk moved alongside Garavogue with a furlong remaining and took the lead in the last 100 yards.

“Although we knew there were strong horses from behind, we made a bold move to make our bid a little early,” Tosaki told Japan Racing Association publicists. “She responded well.

“Having gained a Grade 1 victory (and) unbeaten shows how good a filly she is and I am looking forward to a bright future.”

Garavogue finished 1 1/4 lengths in front of Dream Core, the 7-2 second choice.

Monroe Walk’s record includes the Grade 2 Rose 2 Rose Stakes at 1 1/8 miles on turf at Hanshin Racecourse on Sept. 13. She started once at 2 in 2025, winning a race for first-time starters, and won two allowance races at 1 1/8 miles on turf in June and July of this year.

Monroe Walk, by Kizuna, is owned by M’s Racing.

The Shuka Sho was the third and final race of a Triple Crown for 3-year-old fillies in Japan.

The field did not include Juryoku Pierrot, the winner of the Grade 1 Japanese Oaks in May who had recently withdrawn from consideration for the Shuka Sho because of illness. Dream Core was second by a neck in the Japanese Oaks.

Star Anise, Japan’s champion 2-year-old filly of 2025 and the winner of the first division of the Triple Crown, the Grade 1 Japanese 1000 Guineas in April, was 12th in the Japanese Oaks and fourth against males in the Grade 1 Sprinters Stakes at Nakayama Racecourse on Sept. 27.

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