Japan: Stellenbosch must overcome post 14 in Shuka Sho Stakes

The post position draw for Sunday’s Grade 1 Shuka Sho Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at Kyoto Racecourse in Japan worked in favor of the contenders Queens Walk and Cervinia. It was not as kind for Stellenbosch, winner of the Grade 1 Japanese 1000 Guineas earlier this year.

Queens Walk, who ended a two-race losing streak in Grade 1 races with a win in the Grade 2 Sho Rose Stakes at 1 1/4 miles at Chukyo Racecourse on Sept. 15, will start from post 3 in a field of 15, while Cervinia, who won the Grade 1 Japanese Oaks in her last start on May 19, will break from post 5.\

Stellenbosch, unraced since a second in the Japanese Oaks, will start from post 14.

In early betting Friday, Stellenbosch remained a favorite at 9-4 over Cervinia, at 5-2. Queens Walk was 4-1. Those prices are expected to fluctuate before post time of 2:40 a.m. Eastern on Sunday, or 11:40 p.m. Pacific on Saturday.

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All three fillies have the credentials to win. Stellenbosch has won 3 of 6 starts and closed from ninth of 18 to finish a half-length behind Cervinia in the Japanese Oaks at 1 1/2 miles. Both fillies raced in traffic in the Japanese Oaks.

The Shuka Sho is Stellenbosch’s first start at 1 1/4 miles. She is best known for winning the 1000 Guineas at a mile in April.
Cervinia has won 3 of 5 starts. Her win in the Japanese Oaks was her third victory in her last four starts and erased the surprise of a 13th-place finish in the Japanese 1000 Guineas.

Queens Walk has more to prove in the Shuka Sho after finishing eighth in the Japanese 1000 Guineas and fourth in the Japanese Oaks.

In the Sho Rose Stakes, Queens Walk rallied from sixth in a field of 15 to win by 1 1/2 lengths in the most prestigious win of her six-race career. Queens Walk is a three-time winner.

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