Embroidery wins this year’s Oka Sho (Japanese 1000 Guineas) at Hanshin.
Third favorite Embroidery won three in a row, capturing her first G1 title this year's Oka Sho (Japanese 1000 Guineas). While giving her sire Admire Mars his first G1 title—Admire Mars was a winner of three G1 victories at mile distance including the 2019 Hong Kong Mile. After a runner-up effort in her debut at 1,600 meters at Tokyo in June last year, the two-year-old broke her maiden in her following start at Niigata over 1,800 meters, then finished a close fifth against boys in the Saffron Sho (1 Win Class, Nakayama, 1,600m) before concluding her two-year-old season with her second win in November (1 Win Class, Tokyo, 1,400m). Embroidery kicked off this season with another win in the Queen Cup (G3, Tokyo, 1,600m) prior to her Oka Sho triumph. It was the first G1 victory and third graded title for trainer Kazutomo Mori who is in his second season as a JRA trainer. Jockey Joao Moreira, who partnered the filly for the second time after the filly's debut last year and whose last JRA-G1 win was just two weeks ago in the Takamatsunomiya Kinen aboard Satono Reve, also won the Oka Sho last year with Stellenbosch and has now collected four JRA-G1 titles.
Embroidery broke smoothly and settled off the rails in mid-division around tenth position up to the final turn. Joao Moreira waited for an opening as the field straightened for the stretch run and swiftly guided the filly out to overtake the race favorite who weakened before the furlong pole. Soon joined by Arma Veloce from the outside, the bay filly outdueled that foe for a neck victory.
"It's another G1 win in Japan (following the Takamatsunomiya Kinen) which I would say is rather difficult, and no doubt, I'm extremely happy. We didn't really know how she was going to handle the track as it's been raining for nearly half of the day and there was a lot of moisture out there and not many of the horses out there could handle it, but she proved that she can and I was just a lucky boy to have been able to sit on a nice horse to another G1 race in Japan. When she was able to get the split between horses then really fight as there was company, I can't remember which number, coming from the outside. She really had to let down and show what she's got—I was riding her along really strongly hoping that she would give it to me, and she did—she really won well. The surface definitely didn't affect her at all and I'm extremely pleased to have been given a chance to ride another very special horse in Japan. Having won as she did today, I have no doubt that she will be competitive once again in her next start and I will be hoping she will run as well she did today," commented Joao Moreira.
2024 Best Two-Year-Old filly Arma Veloce also raced in mid-field with close watch on the eventual winner throughout the 1,600-meter trip. While the winner opted to take the inside route rounding the final turn, Mirai Iwata angled out to secure a clear path along the outside at equal speed for the duel but missed by a neck for second.
Lynx Tip was unhurried early and trailed at the very rear of the 18-horse field early but rapidly advanced along the outside from the 600-meter pole with impressive speed but had too much ground to make up to threaten the top two finishers, crossing the 2-1/2 lengths behind for third.
Race favorite Erika Express was the first out of the gate to assume command and maintained her lead up to the final corner but, tired from her early efforts, was unable to sustain her bid and gave way to her rivals from behind while managing to finish fifth.
Other Horses:
4th: (3) Ma Puce—saved ground around 12th, rallied for lead along rails, weakened in last 200m
6th: (13) Cerbiatto—sat towards rear around 15th, had too much ground to make up
7th: (17) Primzahl—positioned wide in 15th, passed tired rivals at stretch
8th: (1) Voulezvous—saved ground around 9th, rallied for lead but weakened in last 200m
9th: (18) Brown Ratchet—raced 2nd from rear, showed effort on inner stretch until 200m pole
10th: (4) Shonan Xanadu—hugged rails around 4th, remained in contention until 200m pole
11th: (6) Vip Daisy—sat around 6th in front of winner, angled out for stretch run, lacked needed
kick
12th: (5) Bonne Soiree—settled around 5th, showed effort until 200m pole
13th: (16) Namura Clara—chased leaders around 3rd, dropped back at stretch
14th: (8) Water Gerbera—ran around 12th, unable to reach contention
15th: (15) Kurino Mei—pressed pace in 2nd, faded after final corner
16th: (14) Dantsu Elan—raced wide around 12th, checked by rival at early stretch, never fired
17th: (11) Mistress—traveled wide around 6th, showed little at stretch
18th: (10) Twilight City—positioned forwardly early, eased back to around 6th, outrun after 3rd
corner
