2024 Kikuko Sho: Group 1 Review
Venue: Kyoto Racecourse
Distance: 3000m
Value: ¥ 424,600,000 (US$2,839,848)
Star jockey Christophe Lemaire faced a tough decision before the Kikuka Sho when he had to choose between four leading contenders but pulled the right rein by selecting winner Urban Chic.
Lemaire had the pick of last-start winners Urban Chic, Redenter, Admire Terra and Schwarze Kugel and they finished first, second, third and seventh respectively as the Frenchman rode a faultless race to clinch his second straight Group 1 and back-to-back victories in this race.
Urban Chic gave 43-year-old trainer Ryo Takei his first Group 1 win and Lemaire his fourth Kikuka Sho victory after wins with Satono Diamond (2016), Fierement (2018) and Durezza (2023).
The absence through injury of some key contenders – in particular the Satsuki Sho winner and Derby runner-up Justin Milano (tendon) and to a lesser extent the Group 2 winner June Take – robbed the race of some class, as did the absence of Derby third Shin Emperor, who went to the Irish Champion Stakes and Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.
Urban Chic was a convincing winner though and brushed aside any queries about his staying ability.
The Race
The first half of this race played out in a similar manner to the Tokyo Yushun … very slowly. Unlike the Derby though, this time the slack sectionals in front invited some moves from the rear of the field.
The moves from the back with a lap to go changed the shape of the race but simply reshuffled the order rather than injecting any serious pressure into the contest.
The order shuffled again at the half mile when Yutaka Take allowed Admire Terra, who was keen to get going behind the slow pace, to stride into the lead.
Behind, Lemaire showed his customary cool patience and allowed Urban Chic to move into the race. For those who were on the second favourite, this was a relatively painless watch, unlike the world of hurt supporters of Danon Decile were in.
The Beaten Favourite
We need to talk about Norihiro Yokoyama’s ride on race favourite Danon Decile, who had weighed in 18 kilograms above his winning weight from last start.
This was a trainwreck of a ride but first, let’s allow Yokoyama to provide his perspective: “He managed to run well for the first lap, but it was just bad luck. It wasn’t anyone’s fault. The flow of the race was just too unfavorable. It can’t be helped. The 18kg increase in his weight was due to his growth. This is horse racing. Despite the worst circumstances, he did his best.”
Danon Decile certainly did his best, steaming home from third last on the turn to finish sixth after clocking the second fastest final 600m of the race (35.5s) but how Yokayama went from settling in a perfect spot to third last on the home bend was a disaster.
Breeding
This was a second Group 1 (Regaleira, 2023 Hopeful Stakes) and a much needed classic victory for Suave Richard. Many had already considered the son of Heart’s Cry to be a future star stallion but there were also doubts raised about his ability to produce classic contenders.
Those doubts over stamina came from the stallion’s broodmare sire Unbridled’s Song but they have now been dispelled and Suave Richard can be now confidently marketed as a “Classics sire”.
The win also provided another chapter to the extraordinary legacy of legendary broodmare Wind In Her Hair.
Remarkably, two of the top three finishers were direct descendents on their dam side to Wind In Her Hair. Both Urban Chic and Admire Terra are out of Wind In Her Hair’s granddaughters.
Not only is Wind In Her Hair’s influence still strong through sires Deep Impact and Black Tide but also through her family line; Group 1 winners Regaleira (a three-quarter sister by Suave Richard) and Stellenbosch are both closely related to Urban Chic.
What They Said
Christophe Lemaire: “For me, it’s two consecutive Group 1 wins, and I’m also happy to have won the Kikuka Sho consecutively. I already knew his potential from his previous race. In this race, there were four horses I had ridden in the past, but I chose Urban Chic, so there was pressure. The 3000m distance is long, so I conserved energy on the inside early on.To win, you need both stamina and racing ability, and fortunately, he had both.” ∎
