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2024 Shuka Sho: Group 1 Review

Track: Kyoto Racecourse
Distance: 2000m
Value: ¥214,620,000 (about US$1.4 million)

Cervinia put her older rivals and the colts on notice by thrashing the three-year-old fillies yet again as she deployed an electric sprint to win the G1 Shuka Sho at Kyoto on Sunday. 

While the class of Sunday Racing’s new star filly carried her to a relatively narrow victory in the G1 Yushun Himba (Japanese Oaks) in May, dropping back in distance to 2000m unlocked a more explosive performance and resulted in a convincing one and three-quarter length margin on the line. 

The manner of victory suggested that ‘Team Equinox’ – trainer Tetsuya Kimura and jockey Christophe Lemaire – may well have another superstar on their hands, and will head into the end-of-year races ready to take on all-comers.

It was Lemaire’s third win in the Triple Tiara third leg after victories aboard Deirdre (2017) and Almond Eye (2018).

The Race

From barrier five Lemaire was able to position Cervinia in a midfield spot as tearaway leader Sekitoba East pulled the field through a stamina sapping tempo.

Lemaire played a patient hand on Cervinia, maintaining cover well into the straight before taking a gap with around 300m to go. 
Cervinia’s straight line speed kicked in when finding clear air and she made the victory look relatively straightforward on the line.

Cervinia wins the Shuka Sho
CERVINIA, CHRISTOPHE LEMAIRE / G1 Shuka Sho // Kyoto /// 2024 //// Photo by Shuhei Okada

The Eye-Catchers

‘Umamusume owner’ Susumu Fujita has another potential star for his game in the form of runner-up Bond Girl, who produced the fastest final 600m of the race.

Perhaps stretching out to the staying trips will allow her to be positioned closer, or at least have more time to get through her gears. 
For the third straight start she settled well back and roared home in the fastest final sectional for jockey Yutaka Take. 

Keita Tosaki had taken the Oka Sho winner and second favourite Stellenbosch everywhere Cervinia went in the run but when it came time to sprint, the winner showed a superior turn-of-foot.

Tosaki was forced to dodge and weave for the last 200m as he looked inside for runs and Stellobosch’s final 600m of 34.3s was third fastest behind that of the runner-up and winner.

The Statistic

After a year peppered with Group 1 upsets, Cervinia’s win came as 2.3 favourite and Lemaire became the first jockey in 2024 to win multiple Group 1s after 10 different riders had won the first 10 Group 1 races of the year.

The Quote:

Christophe Lemaire, jockey:  “I’m very happy. She put in a really good race. As always, winning a Group 1 is never easy. There were a lot of strong horses, but today we were able to secure a good position, and the fast pace suited us well. From the start, we got into a favorable position and she was able to run at her own pace the entire way.

“When she stays calm, she can really accelerate well in the end. I think we were about 15 lengths behind the leader, but with this fast pace, it was bound to slow down at some point, so I wasn’t worried. She felt very good, and when the space opened up in the straight, she responded really well. I believe she can win again at Group 1 level.”

Christophe Lemaire after Cervinia wins G1 Shuka Sho
CHRISTOPHE LEMAIRE / G1 Shuka Sho // Kyoto /// 2024 //// Photo by Shuhei Okada

What next?

The ownership has publicly declared their intention to aim for the G1 Japan Cup. In striving for victory with a three-year-old filly they will aim to become the first to achieve this since Almond Eye in 2018, but will have to overcome strong contenders from both Japan and around the world.

2024 Shuka Sho: Race Replay

Michael Cox is Editor of Idol Horse. A sports journalist with 19 years experience, Michael has a family background in harness racing in the Newcastle and Hunter Valley region of Australia. Best known for writing on Hong Kong racing, Michael’s previous publications include South China Morning Post, The Age, Sun Herald, Australian Associated Press, Asian Racing Report and Illawarra Mercury.

View all articles by Michael Cox.

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