As Usual, Japanese St. Leger Poses Stamina Question

A big field of promising 3-year-olds will enter uncharted waters Oct. 20 at Kyoto in the Kikuka Sho (Japanese St. Leger, G1).

The 3,000-meter (about 1 7/8-mile) marathon is a stretch-out challenge. The official preps for the Kikuka Sho—both contested in September—provided only a general guide of how Sunday's runners might handle the nearly two-mile race. The Asahi Hai St. Lite Kinen (G2) at Nakayama is 2,200 meters (about 1 3/8 miles), and the Kobe Shimbun Hai (G2) at Hanshin is 2,400 meters (about 1 1/2 miles).

Velox, a Just a Way colt, finished second to Saturnalia in the prep at Hanshin after reporting third in the Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby, G1) in May at Tokyo. Saturnalia is not participating in the Kikuka Sho, instead targeting the Tenno Sho (Autumn, G1). Velox has missed a top-three finish only once in eight starts, and Teruhiko Saruhashi, assistant to trainer Mitsumasa Nakauchida, said his prep was satisfactory.

"It was a slow pace last time, and he took the bit in the early stages," Saruhashi said. "But he could run on well at the finish. Despite it being a muddling race, we could take some positives from it and look to this next race without any worries at all." 

Satono Lux, a Deep Impact colt, was runner-up to Lion Lion in the prep at Nakayama after finishing well up the track in both the Satsuki Sho (Japanese Two Thousand Guineas, G1) and the Tokyo Yushun. Lion Lion also is a non-runner in the Kikuka Sho.

Satono Lux's trainer, Yasutoshi Ikee, said the $2.37 million yearling racing for Satomi Horse Company appears to be coming around as he matures.

"He managed to finish second last time, despite things being a bit tight for him early on in the race," Ikee said. "He seems to have developed during the summer months, and although he's still a young horse, I expect good results to come his way."

Also expected to be in the thick of the fray Sunday is Nishino Daisy, a Harbinger colt who finished fifth in both the Japanese Derby and St. Lite Kinen but was running on late in the latter. Christophe Soumillon takes the mount on Hishi Gekko, a Rulership colt who won his previous outing at Sapporo going 2,600 meters (about 1 5/8 miles).

The Kikuka Sho starts on the backstretch, passes once in front of the grandstand, and makes another circuit into the final stretch run.

Recent winners include Orfevre, who completed the most recent Japanese Triple Crown sweep with his victory in 2011; Kiseki in 2017; and last year's winner, Fierement. All three went on to contest the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (G1)—Kiseki and Fierement without success this year, and Orfevre finishing second to Treve in 2013.