Akaitorino Musume Seeks Stardom in QE II Cup

Still savoring the fruits of a successful Breeders' Cup, top-level Japanese racing returns home Nov. 14 with fillies and mares contesting the Queen Elizabeth II Cup (G1) at Hanshin Racecourse.

With Loves Only You  coming off a recent victory in California in the Nov. 5 Makers' Mark Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1T), the QE II provides an opportunity for 3-year-old Akaitorino Musume to show once and for all that she also has star quality.

Akaitorino Musume, a Deep Impact  filly out of the King Kamehameha  mare Apapane , is on the edge of stardom after winning the Shuka Sho (G1) over the same turf Oct. 17. Before that, she was second behind Uberleben in the Yushun Himba (Japanese Oaks, G1) at Tokyo Racecourse.

Much is expected of the filly. Her late sire needs no introduction and Apapane's four grade 1 victories included the Yushun Himba and Shuka Sho in 2010. She also finished third in the QE II Cup in both 2010 and 2011.

Trainer Sakae Kunieda sounded "all systems go" after Akaitorino Musume drew post position 3 in a field of 17.

"There have been no problems with her since her last race. Her appetite's been good and she's filling out more," Kunieda said. "The jockey knows her well and I have no concerns about anything. 

"She gets a 2-kilo (about 4.4 pounds) allowance, so I suppose the key really is how she'll perform among the older horses. Other 3-year-olds have been successful in the race, and I think she can give a good account of herself."

The other 16 in the QE II Cup all have more questions to answer.

Lei Papale , a 4-year-old daughter of Deep Impact, started her career with six straight wins, culminating in the Osaka Hai (G1) April 4. That streak came to an end with a third-place finish in the Takarazuka Kinen (G1) June 27 at Hanshin, which was forgivable as it was won by the talented Chrono Genesis . Of more concern was a fourth-place showing in her last race, the Sankei Sho All Comers (G2) at Nakayama in her seasonal comeback Sept. 26.

Lei Papale drew the rail and benefits from the services of Japan's leading rider, Christophe Lemaire.

"Even last year when I rode her in training, I felt she had potential," Lemaire said. "She now seems bigger and more mature. Her strong point is that she can run with a good rhythm ... It'll be important to get a good start and get her relaxed and just take a sit in behind another horse if possible."

The winner of the All Comers, Win Marilyn, also returns for the QE II.

"She's better now than she was as a 3-year-old, and mentally she's improved too," trainer Takahisa Tezuka said of the 4-year-old Screen Hero  filly. "She usually starts well and gets a good position in a race. After her run in the All Comers, I think she has a good chance in the Queen Elizabeth II Cup."

Godolphin sends out Soft Fruit, another of the six Deep Impact offspring in the race. The 4-year-old was sixth a year ago and would need significant improvement to figure in the outcome.

The race is contested at 2,200 meters (about 1 5/8 miles), right-handed around the Hanshin inner oval. There is a sharp climb approaching the finish line, which at this distance is negotiated twice.

Snow Fairy won the QE II Cup in both 2010 and 2011 for trainer Ed Dunlop. Three foreign entries were received for this renewal but none will run.