Circle of Life Prevails in Hanshin Juvenile Fillies

Circle the name Circle of Life.

The Epiphaneia filly likely ran her way into year-end honors with a determined, stretch-running score in the Hanshin Juvenile Fillies (G1) Dec. 12, beating three other graded stakes winners.

The victory was the third straight for Circle of Life following a third in her career debut.

Circle of Life raced back of midfield in the 1,600-meter (about one-mile) test as jockey Mirco Demuro kept her outside rivals and free of traffic. She advanced steadily, came wide into the stretch, and hit another gear in the final 100 meters to win by a half-length over long shot Lovely Your Eyes.

Water Navillera, a previously undefeated Silver State filly, finished third. The favorite, Namur, missed the break but came running with a rush along the rail in the stretch to finish a promising fourth.

Water Navillera came to the race off a win in the KBS Kyoto Sho Fantasy Stakes (G3) over 1,400 meters (about seven furlongs) at Hanshin to remain undefeated after three starts. Trainer Koshiro Take said before the race she had some quirks and he hoped jockey Yutaka Take could work out a good trip for her.

The second-favorite in the Juvenile Fillies, Sternatia, a daughter of Lord Kanaloa , finished seventh under jockey Christophe Lemaire.

"She was great today," Demuro said of Circle of Life. "She had a good break and we had a smooth trip. We went wide at the stretch but the track was really good on the outside and the horses (in earlier heats) seemed to stretch well along that path.

"My filly closed well over the smooth track so I trusted her to make it and indeed she exhibited strong finishing speed. I was certain in the last 200 meters that she would win."

Circle of Life, out of the Admire Japan mare Sea Breeze Life, was bred by Chiyoda Farm, Shizunai. Sakae Kunieda trains the filly for Masatake Iida.

She broke her maiden in her second start, going 1,600 meters at Nakayama Sept. 20, then won the Artemis Stakes (G3) at Tokyo Racecourse in her next start Oct. 30, at the same distance.

Although she has not won at more than a mile (her first race came at 1,800 meters, about 1 1/8 miles), Demuro said Circle of Life seems capable of more.

"I've ridden her since her debut and she really takes it in her stride in new surroundings and unfamiliar tracks so she has plenty of energy to use in the race," he said. "I'm sure she can further extend her distance in future races so I'm really looking forward to that too."

Kunieda also suggested before the race that Circle of Life eventually may enjoy more distance.

The Hanshin Juvenile Fillies has been a springboard for some of Japan's top female runners including 2006 winner Vodka , 2008 winner Buena Vista , and 2009 winner Apapane . The popular white filly Sodashi won last year's edition.

Resistencia, who finished second in the Longines Hong Kong Sprint (G1) Sunday, holds the race record of 1:32.7, established in 2019 and not threatened by Circle of Life's time of 1:33.8.