Japan's Classics Season Kicks off with the Oka Sho

The Japanese classics season kicks off April 7 at Hanshin Racecourse with that country's 2-year-old filly champion of 2023, Ascoli Piceno, defending her perfect record in a full field in the Oka Sho (Japanese One Thousand Guineas, G1).

Ascoli Piceno, by Daiwa Major , out of the Danehill Dancer  mare Ascolti, progressed smoothly through the ranks as a juvenile. She won her first start June 24 and moved right into the Niigata Nisai Stakes (G3) Aug. 27. 

With that victory secured, she took on some of the best of her generation in the Hanshin Juvenile Fillies (G1) Dec. 10, winning by a neck over Stellenbosch in a fierce battle between two deep closers. Corazon Beat was third.

Both Stellenbosch, a daughter of Epiphaneia , and Corazon Beat, by Suave Richard , are set for another try against the champ.

All three of Ascoli Piceno's 2023 wins were at the same 1,600 meters (about a mile) as the Oka Sho. Before the Juvenile Fillies, trainer Yoichi Kuroiwa transferred her from her base at the Miho Training Center in eastern Japan to the Ritto training facility to avoid long travel close to the race date.

While Ascoli Piceno is the obvious focus of attention, others have been building up to the race in some style.

Etes Vous Prets, owned by Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, has won two of her last three starts and opened 2024 with a victory in the Hochi Hai Fillies Revue Stakes (G2) at Hanshin March 10, with Corazon Beat second. The gray filly is by Too Darn Hot , a son of Dubawi .

Queen's Walk appears in her first grade 1 event but has two wins and one second from her three starts. The Kizuna  filly, easily spotted by her imposing size, captured the Queen Cup (G3) at Tokyo Racecourse Feb. 10.

Sweep Feet, exits a win in the Tulip Sho (G2) at Hanshin, a designated Oka Sho prep. She had a win and two seconds from five previous starts but finished seventh in the Hanshin Juvenile Fillies.

Cervinia was withdrawn from the Juvenile Fillies with minor setbacks. She showed ability before that but has not raced since October.

After the Oka Sho, the filly Triple Crown races stretch out, starting with the Yushun Himba (Japanese Oaks, G1) at 2,400 meters (about 1 1/2 miles) in May and concluding with the Shuka Sho in October at 2,000 meters (about 1 1/4 miles).

Liberty Island  won the 2023 Oka Sho and went on to sweep the Triple Crown series, then finished second to eventual Horse of the Year Equinox  in the Japan Cup. Previous Oka Sho winners include Almond Eye , Stars on Earth, Sodashi , Gentildonna , Buena Vista  and Let's Go Donki.