Cervinia Beats Bond Girl, Stellenbosch in Shuka Sho

Japan's 3-year-old filly ranks needed a clear leader and got just that in the final 200 meters of the Shuka Sho (G1) Oct. 13 at Kyoto Racecourse as Cervinia sprinted away from 14 rivals to a 1 3/4-length victory.

Bond Girl was second with a late run up the middle of the course and Stellenbosch settled for third at the end of the 2,000 meters (about 1 1/4 miles), run in a snappy 1:57.1.

The race was the third and deciding leg of Japan's filly Triple Crown. Stellenbosch won the first race in the series, the Oka Sho (Japanese One Thousand Guineas-G1), and Cervinia took the second, the Yushun Himba (Japanese Oaks-G1), leaving the leadership of the division up in the air.

Cervinia, a Harbinger  filly, seized the opportunity rather impressively.

Jockey Christophe Lemaire settled Cervinia slightly toward the middle of the main field running down the backstretch of the inner turf course as they all chased breakaway leader Sekitoba East. That one faded abruptly rounding the sweeping stretch turn and a clot of fillies quickly disputed the lead.

Lemaire deftly threaded the needle, found running room between rivals for Cervinia and shot by the bunch to resolve the issue.

Bond Girl, who missed both the Guineas and the Oaks, came with a sweeping run to catch Stellenbosch, denying her second by a half length.

"As always, it's not easy to win a grade 1 race," Lemaire said. "But Cervinia ran an incredible race today and everything went smoothly. The distance was right for her, we were able to sit in a good position, she found her own rhythm and was very calm throughout.

"The fast pace was also a good factor and she responded beautifully," he added.

Before the race, Lemaire virtually painted a picture of the outcome.

"Her responses are very quick and if her trip goes smoothly, I think she'll be able to do well over the short stretch," he said. "Her late kick is very good. She can accelerate well." 

The Shuka Sho victory lands Cervinia atop the division but the issue is far from decided. In recent years, 3-year-old fillies have run impressively in late-season affairs against older horses and males, improving their standing in the voting.

Liberty Island  swept the filly Triple Crown races in 2023, then finished second to that year's Longines World's Best Racehorse Equinox  in the Japan Cup (G1). And Daring Tact , the 2020 series winner, reported third behind Almond Eye  in the same iconic race.

Cervinia was produced by the King Kamehameha  mare Cecchino (JPN). She was bred by Northern Farm and runs for Sunday Racing. Tetsuya Kimura trains. It was the third straight Shuka Sho triumph for Sunday Racing, who campaigned Stunning Rose in 2022 and Liberty Island (JPN) in 2023.

Cervinia started her career in June of 2023, finishing second to Bond Girl in a 1,600-meter (about 1 mile) 2-year-old newcomers race, restricted to first-time starters. She then won a maiden event at 1,800 meters (about 1 1/8 miles) in August and the Artemis Stakes (G3) before going to the sidelines for the winter.

Her return in the Oka Sho in April was, in Lemaire's words, "unfortunate", as she finished 13th.

"She was a bit on edge in the Oka Sho and that caused her to tire in the end," the rider said. 

Her connections, and the Japanese punters, shrugged that off, making her one of the favorites in the Yushun Himba and were rewarded with that impressive performance.

In addition to Liberty Island and Daring Tact, the roster of Shuka Sho winners includes such stars as Almond Eye, Gentildonna , and Apapane .