Embroidery, Arma Veloce Rematch in Japanese Oaks

Embroidery and Arma Veloce certainly have earned their way to top consideration in the Yushun Himba (Japanese Oaks, G1) May 25 at Tokyo Racecourse but both still have something to prove.

The big question mark is distance. Neither filly has yet gone beyond 1,800 meters (about 1 1/8 miles). The Yushun Himba requires them to carry on to 2,400 meters (about 1 1/2 miles).

Embroidery, a daughter of Admire Mars, and Arma Veloce, by Harbinger , finished first and second, in that order and separated by just a neck, in Oka Sho (Japanese One Thousand Guineas, G1) in their last race. A similar effort in the Yushun Himba could be the start of a fascinating rivalry.

But, first things first.

Arma Veloce has two wins and two seconds from her four trips to the races. She summered in Sapporo on the northern island of Hokkaido last year, winning her career debut and finishing second to Magic Sands in a grade 3. Back south, she won the Hanshin Juvenile Fillies (G1) at Kyoto to wrap up the year.

The Oka Sho was her first 3-year-old effort.

Jockey Mirai Iwata "did a great job last time, but Joao Moreira on the winner was just too good," trainer Hiroyuki Uemura said. "My filly fought back again at the finish, so I could give her high marks for that.

"I've thought she'd be better in races over a longer trip, and even though we won't know until she tries, the extended distance in this next race should suit her."

Iwata returns aboard her and will start from the inside gate in a field of 18.

Embroidery has emerged into stardom a bit more gradually. As a 2-year-old, she had two wins and a second, all in conditions races, and finished fifth in her only stakes start, the Saffron Sho at Nakayama Racecourse. Things changed as the calendar flipped, and she won the Daily Hai Queen Cup (G3) Feb. 15 and followed with the Oka Sho triumph to push her winning streak to three.

"Her win last time was impressive, and it showed that she's developing the right way," trainer Kazutomo Mori said. "She's in about the same condition as she was for the Oka Sho and it means she should show her speed and power once again."

Moreira, who had been riding in Japan on a temporary license, is off to other venues, but no worries, as perennial Japanese jockey champion Christophe Lemaire will take the reins, starting from stall 9.

"She's a big filly with a big stride, and she knows when to take the bit, which makes her move well," Lemaire said. "The distance is 2,400 meters this time, but she's in good condition and I really want to win this next race with her. She has a very good chance."

Erika Express entered the Oka Sho undefeated after two starts and went to the post as favorite but finished fifth.

Her trainer, Haruki Sugiyama, said Erika Express is "in better condition than she was for her last race, which she came out of with no problems ... We won't know about the 2,400-meter distance of this next race until we try, but on her breeding, it doesn't look to be an issue."

The breeding indeed shows promise. She's by 2014 Japan Cup (G1) winner Epiphaneia , whose victories extended to the 3,000 meters (about 1 7/8 miles) of the 2013 Kikuka Sho (Japanese St. Leger, G1), out of the Galileo mare Enticed.

The draw could be an issue as she landed in gate 18.

Others with claims include Kamunyak (JPN), winner of the Flora Stakes (G2) at 2,000 meters (about 1 1/4 miles) in her last start; Lesedrama, last-out winner of the Flower Cup (G3); Lynx Tip, third in the Oka Sho; and Flower Cup runner-up Paradis Reine.

The race starts on the home straight, in front of the imposing grandstand, and completes one circuit plus about 300 meters around the left-hand course. The added distance issue for the 3-year-old fillies is compounded by the sharp incline through the first half of the stretch.