Jeweler Gets Nod in Dazzling Oka Sho Finish
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Photo: Masakazu Takahashi
Jeweler wins the Oka Sho.
Jeweler landed the first leg of Japan's Triple Crown for fillies when she edged familiar rival Sinhalite by a nose in a thrilling finish of the Oka Sho (Jpn-I, Japanese One Thousand Guineas) April 10 at Hanshin.
Jeweler, runner-up by a neck against males in the Shinzan Kinen (Jpn-III) in January, turned the tables on Sinhalite, who bested her by a nose in the Tulip Sho (Jpn-III) March 3 at Hanshin in her second this year.
With Mirco Demuro aboard for trainer Kenichi Fujioka in the Oka Sho, Jeweler covered the mile in 1:33.04 on firm turf as the third betting choice. With the victory she became the first group I winner for her sire, Victoire Pisa, whom Demuro guided to win the 2011 Dubai World Cup (UAE-I). She is from her sire's first crop and won her debut last November at Kyoto.
Jeweler was unrushed early and settled in her usual position near the rear of the field. Demuro brought her wide into the stretch and she showed great determination to catch Sinhalite in the very last stride. The finishing time was just a tenth of a second short of the stakes record.
Race favorite Major Emblem, Japan's 2015 champion juvenile filly, split horses entering the straight to lead briefly but yielded in the final 100 meters when Sinhalite and At the Seaside burst forcefully from the outside, finishing fourth.
Fujioka said Jeweler's conformation should suit her to longer distances.
"I have high hopes for her to do well in the remaining two legs of the fillies' Triple Crown," he said.
The classic series for fillies also includes the Yushun Himba (Jpn-I, Japanese Oaks) at 2,400 meters (about 1 1/2 miles) May 22 at Tokyo and the Shuka Sho (Jpn-I) at 2,000 meters (about 1 1/4 miles) Sept. 10 at Nakayama. The triple was last completed in 2012 by seven-time group I winner Gentildonna.
Jeweler was bred in Japan by Shadai Farm and is owned by Yoichi Aoyama. Her dam is French group III winner Baldwina, a daughter of Pistolet Bleu who also produced Japanese muliptle group III winner One Carat (Falbrav).