Shonan Adela Rolls On Outside to Hanshin Win
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Shonan Adela stamped herself as Japan's top 2-year-old filly when she came with an overpowering outside run and edged past Let's Go Donki in the final strides of the Hanshin Juvenile Fillies (Jpn-I) Dec. 14.
The only offspring of Japan's leading sire Deep Impact in this year's 18-horse field, fifth pick Shonan Adela scored a third consecutive win in her first group I start, claiming the champion 2-year-old filly title in the process in the 1,600-meter (about one-mile) race.
Runner-up against males in her career debut in August at Niigata Racecourse, the bay filly broke her maiden the next time out Oct. 12 at Tokyo, both races at a mile. She came into the Juvenile Fillies with a subsequent allowance victory three weeks ago when cutting back to 1,400 meters (about seven furlongs).
Settled a bit farther back than midfield after a less-than ideal start, Shonan Adela was in hand after the first 200 meters for jockey Masayoshi Ebina. As the race commenced in earnest turning for home, Shonan Adela seized the opportunity to find a clearing as Let's Go Donki split horses at the top of the lane and grabbed the lead in midstretch.
Shifting out and launching an impressive rally, Shonan Adela rapidly accelerated and collared Let's Go Donki late for a half-length triumph.
"She didn't break well, but I decided to keep cool and take this opportunity to race her from a little further back than usual," Ebina said. "Just as I had anticipated, she had a great late speed and although she was a bit green when crowded by other fillies, we were able to come out following the runner-up for a clear run. I knew that she could make it once we hit the gas."
Shonan Adela covered the distance over the right-handed course in 1:34.40 on firm turf at odds of nearly 10-1.
Kokorono Ai, coming in off a group III win, had a ground-saving trip all the way and bid for the lead in upper stretch. She was unable to sustain it in the final strides but stayed well for third, another half-length back.
Roca, the 5-2 favorite off a three-length debut win Nov. 2 at Kyoto, was slow out of the gate and raced from behind. She lost much ground going wide into the stretch, finishing eighth.
Yoshitaka Ninomiya trains Shonan Adela for owner Tetsuhide Kunimoto. The filly was bred in Japan by Shimokobe Farm, who bought her dam, the winning Elusive Quality mare Always Winning, via Heatherway's agency for $310,000 from the Brookdale Sales consignment at the 2009 Keeneland November breeding stock sale.
Second dam Always Local, winner of the 1997 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches (Fr-I, French One Thousand Guineas), is a half sister to European champion sprinter and late prominent sire Anabaa.