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| Staff Writer |
After a great weekend at the Breeders’ Cup for Japan, this coming Sunday (Nov. 14) sees the domestic Gr.1 action return to the Hanshin Racecourse, where the Queen Elizabeth II Cup will be run over 2,200 meters on the track’s inner turf course.
Established in 1976, it was originally run over 2,400 meters, but when the race’s format changed in 1996 to allow fillies and mares over 3YO to enter, the distance was shortened to its current 2,200 meters. It became an international Gr.1 in 1999. It is also the first leg of four races of what is now known as the Japan Autumn International series of races, and one that includes the prestigious Gr.1 Japan Cup.
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Lei Papale: Another filly by Deep Impact, her stunning six-win streak finally came to an end in the Gr.1 Takarazuka Kinen back in June, when she finished third, and most recently she had to settle for fourth in the Gr.2 Sankei Sho All Comers over 2,200 meters at Nakayama in September. It would seem she just has to find a bit more over the extended distance.
Win Marilyn: Winner of the Gr.2 Sankei Sho All Comers at Nakayama on her last start, the 4YO filly by Screen Hero looks set for a run here, and before her last victory she finished a creditable fifth in this year’s Grade 1 Tenno Sho (Spring) back in May.
Win Kiitos: As with Win Marilyn, Win Kiitos was also bred at Cosmo View Farm, but is a daughter of Gold Ship, who claimed his first Gr.1 as a sire earlier this year. Win Kiitos won the Gr.2 Meguro Kinen over 2,500 meters back in May at Tokyo, and is coming off a second place finish in the G.2 Sankei Sho All Comers.
Terzetto: Looking like jockey Mirco Demuro’s big race ride, the improving filly by Deep Impact is now six wins from eight career starts. Trainer Shoichiro Wada was pleased with her latest win in the Grade 3 Hokkaido Shimbun Hai Queen Stakes over 1,800 meters at Hakodate in August.
Des Ailes: Another filly by Deep Impact, the 4YO still boasts an almost 50% win strike rate, despite finishing outside the first three in her last two starts, an 8th in the Gr.1 Victoria Mile in May, and a disappointing 16th of 18 last time in the Gr. 2 Ireland Trophy Fuchu Himba Stakes at Tokyo in October.
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Rambling Alley: As with Des Ailes, Rambling Alley carries the colors of the Shadai Race Horse Co. Ltd. and is a stablemate of the former. Every race she’s taken on this year has been a graded one, so her experience in those races points to a likely good run in this one too. She finished second in the Gr.1 Victoria Mile in May, and last time out she was seventh in the Gr.2 Sankei Sho All Comers over 2,200 meters at Nakayama in September.
Clavel: The 4YO filly by Epiphaneia has been in the first three eight times from her twelve-race career, and her graded race experience, while limited, has been quite impressive. Most recently she produced a great late run in what was a tough race, the Gr.3 Niigata Kinen over 2,000 meters in September.
Distance 2200 meters,(About 11 furlongs / 1+3⁄8 miles),Surface Turf,Track Right-handed,Qualification 3-y-o & Up, Fillies & Mares only, Thoroughbreds,Weight 3-y-o 54 kg \ 4-y-o & up 56 kg,Purse ¥ 200,480,000 (as of 2017),1st: ¥ 93,000,000