A Filly To Steal The Sho

The colts' Classics kick off on Sunday in Japan with the running of the G1 Satsuki Sho (Japanese 2000 Guineas) at Nakayama Racecourse, but bidding to steal the spotlight from the boys will be the lone filly in the lineup–and the 2-1 morning line favourite–Fan Dii Na (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}). Unbeaten in three starts, all this year, Fan Dii Na was last seen running away with the G3 Flower Cup over 1800 metres over this course on Mar. 20. Trainer Tomokazu Takano is not underestimating the task at hand, however. “She's eating well and there's no problem with the way she's coming on,” he said. “It'll be the second time to transport her to Nakayama, and keeping her calm will be the main thing. She's up against colts this time, and she's still immature, so it won't be easy.”

Of the key preps to produce winners of the Satsuki Sho, the G2 Hochi Hai Yayoi Sho over the Satsuki Sho course and distance has proven most effective, and the winner of that contest on Mar. 5 was Cadenas (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}), who has yet to finish out of the top two in five starts. Another colt to race with consistency has been Suave Richard (Jpn) (Heart's Cry {Jpn}), whose lone start this year was a 2 1/2 length win in the G3 Tokinominoru Kinen over 1800 metres at Tokyo on Feb. 12. Suave Richard has enjoyed a bit of a break since that effort, and trainer Yasushi Shono said, “he's come back from the farm in top condition and seems to have developed. We've transported him long distance a couple of times now, and it's not a problem.”