G1 Kikuka Sho

The Japanese Classics came to a close on Sunday at Hanshin with the G1 Kikuka Sho (Japanese St. Leger), and it was Titleholder (Jpn) (Duramente {Jpn})'s time to shine as he led at every call to win going away by five lengths as the 7-1 fourth choice. He is the first winner to lead from start to finish in the Kikuka Sho since Seiun Sky (Jpn) (Sheriff's Star {GB}) in 1998. Allowed to bowl along as soon as the gates sprung, the Hiroshi Yamada colourbearer soon established an easy rhythm...

Kyoto played host to the 3000-metre G1 Kikuka Sho on Sunday, and Contrail (Jpn) put his name in the record books as the eighth Japanese Triple Crown Winner and only the third to take the Japanese equivalent of the St Leger while undefeated. Symboli Rudolf (Jpn) (Partholon {Ire}) first accomplished that feat in 1984 and Contrail's sire, the late Deep Impact (Jpn), was the second in 2005. In marked contrast to his earlier wins, Contrail was tested all the way to the line, with recent allowance winner, the SP Aristoteles...