Light Back, who finished third in both the G1 Oka Sho and G1 Japanese Oaks, is primed and ready to achieve a historic victory on the 28th. In her final track work at the Ritto Training Center's woodchip track, she displayed a sharp final furlong, clocking in at 11.4 seconds with plenty left in the tank, signalling her excellent condition. A win by a 3-year-old filly in the G3 Niigata Kinen would be the first in 51 years, but Light Back has the talent to etch her name in history. She aims to unleash her powerful late kick against older horses for the first time, setting the stage for a triumphant autumn campaign targeting her first G1 victory.

Light Back is poised to turn a historic victory into a springboard for the fall. She is seeking to become the first 3-year-old filly to capture the G3 Niigata Kinen title since Yama Tesco in 1973, 51 years ago. Since the introduction of graded stakes in 1984, no 3-year-old filly has won this race. However, her back-to-back third-place finishes in G1 races prove she has a top-tier closing speed, capable of overpowering seasoned older horses.

In her final track work at the Ritto Training Center, Light Back trailed Anri Road by four-and-a-half lengths. Showing more patience than in the spring, she entered the stretch full of running and effortlessly surged past her workmate, finishing a half-length ahead. She recorded an impressive 6F time of 83.2 seconds, with splits of 37.1 seconds and a final furlong of 11.4 seconds. Trainer Taiki Chaki, who oversaw the session, emphasized that the work was designed to leave something in reserve for the upcoming race, stating, "She tends to get too keyed up, so we focused on keeping her relaxed and just encouraging her in the final stages. She was able to settle behind another horse and showed great patience, so it was a very good workout."

Despite her sometimes fiery temperament, Light Back has consistently performed at the top level, finishing a close third in both the Oka Sho and the Japanese Oaks. After her last race, her connections quickly targeted the Niigata Kinen, and she was sent to Northern Farm Shigaraki for a brief spell before returning to training earlier this month. "She's grown taller, her withers have developed nicely, and she's looking more impressive overall," trainer Chaki noted with satisfaction. "She's also shown mental growth, and she's had a very productive summer."

A victory by a 3-year-old filly after half a century would be a remarkable achievement. "The wide, one-turn 2000 meters is the perfect stage for her. It won't be an easy race, but the experience of facing tough older horses will definitely benefit her in the future." With this steady progress, the Kizuna filly is ready to close out the summer on a high note.