G1 Japanese Oaks winner Cervinia on track for second G1 title in Shuka Sho
Thursday, 10 October, 2024 02:31
Armed with the physical and mental strength honed over the summer, Japanese Oaks winner Cervinia is set to claim her second G1 title in the Shuka Sho. After a disappointing 13th-place finish in the Oka Sho during the spring, she bounced back brilliantly to take the Japanese Oaks. However, her groom Ota revealed, "In the Oka Sho, even though her coat looked good, her condition wasn't fully there. For the Japanese Oaks, her form wasn't great either, but the farm managed her preparation well," highlighting that Cervinia was still physically and mentally unprepared at that time.
Following the Japanese Oaks, Cervinia was sent to Northern Farm Tenei in Fukushima Prefecture for a well-deserved break. The intense heat of the summer took its toll on her, with Ota admitting, "When she returned from the farm, she was affected by summer fatigue and even lost some condition." But, thanks to the stable's expertise, Cervinia made a strong recovery. During her time back at Miho Training Center, she was put through solid workouts on the woodchip track. "Even after three consecutive weeks of hard training, she handled it with ease and her breathing was smooth," Ota noted, adding that Cervinia had overcome the physical frailty she still exhibited in the spring. "She's become much stronger now."
The Shuka Sho will be Cervinia's second race on a right-handed track since the Oka Sho, and it will be held on Kyoto Racecourse's inner course, which tends to favour front-runners. The track is in good condition for the second week of the meet, making positioning crucial. "I'm not worried about her settling during the race. If she breaks well from the gate, she should be able to find a good position. We've prepared her for that," Ota said confidently. "Her current condition and coat are excellent, and her movement during training mirrors what we saw before the Japanese Oaks."
Cervinia is back to the level she was at when she won the Japanese Oaks. Everything has gone according to plan for this challenge, and with just a week to go, further improvement could make her dream of claiming a second Classic title a reality.
Following the Japanese Oaks, Cervinia was sent to Northern Farm Tenei in Fukushima Prefecture for a well-deserved break. The intense heat of the summer took its toll on her, with Ota admitting, "When she returned from the farm, she was affected by summer fatigue and even lost some condition." But, thanks to the stable's expertise, Cervinia made a strong recovery. During her time back at Miho Training Center, she was put through solid workouts on the woodchip track. "Even after three consecutive weeks of hard training, she handled it with ease and her breathing was smooth," Ota noted, adding that Cervinia had overcome the physical frailty she still exhibited in the spring. "She's become much stronger now."
The Shuka Sho will be Cervinia's second race on a right-handed track since the Oka Sho, and it will be held on Kyoto Racecourse's inner course, which tends to favour front-runners. The track is in good condition for the second week of the meet, making positioning crucial. "I'm not worried about her settling during the race. If she breaks well from the gate, she should be able to find a good position. We've prepared her for that," Ota said confidently. "Her current condition and coat are excellent, and her movement during training mirrors what we saw before the Japanese Oaks."
Cervinia is back to the level she was at when she won the Japanese Oaks. Everything has gone according to plan for this challenge, and with just a week to go, further improvement could make her dream of claiming a second Classic title a reality.
Article Creds:Daily Sports