Tastiera and Sol Oriens to battle it out in G1 Kikuka Sho
Wednesday, 18 October, 2023 17:25
Sol Oriens (Photo: Yuki Shimono)
The G1 Kikuka Sho, the last leg of the colts' Classics will be run on the 22nd of November at Kyoto Racecourse. Here are three main contenders for this race.
Sol Oriens
Sol Oriens, winner of the G1 Satsuki Sho and placed second in the G1 Japanese Derby will aim for a second triumph in this year's Classics. He finished second in the G2 Kikuka Sho trial St Lite Kinen and is ready to get back into the winner's circle. His father Kitasan Black won the same race back in 2015 and we will see if he can follow the path of the great sire.
Tastiera
Tastiera finished second behind Sol Oriens in the G1 Satsuki Sho but later bounced back to win the G1 Japanese Derby. He did not run in the trial race and there is some concern over whether he is really ready for the race or not. Joao Moreira will be raking the reins in the Kikuka Sho.
Satono Glanz
Satono Glanz, winner of the G2 Kobe Shimbun Hai and the G2 Kyoto Shimbun Hai showed that he is able to stay in the distance of 3000m. His sire Satono Diamond also won the Kikuka Sho in 2016 and he will aim to join his father on the honour roll with Yuga Kawada on board.
Other contenders include: Durezza, who will run at the G1 level for the first time; Hearts Concerto, who placed third in the Japanese Derby; Top Knife, who came in second in the G2 Sapporo Kinen and has placed second in three other graded stakes; Savona, who finished second in the G2 Kobe Shimbun Hai, and lastly; Phantom Thief, who is a winner of the G3 Kyodo News Hai.
Sol Oriens
Sol Oriens, winner of the G1 Satsuki Sho and placed second in the G1 Japanese Derby will aim for a second triumph in this year's Classics. He finished second in the G2 Kikuka Sho trial St Lite Kinen and is ready to get back into the winner's circle. His father Kitasan Black won the same race back in 2015 and we will see if he can follow the path of the great sire.
Tastiera
Tastiera finished second behind Sol Oriens in the G1 Satsuki Sho but later bounced back to win the G1 Japanese Derby. He did not run in the trial race and there is some concern over whether he is really ready for the race or not. Joao Moreira will be raking the reins in the Kikuka Sho.
Satono Glanz
Satono Glanz, winner of the G2 Kobe Shimbun Hai and the G2 Kyoto Shimbun Hai showed that he is able to stay in the distance of 3000m. His sire Satono Diamond also won the Kikuka Sho in 2016 and he will aim to join his father on the honour roll with Yuga Kawada on board.
Other contenders include: Durezza, who will run at the G1 level for the first time; Hearts Concerto, who placed third in the Japanese Derby; Top Knife, who came in second in the G2 Sapporo Kinen and has placed second in three other graded stakes; Savona, who finished second in the G2 Kobe Shimbun Hai, and lastly; Phantom Thief, who is a winner of the G3 Kyodo News Hai.