Blue-blooded Garza Blanca to run in the G2 Tulip Sho
Tuesday, 27 February, 2024 15:00
Garza Blanca (Photo: Yuki Shimono)
Garza Blanca, a half-sister to six-time GI winner and World's Best, Equinox, will be looking for her first graded title in the Tulip Sho.
The Tetsuya Kimura-trained daughter of Kizuna is out of Chateau Blanche, by King Halo. Her half-brother Equinox is a world-famous horse that needs no introduction. He won six consecutive GI races from Tenno Sho (Autumn) two years ago to Japan Cup last year. Last year, he was ranked No.1 in the world in the LONGINES WORLD'S BEST RACEHORSE RANKINGS.
Garza Blanca is a winner from two career starts. On her debut race last August, she settled in a good position, and broke away from the pack to win impressively justifying 1.4 betting odds. In her next race, the Begonia Sho, she appeared to be thwarted by the extremely slow pace set Awesome Stroke, who got first run on the field.
This will be her first start in three months, she was moved to Ritto Training Center two weeks ago for final preparations. Her prize money at this stage is 4 million yen, so she needs to finish in the top three to qualify for the Oka Sho (Japanese 1000 Guineas). With the Oaks on the horizon, this is a race that she needs to win to add to her prize money to qualify for Classic and high-profile races. Christophe Lemaire will continue his association in the saddle. We look forward to seeing him ride with high expectations to win a Classic, a feat her older brother failed to achieve.
The Tetsuya Kimura-trained daughter of Kizuna is out of Chateau Blanche, by King Halo. Her half-brother Equinox is a world-famous horse that needs no introduction. He won six consecutive GI races from Tenno Sho (Autumn) two years ago to Japan Cup last year. Last year, he was ranked No.1 in the world in the LONGINES WORLD'S BEST RACEHORSE RANKINGS.
Garza Blanca is a winner from two career starts. On her debut race last August, she settled in a good position, and broke away from the pack to win impressively justifying 1.4 betting odds. In her next race, the Begonia Sho, she appeared to be thwarted by the extremely slow pace set Awesome Stroke, who got first run on the field.
This will be her first start in three months, she was moved to Ritto Training Center two weeks ago for final preparations. Her prize money at this stage is 4 million yen, so she needs to finish in the top three to qualify for the Oka Sho (Japanese 1000 Guineas). With the Oaks on the horizon, this is a race that she needs to win to add to her prize money to qualify for Classic and high-profile races. Christophe Lemaire will continue his association in the saddle. We look forward to seeing him ride with high expectations to win a Classic, a feat her older brother failed to achieve.