The Group 1 Yushun Himba (Japanese Oaks) at Tokyo boasts a stellar roll call of champion fillies, but it is doubtful if Yankee Rose’s exceptional daughter Liberty Island (JPN) would bow to any of them.
Settled three pairs back on the rail some eight lengths behind Light Quantum, who led a breakaway pack of four, Yuga Kawada played the percentages and eased Liberty Island to the centre of the track on turning for home.
The daughter of Duramente (JPN) strode up under a stranglehold, and the only betting was on the winning margin.
The margin was six lengths and could have been more. The Heart’s Cry (JPN) filly Harper was second a neck ahead of Duramente (JPN) filly Dura in third, with the game Kitasan Black (JPN) filly Ravel in fourth.
An imperious winner of the Group 1 The Oka Show (Japanese 1000 Guineas) at Hanshin on April 9, Liberty Island advances her record to four wins and a second from five starts.
Her success will put the spotlight on her close relation Isotope who sells at the Magic Millions Broodamre Sale this week, click to read more about this exciting prospect.
It was a second consecutive win in the Yushun Himba for the ill-fated Duramente (JPN) following Stars On Earth.
Trainer Mitsumasa Nakauchida is likely to set Liberty Island for the Shuka Sho, the third leg of the fillies Triple Crown, where she drops back to 2000m.
The winner of the Group 1 Hanshin Juvenile Fillies (1600m) at two, Liberty Island’s only defeat came with a luckless second to Rivel in the Group III Artemis Stakes at Tokyo last October.
The Yushun Himba Roll Call
2023 Liberty Island (Duramente)
2022 Stars On Earth (Duramente))
2021 Uberleben (Gold Ship)
2020 Daring Tact (Epiphaneia)
2019 Loves Only You (Deep Impact)
2018 Almond Eye (Lord Kanaloa)
2017 Soul Stirring (Frankel)
