Mozu Katchan Attempts Title Defense in Queen Elizabeth II Cup

[Wandering Eyes]

“I gave her some time off after the Sapporo Kinen and had planned to race her in the Oct. 13 Fuchu Himba S.,” said trainer Ippo Sameshima. “Ten days before that, however, she ran a fever and had to be withdrawn. She got over the fever immediately, and I switched my sights to here. She tends to improve with a prep, but she did run very well in the Sapporo Kinen even though it was her first race in 4 1/2 months. This time, the time between races is less, so I think she’ll be able to access all her power.”

A winner of the G3 Flower Cup at Nakayama in March, Cantabile (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) was off the board in Almond Eye (Jpn) (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn})’s G1 Japanese Oaks, but returned to capture the G2 Kansai Telecasting Corp. Sho Rose S. at Hanshin over 1800 metres on Sept. 16. In the Oct. 14 Shuka Sho, she was once again defeated by Almond Eye and took third that day trying 2000 metres for the first time.

Lys Gracieux (Jpn) (Heart’s Cry {Jpn}) just needs to boost her form a hair as she has been competitive at this level previously, running second in the May 13 G1 Victoria Mile–her fourth Group 1 placing to date. Kept to a light campaign in 2018, an unplaced effort in the G1 Yasuda Kinen in June saw her benched until Oct. 13, where she ran second to Deirdre (Jpn) (Harbinger {GB}) in the G2 Ireland Trophy Fuchu Himba S. with Frontier Queen (Jpn) (Meisho Sampson {Jpn}) third.

Never off the board in five starts to date, Normcore (Jpn) (Harbinger {GB}) rolled a pair of threes in the G2 Flower Cup–to Cantabile–and the G2 Sankei Sports Sho Flora S. this spring. Allowed time off to mature, the 3-year-old put it all together in the Sept. 8 G3 Shion S. going 2000 metres at Nakayama, and if she continues her upward trajectory, could prove dangerous on Sunday.

Red Genova (Jpn) (Symboli Kris S) has enjoyed a fairly productive 2018, with five on-the-board finishes and three wins in six starts, and she enters the Queen Elizabeth II Cup with a runner-up performance in the Oct. 8 G2 Kyoto Daishoten to MG1SW Satono Diamond (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}).

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