Regaleira Aiming For Group 1 Hat Trick In Japan

[Wandering Eyes]

Already a two-time Group 1 winner Regaleira (Suave Richard) is aiming for her third crown in Sunday's G1 Queen Elizabeth II Cup at Kyoto. The Sunday Racing colourbearer will face 15 rivals and carries the mantle of market favouritism in advance of the big day.

Leaving from post seven under Keta Tosaki, the four-year-old filly has a Hopeful Stakes score versus males in her win column at two, and defeated them again in last December's Arima Kinen over 2500 metres. She warmed up for this contest with a victory going this trip at Nakayama in the G2 Sankei Sho All Comers Stakes in September.

Said assistant trainer Yu Ota, “She looks well in her coat, and her preparation has gone well. Her reactions have improved as the race gets closer, and she's done some good work in training, so she should be just right for the race itself.”

Second choice in the wagering is the G3 Fairy Stakes heroine Erika Express (Epiphaneia). Slotted in stall six next to the favourite, Masahiro Miki's three-year-old is coming off a career high performance when she ran second at this venue in the 2000-metre G1 Shuka Sho on October 19. Yutaka Take has ridden four QEII Cup heroines from 2001-2004 in To The Victory, Fine Motion, and dual winner Admire Groove.

“When I rode her in training before, she was quite straightforward, and she moves well,” said legendary rider Take. “This time in work, she moved quicker than I thought. She was quite tense before her last race, however. The rhythm she finds in the race this time will be important, particularly with the extra furlong.”

Also coming back from the Shuka Sho is the third-place finisher Paradis Reine (Kizuna). Racing for Makio Okada, the G3 Flower Cup runner-up was also fourth in the G1 Yushun Himba (Japanese Oaks) in May. Mirai Iwata will be at the controls, and they will break from the inside gate.

Trainer Teruhiko Chida said, “She was a bit tired after her last race, where she really showed a lot of power, so she's had a couple of easy weeks at the stable to recover from that run and get over her tiredness. Regarding the race this time, it's on the outer course, which I feel makes it easier, but we'll have to see how she handles the race overall.”

The intriguing Lynx Tip is third choice in the advance markets and has been handed the widest draw of all. The daughter of Kitasan Black also bears the Sunday Racing Silks, and she was third in the G1 Oka Sho (Japanese 1000 Guineas) this spring. Although she has yet to win from four starts this season, she would be her sire's fourth top-level winner. His Ravel was runner-up in this race last year.

Assistant trainer Kazuki Nitta said, “She's developing nicely, and is in good shape with the work we've given her. We're very pleased with the way she's moving and the times she's posted. The outer course at Kyoto is good for her, and with her flexibility, there's no problem getting into the flow of a race.”

Part of the older brigade is 2024 Oka Sho heroine Stellenbosch (Epiphaneia). Although at one time Katsumi Yoshida's runner filled the frame in five consecutive appearances at the top level, she has yet to finish better than eighth in three starts this year. However, she does have the services of Christophe Lemaire and the duo will break from post two.

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