Japan's filly Triple Crown comes to a close on Sunday with the running of the G1 Shuka Sho over 2000 metres at Kyoto, and Aerolithe (Jpn) (Kurofune) is favoured at 2-1 off the back of two straight wins. Fifth in the G1 Oka Sho (Japanese 1000 Guineas) on Apr. 9, the Sunday Racing colourbearer earned a top level score over males when clinching Tokyo's G1 NHK Mile Cup a month later. She was last seen running out a 2 1/2-length winner of the G3 Hokkaido Shimbun Hai Queen S. on July 30 when stretched to 1800 metres, and she goes beyond that trip for the first time here. Her pedigree suggests the trip shouldn't be a problem, with her sire having won over 2000 metres on three occasions.
The top three finishers of the Sept. 17 G2 Sho Rose S. at Hanshin all return here, with the winner there, Rabbit Run (Tapit), looking for a third-straight win. The American-bred filly was a $750,000 purchase by Shadai at Keeneland September and is campaigned by Kazuko Yoshida. She bested Kawakita Enka (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn})-second in her last two starts-by 1 1/4 lengths, with Oka Sho second Lys Gracieux (Jpn) (Heart's Cry {Jpn}) a further 3/4 of a length back in third.
With G1 Yushun Himba (Japanese Oaks) winner Soul Stirring (Jpn) (Frankel {GB}) having opted for last weekend's G2 Mainichi Okan, where she was a disappointing eighth as the even-money favourite, Oka Sho winner Reine Minoru (Jpn) (Daiwa Major {Jpn}) is the lone prior Classic winner in the lineup. She has been given long odds of 20-1, however, off a 13th in the Yushun Himba and a ninth in the Sho Rose.
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