Lachesis Is Horse For The Course

A compelling group of older mares and sophomores will face off in Japan Sunday for the G1 Queen Elizabeth II Cup, and one that appears to have much stacked in her favor is Lachesis (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}), who won this race last year and finished second in 2013. The 5-year-old opened her campaign with a win over former G1 Tokyo Yushun victor Kizuna (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) in Hanshin’s G2 Sankei Osaka Hai Apr. 5, but could manage only eighth in the G1 Takarazuka Kinen in June before being given a two-month summer holiday. She returned with a fifth in the G2 Sapporo Kinen Aug. 23, and was last seen finishing fourth in the G2 Kyoto Daishoten Oct. 12. With rain falling across the country, her ability to handle a variety of surfaces to will serve her well. Nuovo Record (Jpn) (Heart’s Cry {Jpn}) finished second to Lachesis here last year in the same season she won the G1 Yushun Himba. She returned from a three-month layoff to be a respectable second in the G2 Sankei Sho All Comers over this trip Sept. 27. “In the All Comers, the winner came down the outside with a late surge to deny us,” said trainer Makoto Saito. “It wasn’t a smooth race for her, and as a filly she seemed to take in some stress from the race, but still managed to finish second, which just goes to show what power she has. Her tiredness has gone, and she’s been running comfortably over longer distances.”

The 3-year-olds, who receive a four-pound weight break, have a good record in this contest, and three sophomores are in with a chance Sunday. Rouge Buck (Jpn) (Manhattan Cafe {Jpn}), a daughter of U.S. champion mare Ginger Punch (Awesome Again), finished second as the favorite in the G1 Yushun Himba when last seen May 24, while Queens Ring (Jpn) (Manhattan Cafe {Jpn}) was a smart second in the G1 Shuka Sho Oct. 18 and could be a later developer.