Race Favorite Sinhalite Powers to Victory inYushun Himba (Japanese Oaks) Race favorite Sinhalite showed her strength in dominating the Yushun Himba (Japanese Oaks), claiming her first G1 title and second grade-race victory.
After three wins in a row from her two-year-old debut in October, she was denied the Oka Sho (Japanese 1000 Guineas, G1) title by a mere 2-centimeter margin but proved herself as an elite runner of her generation. Tranier Sei Ishizaka won his 14th career JRA-G1 title—the last victory at this level was the 2016 February Stakes with Moanin—and it was his second Yushun Himba title after winning the race with Gentildonna in 2012.
Jockey Kenichi Ikezoe, whose recent G1 victory was with Shonan Pandora in the 2015 Japan Cup, registered his 22nd career JRA-G1 victory with his second Yushun Himba title after partnering Tall Poppy to victory in this race in 2008. Sinhalite was allowed to settle well off the pace near the rails, traveling fifth from last along the far stretch behind a moderate pace set by Dantsu Pendant. Slightly shifted out coming into the homestretch, Sinhalite had to be patient while being surrounded by horses up to the top of the hill but did not fail to seize the moment to split horses from where she quickly gained on the leaders then overtaking Biche for a neck victory.
“We missed a beat coming out of the gate and had to race further back than intended in the early stages, but we were able to recover some ground along the way. I was instructed by the trainer to save as much ground as possible since we had a good chance in the race from a good inside draw, so I didn’t attempt to go wide, squeezing our way between horses instead. Once escaping the crowd, she responded really well and switched into gear,” commented Kenichi Ikezoe.
Second pick Cecchino raced well off the pace in mid-field, swung wide into the straight and came with impressive speed to join Sinhalite in their bid for the lead but had more ground to cover along the outside route and was a neck short for second. Fifth choice Biche was positioned outside a rival a few lengths in front of Cecchino before making headway approaching the final corner, closed in on the leader down the center lane to take command soon after the furlong pole then ran on gamely while unable to hold off the late charging Sinhalite and Cecchino.
