As was the case on International Stakes Day at Sha Tin, the atmosphere was missing at a near crowd less Hanshin racetrack in Japan on Sunday. However, it was easy to form a picture of the rapturous delight of fans when the charismatic white two-year-old filly Sodashi hit the front in the Group 1 Hanshin Juvenile Fillies.
In just four undefeated starts, this beautiful filly has become a cult hero.
Give
n the run of the race Hayato Yoshida, the Naosuke Sugai-trained daughter of Kurofune was momentarily held up for a run at the 300 metres.
She took a gap to hit the front but came under attack from the fast-finishing Deep Impact filly Satono Reinas who had also come into the race undefeated.
Opinions were divided on the outcome. However, the judge found a margin of a nose for Sodashi. The Gold Ship filly Uberleben charged home to be a neck back in third marginally ahead of the Mikki Isle (JPN) filly Meikei Yell who came to the race three for three.
“Going into the race as favourite was a bit of a load, but I’m thrilled with the outcome,” Hayato Yoshida said.
“She hated to even go near the gate, but I’m relieved that all went well and that we were able to be positioned just as I hoped.
“The going affected her good turn of foot, but she gave all she had. There is room for improvement, and I hope we can get her ready for next year’s classics.”
Sodashi follows a long line of cult heroines. However, she is clearly the best of them. Her dam Buchiko (King Kamehameha) resembled something out of an American western. Her dam Shirayukihime (Sunday Silence) was born white.
Buchiko has a yearling sister to Sodashi who is bay. The daughter of King Kamehameha was covered by Maurice (JPN).
