A unanimous choice as the Champion 2yo Filly in Japan, Yankee Rose’s daughter Liberty Island (JPN) made her three-year-old bow in Sunday’s Group 1 The Oka Sho (1600m) (Japanese 1000 Guineas) at Hanshin and it was worth waiting for.
With just two of the 18 starters behind her on the home turn the Mitsumasa Nakauchida-trained daughter of Duramente (JPN) came with a barnstorming finish under Yuga Kawada to advance her record to three wins and a second from four starts.
Kawada set last year’s Group 1 Hanshin Juvenile Fillies heroine a monumental task, but she was up to it. It turned what appeared to be a close-run thing with 50m to run to an almost contemptuous three-quarter length win over the Kitasan Black (JPN) filly Kona Coast (JPN) with the Maurice (JPN) Perifania (JPN) a neck back in third.
The winner of the Group 1 ATC Sires’ Produce Stakes and Group 1 Champion Stakes for David Vandyke and Darby Racing, Yankee Rose has two foals to race for two winners.
The first foal of Yankee Rose, the ¥210 million (A$2.54 million) Deep Impact filly Romneya broke her maiden over 1600m at Fukushima on debut in 2021 and recently won over 1800m at Kokura.
Yankee Rose has a 2yo colt by Lord Kanaloa, which sold for ¥370 million (A$4.48 million), at the JRHA Select Sale foal session.
The daughter of All American has a yearling filly by Japanese Derby winner Kizuna and was covered by the champion Contrail (JPN) last year.
