Breathtaking win in the Japanese 1000 Guineas for Yankee Rose's Daughter Liberty Island

Mark Smith - Sunday April 9

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.

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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.

Yankee Rose a $10,000, dual Group 1 winner and now among the most valuable mares in the world.

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