Sports

Kikuka Sho: Urban Chic Triumphs in the Final Leg of Japan's Triple Crown

With Christophe Lemaire handling the reins, the Suave Richard progeny pulled away for a comfortable victory in the 85th running of the Kikuka Sho.

Published

2 days ago

October 21, 2024

JRA News

Urban Chic (center), guided by Christophe Lemaire, leads the 18-horse field in the 3,000-meter Kikuka Sho on October 20, 2024, at Kyoto Racecourse. (©SANKEI)

Jockey Christophe Lemaire won his 53rd Japan Racing Association Grade 1 race on Sunday, October 20, riding Urban Chic to a 2½-length victory over Redentor in the 85th Kikuka Sho (Japanese St Leger) at Kyoto Racecourse.

On October 13, Lemaire piloted Cervinia to a win in the G1 Shuka Sho, the final leg of the Fillies' Triple Crown.

Seven days later, the French jockey won the 3,000-meter Kikuka Sho, the last race in the Triple Crown series for 3-year-old colts, for the second straight year. Lemaire teamed up with Durezza for the victory in 2023 and also won Kikuka Sho titles with Satono Diamond (2016) and Fierement (2018).

Trainer Ryo Takei, who opened his yard in 2014, claimed his third graded and first G1 title.

Urban Chic Steadily Improves His Position During the Kikuka Sho

Second favorite Urban Chic, unhurried after a smooth break, settled in mid-field in the first half of the race behind a slow pace set by Meisho Tabaru (Suguru Hamanaka's ride) and steadily improved position, overtaking the race favorite before the backstretch.

Continuing to gradually get into gear as the field increased its pace approaching the final turn, the Suave Richard colt responded with a fine turn of speed to close in on Admire Terra (Yutaka Take) and pulled away easily once overtaking that foe to claim the win by a comfortable margin.

Urban Chic completed the race in 3 minutes, 4.1 seconds. (Watch the full race on the JRA's YouTube channel.)

Redentor (Keita Tosaki) placed second, followed by Admire Terra, Shonan la Punta (Katsuma Sameshima) and Byzantine Dream (Andrasch Starke) in third, fourth and fifth, respectively.

Race favorite Danon Decile (Norihiro Yokoyama) placed sixth.

Insights from the Winning Jockey

"The colt is never quick out of the gate and the race was 3,000 meters, so I let him take his time to find a good rhythm," Lemaire said in a post-race interview. "He was able to have a breather during the race and we were able to advance nicely to a good position near the end. So once he got into gear, I knew his ability and was confident that we could make it to the wire first."

Lemaire added, "He has matured well and has increased his power towards this fall season."

Redentor Secures Runner-Up Finish

Redentor was squeezed soon after the start but found a good rhythm sitting second from the rear.

Following the fast-moving Admire Terra along the backstretch and then the eventual winner going into the straight for the bid, he was unable to match the winner to the wire. But Redentor managed to catch Admire Terra just before the wire for second.

Admire Terra broke smoothly and eased back, sitting well off the pace up to the backstretch. Advancing along the outside overtaking the eventual winner then rapidly reaching the leaders going downhill after the 800-meter pole, the Rey de Oro colt assumed command soon after the final turn. But he was outrun by Urban Chic in the last 200 meters, then nosed out by Redentor just before the wire to finish third.

Race favorite Danon Decile broke sharply and secured a forward position along the rails early. But he dropped back to mid-division and was third from the rear in the 18-horse race along the backstretch.

Although Danon Decile had the second-fastest finishing speed (35.5 seconds over the final 300 furlongs), the Epiphaneia-sired colt was too late to reach contention.