Embroidery made history by becoming the first horse since 2007 to win both the Oka Sho (Japanese 1,000 Guineas) and the Shuka Sho, the final leg of the Japan fillies’ triple crown. Ridden by jockey Christophe Lemaire, who notched his record fourth Shuka Sho victory, Embroidery overcame a wide trip and a slow early pace to power past Erika Express in the final strides at Kyoto, securing the Grade 1 win in a time of 1:58.3 for 2,000 meters. Owned by Silk Racing and trained by Kazutomo Mori, Embroidery showed a strong late surge after a disappointing ninth-place finish in the Japan Oaks earlier in the season.
Erika Express set the early pace and held on stubbornly for second place, while Paradis Reine closed strongly to finish third. Favorite Kamunyak faded to 16th after a promising start. Embroidery’s victory marked her fourth Grade 1 win and made her only the fourth filly to complete the Oka Sho-Shuka Sho double, a feat last achieved by Daiwa Scarlet 18 years ago. The win also gave trainer Mori his second Grade 1 triumph and extended Lemaire’s record to 55 Grade 1 wins in Japan.
