Dura 3rd of 15 (R11 Tokyo, G1 Yushun Himba, 2400m, 21 May)

Six-length winner Liberty Island will justifiably dominate headlines for days – and possibly years – to come, but it was another daughter of Duramente who could also be one to follow out of Sunday’s G1 Yushun Himba (Japanese Oaks) at Tokyo. 

Like Liberty Island, Dura is a daughter of the 2015 Tokyo Yushun winner, whose untimely death aged just nine-years-old in 2021 has proven an immense loss to Japanese breeding. 

Winner of the G3 Sapporo Nissai Stakes as a two-year-old over 1800 metres, poor starts have recently been an issue for the Yasuyuki Takahashi-trained filly, resulting in her being sent out a triple-figure chance in an Oaks market strangled by the 1.4 favourite Liberty Island. 

But after taking up a position approximately fourth-last in the field of 15, Dura was able to recapture her finishing burst stretched out to the 2400 metre trip, closing off her race strongly to grab third place on the line. Her final 600 metres of 34.1s was only 0.1s behind the winner Liberty Island, and was 0.7s quicker than the next fastest in the race. 

“Her condition was good today,” said jockey Arata Saito. 

“She is suited to longer distances and today she showed us her turn of foot.” 

Dura will be one to watch in staying events in the autumn.

La Quemada (R9 Kyoto, 3YO, Melbourne Trophy, Class 1 Win, 1600m, 20 May)

It took six attempts for La Quemada to break his maiden but the son of Group 1-winning miler American Patriot appears to have now find his groove, making it two wins on the trot with a stylish Class 1 victory at Kyoto on Saturday.

The first foal out of moderately-performed Admire Moon mare Apt, La Quemada jumped well over the Kyoto 1600 metres to take up a position just behind the lead for jockey Mirco Demuro.

Peeled out rounding the home turn, the Teruhiko Chida-trained colt accelerated well to take the lead easily, Demuro shaking the reins without producing the whip as the 1.9 favourite cruised home by just over a length. 

Demuro indicated that La Quemada was able to secure his second straight victory with plenty in hand. 

“He is strong, and it was an easy win for him. He did not have to show his best to win this race.” 

Based on the manner of Saturday’s victory La Quemada may prove a Group level horse in time.

Liberty Island makes the hype look understated in Group 1 romp