Pin High (R10 Hanshin, Class 3, 1800m, October 16)

Three-year-old filly Pin High missed out on a start in the G1 Shuka Sho but an eye-catching display a race before the feature on Sunday at Hanshin showed that she may be a future G1 contender. 

The daughter of Mikki Isle was fifth in the Oka Sho (Japanese 1000 Guineas) and fourth in the Japanese Oaks but was balloted out of Sunday’s G1 Shuka Sho due to a lack of prizemoney. 

Trainer Katsunori Tanaka chose to bring his filly back to 1800m and she produced an electric sprint, closing her last 600m in 33.0 seconds. 

Perhaps most encouraging were comments from Yuga Kawada that suggested Pin High has done what she has so far on raw ability. 

“She was still green in the race,” he said. “There is a lot for her to learn about racing. I am looking forward to her future.” 

 

Schilthorn (R2 Tokyo, two-year-old maiden, 1800m, October 16)

Trainer Koichi Shinkai believes getting Schilthorn to the wide open expanses of Tokyo was the key to the two-year-old’s breakout performance on Sunday. 

Schilthorn had been unplaced in his Newcomer at Hakodate in July and again in a maiden at Sapporo three weeks later, but the son of Screen Hero put six lengths on rivals when unleashed up the Tokyo straight. 

“He did not show his best in his last two races in Hakodate and Sapporo,” Shinkai told the press after the race. “I am happy he could win in Tokyo. He should suit speed racecourses like Tokyo.”

Shinkai, who has never had a runner in a Group race, said he would be looking at options at Tokyo for Schiltorn this year.