It was ladies first among the 2-year-olds in the Hopeful Stakes (G1) Dec. 28 at Nakayama Racecourse as Regaleira chased down Shin Emperor in the stretch and won by three-quarters of a length to hand that regally bred colt his first defeat.
Regaleira, a daughter of Suave Richard, rallying from well off the pace in the final 200 meters of the 2,000-meter (about 1 1/4 mile) race, delivered a few firsts for her fans, who made her the post-time favorite. She became the first filly to win the race, which, oddly enough, was established in 1984 for fillies only and took its current form in 2014. She also gave Suave Richard his first grade 1 victory.
With Christophe Lemaire up, Regaleira strolled out of the 13 stall and raced near the back of the field. Shin Emperor traveled just behind the early leaders while saving ground with Bauyrzhan Murzabayev handling the reins for the first time on the Siyouni colt. Murzabayev asked Shin Emperor for his best exiting the sweeping stretch turn, and he delivered, quickly shooting out to a daylight lead. But Regaleira just as quickly shook loose from traffic behind him, and Shin Emperor could not match her late turn of foot.
Sunrise Zipangu was two lengths farther back in third after gaining ground late. Gonbade Qabus, who would have been among the favorites, was a late scratch with what the Japan Racing Association characterized as "illness." Sunrise Earth was also scratched, and Tariff Line broke down near the top of the stretch and failed to finish.
The victory propelled Regaleira to the top of Japan's 2-year-old ranks, and Shunsuke Yoshida, representative of her owner, Sunday Racing, said she now is a candidate to contest the 2024 Satsuki Sho (Japanese Two Thousand Guineas, G1), first leg of the Japanese Triple Crown.
Lemaire, Japan's leading rider, relished that prospect while praising his filly's ability to overcome adversity.
"We had to travel near the rear because the filly missed her break," Lemaire said. "But she was very calm after that. She responded well at the last two corners and, after I steered her to the outside, displayed an incredible late charge.
"I look forward to her performances next year, and I think a longer distance would also suit her."
Regaleira, out of the Harbinger mare Roca, was bred by Northern Farm and is trained by Tetsuya Kimura. Kimura and Lemaire are the same team that captured the Japan Cup (G1) Nov. 26 with the now-retired Equinox.
She won at first asking in a 1,800-meter (about 1 1/8 miles) newcomer race at Hakodate Racecourse July 9, then returned to finish third in the Ivy Stakes at the same distance at Tokyo Racecourse Oct. 21. Assistant trainer Yu Ota said before the Hopeful the defeat was "nothing tragic" and laid it to positioning through the race.
"She ran solidly to the end," he said. "She has matured both mentally and physically ... Going up against colts in a grade 1 is going to be a tough challenge but she can do it."
While Regaleira came off a defeat, Shin Emperor entered the Hopeful undefeated after two starts and with high hopes among his connections. The colt, the €2.1 million topper at the 2022 Arqana August Yearling Sale, is a full brother to 2020 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (G1) winner Sottsass.
The Hopeful was Japan's final grade 1 race of 2023 on the grass, with the Dec. 29 Tokyo Daishoten (G1) on the dirt at Oi Racecourse wrapping things up.
