Liberty Island clinches victory, eyes Japan Cup showdown

Liberty Island, the prodigious three-year-old filly, triumphed in the Group 1 Shuka Sho at Kyoto, setting the stage for an electrifying Japan Cup clash with the globally acclaimed horse, Equinox. Capturing the 2000-metre race has added to her growing accolades, completing the Japanese Triple Tiara, with her prior successes in the Oka Sho and Yushun Himba.

Under the adept guidance of jockey Yuga Kawada, Liberty Island showcased her racing prowess, taking a strategic lead from the 600m mark and sealing her win one length ahead of the swift Masked Diva. This win places her in the esteemed company of champions like Almond Eye and Gentildonna.

In the backdrop of her victory, her lineage gains spotlight. Liberty Island’s dam, the celebrated Yankee Rose, was an $11,000 yearling that had remarkable G1 wins. Notably, a colt from the same lineage was auctioned for a staggering $4.5 million last year.