Lovcen is poised to contend for the Japanese Triple Crown after securing victories in the first two legs and is scheduled to compete in the final leg, the Grade 1 Kikuka Sho, on October 25 at Kyoto Racecourse. The Kikuka Sho, also known as the Japanese St Leger, covers a distance of 3,000 meters and carries a purse of 434 million yen (approximately S$33.5 million).
The three-year-old colt’s previous wins include the Grade 1 Satsuki Sho (Japanese 2000 Guineas) over 2,000 meters at Nakayama on April 19 and the Grade 1 Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby) over 2,400 meters in Tokyo on May 31. Lovcen’s pedigree suggests a natural aptitude for the longer distance, with his sire World Premiere having won the Kikuka Sho in 2019. His current form was underscored by a victory in the Grade 2 Kobe Shimbun Hai over 2,400 meters at Hanshin on September 21, which served as a prep race for the Kikuka Sho.
Trainer Haruki Sugiyama expressed confidence following Lovcen’s comeback race after a four-month layoff, despite the colt showing some hesitation early in the race. Sugiyama noted that the slow pace initially caused Lovcen to drop back, but once he was guided to the outside, the colt demonstrated a strong finishing kick. Top jockey Kohei Matsuyama will continue to ride Lovcen, aiming for further Grade 1 success in the Kikuka Sho, a race that has so far eluded him.
The field for the Kikuka Sho, to be finalized on October 22, will include 18 runners, featuring several notable challengers who could prevent Lovcen from capturing the Triple Crown — the first since Contrail in 2020. Among them is Da non History, trained by Noriyuki Hori and ridden by Christophe Lemaire, as well as Going To Sky, a progeny of Contrail, and Justin Chicago, the winner of the Asahi Hai St. Lite Kinen.
Justin Chicago’s trainer Keisuke Miyata remains optimistic after the colt’s surprising 50-1 victory in the Kikuka Sho trial race. Miyata highlighted the horse’s strong recovery from fatigue sustained in the previous race and his adaptability to different racecourses. Although Justin Chicago has resumed light training, preparations will intensify leading up to the Kikuka Sho.
Some entrants from the key trial races will not be participating. Altramuz, the Kobe Shimbun Hai runner-up, is sidelined with a left hind leg injury, while Savoir Faire, second in the Asahi Hai St. Lite Kinen, will skip the Kikuka Sho, with connections opting against the 3,000-meter distance. Additional nominees include Sea To Summit, who finished third in the Kobe Shimbun Hai, and Audacia, third in the Asahi Hai St. Lite Kinen, both of whom have accepted invitations to run.
Lovcen’s bid for the Triple Crown will be closely watched, as success would mark a significant achievement in Japanese Thoroughbred racing.