Unbeaten filly Monroe Walk is poised to capture her first Grade 1 victory as she seeks to extend her winning streak to five in the final leg of the Japanese fillies’ Triple Crown. The highly regarded runner, who dominated the Grade 2 Rose Stakes over 1,800 meters at Hanshin on September 13, is widely considered the one to beat in the upcoming race.
Monroe Walk’s challengers include several noteworthy competitors with strong recent performances. Garavogue, a dual Group 1 runner-up most recently finishing second to Star Anise in the Japanese 1000 Guineas at Hanshin in April, is expected to contend closely. Another top contender is Master Soarer, a fast-progressing filly who notched a victory in the Grade 2 Shion Stakes over 2,000 meters at Nakayama and is making only her fourth career start.
Enne, showing steady improvement and finishing second to Monroe Walk in the Rose Stakes, also enters as a notable challenger. La Belle Scene, who has won three of her four starts with a recent impressive win at Niigata over 1,800 meters, remains in strong form and could pose a substantial threat.
Other horses with key recent wins include T M I R U N, who has captured three consecutive races including a 1,600-meter contest at Chukyo, and Garnet Flare, seeking a third consecutive victory following a score over 2,000 meters at Hanshin. Dream Core, a well-bred filly who placed second in the Grade 1 Japanese Oaks in May and finished third in a recent Grade 2 race at Nakayama, is also regarded as a major contender.
Several entrants have demonstrated capability but face a marked step up in competition. Taisei Vogue, winner of the Grade 2 Tulip Sho earlier in the season, and Sweet Happiness, winner of a Listed race at Kyoto, both have potential but will need to improve to keep pace. Others such as Festival Hill and Hayabusa Sakichan have shown mixed recent form, with the latter winning three of four starts in restricted company but facing a significant rise in class here.
The race is scheduled at Hanshin Racecourse, where Monroe Walk’s dominant Rose Stakes performance has made her the standout favorite. The contest will decisively test the quality and stamina of Japan’s top three-year-old fillies as they vie for the prestigious Grade 1 crown and a place in the Triple Crown history.