Daring Tact emerged from a line of rivals in the final 100 meters of the Shuka Sho (G1) Oct. 18 at Kyoto Racecourse and ran on strongly to win by 1 1/4 lengths, becoming the first undefeated Japanese filly Triple Crown winner.
The daughter of Epiphaneia is just the sixth filly to sweep the series—a roster that includes such stars as Gentildonna in 2012 and Almond Eye in 2018. Almond Eye went on to win the Japan Cup (G1), and that race now is squarely in target for Daring Tact.
With Kohei Matsuyama riding, Daring Tact raced near the middle of the 18-filly field outside rivals and well out of any potential traffic issues. As they rounded the final turn, seven runners strung out across the course, all with dead aim on the early leader, Maltese Diosa.
Daring Tact quickly found the needed burst of speed and was in no danger through the final 100 meters. Magic Castle and Soft Fruit, both sired by Deep Impact, were second and third, respectively, at long odds. Second choice Ria Amelia wilted late and reported 13th.
"The filly seemed a bit nervous at the paddock," Matsuyama said. "But she broke well and we were able to race in good position and in good rhythm. There was some pressure as we were aiming for the first undefeated Triple Crown filly in (Japan Racing Association) history, but I'm delighted to be able to accomplish this remarkable feat.
"She has developed into a bold filly, and I hope that she will remain undefeated."
Daring Tact, out of the King Kamehameha mare Daring Bird, was bred by Hasegawa Bokujo and races in the colors of Normandy Thoroughbred Racing. Haruki Sugiyama trains the filly.
Daring Tact won her only 2-year-old start Nov. 16 at Kyoto. She opened this season with a victory in a listed stakes over the same course, then stepped right up to win the Oka Sho (Japanese One Thousand Guineas, G1) April 12 at Hanshin. Those races were all contested at 1,600 meters (about one mile).
She then showed distance will be no limit to her opportunities as she scored a half-length victory in the second leg of the Triple Crown, the Yushun Himba (Japanese Oaks, G1), contested at 2,400 meters (about 1 1/2 miles) at Tokyo Racecourse May 24. She had not raced since.
"Even from her debut, she stood out," Matsuyama said before the Shuka Sho win. "But it was after the Oka Sho that I realized just how much she had improved since then. And then, her limberness in her work before the Oaks struck me, and her improvement stood out."
Daring Tact has won while racing both right- and left-handed and on turf rated from soft to firm, adding to her potential.
Local health authorities and the JRA conducted a lottery for 718 tickets for the Shuka Sho card, making the race the first Japanese grade 1 event run with fans in the stands since the February Stakes (G1).
The Japanese Triple Crown for colts concludes Oct. 25 at Kyoto with Contrail poised to sweep that series, potentially setting up a showdown between undefeated Triple Crown winners in the Japan Cup Nov. 29.
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