The Dec. 14 Hanshin Juvenile Fillies (G1), a championship race for 2-year-old fillies at Hanshin Racecourse, features a clash between two unbeaten juveniles—Alankar and Margot Love Me—both from blue-blooded families.
Alankar, by Epiphaneia, who won a maiden at Fukushima July 5 by four lengths and the Nojigiku Stakes at Hanshin Sept. 20 by 3 1/2 lengths, is the fifth foal out of Japanese Oaks (G1) winner and 2016 Japanese 3-year-old filly Sinhalite. Singhalese, the dam of Sinhalite, won the 2005 Del Mar Oaks (G1T) and was bought by Katsumi Yoshida of Northern Farm at Keeneland's November Breeding Stock Sale in 2007 for $1.9 million.
Margot Love Me will try to become the second grade 1 winner in Japan for her sire, Real Steel. The stallion's most successful runner is the highly-regarded Forever Young, winner of three grade 1 races, including the Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) at Del Mar.
Margot Love Me was bred by Lake Villa Farm, which bought the War Front mare Can't Buy Me Love, dam of Margot Love Me, at the 2020 Tattersalls December Sale for 330,000gns. Can't Buy Me Love's dam Together won the 2011 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup Stakes (G1T) at Keeneland for trainer Aidan O'Brien. Margot Love Me has won two races from two starts, including the Shiragiku Sho at Kyoto Nov. 30. She was bought at the 2024 JRHA Select Sale by Ryohei Maeda for ¥84,000,000 (approx. US$521,740).
