Two-year-old filly by Duramente pulls clear of rivals in Sunday's Grade 1
Liberty Island (Duramente), out of Australian dual Group 1 winner Yankee Rose (All American), impressively won Sunday's Grade 1 Hanshin Juvenile Fillies (1600m) to become the second winner for her dam and her first stakes winner.
Second in Grade 3 Artemis Stakes (1600m) at Tokyo on October 29, Liberty Island was having her first start at Grade 1 level on Sunday. Settled in midfield, she quickened impressively in the straight, reeling in the leaders to pull two and a half lengths clear of Shinryokuka (Satono Diamond), with Doe Eyes (Rulership) a neck further back in third.
"I am happy that the filly was able to show her performance at its best today," said winning jockey Yuga Kawada.
"I just let the filly choose the position within the field that she felt comfortable in and concentrated on maintaining the good flow and rhythm during the trip.
"She cruised along smoothly and her response when asked was just as I had imagined so I was quite confident that she would make it to the finish line. She has progressed well, including her loss last time out, towards winning this big championship race and she has given us a promising view on what to expect and aim for in her coming future."
Bought for Y370,000,000 at the 2021 JRA Select Yearling Sale by Danox Company Ltd, Liberty Island was bred by Northern Farm. She is the second foal out of Yankee Rose, Romneya (Deep Impact), who won at two last year being her first.
Yankee Rose, who was crowned champion 2YO filly in 2016 and was then champion 3YO filly the following season, is out of Condesaar (Xaar). That mare produced five other winners including the Group 3 winning filly Miravalle (Redoute's Choice) and she is also the grandam of multiple Listed winner Isotope (Deep Field). This is also the family of Group 1 New Zealand Derby (2400m) winner Redoute's Dancer (Redoute's Choice).
