Urban Chic pulls away to win Kikuka Sho, Japan’s St. Leger

Urban Chic, a 3-year-old colt by Suave Richard, drew away in the homestretch Sunday at Kyoto for a comfortable, 2 1/2-length win in the Kikuka Sho, the 1 7/8-mile Japan St. Leger that was the last leg of the nation’s Triple Crown.

Unhurried after a smooth break from post 13, Urban Chic (5-2) settled in mid-field in the first half of the race behind a slow pace set by Meisho Tabaru (8-1). He steadily improved position, overtaking post-time favorite Danon Decile (9-5) before the backstretch.

Continuing to gradually get into gear as the field increased its pace approaching the final right-hand turn, Urban Chic accelerated to close in on Admire Terra (22-1), overtake him and pull away to claim the last of the 2024 classics for 3-year-olds in Japan.

“The colt is never quick out of the gate, and the race was 3,000 meters, so I let him take his time to find a good rhythm,” winning jockey Christophe Lemaire said. “He was able to have a breather during the race, and we were able to advance nicely to a good position near the end, so once he got into gear, I knew his ability and was confident that we could make it to the wire first. He has matured well and has increased his power toward this fall season. He potentials are high and well up to Grade 1 standards in the future.”

Urban Chic, who is owned by Silk Racing and trained by Ryo Takei, finished with a time of 3:04.1 without a run-up for the three-turn race covering 3,000 meters, 19 yards short of 1 7/8 miles, on good to firm turf. The early fractions were 24.6, 50.0, 1:13.7, 1:38.8, 2:03.7, 2:28.2 and 2:52.0.

Redentor (6-1) was squeezed soon after the break but found a good rhythm sitting second from the rear of the 18-horse field. Following fast moving Admire Terra along the backstretch and then Urban Chic going into the straight for the bid, he was unable to match the winner to the wire while managing to catch Admire Terra just before the wire for second.

Admire Terra broke smoothly and eased back, sitting well off the pace up the backstretch. Advancing along the outside, overtaking Urban Chic and then rapidly reaching the leaders going downhill after the half-mile pole, the Rey de Oro colt assumed command soon after the final turn. But Admire Terra was outrun by Urban Chic in the last furlong and then nosed out by Redentor just before the wire to finish third, a neck ahead of fourth-place Shonan la Punta (22-1).

Danon Decile broke sharply and secured a forward position along the rail early, but he dropped back to mid-division then farther back to third from the rear along the backstretch. Although showing effort to make a bid advancing between horses into the straight and then shifting to the outside to time the second fastest finishing speed, the Epiphaneia colt was too late to reach contention and finished sixth.

After two wins in as many starts as a 2-year-old, Urban Chic lost three races before a summer break. He won the 1 3/4-mile St. Lite Kinen (G2) last month for his first graded-stakes victory.

Takei, who opened his yard in 2014, claimed his third graded victory and his first Grade 1. Lemaire scored his 53rd Japan Grade 1 success following the Shuka Sho with Cervinia last week. It was his fourth Kikuka Sho triumph and his second in a row after Durezza last year.

Urban Chic was bred by Northern Farm in Japan. He is out of Harbinger dam Edgy Style.