IF her performance in the Oka Sho (1000 Guineas) was not enough to convince the most pessimistic of spectator, Liberty Island left absolutely no doubt that she is a filly of the very highest quality with a sensational performance in the Yushun Himba (Oaks).

The 12-furlong start at Tokyo racecourse is placed directly in front of the grandstand, with an expectant crowd standing at the rail.

Yuga Kawada, rider of Liberty Island, had throughout race week, publicly pleaded for the race day crowd to remain as quiet as possible so as not to startle his mount.

Remarkably, Kawada’s appeal was largely honoured, until the stalls opened. The snap of the stalls opening was met by a roar more akin to that of an intense football match.

Liberty Island was restrained to race in midfield throughout. As the field approached the home straight, Kawada began to move forward with ominous ease.

On the bridle

Still firmly on the bridle, Liberty Island angled wide off the final bend to get a clear view of the winning post.

Entering the final two furlongs, Kawada sent his mount to the front, the response was immediate. Liberty Island switched her lead leg, and the race was quickly over as a contest.

Much to the delight of the crowd, she powered further and further clear to pass the line under the lightest of encouragement from the saddle.

Liberty Island claimed her second classic title by six lengths, the largest winning distance in Oaks history.

The winning time was 0.3 seconds outside the race record. Harper and Dura finished second and third but never posed any serious threat to the winner.

Impressed

The JRA Handicapper was obviously impressed by Liberty Island’s emphatic performance; she has been given a mark of 120. JRA racing royalty, Gentildonna and Almond Eye both received a rating of 115 when landing the same race in 2012 and 2018.

Race record holder and subsequent multiple international Group 1 winner, Loves Only You, was handed a 114 rating for her dominant performance in 2019.

Liberty Island is a daughter of the ill-fated Duramente, she is the second foal out of the hugely accomplished Australian runner Yankee Rose (All American). Yankee Rose was a Group 1 winner over seven and 10 furlongs in her native country.

She was acquired in a private deal by Katsumi Yoshida and relocated to his Northern Farm breeding operation based on Hokkaido, Japan.

Duramente, a dual-winning son of King Kamehameha, died in September 2021 at just nine years old due to acute colitis. He had served five seasons at stud and has produced five individual Group 1 winners and a multitude of graded performers from his three existing crops of racing age. Titleholder and Stars On Earth are among his most successful progeny.