Japan: Longshot to note in Kyoto’s Queen Elizabeth II Cup

Japan’s lucrative Autumn International series kicks off with the Queen Elizabeth II Cup (G1) at Kyoto late Saturday night (1:40 a.m. ET). 

The Autumn International comprises four events on consecutive weekends, including the Nov. 23 Mile Championship (G1) at Kyoto, the Nov. 30 Japan Cup (G1) at Tokyo, and the Dec. 7 Champions Cup (G1) (formerly known as the Japan Cup Dirt) at Chukyo. 

The about 1 3/8-mile Queen Elizabeth II Cup showcases fillies and mares, and #7 Regaleira ranks as a very worthy favorite. Although she was the beaten favorite in last year’s edition, the Tetsuya Kimura trainee encountered trouble before rallying for fifth. She also arrives in better form this time around, fresh off a victory over males in the Sept. 21 Sankei Sho All Comers (G2) at Nakayama.

Indeed, Regaleira has spent the bulk of her career tackling top-level males, including some notable globetrotters among them. She captured the 2023 Hopeful (G1) over Shin Emperor and the 2024 Arima Kinen (G1) over Shahryar and Danon Decile, both marquee wins coming at Nakayama. The first three-year-old filly to win the prestigious Arima Kinen in 64 years, she unfortunately sustained an injury that ruled her out of the first half of 2025. 

But the daughter of Suave Richard signaled that she’s rounding back into form with her latest win. Now Regaleira returns to female company, and there’s no reason why she can’t be as effective at Kyoto.

Given the projected odds on Regaleira, there will be plenty of value around. It might pay to think outside the box for an “each-way” candidate. 

#3 Shinryokuka, who improved from ninth in the 2023 QEII Cup to fourth last year, arguably enters with even stronger claims here. Not beaten much when sixth in a blanket finish to the Victoria Mile (G1), she resurfaced with a better-than-appears fourth as the defending champion in the Niigata Kinen (G3). 

Shinryokuka’s Niigata form has worked out well: the victorious Shirankedo was subsequently a flying fourth in the Tenno Sho Autumn (G1); Niigata runner-up Energico came back to take the final jewel of Japan’s Triple Crown, the Kikuka Sho (G1); and Niigata third Deep Monster won the Kyoto Daishoten (G2) in his next start. 

With a trifecta like that in front of her at Niigata, Shinryokuka probably performed up to a higher level in defeat than in her 2024 victory. In fact, she was also carrying 2 kilograms more in her title defense, to bolster the case that she actually ran better despite the loss.

Earlier in her career, Shinryokuka advertised her potential with a runner-up effort to superstar Liberty Island in the 2022 Hanshin Juvenile Fillies (G1). She wasn’t disgraced when unplaced behind Liberty Island in a pair of classics in 2023, and chances are that the mare is coming into her own at the age of five.

Trainer Masahiro Takeuchi’s comments on Shinryokuka, as reported on japanracing.jp, are instructive:

“She’s had the same rotation as last year, but returning to the stable earlier, we’ve had a bit more time to get her ready this year, compared to the same race last year, so things have gone smoother with her training, and she’s probably in better condition than last year. She’s been taking the bit well in training.

“She wasn’t so relaxed in her last race, despite getting quite a good result against strong horses in the handicap, but things didn’t work out for her. A nice, steady, smooth run is what she needs to be able to show her best.”

Regaleira’s most obvious challengers are sophomores, especially the pair coming off placings in the final fillies’ classic, the Oct. 19 Shuka Sho (G1). But over the past decade, only two three-year-old fillies have defeated older distaffers in the QEII Cup. 

#1 Paradis Reine could have the best chance in this demographic, as the fourth-placer in the Japanese Oaks (G1) and barnstorming third in the Shuka Sho. #6 Erika Express, the Shuka Sho pacesetter who held on for second, has the talent if she can stay the trip. #16 Lynx Tip held her own in the first two fillies’ classics, placing third in the Oka Sho (Japanese 1000 Guineas) and fifth in the Oaks, and her affinity for Kyoto raises her profile. 

Other logical contenders among the older brigade are #2 Stellenbosch, who has loads of back class but substantial questions surrounding her current form, and the improving #13 Coconuts Brown. Both exit the Sapporo Kinen (G2) versus males, where their contrasting profiles are on display – Coconuts Brown was second, with Stellenbosch only 15th. Two starts back, Coconuts Brown just missed in the Queen (G3) to Argine, who finished a creditable sixth in the Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1) at Del Mar.