Erin Court wins Japanese Oaks

Erin Court won the Yushun Himba(known as the Japanese Oaks) as seventh favorite this afternoon in the rainy Tokyo Racecourse.

The race ended in a thrilling three-way battle between Pure Brise, Erin Court and Whale Capture on the very final stage. Erin Court's stride was the best of the three. The final time of the 2,400-meter turf trip was 2 minutes 25.70 seconds.

The winning rider Hiroki Goto said after the race. "The win filled me with emotion. I was very busy with having my filly run straight."

Erin Court beat eighth favorite Pure Brise by a neck with second favorite Whale Capture finishing another nose away in third. Race favorite Marcellina finished another 2 1/2-length further back in fourth.

Under the saddle of K. Sasada and the own of T. Yoshida, Erin Court has now won four in 9 starts with more than 164 million jp yen in career earnings.

rin Court broke the maiden on her third start last September and followed up with three defeats. The darkbay filly came into the Oaks off two-straight victories.

Bred in Chitose, Hokkaido, Erin Court is a 3-year-old filly by Durandal out of the Bluebird mare Erin Bird.