Oka Sho

The Oka Sho is a Grade 1 flat horse race in Japan. The race is restricted to three-year-old Thoroughbred fillies and is run over a distance of 1,600 metres at Hanshin Racecourse in Takarazuka, Hyōgo. Run in early April, it is the traditional start to the annual classic races for three-year-olds in Japan.
The Oka Sho was first contested in 1939, and is the Japanese equivalent of the English 1,000 Guineas.
The race was run at Nakayama Racecourse until 1944 when it was run at Tokyo Racecourse. After a two-year hiatus, the Oka Sho was staged at Kyoto Racecourse from 1947 to 1949. The race was also run at Kyoto in 1967, 1991 and 1995.
Winners of the Oka Sho usually go on to contest the Yushun Himba, run in May, and the double has been completed by Sweet Sue, Yamaichi, Miss Onward, Kane Keyaki, Tesco Gaby, Titania, Mejiro Ramonu, Max Beauty, Vega, Still In Love, Buena Vista, Apapane, Gentildonna, Almond Eye and Daring Tact. Still In Love, Apapane, Gentildonna, Almond Eye and Daring Tact also went on to take the Shuka Sho and secure the Japanese Fillies' Triple Crown, whereas Mejiro Ramonu became the only mare who won the Japanese Fillies' Triple Crown by winning its original third leg, the Queen Elizabeth II Cup.

Trial races

Trial races provide automatic berths to the winning horses or placed horses as specified.