The unbeaten Monroe Walk (Kizuna) staked her claim to the title of Japanese champion three-year-old filly when outbattling Garavogue (Lord Kanaloa) in a thrilling finish to Sunday's G1 Shuka Sho at Kyoto Racecourse.With G1 Oka Sho (Japanese 1,000 Guineas) heroine Star Anise (Drefong) and G1 Yushun Himba (Japanese Oaks) winner Juryoku Pierrot (Orfevre) absent from the 17-strong field, Monroe Walk was the overwhelming favourite for this final leg of the fillies' Triple Crown, having registered her first Group-race victory when winning last month's G2 Rose Stakes at Hanshin by three lengths from the reopposing Enne (Kizuna).Ridden by veteran jockey Keita Tosaki, Monroe Walk raced a few lengths off the early pace set by T M I Run (Mikki Isle), with Garavogue assuming a more prominent position in the slipstream of the leader. Making rapid headway to hit the front approaching the final furlong, Garavogue was soon joined by Monroe Walk, initiating a sustained duel as the front two moved clear of the chasing pack.Always doing just enough to keep her unbeaten record intact, Monroe Walk hit the line with a neck to spare over Garavogue, who had to settle for the runner-up spot at the top level for a third time in her career, having previously chased home Star Anise in both the Hanshin Juvenile Fillies and the Oka Sho. Yushin Himba runner-up Dream Core (Kizuna) was another 1 1/4 lengths back in third, with half-a-length then to Enne as Monroe Walk led home a one-three-four for Japan's champion sire, Kizuna.“I am happy to have had such huge support as race favorite and to have finished with good results,” Tosaki said of Monroe Walk, who became just the fourth unbeaten winner of the Shuka Sho after Fine Motion (2002), Kawakami Princess (2006) and Daring Tact (2020).“I just prayed that my filly would stay calm into to the race. She did get a little excited inside the gate, but she went into a nice rhythm and, although we were sitting behind horses in fifth, the pace was flowing nicely so the trip was smooth. Although we knew there were strong horses from behind, we made a bold move to make our bid a little early and she responded well.He added, “Having gained a Group 1 victory unbeaten shows how good a filly she is. I am looking forward to a bright future for this talented filly.”Trained by Hiroyuki Uemura, Monroe Walk suffered a leg fracture after making a successful debut at Niigata in August last year. Returning with back-to-back wins at Hakodate in June and July, she then made a seamless transition to Pattern company at Hanshin when running away with the Rose Stakes. 【 Shuka Sho (G1), Kyoto, 2000m, 3yo F, approx US$ 1.53m】Winner: Monroe Walk(JPN)J: Keita TosakiT: Hiroyuki UemuraSire: KizunaDam: Amphitrite#秋華賞 は、#モンローウォーク が優勝！！ https://t.co/zDY2abtIc2— JRA World Racing (@JRA_WorldRacing) October 18, 2026 Pedigree NotesMonroe Walk is one of two winners from three runners out of the G1 Schweppes Thousand Guineas heroine Amphitrite (Sebring), whose other career victories included the G2 Edward Manifold Stakes. She also has a two-year-old colt by Lord Kanaloa and a yearling filly by Contrail.Amphitrite, in turn, is out of the winning Redoute's Choice mare Ocean Dream, a half-sister to the G1 Toorak Handicap scorer Marble Halls (Nassipour) and the Listed-placed Jujube (Encosta de Lago). Ocean Dream is also a half-sister to Tigereye (Kaapstad), the dam of the G1 Blue Diamond Stakes winner Sleek Chassis (Flying Spur).Sunday, Kyoto, JapanSHUKA SHO-G1, ¥215,160,000, Kyoto, 10-18, 3yo, f, 2000mT, 1:56.10, fm.1–MONROE WALK (JPN), 121, f, 3, by Kizuna (Jpn) 1st Dam: Amphitrite (Aus) (G1SW-Aus, $533,581), by Sebring (Aus) 2nd Dam: Ocean Dream (Aus), by Redoute's Choice (Aus) 3rd Dam: Joolzy (NZ), by Noble Bijou1ST GROUP 1 WIN. (¥68,200,000 Wlg '23 NFMOCT). O-M'sRacing; B-Northern Farm; T-Hiroyuki Uemura; J-Keita Tosaki;¥113,612,000. Lifetime Record: 5-5-0-0, ¥201,712,000. WerkNick Rating: F. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.2–Garavogue (Jpn), 121, f, 3, Lord Kanaloa (Jpn)–Lexie Lou, bySligo Bay (Ire). O-Lord Horse Club; B-K.I. Farm; ¥45,032,000.3–Dream Core (Jpn), 121, f, 3, Kizuna (Jpn)–Normcore (Jpn),by Harbinger (GB). O-Katsumi Yoshida; B-Northern Farm;¥28,516,000.Margins: NK, 1 1/4, HF. Odds: 0.30, 35.20, 7.40.Also Ran: Enne (Jpn), Something Sweet (Jpn), La Belle Scene (Jpn), Festival Hill (Jpn), Master Soarer (Jpn), Hayabusa Sakichan (Jpn), Taisei Vogue (Jpn), Garnet Flare (Jpn), Birthday Flight (Jpn), Canal Saint Martin (Jpn), T M I Run (Jpn), Losange (Jpn), Nice Play Ask (Jpn). DNF: Sweet Happiness (Jpn). Click for the JRA chart & video.The post Monroe Walk Maintains Unbeaten Record with Battling Shuka Sho Victory appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.