Debut winner Amoretta steps up in class for G2 Flora Stakes

Amoretta puts her unbeaten record on the line in the G2 Flora Stakes over 10 furlongs at Tokyo, Japan, on Sunday, 21 April.

The three-year-old daughter of Deep Impact, trained by Hideaki Fujiwara, made a winning debut on her only start to do date when scoring by a neck in a 10-furlong maiden at Hanshin on Sunday, 24 February.

Kosei Miura partners Amoretta for the first time, who races from stall seven in a field of 18 that also includes G3 Flower Cup fourth Shadow Diva, allowance race scorers Fairy Polka and Victoria plus Passing Through, fourth in the G3 Shinzan Kinen.

Harry Sweeney, President of Godolphin in Japan, commented: “The G2 Flora Stakes is a Japanese Oaks Trial and the first two finishers are guaranteed a starting berth in the second fillies’ Classic of the year.

“It is therefore always a very competitive race and has this this year, as is usual, attracted a full gate of 18 runners.

“Amoretta will carry the Godolphin silks and deserves her chance following her winning debut in February. On that occasion, she was both keen and green and hopefully will have improved from the run.

“Her trainer, Hideaki Fujiwara, who was champion trainer in Japan last year, has described her as his best three-year-old filly, but as yet we have no real idea how she stacks up against her peers.

“We will be much wiser after Sunday.”