Blue-blooded Queen's Walk set for top-level return after Hai Kinko Sho success

The well-bred Queen's Walk looks set to return to Grade 1 company after picking up her third Pattern win in the Hai Kinko Sho at Chukyo on Sunday. 

The daughter of Japan's champion sire Kizuna had previously won the Sho Rose Stakes and Daily Hai Queen Cup for trainer Mitsumasa Nakauchida and Sunday Racing. She was also fourth in the Yushun Himba (Japanese Oaks) last May and could return to top-level company shortly. 

Bred by Northern Farm Co out of 2015 Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint winner Wavell Avenue, the four-year-old is a half-sister to Asahi Hai Futurity and Hanshin Cup winner Grenadier Guards. That son of Frankel has embarked on his second season at Shadai Stallion Station this term. 

Queen's Walk (left) hits the front to pick up her third Pattern successCredit: Masakazu Takahashi

Winning rider Yuga Kawada said: "I didn't think the track was suitable for her. I thought there would be plenty of pace given [fourth-placed] Desierto's running style, but she chose to go ahead today so I took the track into consideration and changed my approach. I rode her at her own pace, hoping she would come out on top, she ran a very good race. 

"She has great potential, so I want her to achieve results in Grade 1 company, but she proved she can compete against the male horses so I'm looking forward to seeing what she does in the future."

Third favourite Prognosis, who had won the last two runnings of the race, broke slowly and could only finish sixth. The Deep Impact seven-year-old was second to Romantic Warrior in the last two QEII Cups and was also third to Equinox in the 2023 Tenno Sho. 

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