Queen Elizabeth II Cup (Japan)


The Queen Elizabeth II Cup is an International Grade 1 flat horse race in Japan for three-year-old and above thoroughbred fillies and mares run over a distance of 2,200 metres on the turf at Kyoto Racecourse in November.

History

The race was first run in 1976 over a distance of 2,400 metres. It was originally for three-year-old fillies only and was the third leg of the Japanese Fillies' Triple Crown. In 1996, it was opened to older female horses and was reduced to its present distance. In the same year the Shuka Sho was established and became the third leg of the Fillies' Triple Crown.
Since 1999 it turned into International Grade 1 race. In 2010 Snow Fairy from England, being the first winner outside Japan. The following year she made Japanese flat racing history of being the first ever non-Japanese trained horse to win the same Grade 1 flat race back-to-back.
It is the only Grade 1 race that is restricted to fillies and mares aged three or above. The other Grade 1 races for older female horses in Japan, the Victoria Mile, excludes three-year-olds.

Records


Most successful horse :
  • Mejiro Dober – 1998, 1999
  • Admire Groove – 2003, 2004
  • Snow Fairy – 2010, 2011

Winners since 1996