Erin Court belied her inexperience in stakes company to win the G1 Japan Oaks (Yushun Himba) in driving rain in Tokyo on Sunday.  

The Shadai Farm homebred completed a hat-trick at her first start in stakes company over 2400m.  She went into the classic after winning over 1800m and 2000m in restricted races at Hanshin.  

Erin Court (3f Durandal – Erin Bird by Bluebird) settled mid-division but was ready to respond when Pure Brise tried to establish a break in the straight.  

Both fillies battled bravely until Erin Court cut Pure Brise (Monsun) down in the final strides.  Late closer Whale Capture (Kurofune) was third, just ahead of Marcellina (Deep Impact) who had annexed the Oka Sho (Japanese 1000 Guineas) in April.

Erin Court was bred by Shadai Farm co-owner “Terry” Yoshida and is by Sunday Silence sire Durandal.  Her dam Erin Bird was a G2 winner of the Premio Regina Elena in Rome and she was also stakes placed at Saint-Cloud and Goodwood.

Her extended family includes the European champions Petrushka (Unfuwain), Conduit (Dalakhani) and recent Australian import Glass Harmonium (Verglas).