Japan's Queen Stakes 2026 highlights Erika Express and leading three‑year‑olds

The G3 Queen Stakes for fillies will be run over 1,800 m on turf at Sapporo Racecourse on Sunday. Historically, the race has favored the top‑rated horses, with the 1‑ and 2‑favorite combinations winning ten of the last ten runnings, though a 2020 upset saw the 11th‑favorite Red Anemos win. This year the partnership of Erika Express and veteran jockey Yutaka Take is drawing particular attention. Take returns after a two‑and‑a‑half‑month break and will need to guide the front‑running Erika Express, who placed fourth in the recent Victoria Mile.

Analysis of previous G1 performers shows that three‑year‑old fillies from the Oakes group have been successful, while those from the Sakura group have struggled. The data suggests that targeting the top three‑year‑olds could be a profitable betting strategy, especially given the absence of a true front‑runner in the field.