Victoria Mile (Group 1)
RACING in the JRA, albeit still behind closed doors, continues to entertain a nation that is entering a distinct third wave of Covid-19 infections.
Japan has recorded more Covid-related deaths in the first four months if 2021 than in the entirety of 2020.
However, despite a non-existent vaccination plan and surging infection numbers, the government remains steadfast that the rescheduled Tokyo Olympics will go ahead as planned on July 23rd.
The 16th running of the Victoria Mile marks the second of five consecutive weekends of Group 1 racing at Tokyo Racecourse. Run over a mile, it is just the second Group 1 on the Japanese racing calendar to be restricted to older fillies and mares.
While its history is relatively short, the Victoria Mile can boast an illustrious roll of honour including some of Japan’s greatest racehorses of the finer sex.
Gran Alegria was sent to post as the 30/100 favourite once again ridden by Christophe Lemaire. Drawn in stall six, and broke evenly before settling to race in mid-division.
Gruelling
As the field entered Tokyo’s gruelling home straight, Lemaire angled his mount towards outside cruising into contention at the two-furlong marker. Given minimal encouragement from the saddle, Gran Alegria quickly asserted her superiority over the languishing field to hit the line a comprehensive four-length winner.
Rambling Alley chased home the impressive winner with Magic Castle holding on to third place a further neck in arrears.
Veteran trainer
Gran Alegria is trained by JRA veteran Kazuo Fujisawa, providing him with his 33rd JRA Group 1 win. Fujisawa is set to retire from training in 2022. Trainers in the JRA face mandatory retirement upon their 70th birthday, a milestone Fujisawa reaches in March next year.
A third consecutive win in the Victoria Mile for Christophe Lemaire marked his 38th Group 1 win in the JRA. The Frenchman currently holds an 18-winner advantage in the jockeys’ rankings.
This year’s running of the Victoria Mile provided a not-so-subtle reminder of the legacy Deep Impact has instilled in racing in Japan.
The race was not only a one-two-three for the sire but also 10 of the 16 runners that lined-up for contest were by the deceased sire. A further two entrants were sired by Kizuna, a son of Deep Impact.
Gran Alegria is the first living produce of the dual Group 1 winning American mare Tapitsfly (Tapit). She had produced just two living foals from five years as an active broodmare.
Tragically the mare died from complications during foaling in 2018; 2017 produce and full-brother, Blutgang, made a winning debut in June 2019 but has yet to return to the track since.
Gran Alegria is now a five-time Group 1 winner and an eight-time winner in total from her 12 career starts, amassing earnings of over €7,250,000. The versatile five-year-old has won Group 1 races from six to eight furlongs, a rarity for progeny of Deep Impact to be so capable over shorter distances.
THE Yushun Himba (Japanese Oaks) is scheduled to be run tomorrow at Tokyo Racecourse. The second leg of the Fillies Triple Tiara is run over a mile and a half; 21 of Japan’s elite three-year-old fillies remain on the entries list at the final stage of balloting, a maximum field of 18 will go to post.
The standout name on the final entries list for the majority of racing fans will be that of the unmistakable Sodashi. The brilliant white filly aims to maintain her unbeaten record intact and claim her third Group 1 title. Like so many in the field, it will be the first attempt over a distance greater than nine furlongs.
Record time
The daughter of Kurofune’s performance in the Oka Sho was nothing less than spectacular, winning in a record time. Sodashi will undoubtedly go to post as the odds-on favourite.
The confidence of connections will have been increased by news that the fast-finishing runner-up Satono Reinas will bypass the fillies’ classic in favour of a run in the Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby).
On all known form, the main dangers to break the hearts of Sodashi’s legions of supporters will be the Oka Sho fourth placed Akaitorino Museme, with Uberleben and Stellaria like to be prominent in the betting.