Setting The Record Straight

The G1 Victoria Mile typically attracts some of Japan’s most high-profile fillies and mares, and has been won by the likes of Vodka (Jpn) (Tanino Gimlet {Jpn}) and Buena Vista (Jpn) (Special Week {Jpn})–both Horses of the Year–and fillies Triple Crown champion Apapane (Jpn) (King Kamehameha {Jpn}). This year’s lineup for Sunday is no slouch, either. Last year’s G1 Japanese Oaks heroine Nuovo Record (Jpn) (Heart’s Cry {Jpn}) is the even-money morning line favorite. The chestnut has finished out of the top three just once in 10 starts, and in addition to her Oaks score was placed in last year’s Japanese 1000 Guineas and Fillies St. Leger, as well as the G1 QEII Cup. She kicked off her season on a winning note in the G2 Nakayama Kinen Mar. 1. Commenting on his charge’s work last week, trainer Makoto Saito said, “She’s definitely gained strength even though she doesn’t look any bigger; this workout will have switched her on. With the all-female field, I’m hoping she’ll be able to claim the big title she missed out on last fall.” 

Unlike the favorite, Dia de la Madre (Jpn) (King Kamehameha {Jpn}) sat out the Classics during her sophomore season, but she has since developed into a top-class runner, having taken last year’s G2 Fuchu Himba and finished third in the G1 QEII Cup. She opened her 5-year-old campaign with a win in the G3 Aichi Hai, and was a fast-finishing seventh in the G2 Yomiuri Milers Cup Apr. 26. Shonan Pandora (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) bested Nuovo Record in last year’s G1 Shuko Sho (Japanese Fillies St. Leger), but took a backseat to that rival when sixth in the QEII. The bay was a dull ninth in the G2 Osaka Hai off a five-month layoff, and trainer Tomokazu Takano said, “The soft track last time out was just too tough for her; she looked tired after the race. She ran well and has definitely improved.” Shonan Pandora’s three wins have all come over 2000 meters, so she will have to also successfully cut back in trip Sunday.