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Eishin Apollon Demonstrates Power for Mile Championship title

Fifth choice Eishin Apollon thrived on the wet turf that had soaked up a good amount of moisture from the heavy rain on Saturday, and dug deep in the final strides to capture his first career G1 title in this year's Mile Championship -it was also the first G1 victory for trainer, Masahiro Matsunaga.

Ridden by Kenichi Ikezoe, who had already enjoyed considerable success this season, collecting four G1 titles with Triple Crown winner Orfevre and Sprinters Stakes champion Curren Chan, the Giant's Causeway colt broke smoothly to secure an inside spot behind the leaders for most of the trip. The four-year-old chestnut, who had come off a G3 win in the Fuji Stakes closed in towards Fifth Petal with great force through the middle, and prevailed a fierce duel for a neck victory.Fifth Petal, under Norihiro Yokoyama, coming off a sixth place in the Sprinters Stakes (G1, 1,200m) after claiming the Keisei Hai Autumn Handicap (G3, 1,600m) in September, kept close to the pace set by Silport, took over the lead soon after the furlong pole and rallied fiercely with the winner before finally outrun in the last stride.

1-1/2 lengths behind that was French raider, Sahpresa, who displayed a tremendous turn of speed along the outside route after traveling off the rails behind mid-field for most of the trip -she finished third in her third Mile Championship attempt after finishing third in 2009 and fourth in 2010. Fellow French runner, Immortal Verse, saved ground along the rails in mid-pack up to the last turn, and made her attack along the inside, but was unable to find another gear in the last 100 meters to finish seventh

Danon Yoyo hugged the rails behind Fifth Petal, angled out, and gave a good effort, rallying with Sahpresa while unable to reach the leaders in fourth.Race favorite, Real Impact emerged from mid-division along with Sahpresa who came up on his outside, but failed to sustain a serious threat to the first four runners, finishing fifth.

 Sahpresa: connections' comments
Christophe Lemaire (jockey):
"She ran very smoothly and responded well at the stretch. I think it would have made a difference if we had an inside draw."

Rodolphe Collet (trainer):
"We were unlucky again with the draw for the third year running, but I am extremely proud with the mare, at age six, for maintaining her form to meet the high level of competition in this Japanese mile race. We may be headed to Hong Kong for our next target, but I will have to discuss this with the owners."

Immortal Verse: connections' comments
Christophe Soumillon (jockey):
"I don't think she's run on such wet turf before -even in France -and the track condition today certainly didn't suit her. I'm sure she would have been able to display her great acceleration on a firmer track, so I am sorry that it turned out this way today."

Robert Collet (trainer):
"She missed her break and fell behind early, but she ran well. This will be the last race for her this season, so we'll prepare her for next year."

Other Horses
6th: (9) Marcellina-second from last along rail, fastest over 3f but too late
8th: (3) Silport-set pace, outrun soon after furlong pole, held on
9th: (12) Mikki Dream-two to three wide mid-pack, failed to threaten
10th: (4) Live Concert-in touch early, came up empty at stretch
11th: (10) Smile Jack-saved ground near the rear, advanced between horses but failed to reach contention
12th: (14) Rainbow Pegasus-mid-division, even paced
13th: (11) Grand Prix Boss-followed last, advanced 600m out while circling wide, improved position
14th: (17) Ridill-prominent outside rival, faded soon after turning for home
15th: (6) A Shin Forward-mid division, boxed him last corner and lost momentum
16th: (15) Blitzen-mid-division, never near
17th: (16) Clever Tosho-three-wide mid-pack, never a factor
18th: (18) Kyowa Jeanne-always behind

THE 28TH MILE CHAMPIONSHIP (G1)
3-year-old & up, 1,600 meters (about 1 mile), right-handed, turf
Sunday, November 20, 2011    Kyoto Racecourse    11th Race    Post time: 15:40
Total prize money: ¥ 208,000,000 (US$ 2,600,000 <US$1= ¥80>)
3-y-o: 56kg (about 123-124lbs), 4-y-o & up: 57kg (about 126lbs),
2kg allowance for Fillies & Mares, 1kg allowance for Southern Hemisphere bred born in 2008
Safety Factor: 18 runners

1. Eishin Apollon (USA), chestnut, colt, 4-year-old
   Giant's Causeway / Silk And Scarlet (Sadler's Wells)

   Breeder: Silk and Scarlet Syndicate	Owner: Toyomitsu Hirai
   Trainer: Masahiro Matsunaga	Jockey: Kenichi Ikezoe
   14 starts 4 wins
   Added money: ¥ 103,864,000	Career earnings: ¥ 289,196,000
   Principal race performances:	'11 Fuji Stakes (G3)	1st
   	'09 Keio Hai Nisai Stakes	1st

   
   
2. Fifth Petal (JPN), bay, horse, 5-year-old
   King Kamehameha / Lilac Lane (Bahri)

   Breeder: Shadai Corporation Inc.	Owner: U. Carrot Farm
   Trainer: Yukihiro Kato	Jockey: Norihiro Yokoyama

   
   
3. Sahpresa (USA), bay, mare, 6-year-old
   Sahm / Sorpresa (Pleasant Tap)
   

   Breeder: Douglas Owen McIntyre	Owner: Teruya Yoshida
   Trainer: Rodolphe Collet	Jockey: Christophe Lemaire

* Mile Championship (G1)
The MILE CHAMPIONSHIP is one of the most prestigious autumn grade-one events for milers together with the Yasuda Kinen (G1, 1,600m) in spring. Horse racing in Japan had been focusing on long distance racing for a long time, regarding stamina and strength as the most important quality of horses. However, with modern racing having increased its attention to speed horses suited to a mile or shorter distance races, the MILE CHAMPIONSHIP was established in 1984 in conjunction with Japanese races adopting the grading system. The current racing program now provides races for short, middle, and long distance racehorses. The MILE CHAMPIONSHIP welcomed several foreign contestants; Special Kaldoun (IRE, 9th), Tout Seul (IRE, 16th) in 2003 -the first time since it was designated as an international race in 1998 -, Rakti (GB, 14th) in 2004, Court Masterpiece (GB, 7th) in 2006, Becrux (ITY, 8th) in 2007, Rahy's Attorney (CAN, 9th) in 2008, Eva's Request (IRE, 10th) and Sahpresa (USA) in 2009 (3rd) and 2010 (4th).
Rodolphe Collet-trained Sahpresa returned again this year after the Sahm mare captured the Sun Chariot Stakes (G1, 1,600m) in England for the third consecutive year last start,making her eligible for the bonus offer 70 million yen in addition to the original prize money,if she should win. This year, she was joined by another foreign runner Immortal Verse, trained by Rodolphe's father Robert Collet. The Pivotal filly, having won the Prix Jacques le Marois (G1, 1,600m), was also eligible for the bonus.
Defending champion, A Shin Forward who finished fourth in the Hong Kong Mile (G1, 1,600m) following his victory last year in record 1:31.8, was winless in his four starts this season while Real Impact, who captured the Yasuda Kinen against the top older G1 milers, came off a runner-up effort in the Mainichi Okan (G2, 1,800m) in October. 2010 Champion two-year-old colt, Grand Prix Boss, who marked his second G1 victory in the NHK Mile Cup (G1, 1,600m) finished eighth in his first overseas challenge in the St. James's Palace Stakes (G1, 1,600m) and eighth again in his only start back home in the Swan Stakes (G2, 1,400m). Marcellina, won this year's Oka Sho (Japanese 1000 Guineas, G1, 1,600m), was winless in her remaining starts over longer distances, and returned to 1,600 meters in the hope of landing her second G1 title. Other notable runners included Eishin Apollon and Ridill who came off a win in the Fuji Stakes (G3, 1,600m) and the Swan Stakes (G2, 1,400m), respectively.