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Undefeated Curren Black Hill easily lands NHK Mile Cup to become best three-year-old miler

Merely four months since his debut, race favorite Curren Black Hill demonstrated an emphatic and uncontested win in this year's NHK Mile Cup, and has become the first colt unraced in his two-year-old season to capture the title, stretching his winning streak to four out of the same starts all over the mile distance. The dark bay or brown colt is out of the first crop of five-time G1 winner Daiwa Major whose wins include the 2007 Yasuda Kinen over the same course, and is the second undefeated colt in history to capture the title since El Condor Pasa in 1998. This is the first G1 victory for trainer Osamu Hirata in his seventh year in the trade, and also for jockey Shinichiro Akiyama in his 16th season.

Just as the brief showers during the post parade cleared up, the race was on its way with Curren Black Hill hustled to the front, Neo Vainqueur and Leon Bisty close on his heels a length behind. Alfredo traveled wide in around fifth, with both Clarente and Olivine sitting in mid-division, as Sacred Reve was reserved third from the rear.

As the chasing field struggled to make their bids turning for home, Curren Black Hill found another gear two furlongs out kicking clear while leaving the others trailing 3-1/2 lengths behind as he cruised across the wire. Fourth to enter the stretch, Alfredo ran on strongly down the stretch overtaking Leon Bisty with less than a furlong to go to grab second, while Clarente, who took a wide trip throughout, also fought well down the middle of the stretch to finish a neck behind in third. A close nose from that was Olivine who accelerated well after gradually improving position by the last turn, holding off late charger Sacred Reve who also showed an impressive drive, timed as one of the fasted in the last three furlongs, to finish a neck from that in fifth.

Other Horses:
6th: (14) Just a Way—near rear of field, closed the gap down the stretch, finished 7th but promoted to 6th.
7th: (7) Hana’s Goal—sat in latter mid-pack, took last turn wide, good effort but belated charge.
8th: (3) Leo Active—in latter mid-pack, showed effort down stretch, lacked the final kick.
9th: (16) Ganges—traveled in fifth, outrun by rivals in last drive.
10th: (10) Brightline—second from rear, showed effort in straight, but unable to reach contention.
11th: (18) Leon Bisty—dropped away due to early efforts after racing prominently in second.
12th: (2) Neo Vainqueur—sat off the pace, failed to respond thereafter.
13th: (15) Sudden Storm—was off slow, trailed in far rear, improved position but never threatened.
14th: (11) Meiner Robusto—camped 3rd, interfered by rival in stretch, dropped back.
15th: (1) Major Athlete—upper mid-division, found traffic in stretch, lost momentum.
16th: (4) Monstre—sat in mid-pack, blocked behind horses in stretch.
Failed to finish: (6) Shigeru Sudachi—fell due to interference.
Disqualified: (8) Mount Shasta—bored in at stretch disturbing Shigeru Sudachi.

1. Curren Black Hill (JPN), dark bay or brown, colt, 3-year-old
   Daiwa Major / Charleston Harbor (Grindstone)

   Breeder: Northern Racing	Owner: Takashi Suzuki
   Trainer: Osamu Hirata	Jockey: Shinichiro Akiyama
   4 Starts, 4 Wins
   Added money: ¥95,906,000	Career earnings: ¥164,904,000
   Principal Race Performances:	'12 New Zealand Trophy (G2)	1st

   
   
2. Alfredo (JPN), bay, colt, 3-year-old
   Symboli Kris S / Princess Camellia (Sunday Silence)

   Breeder: Northern Farm	Owner: U.Carrot Farm
   Trainer: Takahisa Tezuka	Jockey: Craig Williams

   
   
3. Clarente (JPN), chestnut, colt, 3-year-old
   Dance in the Dark / Erimo Pixy (Dancing Brave)
   

   Breeder: North Hills Management	Owner: Shinji Maeda
   Trainer: Kojiro Hashiguchi	Jockey: Futoshi Komaki

* NHK Mile Cup (G1)
While races in Japan for three-year-olds had been programmed mainly to facilitate those aiming towards the middle-long distance three-year-old Classics as typified by the Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby, G1, 2,400m), the interest in speed races is growing both within and outside Japan, and earning much respect as the traditional Classics races. In 1996, the JRA reorganized its races in order to accommodate and promote the three-year-olds suited to short distances. The NHK Mile Cup, which was designated international race in 2009, is named after its sponsor Nippon Hoso Kyokai—Japan's national broadcasting station.
Past NHK Mile Cup winners include subsequent derby winners King Kamehameha (JPN, by Kingmambo; 2004) and Deep Sky (JPN, by Agnes Tachyon; 2008) while El Condor Pasa (USA, by Kingmambo; 1998) and Kurofune (USA, by French Deputy; 2001) won the Japan Cup (G1, 2,400m) and the Japan Cup Dirt (G1, dirt, 2,100m), respectively. El Condor Pasa (second in the '99 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe) and '97 NHK Mile Cup winner, Seeking the Pearl (USA, by Seeking the Gold; the '98 Prix Maurice de Gheest) also went on to perform well overseas. Grand Prix Boss (JPN, Sakura Bakushin O), after his victory in the race last year, proceeded to seek challenge overseas in the St. James's Palace Stakes (G1, 1,600m) where he finished eighth to Cartier Award winner, Frankel (GB, by Galileo).
This year's line-up included 2011 champion two-year-old Alfredo who disappointed to 12th in his kick-off start of 2012, the Spring Stakes (G2, 1,800m) and passed up his entry in the Satsuki Sho (Japanese 2000 Guineas, G1, 2,000m). Curren Black Hill came off undefeated in his three career starts which included his first grade-race title in the New Zealand Trophy (G2, 1,600m) last month. Brightline, who finished third in that race, had also captured a grade-race title in the Falcon Stakes (G3, 1,400m) in March. Just a Way came back from a two and a half month break since claiming the Arlington Cup (G3, 1,600m) in February. Hana's Goal passed up her first intended G1 start in the Oka Sho (Japanese 1000 Guineas, G1, 1,600m) due to a minor leg injury after her victory in the Tulip Sho (G3, 1,600m) and made her G1 debut against male opponents. Other grade-race winners included Clarente, Monstre and Leo Active.
The race record is held by Danon Chantilly (JPN, by Fuji Kiseki) who covered the 1,600 meter distance in 1:31.4 in 2010.