Whale Capture's Talent Justified in Victoria Mile Victory
Whale Capture, who started out with great expectations since her runner-up effort in the two-year-old championship Hanshin Juvenile Fillies (G1, 1,600m), had to endure a frustrating three-year-old season during which she was close to marking a G1 win in not only all three of her three-year-old fillies' triple but also finishing a commendable fourth-place in the Queen Elizabeth II Commemorative Cup (G1, 2,200m). Coming off a fifth place in the Nakayama Himba Stakes (G3, 1,800m) in March, the Kurofune filly finally claimed her well-deserved G1 title in her sixth G1 challenge. With three wins and two seconds out of five mile-race starts, her next target could be the coming Yasuda Kinen (G1, 1,600m) in June. Trainer, Kiyotaka Tanaka picked up his fourth G1 title—his last G1 win being the 2001 Yushun Himba (Japanese Oaks) with Lady Pastel—while jockey Norihiro Yokoyama claimed his second Victoria Mile title after his last win with Buena Vista in 2010. Yokoyama now has 21 G1 titles to his credit.
Donau Blue, whose full sister Gentildonna is aiming to claim her second G1 title in the coming Oaks, bounced back from a disappointing finish in the Nakayama Himba Stakes in March and turned in an impressive runner-up effort under Craig Williams. Last year's Oka Sho (Japanese 1000 Guineas, G1, 1,600m) and third favorite Marcellina came in third.
Whale Capture broke smoothly from stall 12 and in close attendance to pacesetter, Queen's Barn, while settling in fourth outside Lady Alba Rosa who hugged the rails in fifth. Donau Blue pressed the pace in second with A Shin Harbor at her heels in third while defending champion Apapane was rated just off the rails in mid-division behind Kyowa Jeanne. Marcellina saved ground behind the race favorite along the backstretch while being shuffled back briefly as the field crowded in around the third corner.
The field more or less traveled in a bunch as they rounded the final turn towards the testing homestretch. Queen's Barn still managed more than a length advantage up to the 400-meter mark, but was collared in mid-stretch by Whale Capture who exhibited a fine kick to take command in the final furlong towards her first G1 victory. Donau Blue continued to run on gamely once challenged while drifting to the outside, allowing Kyowa Jeanne, Marcellina and Apapane a clear path in the last 200 meters, but managed to hold off the rest of the field by 1-1/4 lengths and short of the winner by 1/2-length. It was a close contest for third place as Marcellina navigated her way between horses to take over both Kyowa Jeanne and Apapane who finished fourth and fifth, respectively.
Other Horses:
6th: (4) Meine Isabel—saved ground mid-field, met traffic upper stretch, good speed once clear.
7th: (8) Queen’s Barn—set moderate pace gave way in last furlong, continued effort.
8th: (13) Charm Pot—nicely rated in fifth to sixth, mild rally while unable to reach leaders.
9th: (2) Lady Alba Rosa—hugged rails behind winner, failed to launch serious rally.
10th: (15) A Shin Harbor—prominent early, faded with 200m to go.
11th: (5) Animate Bio—sat well off the pace, met traffic late rally.
12th: (17) Rainbow Dahlia—raced wide, even paced.
13th: (6) Spring Thunder—broke slowly, trailed most of the way.
14th: (18) Asuka Top Lady—three wide mid-pack, no response when asked.
15th: (10) Fumino Imagine—third from last, boxed in at straight.
16th: (14) All That Jazz—second from rear early, empty at stretch.
17th: (9) Grand Prix Angel—no excuse, failed to threaten.
18th: (11) Apricot Fizz—never a factor.
THE 7TH VICTORIA MILE (G1)
4-year-old & up, Fillies & Mares, 1,600 meters (about 8 furlongs), turf, left-handed
Sunday, May 13, 2012 Tokyo Racecourse 11th Race Post time: 15:40
Total prize money: ¥ 188,200,000 (about US$ 2,352,000 < US$1 = ¥80>)
4-y-o & up: 55kg (about 121lbs), 1kg allowance for Southern Hemisphere-bred born in 2008
Safety factor: 18 runners
| FP |
BK |
PP |
Horse |
Sex
Age |
Wgt
(kg) |
Sire
Dam |
Jockey
Trainer |
Owner
Breeder |
Margin
(L3F) |
Odds (Fav) |
| 1 |
6 |
12 |
Whale Capture
(JPN) |
F4 |
55.0 |
Kurofune
Global Peace |
N. Yokoyama
K. Tanaka |
Masaru Shimada
Chiyoda Farm Shizunai |
1:32.4
(33.8) |
7.2
(4) |
| 2 |
8 |
16 |
Donau Blue
(JPN) |
F4 |
55.0 |
Deep Impact
Donna Blini |
C. Williams
S. Ishizaka |
Sunday Racing Co. Ltd.
Northern Racing |
1/2
(34.1) |
14.0
(7) |
| 3 |
1 |
1 |
Marcellina
(JPN) |
F4 |
55.0 |
Deep Impact
Marbye |
H. Tanabe
H. Matsuda |
Shadai Race H.
Shadai Farm |
1-1/4
(33.5) |
6.8
(3) |
| 4 |
2 |
3 |
Kyowa Jeanne
(JPN) |
F4 |
55.0 |
Heart's Cry
Asaka Fuji |
Y. Shibata
A. Iida |
Kyowa Farm Co. Ltd.
Kyowa Farm Co. Ltd. |
Nose
(33.9) |
41.8
(11) |
| 5 |
4 |
7 |
Apapane
(JPN) |
M5 |
55.0 |
King Kamehameha
Salty Bid |
M. Ebina
S. Kunieda |
Kaneko Makoto Holdings Co. Ltd.
Kaneko Makoto Holdings Inc. |
3/4
(33.8) |
4.0
(1) |
| 6 |
2 |
4 |
Meine Isabel
(JPN) |
F4 |
55.0 |
Telegnosis
Meine Regina |
M. Matsuoka
T. Mizuno |
K.Thoroughbred Club Ruffian
Osamu Takahashi |
Neck
(33.8) |
32.8
(10) |
| 7 |
4 |
8 |
Queen’s Barn
(JPN) |
F4 |
55.0 |
Special Week
Shinko Angel |
H. Uchida
H. Asami |
Masamichi Hayashi
Northern Farm |
3/4
(34.8) |
24.1
(9) |
| 8 |
7 |
13 |
Charm Pot
(JPN) |
M6 |
55.0 |
Fuji Kiseki
Hot Play |
Y. Shibayama
K. Minai |
Tamamo K.
Shinsei Bokujo |
1/2
(34.4) |
118.6
(18) |
| 9 |
1 |
2 |
Lady Alba Rosa
(JPN) |
M5 |
55.0 |
King Kamehameha
One for Rose |
Y. Fukunaga
K. Sasada |
Lord Horse Club
K.I.Farm |
Neck
(34.2) |
23.2
(8) |
| 10 |
7 |
15 |
A Shin Harbor
(USA) |
F4 |
55.0 |
Cozzene
Echo Harbor |
Y. Take
K. Fujioka |
Eishindo Co. Ltd.
Hopewell Investments
LLC & Nick Bentley |
Neck
(34.7) |
85.3
(16) |
| 11 |
3 |
5 |
Animate Bio
(JPN) |
M5 |
55.0 |
Zenno Rob Roy
Regenbogen |
H. Kitamura
K. Maki |
Bio K.
Northern Racing |
Neck
(34.0) |
57.2
(13) |
| 12 |
8 |
17 |
Rainbow Dahlia
(JPN) |
M5 |
55.0 |
Brian's Time
Arome |
S. Ishibashi
Y. Ninomiya |
Yoshiko Tanaka
Daiei Bokujo |
3/4
(34.4) |
105.5
(17) |
| 13 |
3 |
6 |
Spring Thunder
(JPN) |
M5 |
55.0 |
Kurofune
Spring Mambo |
H. Shii
M. Kon |
Grand Bokujo Co. Ltd.
Grand Stud |
3/4
(33.9) |
64.6
(15) |
| 14 |
8 |
18 |
Asuka Top Lady
(JPN) |
M5 |
55.0 |
Admire Boss
Tagano Shaadi |
H. Kawasu
N. Sugai |
Takeshi Ueno
Masumi Fujii |
1-1/4
(34.4) |
58.4
(14) |
| 15 |
5 |
10 |
Fumino Imagine
(JPN) |
M6 |
55.0 |
Manhattan Cafe
Shinko Imagine |
K. Ikezoe
M. Honda |
Tsuzuku Tani
Shinkoh Farm |
Neck
(34.3) |
7.6
(5) |
| 16 |
7 |
14 |
All That Jazz
(JPN) |
F4 |
55.0 |
Tanino Gimlet
Diamond Pisa |
Y. Fujioka
K. Sumii |
Yoshimi Ichikawa
Yoshimi Ichikawa |
Neck
(34.4) |
5.1
(2) |
| 17 |
5 |
9 |
Grand Prix Angel
(JPN) |
M6 |
55.0 |
Agnes Digital
Andante |
K. Miura
Y. Yahagi |
Masaji Kitagawa
Uemura Stud |
1
(34.9) |
53.4
(12) |
| 18 |
6 |
11 |
Apricot Fizz
(JPN) |
M5 |
55.0 |
Jungle Pocket
Manhattan Fizz |
K. Tanaka
F. Kojima |
Shadai Race H.
Shadai Farm |
1-1/4
(35.0) |
11.7
(6) |
FP=Final Position, BK=Bracket Number, PP=Post Position, B=Blinkers, L3F=Time of Last 3 Furlongs (600m)
| Note1: |
No Foreign Contenders |
| Note2: |
Figures quoted under Odds are Win Odds, which show the amount of money you get back per single unit (100yen), and Fav indicates the order of favorites. |
| WINNING TIME: 1:32.4 |
GOING: Firm |
WEATHER: Fine |
| TURNOVER FOR THE RACE ALONE: |
¥12,731,979,300 |
|
| TURNOVER FOR THE DAY: |
¥20,408,832,300 |
ATTENDANCE: 50,007 |
PAY-OFF (for ¥100)
| WIN |
No.12 |
¥720 |
BRACKET QUINELLA |
6-8 |
¥2,740 |
QUINELLA |
12-16 |
¥5,510 |
| PLACE |
No.12 |
¥220 |
QUINELLA PLACE |
12-16 |
¥1,570 |
EXACTA |
12-16 |
¥10,720 |
| No.16 |
¥400 |
1-12 |
¥780 |
TRIO |
1-12-16 |
¥10,790 |
| No.1 |
¥240 |
1-16 |
¥1,540 |
TRIFECTA |
12-16-1 |
¥75,320 |
- Whale Capture (JPN), gray, filly, 4-year-old
Kurofune / Global Peace (Sunday Silence)
| Breeder: Chiyoda Farm Shizunai |
Owner: Masaru Shimada |
|
| Trainer: Kiyotaka Tanaka |
Jockey: Norihiro Yokoyama |
|
| 13 Starts, 5 Wins |
|
|
| Added money: ¥93,822,000 |
Career earnings: ¥354,917,000 |
|
| Principal Race Performances: |
'11 Rose Stakes (G2) |
1st |
| |
'11 Queen Cup (G3) |
1st |
- Donau Blue (JPN), bay, filly, 4-year-old
Deep Impact / Donna Blini (Bertolini)
| Breeder: Northern Racing |
Owner: Sunday Racing Co.,Ltd. |
| Trainer: Sei Ishizaka |
Jockey: Craig Williams |
- Marcellina (JPN), bay, filly, 4-year-old
Deep Impact / Marbye (Marju)
| Breeder: Shadai Farm |
Owner: Shadai Race H. |
| Trainer: Hiroyoshi Matsuda |
Jockey: Hironobu Tanabe |
| Fractional Time (sec./furlong): |
12.2 – 10.9 – 11.3 – 12.0 – 11.8 – 11.5 –11.2 – 11.5 |
|
Last 4 furlongs: 46.0 Last 3 furlongs: 34.2 |
| Positions at each corner: |
3rd corner |
8,16(12,15)(2,3,13)(4,7,9,17)18(1,5,10,11,14)6 |
|
4th corner |
8,16(12,15)(3,13)(2,17)(7,9)(4,11)(1,5,18)(10,14)6 |
| Note1: |
Underlinedbold number indicates the winning horse |
| Note2: |
Horse numbers are indicated in the order of their positions at each corner, with the first position listed first. Two or more horses inside the same parentheses indicate that they were positioned side by side. Hyphens between the horse numbers indicate that there is distance between the former and the latter. The asterisk indicates a slight lead. |
* Victoria Mile (G1)
In accordance with the restructuring of JRA racing program for fillies/mares executed in the 2006 season, the Victoria Mile was established to give the older fillies/mares a stage to prove their ability among their own sex, in addition to the Queen Elizabeth II Commemorative Cup (G1), which had been the only G1 reserved for older fillies/mares. While the Queen Elizabeth is run over 2,200 meters and held in mid-November, the Victoria Mile is held in spring and provides female milers a chance to claim a G1 title without having a tough competition in a mixed field.
The race, however, attracts not only fillies/mares suited to the mile distance but also outstanding runners from the middle-long distance group. Dance in the Mood (JPN, by Sunday Silence), the winner of 2004 Oka Sho (Japanese 1000 Guineas, G1, 1,600m) and the runner-up of 2004 American Oaks (G1, 2,000m), won the first running of the race while two-time Horse of the Year and multiple G1 winner Vodka (JPN, by Tanino Gimlet) claimed the title in 2009 by an overwhelming 7-length margin.
The race record (1:31.9) was renewed last year by Apapane (JPN, by King Kamehameha) who held off defending champion and 2010 Horse of the Year Buena Vista (JPN, by Special Week) for a neck victory in the race. The King Kamehameha mare, who claimed the fillies' version of the "Triple Crown" as a three-year-old, came off a seventh in the Hanshin Himba Stakes (G2, 1,400m) to defend her title this year. Marcellina, the only other G1 winner in the race, came off a runner-up effort in the same G2 event won by Queen's Barn. Fumino Imagine came into the race with three grade-race titles won during last season and a third in the Hanshin Himba Stakes in April. Lady Alba Rosa, who was third in the Victoria Mile last year, won her second consecutive Nakayama Himba Stakes (G3, 1,800m) title in March while All That Jazz, who was second in that race, proceeded to win her latest start in the Fukushima Himba Stakes (G3, 1,800m). Other notable starters included Donau Blue, winner of the Kyoto Himba Stakes (G3, 1,600m) and Whale Capture who finished within the money in all three of her G1 starts in the fillies' triple-crown last year.
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