Sunday 14th May sees the inaugural running of the Grade 1 Victoria Mile, over 1600m at Tokyo racecourse. This race has been newly established, and becomes only the second Grade 1 exclusively for Fillies and Mares in the Japan racing calendar, the first in Spring.
The track at Tokyo where the Victoria Mile is to be run, is well known to international followers of Japanese racing, as it is the same venue as the Grade 1 Japan Cup, and is exactly the same course as one of Japan's other feature international Grade 1 races - the Grade 1 Yasuda Kinen. From the 1600m start, there is a long run of over 500m to the long curving turn which lasts for more than 400m, leading into the final straight of 525m, the first 225 of which is uphill.
24 fillies and mares have nominated for the race, so it is likely that the inaugural running will have a capacity field of 18 runners. Heading the nominations is two time Grade 1 winning 4yo Rhein Kraft, who was narrowly beaten in the voting for 2005 Filly of the Year last year, by American Oaks winning Cesario (who has since been retired).
Rhein Kraft kicked off her 2006 season with a fast finishing 2nd in the 1200m Grade 1 Takamatsunomiya Kinen in March, before comprehensively winning the Grade 2 Sankeisports Hai Hanshin Himba Stakes over 1400m on April 8. She won the NHK Mile Cup in 2005 over this course against the 3yo colts last year at her only start at Tokyo racecourse, and will start a firm favourite against this field on Sunday. Her Peak 2004 rating for 2005 was 112.
The highest rated horse to be nominated for the race is 5yo Dance in the Mood, with a rating of 114. Dance in the Mood won the Grade 1 Oka Sho (1600m for 3yo fillies and mares) at her 4th start after 3 consecutive victories, but has not broken through for a win since. She finished 2nd in the American Oaks in 2004, has been placed in 3 Grade 1 races since, and comes into this race after finished 2nd to one of Japan's best milers - the 5yo entire Daiwa Major last start in the Grade 2 Yomiuri Milers Cup on April 15.
Air Messiah was rated the same 112 as Rhein Kraft in 2005, recorded when just running down that horse in the last leg of the Japanese 3yo filly Triple Crown, the Grade 1 Shuka Sho over 2000m in October last year. Air Messiah also finished 2nd in the Japanese Oaks last year, when just run down by Cesario, and with champion Japanese jockey Yutaka Take on board aiming for 3 Grade 1 wins in succession (after success on Logic and Deep Impact in the past 2 weeks), she is bound to be very popular with the Japanese punters.
The only other horse that is expected to have a winning chance in this quality field, is Dia de la Novia, the 3rd placegetter in that high level 2005 Japanese Oaks last year. To be ridden by former NAR jockey Yasunari Iwata who is riding plenty of winners since joining the JRA earlier this year, Dia de la Novia finished well to place 3rd last start behind Daiwa Major and Dance in the Mood in the Grade 2 Yomiuri Milers Cup on April 15, and the more spacious Tokyo course looks to suit here.
The above 4 horses will be favoured by the Japanese punters, but there is significant depth in the field. A brief description of other horses nominated follows below:
Agnes Raspberry. Has won 6 out of 11 starts, including her last 3 in a row, but is facing open class horses for the first time.
Azuma Sanders. Daughter of Sunday Silence who has struggled since her career best performance finished 2nd behind Dance in the Mood in the 2004 Grade 1 Oka Sho. (Peak 2004 rating 106).
Ogon Sunday Would need the track to be very very wet to be competitive against these horses.
Cosmo Marvelous. Has finished 10th in each of her three starts at Grade 1 level. (Peak 2004 rating 103).
Silent Ask. Daughter of Sunday Silence consistently filling the placings in set condition races. Has no open class form to mention.
Silent Jasper. A promising horse in easier races, but finished 9th at her only start against Graded horses.
Jadeite. Another daughter of Sunday Silence, but at this stage has no notable form in Group races (finished a distant 5th behind Rhein Kraft and Air Messiah last start). (Peak 2004 rating 102).
Shonan Peintre. Beautifully bred daughter of Sunday Silence, who was Champion 2yo Filly in 2004. Has done very little in 7 starts since, and looks likely to struggle here. (Peak 2004 rating 102).
Snark Suzuran. Finished 3rd behind Rhein Kraft and Air Messiah two starts back but disappointed last start, and previous form suggests that this is beyond her.
Cheerful Smile. Another beautifully bred daughter of Sunday Silence (granddaughter of US Champion filly Winning Colors) who won her last start in open class. Had not won for over a year before that and has no notable grade form. (Peak 2004 rating 102).
Daring Heart. Another daughter of Sunday Silence who placed in 2 Grade 1s as a 3yo last year (the Grade 1 Oka Sho, and the Grade 1 NHK Mile Cup), but has finished worse than 10th in each of her three starts since October last year. (Peak 2004 rating 107).
Tenimuho. Promising 4yo, but this does look a huge jump in class - her best effort so far a 4th in a Fillies and Mares Grade 3 race over 1800m last start.
Nishino Nurse Call. Finished a very creditable 3rd (behind Air Messiah and Rhein Kraft) in her only try at Grade 1 level, the Grade 1 Shunka Sho last year. Has not done much in open class in 3 starts since, but has not been beaten that far. (Peak 2004 rating 105).
Fjord Cruise. Another Sunday Silence mare - her best effort (from 27 starts) so far a 3rd in a Fillies and Mares Grade 3 race over 1800m last start.
Primo Star. Another daughter of Sunday Silence, but has had 32 starts, and has repeatedly failed at Grade level.
Meine Samantha. On pace runner who does have some Grade form (winner at Grade 3 level last start and 5th in the 2003 Grade 1 Shuka Sho. Rain would bring her into this. (Peak 2004 rating 104).
Yamanin Alabaster. Loves this course, including a Grade 3 win here last year against a very good field of mares. Has been disappointing elsewhere, but has to be a threat at Tokyo racecourse. (Peak 2004 rating 104).
Yamanin Sucre. Champion 2yo filly of 2003, and has been a very consistent performer ever since. Has to be given a good place chance here again. (Peak 2004 rating 104).
Les Clefs d'Or. Has been a consistent mare, competing in many of the Fillies and Mare races in recent years for a Grade 2 and a Grade 3 victory. Another daughter of Sunday Silence, and though her recent form does not inspire, she may well be thereabouts once more. (Peak 2004 rating 104).
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