The Grade 1 Queen Elizabeth II Commemorative Cup was held over 2200m at Kyoto racecourse today, and although the undefeated 3yo filly and favorite for the race, Kawakami Princess was first across the line, she was subsequently demoted to 12th place after stewards determined that her jockey Masaru Honda had caused significant interference to the 11th placed Yamanin Sucre. As a result, the race was awarded to another 3yo filly - Fusaichi Pandora, who had originally finished 2nd in the race, a neck ahead of 2nd favorite, and last year's winner, Sweep Tosho.
The race was run at a frantic pace with visiting French jockey Christophe Lemaire leading the field by many lengths on outsider Shells Lei until the top of the straight. Challengers such as Asahi Rising and Admire Kiss ranged up outside the leader at the 350m mark, but it was soon clear they too were under siege.
Fusaichi Pandora and Sweep Tosho were both taken to the outside and began to make ground, while Honda tried to thread a route through the field on the favorite Kawakami Princess. However, at around the 300m mark Kawakami Princess suddenly veered to her right, squeezing Yamanin Sucre between Kawakami Princess and the tiring Shells Lei. The rider of Yamanin Sucre, Hirofumi Shii, did well to stay on board with the interference, and stopped riding the horse out. He pulled her Yamanin Sucre up immediately after the finish line.
As the horses approached the 200m, there were five chances in the race with Fusaichi Pandora passing Asahi Rising on the outside portion of the track with Sweep Tosho making ground even further out. Melbourne Cup winning jockey Yasunari Iwata brought 4th favorite Dia de la Novia through along the inside, but it was soon that Kawakami Princess was going best of all them after making a passage through the middle, and she pulled away to hit the line over a length ahead of Fusaichi Pandora and Sweep Tosho.
Although showing everyone how good she was, the crowd knew she was in trouble when replays were shown, and an announcement was made that stewards were conducting an inquiry into interference in the straight. After a nervous wait for connections and for punters who had supported her, the crowd roared when it was announced that Kawakami Princess had been relegated to 12th place, and the new placings were displayed.
The official winner was announced to be Fusaichi Pandora, who was ridden by popular jockey Yuichi Fukunaga, and is owned by the very well known Fusaro Sekiguchi. She is a 3yo filly by Sunday Silence out of the Nureyev mare Lotta Lace, and was bred at Northern Farm. After 4 Group placings, this was her first Group victory. Sweep Tosho was promoted to 2nd place, and Dia de la Novia was promoted to 3rd.
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