The Grade 1 Mile Championship was held over 1600m at Kyoto racecourse today, and the 2006 JRA Best Sprinter or Miler, Daiwa Major recorded his 5th Grade 1 win in a time of 1:32.7.
Jockey Katsumi Ando ensured that favorite Daiwa Major jumped well from the gates, and pushed him along a little early to take up a position 3 wide outside the early leaders Lohengrin and Fusaichi Richard. Of the other fancied runners, Super Hornet with young jockey (Yusuke Fujioka) and trainer (Yoshito Yahagi) both looking for their first Grade 1 victory, was positioned closer than usual - with cover midfield, Agnes Ark followed him, Suzuka Phoenix with champion jockey Yutaka Take just behind them, with Company near the tail of the field.
In the mid stages of the race, Oliver Peslier took his mount Fusaichi Richard to a clear lead, but approaching the final turn Daiwa Major ranged up outside him, under a very good hold. In the straight, Daiwa Major started to pull away from the other leaders, while Super Hornet, Agnes Ark and Suzuka Phoenix all pulled to the outside and made their runs. Company switched back inside but was still a long way back.
At the 200m, it looked like Super Hornet may catch Daiwa Major, but the champion kept fighting under hands and heel riding, and at the line Daiwa Major held off the gallant Super Hornet by a neck. Suzuka Phoenix made up a lot of ground to finish 3rd, a further 1/2 length away, with Agnes Ark and Company close up 4th and 5th respectively. US visitor Becrux finished evenly in the straight, his eventual position 8th - just under 4 1/2 lengths from the winner.
Daiwa Major is owned by Keizo Oshiro - who also owns his 3/4 sister Daiwa Scarlet who has won the Grade 1 Queen Elizabeth II Commemorative Cup last week, and is a 6yo horse by Sunday Silence out of the blue hen mare Scarlet Bouquet. He was bred by Shadai Farm. He is trained by Hiroyuki Uehara, and was ridden by Katsumi Ando who recorded his 4th JRA Grade 1 win this year.
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