In the 25th running of the Grade 1 Mile Championship at Kyoto Racecourse on Sunday, 5-year-old mare Blumenblatt produced a big finish to beat the best milers in Japan and the North American challenger Rahy's Attorney, winning the race by 3/4 length in a fast time of 1:32.6.
With a strong pace set in the early stages by leaders Meiner Rainier and Laurel Guerreiro, jockey Yutaka Yoshida settled fourth-favorite Blumenblatt on the fence midfield and let the mare find her feet. The favorite for the race, 5-year-old horse Super Hornet settled around third from last in the early stages, before starting his move around the outside of the field near the 1,000-meter mark.
As the field entered the straight, the horses fanned and while Super Hornet headed for the outside, Yoshida was patient on the inside with Blumenblatt and waited for an opening. As Super Hornet charged down the outside and appeared to hit the lead, Yoshida found an opening for Blumenblatt and she accelerated brilliantly to not only take the lead back from the favorite, but actually pull away at the finish.
It was the first Grade 1 victory for the mare, and the first Mile Championship win for both jockey Yoshida and trainer Sei Ishizaka. Favorite Super Hornet once again needed to settle for 2nd place - the third time he has finished runnerup in Grade 1 races.
The 5-year-old Fuji Kiseki son Fine Grain pulled out of the slump he had been in all fall to run well and grab 3rd, while 2nd favorite Company was finishing very well down the outside and eventually came in 4th - 1/2 length behind Fine Grain.
The Canadian entrant Rahy's Attorney appeared a place chance on straightening, but did not have much room in the straight, and battled on fairly to finish 9th.
The winner Blumenblatt was bred by Northern Farm and is owned by the Carrot Farm. She is a 5-year-old mare by Admire Vega out of the Topsider mare My Wild Flower.
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