Apapane emerges victorious in the Victoria Mile, leaving 2010 Horse of the Year, Beuna Vista, behind
Apapane defeated the 2010 Horse of the Year, Beuna Vista, in the $2.2 million Victoria Mile, wrecking havoc on Buena Vista’s hopes for a repeat success in the race. Beuna Vista wavered against Apapane, being defeated by a neck. Apapane completed the mile
on the turf in a record timing of 1:31.9. The 4-1 second choice has won seven of her twelve starts.
Victoria Mile, the Grade 1 flat race had Beuna Vista as a favourite. The race had eighteen other entries run over a distance of 1600m and an audience of 57,500.
Apapane is the proud sweeper of last year’s Japanese Triple Crown series for females. The 4-year-old filly is trained by Kunieda Sakae for owner, Kaneko Makoto Holdings Limited and had the services of Masayoshi Ebina as her jockey.
This win was the first for the 4-year-old since she won the $2.07 million Shuka Sho. Her career highs also include winning the $1.33 million Yomiuri Milers Cup at Hanshin Racecourse on April 15, 2011. This was Apapane’s fifth Grade 1 victory.
She broke from post 16 in the 17 horse field and was trailing Oken Sakura. Oken Sakura was leading A Shin Returns and Lady Alba Rosa by a six lengths. Both finished in the second and third positions, respectively.
Oken Sakura was challenged by Lady Alba Rosa, but the latter succumbed to defeat when Apapane captured an advantage and dug in for the finish. Lady Alba Rose was ridden by Yuichi Fukunaga and stood third.
Buena Vista was partnered with Yasunari Iwata, considered as a leading jockey in Japan. Buena Vista was sent as a favourite in the race and settled early in the rear group.
She then emerged from last to fourth, trailing Apapane. She led the pace in the final furlong being defeated by Apapane and finished a neck in front of Lady Alba Rose.
Beuna Vista was making her first start since she finished eighth in the Dubai World Cup held on March 26. She won the Victoria Mile in 2010. Beuna Vista also won the Oka Sho (1000 Guineas) and Yushin Himba Oaks in 2009. She has not won since Tenno Sho in
October.
Apapane, the daughter of Salty Bid, is also credited with having the juvenile honours in 2009. She is sired by the Japanese Derby winner, King Kamehameha, and got into the third position behind Snow Fairy in the Queen Elizabeth II Commemmorative Cup at
Kyoto in October last year.
Apapane emerged as the Classic heroin in Tokyo by winning the Victoria Mile. It is expected that the filly will continue to thrill her audiences in a similar fashion in other starts she is expected to appear in.
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