Victoire Pisa gives Japan the first Dubai World Cup success in the sixteen-year history of the race
Just when the Japanese nation needed something to be happy and hopeful about, the Shadai Farm bred Victoire Pisa brought them the Grade 1 Dubai World Cup. The double disaster; earthquake and the tsunami struck on 11th March and the bay/brown horse
won the $10 million on 31st March, 2012.
Further reason for celebration for the Japanese was the 1-2 outcome of the race as the runner-up’s position in the race was picked up by, Transcend. Victoire Pisa scored one of the most astonishing upset in the history of the race and also became the first
ever Japanese bred horse to have won the Dubai World Cup in its sixteen-year history.
Buena Vista was the third Japanese entry in the field of fourteen, but could only manage the eighth position while Sir Henry Cecil trained, Twice Over, parked ninth.
The victory for Victoire Pisa did have the luck element in it despite the effort. Usually the rides of jockey, Micro Demuro, start off with a strong start, but the five-year-old was an exception as he hit his head hard into the stall before racing. The incident
led to his staying in the rear initially as the lead was taken up by, Transcend. The two came collar to collar but it was the Katsuhiko Sumii trained who took the advantage near home.
The victory was so unbelievable for the jockey that according to him it was like waking up from a dream.
“Knowing there are horses and people affected by the tsunami or lost their lives, I knew there may be something I could do to give back with a win or by performing well in this race,” Sumii said as supporters sipped champagne and watched reruns of the race.
“That is something I strongly feel.
“This victory won’t change people’s lives, but I do hope that in some way I will give back to the horse riding and horse racing community in Japan.”
Out of the thirteen times that Victoire Pisa has raced, he has won eight times and the 2012 Dubai World Cup turned out to be the fifth graded success for the horse. The race turned out to be his synthetic track debut after twelve races that he had under
taken on turf.
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