The top milers in Japan step out to do battle this coming Sunday, when Kyoto Racecourse will once again stage the Gr.1 Mile Championship, the second race in the Japan Autumn International Series of races.
The 35th running of the race has drawn twenty nominations, including four 3-year-olds, and last year’s winner Persian Knight. The race is run on the outer turf course at Kyoto, with the start in the backstretch, and some undulations in the run before the runners meet the relatively benign home straight and come past the stands to the winning post.
Here’s a look at some of the contenders expected to take on the big race:
Persian Knight: Last year’s winner is back for another try at the race, and he has three wins from seven starts over a mile, and could be considered slightly unlucky in his latest start in the Gr.3 Fuji Stakes over a mile at Tokyo when he finished fifth.
Aerolithe: Even though the 4-year-old filly only has one win over a mile (NHK Mile Cup 2017), she has a great race record overall, finishing first or second nine times from twelve career starts. She’s coming off a strong win most recently in the Gr.2 Mainichi Okan over 1,800 meters at Tokyo in October.
Mozu Ascot: The American bred colt by Frankel won this year’s Gr.1 Yasuda Kinen over a mile at Tokyo in June, and has finished first or second on the six occasions jockey Christophe Lemaire has ridden him.
Logi Cry: Even though this will be the 5-year-old’s first attempt at a Gr.1, he’s coming off a solid win in the Gr.3 Fuji Stakes over a mile at Tokyo in October. He has two wins from four starts at Kyoto, and visiting jockey Cristian Demuro has been booked for the ride. The horse is by Heart’s Cry and hails from the stable of Naosuke Sugai.
Keiai Nautique: The 3-year-old by Deep Impact was the winner of this year’s Gr.1 NHK Mile Cup at Tokyo in May. He’s had two runs at Kyoto where he finished second and third, and most recently he finished fifth in the Gr.2 Mainichi Okan.
Mikki Glory: Another horse by Deep Impact, the 5-year-old has only been unplaced once in eleven starts, which have included six wins.
Stelvio: The 3-year-old colt by Lord Kanaloa is looking to give his trainer Tetsuya Kimura his first Gr.1 victory.
Winner 2017: Persian Knight
1st Persian Knight (Y. Ikee, M. Demuro), 2nd Air Spinel (K. Sasada, R. Moore), 3rd Sungrazer (H. Asami, Y. Fukunaga), 4th Daiwa Major (M. Honda, R. Wada), 5th Fuji Kiseki (H. Kurita, C. Lemaire), 6th Black Moon (K. Nishiura, A. Atzeni), 7th Kluger (T. Takano, A. Starke),8th Red Falx (T. Ozeki, C. Demuro), 9th Grand Silk (H. Toda, H. Tanabe), 10th Moon Crest (M. Honda, Y. Fujioka), 11th Garibaldi (H. Fujiwara, Y. Iwata)
Distance: 1600 meters,(About 8 furlongs / 1 mile), Surface: Turf, Track: Right-handed, Qualification: 3-y-o & Up, Thoroughbreds, Weight: 3-y-o 56 kg / 4-y-o & up 57 kg, Purse: ¥ 190,000,000 (as of 2014),1st: ¥ 100,000,000
Credit: Ritesh Jamkhedkar ritesh.jamkhedkar@secretariatsworld.com