Ascoli Piceno Last to First in Victoria Mile in Tokyo

Ascoli Piceno (JPN), last through much of the race, stuck her neck in front in a four-filly blanket finish to win the Victoria Mile (G1) May 18 at Tokyo Racecourse. The 4-year-old Daiwa Major (JPN) filly earned her second top-level victory and fifth overall, backing up a win in her last start in the 1351 Turf Sprint (G2) at King Abdulaziz Racecourse in Saudi Arabia. She was sent to the post as favorite but, for most of the Victoria Mile, Ascoli Piceno looked the least likely winner. She started from the No. 17 gate, one from the outside, and seemed sluggish while dropping back to last as the field ran the length of the backstretch. Still last turning into the long stretch run, jockey Christophe Lemaire also ran into traffic problems and had to take to the middle of the course to find running room as long shot Alice Verite (JPN) tried to hold onto a once-imposing lead. The field swamped Alice Verite inside the final 50 meters, coming from all side. Ascoli Piceno completed her task on the far outside. Farther in, Queen's Walk (JPN) nabbed second by a nose, giving owner Sunday Racing a 1-2 finish. Shirankedo (JPN) finished third, a head in front of Argine (JPN) and Alice Verite settled for fifth. Bond Girl (JPN), the second favorite, finished 15th with a dull effort and third favorite Stellenbosch (JPN) reported eighth. With the win, Ascoli Piceno earned an automatic fees-paid spot in the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1T) via the Breeders' Cup Challenge Series: Win and You're In. Lemaire essentially said, better late than never. "The break wasn't too sharp and it took some effort to get her into the speed," Japan's perennial champion jockey said. "I did have a little concern to how the filly would perform as race favorite starting from an outside stall. "But she did have plenty of energy left when needed and, while it did take her some time to reach her top speed, I was thrilled by how she showed her mental strength and potential in fighting to the very end." Ascoli Piceno, out of the Danehill Dancer (IRE) mare Ascolti (JPN), was undefeated as a 2-year-old, claiming the Hanshin Juvenile Fillies (G1) and the year's divisional championship with a perfect three-race campaign. She returned at 3 to finish second in both the Oka Sho (Japanese One Thousand Guineas, G1) and the NHK Mile Cup (G1). After the summer break, she won the Keisei Hai Autumn Handicap (G3). Shipped to Australia for the ATC Golden Eagle, she missed the frame for the first time in her career, finishing 12th. Undeterred, trainer Yoichi Kuriowa sent her with the large Japanese contingent to Saudi Arabia where she beat sprinters from around the world at the iconic distance of 1,351 meters (49 meters short of 7 furlongs). Before the race, Kuriowa expressed some concerns about the effect travel and a sprint effort might have on his filly. But he said her preparation had gone well, adding, "I think I can leave the rest up to the jockey." That worked out well. The second-place finish for Queen's Walk also showed promise. The 4-year-old Kizuna (JPN) filly had been contesting longer distances and won her last start, the Tokai TV Hai (G2), going 2,000 meters (about 1 1/4 miles) on soft going at Chukyo Racecourse.