Almond Eye sets stakes record in winning Japanese 1000 Guineas

Almond Eye dethroned champion Lucky Lilac in Sunday’s Grade 1 Japanese 1000 Guineas at Hanshin Racecourse.

Almond Eye, the 5-2 second choice, caught 9-10 favorite Lucky Lilac in deep stretch to win the one-mile turf race by 1 3/4 lengths in a stakes-record time of 1:33.20. The $2.12 million 1000 Guineas was the first loss in five starts for Lucky Lilac, the champion 2-year-old filly of 2017.

By Lord Kanaloa, Almond Eye was ridden by Christophe Lemaire for trainer Sakae Kunieda. Almond Eye won for the third time in her fourth start. Lily Noble, the 6-1 third choice, finished third, beaten 2 1/4 lengths.

Owned by Silk Racing Co. Ltd., Almond Eye won the Grade 3 Shinzan Kinen at Kyoto Racecourse at a mile in January. Last year, Almond Eye was second in her debut and won a maiden race at Tokyo Racecourse last October.

Almond Eye and Lucky Lilac are likely to meet again in the Grade 1 Japanese Oaks at Tokyo Racecourse on May 20.