Daiwa Major wins by neck at Kyoto

Daiwa Major beat Dance in the Mood to the line for the fourth time this year Sunday at Kyoto when he prevailed by a neck in the $1.65 million Mile Championship.

In the third Grade 1 victory of his career, Daiwa Major covered the mile on firm ground in a swift 1:32.70, just .60 of a second off the track record set in last year's race by Hat Trick, who came home eighth on Sunday, just behind British invader Court Masterpiece.

Ridden by Katsumi Ando, the 1.30-1 Daiwa Major, a son of Sunday Silence trained by Hiroyuki Uehara, was coming off a victory in the 1 1/4-mile Autumn Tenno Sho. He led just inside the quarter pole and held off the late charge of Dance in the Mood.

Daiwa Major's connections have decided against both the Hong Kong Cup and the Hong Kong Mile for him, but could send him against Deep Impact and Heart's Cry in the Arima Kinen on Dec. 24.

* At Sha Tin, Able Prince nosed out Down Town in the Group 2, $385,000 International Sprint Trial with Natural Blitz 1 1/2 lengths back in third as Silent Witness and Planet Ruler dead-heated for fourth. The 15.20-1 Able Prince covered the straight five furlongs in 56.20 seconds on good to firm ground.

In the Grade 2, $385,000 International Mile Trial, the 1.75-1 Armada defeated The Duke by three-quarters of a length in 1:34.00.