Daiwa Scarlet best at Hanshin

Missing the Dubai World Cup with a minor eye injury may yet prove to have been a blessing in disguise for Daiwa Scarlet. The 4-year-old Agnes Tachyon filly returned from a 3 1/2-month winter vacation on Sunday, defeating males in the Grade 2, $1.2 million Osaka Hai at Hanshin.

A three-time Grade 1 winner herself last year, Daiwa Scarlet set a blistering pace in this 1 1/4-mile test, holding well at even money under Katsumo Ando to defeat Eishin Deputy by three-quarters of a length, while crossing the line in a very fast 1:58.70 on firm ground. She had three Grade 1 types in arrears, Japanese St. Leger winner Asakusa Kings in third, 2006 Japan Cup runner-up Dream Passport in fourth, and 2006 Japanese 2000 Guineas and Japanese Derby winner Meisho Samson in seventh.