Mikki Isle takes fifth straight in Tokyo
Mikki Isle led throughout Sunday’s $1,883,693 NHK Mile for 3-year-old colts and fillies at Tokyo Racecourse in Japan, the colt’s fifth consecutive win and first in a Grade 1 stakes.
Steve AndersenMay 11, 2014
Mikki Isle led throughout Sunday’s $1,883,693 NHK Mile for 3-year-old colts and fillies at Tokyo Racecourse in Japan, the colt’s fifth consecutive win and first in a Grade 1 stakes.
The favored Karakontie added the Group 1 Poule d’Essai des Poulains (French 2000 Guineas) to his Group 1 tally in the Jean-Luc Lagardere last fall, outlasting Prestige Vendome by a neck to win the French classic on Sunday at Longchamp.
Karakontie was the best 2-year-old based in France last year, and despite being defeated in his 3-year-old debut, he’s widely favored to win the Group 1 Poule d’Essai des Poulains (French 2000 Guineas) on Sunday at Longchamp, where the going is described as good to soft.
The Group 3 Chester Vase, a trial for the Epsom Derby, will get more attention than usual this year since the race’s 2013 winner, Ruler of The World, went on to an upset victory in the Derby. Ruler of The World, however, was the first horse to score a Vase-Derby double since Shergar in 1981.
Legendary French horseman Andre Fabre won the English 1000 Guineas for the first time in a decades-long training career when Miss France captured the first fillies classic of the European season by a neck over fast-closing Lightning Thunder on Sunday at Newmarket.
Fenomeno won the spring running of the $2,695,686 Tenno Sho for the second consecutive year Sunday at Kyoto Racecourse in Japan, a victory that confirms his status among Japan’s leading older horses.
Variety Club, bred in South Africa and campaigned there before racing this winter and spring in Dubai, romped Sunday at Sha Tin in the Group 1 Champions Mile, the first horse not based in Hong Kong to win the race in its 14-year history.
Night of Thunder, a 40-1 outsider ridden by Kieren Fallon, scored an upset win in Saturday’s $760,500 English 2000 Guineas at Newmarket Racecourse despite drifting badly across the track in the final yards.
Though she faces 18 opponents, Rizeeena is a solid favorite to win her 3-year-old debut Sunday in the English 1000 Guineas.
Kingman, the flashy winner of the Grade 3 Greenham Stakes last month, will be a strong favorite to extend his unbeaten streak to four races in Saturday’s $760,500 English 2000 Guineas at Newmarket Racecourse.