Japan: Akai Ito (64-1) leads longshots in Queen Elizabeth Cup
Akai Ito led home a parade of longshots in the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth Cup on Sunday at Hanshin Racecourse in Japan.
Rallying from 13th in a 17-horse field, and making her big move around the final turn, Akai Ito collared the leaders about a furlong from the finish and went on to a two-length victory in the 1 3/8-mile Queen Elizabeth, which was restricted to fillies and mares.
Akai Ito never had raced at the Group 1 level and went to post at odds of 64-1, the first home among big prices filling out the top five placings. Second, coming out atop a blanket finish, was 25-1 shot Stellaria, another deep closer, while just behind her 46-1 Clavel finished third, 74-1 Soft Fruit was fourth, and 128-1 shot Izu Jo No Kiseki was fifth. The trifecta paid nearly $30,000.
Tepid favorite Lei Papale led in midstretch but had nothing for the final 100 yards, checking in sixth, one place ahead of second choice Akitorino Musume, whom the winner sailed by in upper stretch.
Hideaki Miyuki rode Akai Ito for trainer Kazuya Nakatake, with both trainer and jockey notching their first Group 1 success of 2021. Four-year-old Akai Ito is by the Deep Impact stallion Kizuna, and out of Wadjet, by Symboli Kris S. She was timed in 2:12.20 over firm going.