Jour Polaire scores upset in Victoria Mile

The 18-1 outsider Jour Polaire rallied from eighth in a field of 18 to win her first Grade 1 race in a photo finish in Sunday’s $1.87 million Victoria Mile for fillies and mares on turf at Tokyo Racecourse.

The race was run on a rainy day on a good track. Jour Polaire, the eighth choice in the betting, prevailed by a nose over Lys Gracieux, the 3-1 favorite. Red Avancer (11-1) finished third by a neck after leading in the final furlong.

Jour Polaire, a 5-year-old Deep Impact mare, was ridden by Hideaki Miyuki for trainer Masato Nishizono. Miyuki told Japan Racing Association publicity that the rain-softened course benefited Jour Polaire.

“I was hoping to race a little more near the pace,” he said. “She showed a great turn of foot, but it was close. I couldn’t make out if we were beaten by Lyx Gracieux from the outside at the end or not.”

The Victoria Mile was Jour Polaire’s first win since an allowance race last September. She was 16th in the Grade 1 Queen Elizabeth II Cup at 1 3/8 miles on turf last November.

Earlier in 2017, Jour Polaire was third in the Victoria Mile to Admire Lead, who finished eighth in Sunday’s race. Earlier this year, Jour Polaire was fifth in the Group 2 Hanshin Himba Stakes behind Miss Panthere, who finished fifth in the Victoria Mile.

Jour Polaire races for G1 Racing Co. Ltd.