Kamunyak ($52.90) scores upset victory in Japanese Oaks
Proven at 1 1/4 miles, the outsider Kamunyak handled her debut at 1 1/2 miles with an upset win in Sunday’s Grade 1 Japanese Oaks at Tokyo Racecourse.
Kamunyak, who paid $52.90 in American pools, closed from 12th of 18 with a wide rally to outfinish 2-1 favorite Arma Veloce by a head. Ridden by Andrasch Starke, Kamunyak made steady progress in the last half-mile.
“The pace was not so fast in the second half of the race,” Starke told Japan Racing Association publicity. “Before the homestretch, I moved to the outside, where she responded very well.
“It was important that she was very relaxed today. She put in a sound performance and her ability was amazing.”
The $2.31 million Japanese Oaks was the first Grade 1 win in Japan for Starke, 51. He is the oldest rider to win the Japanese Oaks. Starke is a former champion jockey in Japan who is well known for winning the 2011 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe in Paris on Danedream.
Starke is riding in Japan on a short-term license, which began on March 9 and continues through June 8.
Starke rode Kamunyak for the first time in the Grade 2 Sho Flora Stakes at 1 1/4 miles at Tokyo on April 27, a race the filly won by 1 1/4 lengths with an off-the-pace rally.
Kamunyak, by Black Tide, has won 3 of 5 starts. She won her debut in a race for first-time starters at 1 1/4 miles at Chukyo last August and was later sixth and fourth in one-mile stakes.
In the Japanese Oaks, Arma Veloce, the champion 2-year-old filly in Japan in 2024, was beaten for the second time this year. Arma Veloce finished second by a neck to Embroidery in the Grade 1 Japanese 1000 Guineas at a mile at Hanshin on April 13. Embroidery, the 2-1 second choice in the Japanese Oaks, finished ninth on Sunday.
Kamunyak races for Kaneko Makoto Holdings Co., and is trained by Yasuo Tomomichi.
Tomomichi trained Do Deuce, Japan’s Horse of the Year in 2024.
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