Lucky Lilac finishes fast to win Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Kyoto

Lucky Lilac stormed up the rail under Christophe Soumillon to capture the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes, her first Group 1 tally, on Sunday at Kyoto Racecourse in Japan.

Crocosmia, who set the pace from the start and took a long lead into the Kyoto homestretch, held second, 1 1/4 lengths behind Lucky Lilac and a neck in front of race favorite Loves Only You. Centello finished fourth and second choice Chrono Genesis was fifth, but the winner proved much the best thanks to a sparkling turn off foot through the final 2 1/2 furlongs.

Lucky Lilac and Soumillon waited in midpack and were racing two or three paths off the fence coming off the last of two bends in this 1 3/8-mile test for fillies and mares. Soumillon ducked down to the inside as the field cornered for home and Lucky Lilac lit up, tearing inside several rivals, whooshing past Loves Only You, and easily getting the best of Crocosmia, who ran well in defeat. Loves Only You, who raced second the entire trip until Lucky Lilac came calling, also performed solidly while making her first start since winning the Japanese Oaks in May.

Lucky Lilac had been third in the 2018 Japanese Oaks, a race won by the great Almond Eye, and had been second to Almond Eye earlier that spring in the Japanese 1000 Guineas after going 3 for 3 as a 2-year-old. Late last year and earlier this season Lucky Lilac struggled to find her best form, but following an Oct. 18 prep race, she ran one of the best races of her career Sunday while winning for the first time since March 2018.

Mikio Matsunaga trains Lucky Lilac for the Sunday Racing Co. Limited. The 4-year-old filly is a daughter of Orfevre and Lilacs and Lace, by Refinement.