Queen Spumante a 76-1 shocker at Kyoto

Queen Spumante sprung a 76-1 surprise in the Grade 1, $1.9 million Queen Elizabeth II Commemorative Cup at Kyoto on Sunday as she stole the 1 3/8-mile race under a superb front-running ride by Hiroyasu Tanaka. French challenger Shalanaya could only close for fourth, ultimately finishing 5 1/4 lengths behind the winner.

At 90-1, T M Precure finished 1 1/2 lengths behind in second, producing a $5,018.20 exacta. The 3-5 favorite, Japanese Oaks winner Buena Vista, came from well behind to finish third, a neck behind T M Precure and 3 1/2 lengths in front of the 9.40-1 Shalanaya, the Aga Khan's Prix de l'Opera winner. Shalanaya saved ground in midpack most of the way in the 18-strong field of fillies and mares before making a mild late run through the last quarter-mile.

Queen Spumante, who is trained by Shigeyuki Kojima, covered the 1 3/8 miles on firm ground in 2:13.60. The 5-year-old daughter of Jungle Pocket had previously finished ninth behind last year's Japanese St. Leger winner Oken Bruce Lee in the 1 1/2-mile, Grade 2 Kyoto Daishoten on Oct. 11. Prior to that her, biggest victories had come in allowance races at Sapporo and Hanshin.