Tokyo: Apapane defeats champion Buena Vista in Victoria Mile

Apapane, who won the 2010 Japanese Triple Crown for fillies, beat older mares, including the champion Buena Vista, in Sunday’s $2,214,000 Victoria Mile for fillies and mares at Tokyo Racecourse.

The 4-year-old Apapane closed from off the pace to finish a neck in front of a fast-closing Buena Vista, finishing a mile on turf in course record time of 1:31.9. Ridden by Masayoshi Ebina, Apapane, the 4-1 second choice, is by the Kingmambo sire King Kamehameha, and has won 7 of 12 starts.

Buena Vista, who was sent off favored, finished a neck in front of Lady Alba Rose, who stalked the pace and led in the final furlong before being overtaken by Apapane. The Victoria Mile was Buena Vista’s first start since an eighth in the Dubai World Cup on March 26.

The Victoria Mile was Apapane’s first win since the $2.07 million Shuka Sho last October. She was fourth in the $1.33 million Yomiuri Milers Cup against males at Hanshin Racecourse on April 17, her only start of 2011.