Victory upsets Japanese 2000 Guineas, winning by nose

Victory overcame his very wide number 17 draw at Nakayama on Sunday to score a 16-1 upset in the $1.97 million Satsuki Sho, or Japanese 2000 Guineas, the first leg of the Japanese Triple Crown.

A 3-year-old son of Brian's Time, Victory was all out, however, to win by a nose from Sun Zeppelin, with Fusaichi Ho O just two noses behind the winner in third. It was another 1 1/2 lengths back to the favorite, Admire Aura, in fourth, while Flying Apple was 12th, beaten seven lengths. Having chased a slow early pace, Victory completed the 1o1/4 miles in 1:59.90 on a turf course labeled firm.

Trained by Hidetaka Otonashi and ridden by Katsuhara Tanaka, a veteran jockey who was winning his first Grade 1 race in 15 years, Victory has now won 3 times in 4 career starts, all of his races having come at 10 furlongs.