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Songline wins this year’s Victoria Mile at Tokyo.
Fourth favorite Songline won this year's Victory Mile to register her second G1 title. After claiming the Yasuda Kinen (G1, 1,600m) last year, Songline finished fifth in the Centaur Stakes (G2, 1,200m) and was scheduled to run in the Breeders' Cup Mile but had to cancel her trip due to an epiglottic inflammation. She was unable to defend her title, finishing 10th in her previous start, the 1351 Turf Sprint (G3) on February 25. This win marked trainer Toru Hayashi's second JRA-G1 title following last year's Yasuda Kinen with this horse while jockey Keita Tosaki claimed his 10th JRA-G1 victory following his win in the 2021 Shuka Sho with Akaitorino Musume and his third Victoria Mile title following his wins with Straight Girl in 2015 and 2016.
Songline broke smoothly from stall six and settled in mid-division, around ninth from the frontrunner. Advancing to sixth entering the lane, the Kizuna mare surged out behind Stars on Earth, running strongly on the rain-soaked inner track with the second fastest closing speed, passed the race favorite before the 200-meter pole and, after dueling strongly with Sodashi in the last 100 meters, managed to cross the wire a head in front to win the race.
"Though we had to race further back and inward than planned, we were able to race in good position while eyeing the race favorites. The track was a little heavy due to the rain but she responded strongly in the straight. It was a close race, but I was pretty sure we crossed the wire in front. I knew that Songline has a strong ability so I'm really happy we were able to win the race," commented jockey Keita Tosaki.
Defending champion and third pick Sodashi made headway from the widest draw to chase the pacesetting Lotus Land in second, took command 200 meters out and sustained the bid for her fourth G1 victory but was denied by Songline just before the wire, though holding off the race favorite by 3/4 length for a runner-up seat.
Race favorite Stars On Earth settled around fifth, entered the straight in third behind Sodashi and, though overtaken by Songline, ran tenaciously to finish third.
Other Horses:
4th: (13) Divina—unhurried around 13th early, advanced after 3rd corner to launch
fastest late charge
5th: (3) Sound Vivace—raced forwardly around 4th, quickened in last 200m
6th: (1) Lotus Land—set pace, showed tenacity up to 200m pole
7th: (11) Namur—met traffic in backstretch, traveled 3-wide around 10th, showed
effort but needed more
8th: (12) Namura Clair—settled 3-wide around 5th, lacked needed kick
9th: (14) Stellaria—ran around 13th, circled wide, even paced
10th: (15) Rouge Stiria—tracked leaders in 3rd, remained in contention until 300m
out
11th: (4) Andvaranaut—sat behind winner around 11th, unable to reach contention
12th: (5) Stunning Rose—raced near rear on rails, struggled to find clear path at
early stretch
13th: (10) Sublime Anthem—was off a bit slow, trailed in rear, no factor
14th: (8) La La Christine—traveled near favorite, showed little at stretch
15th: (7) Izu Jo no Kiseki—took economic trip around 11th, never fired
16th: (9) Kurino Premium—positioned near winner around 8th, outrun at stretch
