Something about distance races at Nakayama Racecourse in Japan in late December seems to suit the 3-year-old filly Regaleira.
Last December, Regaleira won the Grade 1 Hopeful Stakes for 2-year-olds at 1 1/4 miles at Nakayama. On Sunday, she was the upset winner of one of the country’s most prestigious races, the Grade 1 Arima Kinen at 1 9/16 miles.
Regaleira (who paid $43.20 in American pools) stalked the pace for the first mile before making progress toward the front on the turn. She was joined in that closing rally by Shahryar, who was third in the Breeders’ Cup Turf at Del Mar on Nov. 2.
The two ran as a pair to the wire, with Regaleira winning by a nose.
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“I couldn’t tell at all crossing the wire who’d won,” winning jockey Keita Tosaki told Japan Racing Association publicity.
Shahryar (15-1) finished 1 1/2 lengths in front of 5-1 Danon Decile, the Japanese Derby winner in May. Danon Decile set the pace in the $6.1 million Arima Kinen and led in the stretch. Urban Chic, the 3-2 favorite, finished sixth, overcoming a slow start to race in a striking position to the stretch.
Rousham Park, second in the BC Turf last month, finished seventh in the field of 15, which changed remarkably on Friday with the withdrawal of morning-line favorite Do Deuce because of lameness. Do Deuce won the Grade 1 Japan Cup in November.
Regaleira won for the first time in the Arima Kinen since the Hopeful, ending a four-race losing streak.
Earlier this year, Regaleira was sixth in the Grade 1 Japanese 1000 Guineas in April, fifth against males in the Grade 1 Japanese Derby in May, and fifth against fillies and mares in the Grade 1 Queen Elizabeth II Cup for fillies and mares in November.
By Suave Richard, Regaleira has won 3 of 7 starts for owner Sunday Racing Co., Ltd., and trainer Tetsuya Kimura.
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