Guide to some notable runners in the G1 Victoria Mile
Thursday, 09 May, 2024 02:02
Namur (Phoro: Masakazu Takahashi)
Namur has been in a vein of form that seems to vent the frustration of consecutive near misses in the 3-year-old filly Classic route. Her racing form since last autumn has been remarkable, and along with it, her record has become more solid. Her physique has also bulked up compared to before, and she aims for her second GI victory here. The main contenders scheduled to compete in the G1 Victoria Mile are as follows.
Last autumn, Namur secured her first G1 victory at the Mile Championship, finally grasping victory on the grand stage. Since then, she has shown strong performances, finishing third in the G1 Hong Kong Mile and tying for second in the G1 Dubai Turf, proving her competitiveness against tough international competition. Even at five years old, she continues to grow and develop. While she didn't achieve the desired results in last year's Victoria Mile and G1 Yasuda Kinen, she has shown strong performances in races like the Fuji Stakes and Tokyo Shimbun Hai, indicating that the mile race at Tokyo Racecourse is a favourable stage for her. She aims to put an end to her recent string of close defeats. Yutaka Take will be aboard for the ride.
Masked Diva had a late debut and missed the Classic route for three-year-olds in the spring, but she secured victory in her fourth start in the Rose Stakes. The runner-up in that race, Brede Weg, went on to win the G1 Queen Elizabeth Cup, showcasing her as one of the top fillies. While Masked Diva finished sixth in the Kyoto Shimbun Hai two starts ago due to a gate incident, she showed a strong late surge, indicating her high level of ability. She even challenged Liberty Island closely, suggesting she has the potential to turn the tables. Joao Moreira will be in the saddle for this talented mare.
In addition, Umbrail, who showed a fierce late charge in last year's G1 NHK Mile Cup, has been struggling in her recent two starts in the G1 Arima Kinen and G1 Osaka Hai. However, in a stakes race among fillies, Harper, who has the potential to reach the title, and Stunning Rose, who defeated Namur to win the G1 Shuka Sho, cannot be overlooked. Also, Conch Shell, who is currently on a two-race winning streak and showing momentum, is eagerly eyeing the competition.
Last autumn, Namur secured her first G1 victory at the Mile Championship, finally grasping victory on the grand stage. Since then, she has shown strong performances, finishing third in the G1 Hong Kong Mile and tying for second in the G1 Dubai Turf, proving her competitiveness against tough international competition. Even at five years old, she continues to grow and develop. While she didn't achieve the desired results in last year's Victoria Mile and G1 Yasuda Kinen, she has shown strong performances in races like the Fuji Stakes and Tokyo Shimbun Hai, indicating that the mile race at Tokyo Racecourse is a favourable stage for her. She aims to put an end to her recent string of close defeats. Yutaka Take will be aboard for the ride.
Masked Diva had a late debut and missed the Classic route for three-year-olds in the spring, but she secured victory in her fourth start in the Rose Stakes. The runner-up in that race, Brede Weg, went on to win the G1 Queen Elizabeth Cup, showcasing her as one of the top fillies. While Masked Diva finished sixth in the Kyoto Shimbun Hai two starts ago due to a gate incident, she showed a strong late surge, indicating her high level of ability. She even challenged Liberty Island closely, suggesting she has the potential to turn the tables. Joao Moreira will be in the saddle for this talented mare.
In addition, Umbrail, who showed a fierce late charge in last year's G1 NHK Mile Cup, has been struggling in her recent two starts in the G1 Arima Kinen and G1 Osaka Hai. However, in a stakes race among fillies, Harper, who has the potential to reach the title, and Stunning Rose, who defeated Namur to win the G1 Shuka Sho, cannot be overlooked. Also, Conch Shell, who is currently on a two-race winning streak and showing momentum, is eagerly eyeing the competition.