Champagne celebrations in the NHK Mile
Sunday, 07 May, 2023 16:37
Champagne Color won the NHK Mile Cup (Yuki Shimono)
The NHK Mile signals the beginning of a five-week bonanza of Grade 1 racing at Tokyo Racecourse, the epicenter of Japanese racing. As the name suggests, the NHK mile is run over 1600m, and it's restricted to three-year-olds. Horses of the finer sex receive a two-kilo allowance against their male counterparts.
Historically, the Grade 2 New Zealand Trophy and the G3 Arlington Cup act as the official prep races for the NHK title. This year, Eeyan and Obambutrumai, winners of the trials, both took their place in the starting stalls. G1 winning juvenile, Dolce More, aimed to put a disappointing run in his seasonal reappearance in the NZ Trophy well behind him.
Under a dark and dreary sky on a rain-sodden track, 20/1 Champagne Color stayed-on best of all to claim the NHK spoils. An impressive finish, from well off the pace, Umbrail kept the winner honest to the line, but Champagne Color appeared to be responding gamely to the late challenge.
Umbrail failed by just a head with Obamburumai a further length behind and a quarter behind in third. The testing conditions had the field strung out in almost single file, with over 25 lengths separating first to last.
Dolce More finished in 13th failing to recapture his two-year-old form once again. Eeyan finished in a well-beaten ninth place.
Champagne Color is a colt out of Memorial Life (Reckless Abandon) by the ill-fated but hugely successful Duramente. He finished third in the New Zealand Trophy on his previous start. Champaign Color is owned and bred by Yoichi Aoyama.
Unfortunately, a leading contender, Godolphin's Cruzeiro de Sul was a late scratch from the race, his trainer reported his charge had an elevated temperature the day prior to the race and was deemed in no condition to compete. A 17-strong field went to post with a US$1.8 million prize pool on offer.
Historically, the Grade 2 New Zealand Trophy and the G3 Arlington Cup act as the official prep races for the NHK title. This year, Eeyan and Obambutrumai, winners of the trials, both took their place in the starting stalls. G1 winning juvenile, Dolce More, aimed to put a disappointing run in his seasonal reappearance in the NZ Trophy well behind him.
Under a dark and dreary sky on a rain-sodden track, 20/1 Champagne Color stayed-on best of all to claim the NHK spoils. An impressive finish, from well off the pace, Umbrail kept the winner honest to the line, but Champagne Color appeared to be responding gamely to the late challenge.
Umbrail failed by just a head with Obamburumai a further length behind and a quarter behind in third. The testing conditions had the field strung out in almost single file, with over 25 lengths separating first to last.
Dolce More finished in 13th failing to recapture his two-year-old form once again. Eeyan finished in a well-beaten ninth place.
Champagne Color is a colt out of Memorial Life (Reckless Abandon) by the ill-fated but hugely successful Duramente. He finished third in the New Zealand Trophy on his previous start. Champaign Color is owned and bred by Yoichi Aoyama.
Unfortunately, a leading contender, Godolphin's Cruzeiro de Sul was a late scratch from the race, his trainer reported his charge had an elevated temperature the day prior to the race and was deemed in no condition to compete. A 17-strong field went to post with a US$1.8 million prize pool on offer.