2025 Victoria Mile: Group 1 Review
Venue: Tokyo Racecourse
Distance: 1600m
Value: ¥283,100,000 (US$1,973,159)
Ascoli Piceno left it late but managed to time her charge just right to land the G1 Victoria Mile (1600m), Japan’s only Group 1 race solely for the older mares, at Tokyo on Sunday.
The Yoichi Kuroiwa-trained Ascoli Piceno only had one horse behind her on the turn and was approximately 20 lengths behind bold frontrunner Alice Verite, but the four-year-old Sunday Racing filly produced an outstanding sprint down the outside to hit the lead in the last couple of strides.
Her Sunday Racing ownermate Queen’s Walk finished second, a neck behind the winner, while Shirankedo came from last to finish third, a nose behind Queen’s Walk.
THE WINNER
Ascoli Piceno may have been denied her Group 1 success at three and may have finished down the track in the Golden Eagle at Rosehill, but they are two minor blips on an otherwise impressive record.
She is now a Group 1 winner at two and four, having won the Hanshin Juvenile Fillies’ in 2023, while she also won overseas by taking the G2 1351 Turf Sprint in Saudi Arabia earlier this year.
The turn of foot she unleashed from near last was tremendous and it suggests there will be further big wins in store, especially if she can prove even more versatile distance-wise.
THE JOCKEY
In what was the 20th Victoria Mile, Christophe Lemaire became the first jockey to win the race on four occasions. The Frenchman had previously taken the prize on Admire Lead (2017), Almond Eye (2020) and Gran Alegria (2021).
It was Lemaire’s 54th JRA Grade 1 success and his first since last year’s Kikuka Sho on Urban Chic. The 45-year-old is sitting in seventh in Japan’s jockey championship, 15 wins behind Keita Tosaki, as he aims for his eighth title in nine years and this victory might give him the momentum to chase that goal.
THE OWNER
Two races before the Victoria Mile, Sunday Racing became the first owner in 63 years to record the first four in a JRA race. The last time it occurred was at Kokura in August, 1962.
Come the Victoria Mile, they managed to land first and second with Ascoli Piceno and Queen’s Walk. It continued a strong start to the year that also included Museum Mile’s Satsuki Sho success.
While they are in the right position to race some of Japan’s best bloodstock, it is still an achievement to see their horses performing strongly at the highest level on a consistent basis.
In the weeks ahead, they have Yushun Himba contender Lynx Tip and the likely top two favourites in the Tokyo Yushun, Croix du Nord and Museum Mile.
THE GAMBLE
It may not have paid off, but Kenichi Ikezoe on Alice Verite made the Victoria Mile a great spectacle and almost pulled off one of the heists of the year.
Ikezoe was looking to complete the full set of JRA fillies and mares Group 1 races and he didn’t die wondering, sending Alice Verite to the lead from the outside gate.
She led by a big margin, but it wasn’t a hectic tempo by any means. At the 200m, it looked as though she might have enough of a break to hold on but she was finally caught at the 50m and finished just over a length from Ascoli Piceno in fifth.
While she is not a Group 1 winner, Alice Verite was fourth to American Horse of the Year Thorpedo Anna in last year’s G1 Breeders’ Cup Distaff on dirt at her only previous run at the highest level. Her effort here gives connections hope that she might be able to land a Group 1 under the right circumstances.
THE QUOTES
Christophe Lemaire (jockey, Ascoli Piceno, 1st): “I was concerned about how the race would unfold with the outside barrier, being the favourite, and the soft track condition too. She didn’t jump well, she couldn’t find her rhythm early, and she was a bit rushed.
“She did pick up when urged, but she changed leads multiple times and it took a while for her to reach top speed. Even so, she showed great mental strength and fought on well to the end. I’m glad she was able to win a Group 1 race.”
Yuga Kawada (jockey, Queen’s Walk, 2nd): “She came into the race in excellent condition and handled the 1600m well. She delivered a strong performance.”
Mirco Demuro (jockey, Shirankedo, 3rd): “Being in among horses is not ideal for her. She jumped well and I tried to go forward, but I didn’t want to use her legs in the heavy going, so I held my position. Even after that, she couldn’t settle into a smooth rhythm and wasn’t able to run her best race.”
Damian Lane (jockey, Argine, 4th): “She jumped OK and I was able to get into a comfortable position. She maintained a good rhythm into the straight and responded well. Even when other horses came up around her, she kept fighting. She ran solidly, and although it was a tough race, I’m very happy with her. She did very well.”
Yutaka Take (jockey, Bond Girl, 16th): “She pulled hard throughout and was tense all of the way. In situations like that, it is just too much to ask to finish off strongly.”
THE FUTURE
Ascoli Piceno may return for the G1 Yasuda Kinen at the course and distance in three weeks, where a clash with Dubai Turf winner Soul Rush and her NHK Mile Cup conqueror last year, Jantar Mantar, would await. ∎
