The 21st Victoria Mile (G1, 1600m turf at Tokyo Racecourse, May 17) witnessed a commanding performance that reaffirmed speed at its finest. Embroidery (4-year-old filly, Miho stable trained by Issei Mori, sire Admire Mars) delivered a resounding victory as the 1.8-to-1 favorite in her last start, the Hanshin Himba Stakes. Breaking from the innermost gate, she seized the lead and never relaxed her pace, winning wire-to-wire. It was her comeback race after finishing 11th in the Hong Kong Mile. “I had my doubts after the big loss in Hong Kong, so I was half-convinced and half-skeptical,” admitted trainer Mori. Yet she proved once again the depth of her ability as a two-time G1 winner.
But that emphatic win also raised new concerns. Over the past 20 years, only one horse who led in the previous start—Asian Winds in 2008—has won the Victoria Mile. Furthermore, no front-running mare has taken a filly/mare-restricted G1 (including the Queen Elizabeth II Cup) in the last decade. However, the trainer remains unfazed: “We went to the front because of the gate position, but it was within our plan. She relaxed during the race, took a good breath, and used her legs well.”
In a final workout on May 7, Embroidery was placed behind a stablemate on the Miho woodchip course. “We checked her relaxation and finishing kick. She was a bit tense in the first half but still within control, and she showed good propulsion for the mile,” Mori said, satisfied with the preparation. Her last furlong was timed at 11.1 seconds (the second fastest of the day, with five furlongs in 65.9 seconds), indicating an even sharper condition compared to her previous race, which was still a work in progress.
Now in the spring of her 4-year-old season, when racehorses typically reach maturity, Embroidery’s weight has grown from 482 kg at the Oka Sho (Japanese 1000 Guineas) to 496 kg in her last outing. “Her body has become one size larger, and her core strength has solidified,” noted Mori, highlighting her physical development. The Tokyo mile is a proven stage for her, having won last year’s Queen Cup. “It was a very strong performance. She can show her ability whether she goes to the front or runs from behind, so I think this is a stage where she can deliver.” But winning alone is not enough—what matters is how she wins. The star is expected to deliver an overwhelming victory. (By Asahi Kakuda)
