Mikki Queen Rules in Japanese Oaks

Mikki Queen showed her talent and class with a furious late run to capture the Yushun Himba (Jpn-I, Japanese Oaks) from favorite Rouge Buck May 25 at Tokyo Racecourse. 

 

Denied entry into the April 12 Oka Sho (Jp-I, Japanese One Thousand Guineas) because insufficient earnings, the daughter of leading sire Deep Impact ran on the undercard instead and won the Wasurenagusa Sho (about 1 1/4 miles). Stretching out to 1 1/2 miles Sunday, she proved up to the classic task, unleashing a stretch drive to win by three-quarters of a length.

 

"I'm so happy she was able to demonstrate her ability," winning rider Suguru Hamanaka said. "I especially concentrated on her break, since she's been struggling at it so far. I thought I would relax her (in the early stages) to get her turn of foot at the stretch. She responded well and quickened being driven, so I just prayed for the best."

 

Settled near the back of the field, Mikki Queen advanced from fourth to fifth at the furlong pole and overtook third-place finisher Culminar and Rouge Buck in the final 50 meters for the victory. 

 

Let's Go Donki, who defeated runner-up Culminar by four lengths in the Oka Sho, raced along the rail in mid-division early, but lacked the necessary stamina and finished 10th in the 17-horse field.

 

Mikki Queen was timed in 2:25 on firm turf to earn her third win from five career starts for Yasuo Ikee, who trains for Mizuki Noda. Her career started Dec. 7 with a runner-up finish at Hanshin before she graduated there next time out Dec. 21 to conclude her juvenile campaign. Prior to winning the Wasurenagusa Sho, she was second in her 2014 debut in the Daily Hai Queen Cup (Jpn-III) Feb. 14 at Toyko.

 

Noda bought Mikki Queen, produced by multiple French group winner Musical Way, by Gold Away, for $988,000 from breeder Northern Farm's consignment at the 2013 JHRA select yearling sale.