Danon Shark Wins Mile Championship Thriller

Danon Shark came out on top in the Mile Championship Nov. 23 at Kyoto, earning his first group I win in stakes record time after a tooth-and-nail stretch battle with ultra-game Fiero. 

 

Danox Co.'s  Danon Shark eked out a nose decision at 18-1 odds and covered the distance in 1:31.5, eclipsing the previous mark of 1:31.8 set in 2010 by New York-bred A Shin Forward. 

 

With Fiero, seeking a stakes breakthrough, traveling in midpack about a length in front him, Danon Shark settled off the early pace and advanced into striking distance nearing the final turn. With most of the front-runners weakening from fast early fractions, Danon Shark capitalized when a narrow path opened to his inside as Fiero speared through rivals on the turn and accelerated to the lead mid-stretch.

 

Danon Shark was all out in pursuit of Fiero before drawing even in the final sixteenth, igniting a heated duel and ultimately prevailing by the slimmest of margins in a head-bobbing finish.

 

"I was instructed (by  trainer Ryuji Okubo) to keep him covered in midfield early and he settled nicely," said winning rider Yasunari Iwata. "There was just room enough for us to squeeze through in the inside at mid-stretch and he responded with a really good turn of speed. I am glad that I was able to contribute to his long-waited and well-deserved group I win."

 

Grandezza, forced wide on the turn when 11-2 third choice Fiero burst between horses for his stretch run, was up finished third, a half length back in the 17-horse field. 

 

NHK Mile (Jpn-I) winner Mikki Isle, the 4-1 favorite, finished 13th after vying for the lead early and then settling to track the hot early pace of Horai Akiko. The favorite took the lead with 600 meters to run and was asked for his rally entering the stretch but faded before reaching the furlong pole.

 

A 6-year old son of Deep Impact, Danon Shark came in off a seventh-place finish in the Oct. 25 Saudi Arabia Royal Cup Fuji Stakes (Jpn-III), a race he won in 2013 before finishing third in the Mile Championship. He has a 7-8-5 career line from 29 starts. His record includes a win in the 2013 Sports Nippon Sho Kyoto Kimpan (Jpn-III) before a third in the Yasuda Kinen (Jpn-I), and eight other stakes placings.

 

From the family of elite sire Montjeu, Danon Shark was bred in Japan by Shimokobe Farm from the winning Caerleon mare Carla Power, also the dam of stakes winner Lei Carla.