Almond Eye Brilliant in Dubai Turf

Almond Eye cemented her status as an international superstar March 30 with a clear victory in the $6 million Dubai Turf Sponsored by DP World (G1) at Meydan.

The 4-year-old daughter of Lord Kanaloa remains well on course to an autumn showdown in France with Enable after making her season debut for Silk Racing and trainer Sakae Kunieda on the world's biggest stage and dispatching her rivals with cool brilliance in her first start outside of her native Japan.

Making her first start since a record-smashing triumph Nov. 25 in the Japan Cup (G1) at Tokyo Racecourse, Almond Eye took station off the pace through the early furlongs of the 1,800-meter event (about 1 1/8 miles). Jockey Christophe Lemaire perfectly measured the bay filly's bid from midpack once the field straightened for home, and Almond Eye smoothly started passing rivals.

With 200 meters to go, Almond Eye was in charge and cruising, en route to a 1 1/4-length victory over fellow Japanese runner Vivlos, the 2017 Dubai Turf winner. It was another half-length to Lord Glitters in third. Almond Eye finished in 1:46.78 over good turf.

"It was a really great race," Kunieda said. "She broke well, settled well, got a good position, and accelerated well to win well. It was the result I thought we could get, and I'm happy she proved us right. I was nervous. I've lost my voice!"

Anything less than an emphatic win would have crushed the throng of Japanese fans and media following Almond Eye on her first overseas expedition. She achieved cult status at home after sweeping the three races of the Japanese Filly Triple Crown—all grade 1 events—and was a heavy favorite when she won the Japan Cup against older males, including the 2017 winner.

"She was very impressive," said Lemaire. "The way she accelerated is unbelievable. Today was her first start of the year, and quite early on she was actually in front of the rest of the field. I think she relaxed a little bit, and she had a bit of a margin on them. The distance was a little bit short for her today, but she is so good that I had no fear about that. When you have the right horse and you have confidence in your horse, you can go out confident no matter what happens—and she's the right horse. Hopefully, there are some big victories on the horizon for her."

Even before the Japan Cup, Almond Eye was promoted as the latest Japanese contender to finally win the Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (G1), a race that has eluded some of the country's best runners for decades.

Kunieda made no secret before the race that Almond Eye is pointed toward the Arc, which Enable has won the past two years.

"Almond Eye can continue my dreams, so next we'll go to Europe. Our dream is to take her to the Arc," Kunieda said.

Almond Eye was produced by the Sunday Silence mare Fusaichi Pandora. She was bred by Northern Racing in Japan and runs in the silks of the broadly held syndicate Silk Racing. 

The race marked the career finale for Vivlos, who ran in the Dubai Turf for the third consecutive year after finishing the runner-up in 2018.

"She likes Dubai so much, and thanks to the great support we have received from Dubai Racing Club, she could show her best effort today," said trainer Yasuo Tomomichi. "This is her last start, so I would like to come back to Dubai with her offspring."