Daiwa Major retains Mile Championship crown

Last updated: 11/19/07 5:57 PM

Daiwa Major joined a select group of two-time Mile Championship winners
(Photo courtesy of Japan Association for International Horse Racing)

Keizo Oshiro’s DAIWA MAJOR (Sunday Silence) successfully defended his title
in the Mile Championship (Jpn-G1) after a riveting stretch drive on Sunday,
capping a brilliant week for his dam, Scarlet Bouquet (Northern Taste). Last
Sunday, Daiwa Major’s three-quarters sister, Daiwa Scarlet (Agnes Tachyon),
landed the Queen Elizabeth II Commemorative Cup (Jpn-G1) in front-running
fashion. Trained by Hiroyuki Uehara and ridden to perfection by Katsumi Ando,
Daiwa Major reeled off the mile over Kyoto’s firm turf in 1:32.70 to record his
fifth career Grade 1 tally.

American shipper Becrux (Ity) (Glen Jordan), who had raced near the tail of
the 18-horse field, made headway late to report home eighth. The Neil Drysdale
charge was beaten a total of 4 1/2 lengths.

Daiwa Major shot straight to the front early, but under a heady ride by Ando,
he was content to yield the advantage to the battling pair of Lohengrin
(Singspiel [Ire]) and Fusaichi Richard (Kurofune). Daiwa Major settled into an
outside stalking trip in third, still in close touch with the pacesetters while
on cruise control. Traveling supremely well making the right-hand turn for home,
the six-year-old chestnut coasted to the lead in the stretch.

His stiffest test was yet to come. Inside the final furlong, Super Hornet
(Rodrigo de Triano) erupted from midpack and rapidly gained ground on the
outside. Daiwa Major dug down deep, with Ando offering hands and heels
encouragement, and had enough left in reserve to parry Super Hornet’s late
thrust by a neck. Another half-length astern came the flying Suzuka Phoenix
(Sunday Silence), who came charging from far back to claim third.

Agnes Ark (Agnes Tachyon) finished a close fourth. Tragically, the high-class
four-year-old, who had given such an excellent account of himself in three major
races this autumn, was pulled up with a fracture and euthanized.

Completing the order under the wire were Company (Miracle Admire), King’s
Trail (Sunday Silence), Eishin Dover (Victory Gallop), Becrux, Pink Cameo
(French Deputy), Meiner Segal (Zenno El Cid), Jolly Dance (Dance in the Dark),
Fusaichi Richard, Tosho Courage (Last Tycoon [Ire]), Koiuta (Jpn) (Fuji Kiseki),
San Valentin (Special Week), Laurel Guerreiro (King Halo), Picaresque Coat (Jade
Robbery) and Lohengrin.

English jockey Ryan Moore, who rode Becrux, offered his post-race assessment.

“Starting from an outside draw (post 17), we were pinched back and had to
race behind,” Moore said. “The pace was also too slow for him. He was relaxed
during the trip, but he didn’t have enough speed in the stretch.”

Daiwa Major, Japan’s reigning champion miler, now sports a mark of 27-9-4-4
with earnings in the vicinity of $9 million. At three, he garnered the 2004
Satsuki Sho (Japanese Two Thousand Guineas) (Jpn-G1), and he added the Lord
Derby Challenge Trophy (Jpn-G3) to his resume in 2005. Daiwa Major raised his
game to a new level during his five-year-old campaign last season. In addition
to the Mile Championship, he captured three other graded stakes, most
significantly the Tenno Sho (Autumn) (Jpn-G1). This year, Daiwa Major took home
the trophy in the Asian Mile Challenge, a four-race series, after finishing
third in the Dubai Duty Free (UAE-G1) and winning the Yasuda Kinen (Jpn-G1).