Snow Fairy lands major Grade 1 victory in Japan

Nulty

Snow Fairy lands major Grade 1 victory in Japan

By Nicholas Godfrey 7:55AM 14 NOV 2010
Report: Japan, Sunday
Kyoto: Queen Elizabeth II Commemorative Cup (Grade 1) 1m3f, turf, 3yo+ f/m
UNDER a dynamic ride from Ryan Moore, Ed Dunlop's dual Oaks winner Snow Fairy recorded a sensational triumph in the Queen Elizabeth II Commemorative Cup at Kyoto racecourse on Sunday.



Sent off a 15-2 chance, the daughter of Intikhab took the 177.5 million yen (£1.35m) event by four lengths over Meisho Beluga, with Japanese Triple Tiara (fillies' Triple Crown) winner Apapane a further three-quarters of a length back in third. On ground described as 'firm', Snow Fairy covered the 2,200 metres in 2m12.50s for a famous victory for the Newmarket team.
Having been settled one off the rail, Snow Fairy tracked Apapane just off the head of the main body of the field as TM Precure established a huge lead up front, about seven lengths clear of her chasing rivals by halfway.
TM Precure's fuel gauge read empty as they entered the straight where the majority of the field fanned wide across the Kyoto track.
Moore, though, shot Snow Fairy towards the inner - in effect, cutting the corner - and the filly responded with an excellent turn of foot to dart clear for a resounding victory over the best three-year-old fillies in Japan.
"We had a lovely spot - she jumped smartly and we were in a nice position," said Moore, wearing an uncharacteristic ear-to-ear grin after the race.
"She travelled very well and once she got room in the straight, she quickened smartly," he added. "It just opened up, a big gap. We got there sooner than I thought - she just looked for help so I went to the rail to help her.
"The best part of her is the acceleration that she has - it's a very valuable weapon. She put the race to bed in a couple strides. "
By virtue of her Oaks victories, Snow Fairy qualified for a 90m yen (£677,000) bonus equal to the official first place prize-money of 90m yen to make a total of 180m yen (£1.35m) for her connections, headed by owners Anamoine Limited.
In comparison, the first prize-money at Epsom was just over £208,000, while at the Curragh it was £218,000.
After taking the Irish Oaks, Snow Fairy was runner-up to Midday at York before a fair fourth behind Arctic Cosmos in the Ladbrokes St Leger.
Dunlop told At The Races: "I think it has to rate as one of her best, if not her best run. She beat a Triple Crown winner, she did it in a very fast time and she won by four lengths.
"She seems absolutely fine. You would not know she has had a hard race. She has loved being here, she has thrived on being here. Ryan gave her abrilliant ride, it all went incredibly well and we are very lucky to have her."
Looking to the future, Dunlop added: "She moves to Tokyo on Tuesday. She has an invitation for the Japan Cup. We will see how she is first before we even consider that. That said, she is in in Hong Kong and we have not ruled that out either but we will see how she is.
"If she has had enough for the year that will be it but we will keep those options open."

Excellent from the guys on Boards...all the formatting gets pasted these days. Kudos.

Saw she was running last night but if I knew the duel Oaks winner was going off at 15/2 I would have had a sizable bet. Pity I was so unawares! Its gonna be a great flat season again next year especially with the 3yos coming back again.

*rubbing hands together*

hucklebuck

Missed her myself, very backable at that price alright.

UrbanSea

Nulty wrote: »

Excellent from the guys on Boards...all the formatting gets pasted these days. Kudos.

Saw she was running last night but if I knew the duel Oaks winner was going off at 15/2 I would have had a sizable bet. Pity I was so unawares! Its gonna be a great flat season again next year especially with the 3yos coming back again.

*rubbing hands together*

What do you mean about the formatting?
I would have left it to be honest even at 15/2,those Japanese races are famously incredibly tricky to go over and win.

Nulty

greetings wrote: »

What do you mean about the formatting?
I would have left it to be honest even at 15/2,those Japanese races are famously incredibly tricky to go over and win.

If you copy and paste a paragraph from another page and in that paragraph there are hyperlinks etc, then the hyperlinks, bolded/italicised/underlined (formatted) test is all carried and pasted into the boards.ie post window. Handy

See you can click onto Snow Fairys profile on the RP site because the link was carried in the article when I pasted it into the boards.ie post...

UrbanSea

Nulty wrote: »

If you copy and paste a paragraph from another page and in that paragraph there are hyperlinks etc, then the hyperlinks, bolded/italicised/underlined (formatted) test is all carried and pasted into the boards.ie post window. Handy

See you can click onto Snow Fairys profile on the RP site because the link was carried in the article when I pasted it into the boards.ie post...

Aw yesh shir.