The fourth favourite Songline who was last year's Spring Mile Champion when winning the Yasuda Kinen Grade 1 against specialist male milers including Schnell Meister, Salios and Serifos, revived on the same stage in the Victoria Mile Grade 1 when beating the second favourite defending champion Sodashi by a head. The favourite Stars on Earth was further a head back in third.
The Northern Farm-bred and Toru Hayashi-trained four years old Kizuna's mare out of the Symboli Kris S's winning mare Luminous Parade won sixth from 14 career starts, including 2021 Fuji Stakes Grade 2, 2022 1351 Turf Sprint Grade 3 at King Abdulaziz Racecourse, and Yasuda Kinen Grade 1, for the owner The Sunday Racing Co Ltd. She ran in the Saudi’s 1351 Turf Sprint Grade 3 this year but came home only 10th in her last start before today's victory.
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"A favourite was in front of me and she ran to form and stretched out. I was careful at the start and got a good start, but was shuffled back more than I expected. I wanted to run wide, but I ended up on the inside rail. I felt she ran well on the soft ground so I chose the inside trusting her to come on at the straight,” said the winning rider Keita Tosaki.
“She is the Yasuda Kinen winner, so I thought her ability is stunning. I am so happy to win with her and I expect her also to maintain her form in the future."
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Sodashi's rider Damian Lane said, "I got off a good break from a wide gate and hoped for an ideal race. Her response was so good at the straight so I was confident to win. Eventually, I managed to hold Stars on Earth who was defeated by a strong horse coming on the inside. She gave me what she has. It's a pity that I couldn't be the winner."
Sodashi's trainer Sugai said, "I have no choice but to praise a rival today. She was quiet before the start, and sometimes she can't get a result if she is quiet. If there is nothing under her legs, she will head to the Yasuda Kinen Grade 1."
