Ten Happy Rose (yellow cap) scores a mega victory for punters. (Yuki Shimona)
6-Year-Old Mare Earns Automatic Berth into Maker’s Mark Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf in World Championships at Del Mar
Edited Release from Japan Racing Association
UPDATED 5/12/2024 3:49 PM
TOKYO — Yasushi Tenpaku’s Ten Happy Rose (JPN), sent off at odds of 118-1, stormed down the center of the stretch to win Sunday’s $2 million Victoria Mile (G1) by 1 1/4 lengths over Fierce Pride (JPN) on the turf at Tokyo Racecourse. With this triumph, the 6-year-old daughter of Epiphaneia (JPN) gained an automatic starting position and fees paid into the $2 million Maker’s Mark Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1) through the Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series: Win and You’re In.
The Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series is an international series of 82 stakes races whose winners receive automatic starting positions and fees paid into a corresponding race of the Breeders’ Cup World Championships, scheduled to be held Nov. 1-2 at Del Mar Thoroughbred Club in Del Mar, California.
Trained by Daisuke Takayanagi, Ten Happy Rose secured her first Grade 1 victory in a field of 15 fillies and mares, 4-years-old and up. She completed the 1 mile in 1:31.18 over a course listed as good to firm and improved her record to five wins in 17 starts. She entered the Victoria Mile off a sixth-place finish in the April 6Sankei Sports Hai Hanshin Himba Stakes (Grade 2) at 1 mile.
Ten Happy Rose broke sharply under Akihide Tsumura but was eased back to settle fourth from the rear, while longshots Conch Shell (JPN) and Feel Sympathy (JPN) set the pace through the first 600 meters, with 12-1 Fierce Pride (JPN) in close pursuit. Gradually making up ground along the outside approaching the far turn and establishing a clear path into the homestretch, Ten Happy Rose showed terrific acceleration in reaching the new leader, Fierce Pride, soon after the furlong pole. She continued to pull away to the wire.
“The race development, from the start up until the final corner, exceeded my imagination and it was just a matter of how much the mare could extend her strides from there,” said winning rider Tsumura. “When we were actually leading in the last 200 meters, it was almost unbelievable. I am grateful for the fans that have been rooting for me and I hope this is just the start of more victories like this.”
Masked Diva (JPN), the 2-1 favorite, had a troubled trip when shifting out for the stretch run. Blocked by horses in front, she was too late to make up enough ground and finished third. Namur (JPN), the 5-2 second choice, broke last and never threatened, finishing eighth.
As a part of the benefits of the Challenge Series, Breeders’ Cup will pay the entry fees for Ten Happy Rose to start in the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf, which will be run at 1 3/8 miles at Del Mar. Breeders’ Cup will also provide a travel allowance for all starters based outside of North America to compete in the World Championships. The Challenge winner must be nominated to the Breeders’ Cup program by the pre-entry deadline of Oct. 21 to receive the rewards.
Ten Happy Rose joins Beach Bomb (SAF), winner of the Jan. 6 Cartier Paddock Stakes (G1) at Kenilworth in South Africa, as the first two horses to earn automatic starting positions into this year’s Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf.
