Despite the rainy day Sunday, the Tokyo turf remained good to firm, which suited the winner, who was fifth in this race a year ago. After the clean break from post position six, 7-1 fourth chance Songline was content to settle mid-pack and nearest the rail in the early going, a dozen lengths off the pace set by Lotus Land (Point of Entry) all the way up the backstretch and around the bend. As the pacesetter led the field into the stretch, Songline still had a half-dozen lengths to make up, and with a gaping hole available along the rail, slipped through with 400 metres to run, which left only Lotus Land and defending champion and 4-1 chance Sodashi (Jpn) (Kurofune)to get by. In deep stretch, the winner continued her rally, digging in to get by a determined Sodashi to her outside within the final few jumps and post the head victory, the top two successfully holding off the late challenge from 5-2 favorite Stars on Earth (Jpn) (Duramente {Jpn}) at the wire.

“Though we had to race further back and inward than planned, we were able to race in good position while eyeing the race favorites,” jockey Keita Tosaki said. “The track was a little heavy due to the rain but she responded strongly in the straight. It was a close race, but I was pretty sure we crossed the wire in front. I knew that Songline has a strong ability so I'm really happy we were able to win the race.”

With the win, Songline reserved her spot in the gate for this year's GI Maker's Mark Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf at Santa Anita Nov. 4. Additionally, the top three finishers here earned automatic berths in the G1 Prix du Moulin de Longchamp at ParisLongchamp as well as the G1 Prix Jacques le Marois at Deauville, both set to be contested in late summer.

Pedigree Notes:
Young stallion Kizuna has sired 12 group winners and two Group 1 winners–Songline and the 2021 G1 Queen Elizabeth II Cup winner Akai Ito (Jpn). Songline is the first and most successful foal out of his dam, who won four races from 23 starts and is a half-sister to two-time Japanese group winner Jeune Ecole (Jpn) (Kurofune). Some other notable names appearing in Songline's female family include group winners Renforcer (Jpn) (Symboli Kris S), Northern River (Jpn) (Agnes Tachyon {Jpn}) and Deirdre (Jpn) (Harbinger {GB}). Luminous Parade also produced a 2-year-old colt named Sonic Parade (Jpn) (Real Impact {Jpn}) and a yearling full brother to Songline.

Sunday, Tokyo, Japan
VICTORIA MILE-G1, ¥252,980,000, Tokyo, 5-14, 4yo/up, f&m, 1600mT, 1:32.20, gd/fm.
1–SONGLINE (Jpn), 123, m, 5, Kizuna (Jpn)
      1st Dam: Luminous Parade (Jpn), by Symboli Kris S
      2nd Dam: Luminous Point(Jpn), by Agnes Tachyon (Jpn)
      3rd Dam: Soninke (GB), by Machiavellian
O-Sunday Racing; B-Northern Farm (Jpn); T-Toru Hayashi;
J-Keita Tosaki; ¥133,486,000. Lifetime: MGSW, 14-6-2-1,
¥477,526,000. Werk Nick Rating: A+++. *Triple Plus*. Click for
the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Click for the free
Equineline.com pedigree.
2–Sodashi (Jpn), 123, m, 5, by Kurofune–Buchiko (Jpn), by King
Kamehameha (Jpn). O-Makoto Kaneko Holdings; B-Northern
Farm (Jpn); ¥52,996,000.
3–Stars on Earth (Jpn), 123, f, 4, Duramente (Jpn)–Southern
Stars (GB), by Smart Strike. O-Shadai Race Horse; B-Shadai
Farm (Jpn); ¥33,498,000.
Margins: HD, 3/4, 1; Odds: 6.60, 3.60, 1.50.
Also ran: Divina (Jpn), Sound Vivace (Jpn), Lotus Land, Namur (Jpn), Namura Clair (Jpn), Stellaria (Jpn), Rouge Stiria (Jpn), Andvaranaut (Jpn), Stunning Rose (Jpn), Sublime Anthem (Jpn), La La Christine (Jpn), Izu Jo no Kiseki (Jpn), Kurino Premium (Jpn). Click for the JRA chart and Video.

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Second choice behind favoured 4-5 pick and 2019 Apr. 25 G1 Queen Elizabeth II Cup victress Loves Only You (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) at 5-2, Sodashi broke widest of all in the 13-horse field and stalked the pacesetter Taurus Gemini (Jpn) (King's Best) from second through splits of :23.40 for the quarter and :47.40 for the half. Despite the drizzle, the 1000-metre split was :59.90 over the firm turf and the 2-year-old champ appeared poised through six furlongs in 1:12.30. She picked up leadership duties shortly before the 600-metre marker and fended off an early rush from Blast Onepiece (Jpn) (Harbinger {GB}). Turning into the lane glued to the fence, Sodashi buckled down for the run to the line as more challengers began winding up for their runs.  Loves Only You whittled into Sodashi's advantage inside the final furlong, with Persian Knight (Jpn) (Harbinger {GB}) mirroring that move from out in the centre of the course, but both rallying efforts would fall short. The winning margin was a measured three-quarters of a length over Loves Only You with a head back to Persian Knight.

After taking four straight starts at two culminating in the Dec. 13 G1 Hanshin Juvenile Fillies, the white wonder added the first fillies' Classic of the season on Apr. 11, but tired to eighth in the G1 Japanese Oaks when last seen on May 23.

Pedigree Notes
A daughter of the four-time winner Buchiko, Sodashi is the first foal from her dam and has a juvenile full-sister named Mama Cocha (Jpn) (Kurofune). Barren to Maurice (Jpn) for 2020, Buchiko has a 2021 colt by that sire.

Two half-sisters of Buchiko have celebrated victories as stakes producers or granddams to stakes winners in Japan, among them dual stakes winner Yukichan (Jpn) (Kurofune) whose granddaughter Meikei Yell (Jpn) (Mikki Isle {Jpn}) took the G2 Tulip Sho, G3 Kokura Nisai S. and G3 Fantasy S.; while Marshmallow (Jpn) (Kurofune) has already foaled G3 Leopard S. winner Hayayakko (Jpn) (King Kamehameha {Jpn}) and the listed-placed Pionono (Jpn) (King Kamehameha {Jpn}). This is the extended family of GII Test S. heroine Storm and Sunshine (Star de Naskra), responsible for a trio of stakes winners led by Grade II winner Smile Again (Wild Again).

Sunday, Sapporo, Japan
SAPPORO KINEN-G2, ¥135,300,000, Sapporo, 8-22, 3yo/up, 2000mT, 1:59.50, fm.
1–SODASHI (JPN), 115, f, 3, by Kurofune
                1st Dam: Buchiko (Jpn), by King Kamehameha (Jpn)
                2nd Dam: Shirayukihime (Jpn), by Sunday Silence
                3rd Dam: Wave Wind, by Topsider
O-Makoto Kaneko Holdings; B-Northern Farm (Jpn);
T-Naosuke Sugai; J-Hayato Yoshida. ¥70,910,000. Lifetime
Record: Ch. 2yo Filly-Jpn, MG1SW-Jpn, 7-6-0-0. Werk Nick
   Rating: F. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Loves Only You (Jpn), 121, m, 5, Deep Impact (Jpn)–Loves
Only Me, by Storm Cat. (¥160,000,000 Ylg '17 JRHAJUL).
O-DMM Dream Club; B-Northern Farm (Jpn); ¥28,260,000.
3–Persian Knight (Jpn), 126, h, 7, Harbinger (GB)–Orient Charm
(Jpn), by Sunday Silence. O-G1 Racing; B-Oiwake Farm (Jpn);
¥18,130,000.
Margins: 3/4, HD, 1 3/4. Odds: 2.80, 0.90, 27.20.
Also Ran: Meiner Virtus (Jpn), Blast Onepiece (Jpn), You Can Smile (Jpn), Ice Bubble (Jpn), Diamant Minoru (Jpn), Win Kiitos (Jpn), Taurus Gemini (Jpn), Satono Cecil (GB). DNF: Stay Foolish (Jpn), Bio Spark (Jpn).
Click for the JRA chart & video or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.

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Second choice in the wagering at 5-2 versus Satono Reinas's 2-1 favouritism, the striking white filly jumped well and found an ideal position tracking Stutti (Jpn) (Maurice {Jpn}) from the fence in second. Passed by several foes to sit fourth entering the far turn, Sodashi split horses in upper stretch, took command from distance relation and new leader Meikei Yell (Jpn) (Mikki Isle {Jpn}) at the 200-metre mark and flashed home to win by a neck.

Satono Reinas broke a step slowly from the widest gate in 18, and was trapped very wide near the rear of the field for the backstretch run. She started to weave up in between horses by the 300-metre mark, and let down strongly out in the centre of the course to just miss. Fine Rouge (Jpn) (Kizuna {Jpn}) also rallied well from midfield to take third, a half-length back. Akaitorino Musume (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) was another neck back in fourth.

“It's a great feeling,” said pilot Hayato Yoshida, who was celebrating his first Classic win and third Group 1 win. “There was a lot of pressure with many doubting how strong a white filly could be, so I'm thrilled we were able to prove them wrong. I was a bit worried that the fast track would be a disadvantage, but she responded beautifully and ran well holding off the others closing in on us which I saw and made me driver her to the wire. Her potential is limitless and I look forward to her future starts.”

Sodashi won on debut at Hakodate going 1800 metres on July 12 and stepped up to take the G3 Sapporo Nisai S. on Sept. 5. She added yet another win in the G3 Artemis S. at Tokyo on Halloween cutting back to 1600 metres for the first time and sealed her championship season with a victory over her rival Satono Reinas in the Hanshin Juvenile Fillies on Dec. 13.

Pedigree Notes

The first foal out of the four-time winner and popular painted wonder Buchiko, Sodashi has a 2-year-old full-sister. Her dam is a half-sister to Japanese MSW Yukichan (Jpn) (Kurofune), the granddam of G2 Tulip Sho, G3 Kokura Nisai S. and G3 Fantasy S. heroine Meikei Yell (Jpn) (Mikki Isle {Jpn}), who ran last in the Japanese 1000 Guineas behind Sodashi on Sunday. Buchiko was barren to the cover of Maurice (Jpn) for 2020, but returned to that stallion last spring.

Fourth dam Storm and Sunshine (Star de Naskra), who struck in the 1986 GII Test S. and GIII Post-Deb S., foaled GII Bel Air H. hero Smile Again (Wild Again), SW & MGSP Halo Sunshine (Halo) and SW & MGSP Montecito (Seeking the Gold). The last-named threw SW and G3 Give Thanks S. and G3 Athasi S. runner-up Bunairgead (Ire) (New Approach {Ire}).

Sunday, Hanshin, Japan
OKA SHO (JAPANESE 1000 GUINEAS)-G1, ¥237,870,000, Hanshin, 4-11, 3yo, f, 1600mT, 1:31.10 (NCR), fm.
1–SODASHI (JPN), 121, f, 3, by Kurofune
           1st Dam: Buchiko (Jpn), by King Kamehameha (Jpn)
           2nd Dam: Shirayukihime (Jpn), by Sunday Silence
           3rd Dam: Wave Wind, by Topsider
O-Makoto Kaneko Holdings; B-Northern Farm (Jpn); T-Naosuke
Sugai; J-Hayato Yoshida. ¥131,859,000. Lifetime Record: Ch.
2yo Filly-Jpn, 5-5-0-0. Werk Nick Rating: F. Click for the
   eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Satono Reinas (Jpn), 121, f, 3, Deep Impact (Jpn)
           1st Dam: Balada Sale (Arg), by Not For Sale (Arg)
           2nd Dam: La Balada (Arg), by Confidential Talk
           3rd Dam: La Baraca (Arg), by Mariache II (Arg)
(¥100,000,000 Wlg '18 JRHAJUL). O-Satomi Horse Company;
B-Northern Farm (Jpn); ¥49,170,000.
3–Fine Rouge (Jpn), 121, f, 3, Kizuna (Jpn)
           1st Dam: Passion Rouge (Jpn), by Boston Harbor
           2nd Dam: Sexy Coconuts (Jpn), by Dance in the Dark (Jpn)
           3rd Dam: Coco Passion (Fr), by Groom Dancer
(¥33,000,000 Wlg '18 JRHAJUL). O-Genichi Mutsui; B-Northern
Farm (Jpn); ¥29,595,000.
Margins: NK, HF, NK. Odds: 2.60, 2.30, 14.30.
Also Ran: Akaitorino Musume (Jpn), Art de Vivre (Jpn), Kukuna (Jpn), Stutti (Jpn), Enthusiasm (Jpn), Ho O Ixelles (Jpn), Minnie Isle (Jpn), Ginestra (Jpn), Dtripe (Jpn), Elizabeth Tower (GB), Blue Bird (Jpn), Songline (Jpn), Shigeru Pink Dia (Jpn), Yoka Yoka (Jpn), Meikei Yell (Jpn).
Click for the JRA chart & video or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.

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The crowd’s pick at 2-1, the undefeated filly balked a bit prior to entering the stalls, but soon settled in fifth as Yoka Yoka (Jpn) (Squirtle Squirt) cut out moderate fractions of :23.20 and :46.80, with the first 1000 metres in :58.70. Sodashi was poised to make her bid and edged closer to the head of affairs on the far turn. She had to wait for a gap, but soon bulled her way through in upper stretch. Satono Reinas rallied up on her inside with less than 50 metres remaining, but Sodashi won the bob and defended her perfect record. Uberleben made a late run on the winner’s outside, but was also thwarted. Fellow late runner Meikei Yell (Jpn) (Mikki Isle {Jpn}) let down at the end as well, which was good for fourth, another half-length back. Yoka Yoka was a staying on fifth.

“Going into the race as favourite was a bit of a load, but I’m thrilled with the outcome,” said pilot Hayato Yoshida. “She hated to even go near the gate but I’m relieved that all went well and that we were able to be positioned just as I hoped. The going affected her good turn of foot but she gave all she had. There is room for improvement, and I hope we can get her ready for next year’s Classics.”

Sodashi first surfaced with a win in an 1800-metre juvenile newcomer race at Hakodate in July, and she progressed to land the G3 Sapporo Nisai S. in a snappy 1:48.2, a new record, on Sept. 5. In her latest effort prior to Sunday’s contest, the white filly blitzed a mile in the G3 Artemis S., covering the 1600 metres in 1:34.90.

Pedigree Notes
The sixth Group 1 winner for her former Japanese Champion 3-Year-Old sire, Sodashi was already the 18th group winner and 35th black-type winner. The four-time winner Buchiko, herself a half-sister to Japanese MSW Yukichan (Jpn) (Kurofune), was a fan favourite during her racing days partially due to her uniquely marked coat, and Sodashi is her first foal. She has a yearling full-sister to Sunday’s Hanshin Juvenile Fillies heroine and a weanling by leading  Japanese freshman sire Maurice (Jpn). Yukichan is the granddam of MGSW Meikei Yell (Jpn) (Mikki Isle {Jpn}), while fourth dam Storm and Sunshine (Star de Naskra) won the GII Test S. and was a half-sister to GSW Smile Again (Wild Again), SW & MGSP Halo Sunshine (Halo), and SW & MGSP Montecito (Seeking the Gold).

Sunday, Hanshin, Japan
HANSHIN JUVENILE FILLIES-G1, ¥125,120,000 (US$1,202,769/£909,405/€993,143), Hanshin, 12-13, 2yo, f, 1600mT, 1:33.10, fm.
1–SODASHI (JPN), 119, f, 2, Kurofune
                1st Dam: Buchiko (Jpn), by King Kamehameha (Jpn)
                2nd Dam: Shirayukihime (Jpn), by Sunday Silence
                3rd Dam: Wave Wind, by Topsider
1ST GROUP 1 WIN. O-Makoto Kaneko Holdings; B-Northern
Farm (Jpn); T-Naosuke Sugai; J-Hayato Yoshida. ¥66,274,000.
Lifetime Record: 4-4-0-0. Werk Nick Rating: F. Click for the
   eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Satono Reinas (Jpn), 119, f, 2, Deep Impact (Jpn)
                1st Dam: Balada Sale (Arg), by Not For Sale (Arg)
                2nd Dam: La Balada (Arg), by Confidential Talk
                3rd Dam: La Baraca (Arg), by Mariache II (Arg)
(¥100,000,000 Wlg ’18 JRHAJUL). O-Satomi Horse Company;
B-Northern Farm (Jpn); ¥26,364,000.
3–Uberleben (Jpn), 119, f, 2, Gold Ship (Jpn)
                1st Dam: Meine Theresia (Jpn), by Roses in May
                2nd Dam: Meine Nouvelle (Jpn), by Brian’s Time
                3rd Dam: Meine Pretender (NZ), by Zabeel (NZ)
O-Thoroughbred Club Ruffian; B-Big Red Farm (Jpn);
¥16,182,000.
Margins: NO, NK, HF. Odds: 2.20, 3.40, 29.00.
Also Ran: Meikei Yell (Jpn), Yoka Yoka (Jpn), Opal Moon (Jpn), Geraldina (Jpn), Salvia (Jpn), Aoi Gold (Jpn), Luxon (Jpn), A Shin Hiten (Jpn), Ringoame (Jpn), Win Aglaia (Jpn), Infinite (Jpn), Namura Meter (Jpn), Hula Liona (Jpn), Shigeru Pink Dia (Jpn), Paul Neyron (Jpn).
Click for the JRA chart & video or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.

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