Fans went wild as rare 'unicorn' horse Sodashi stormed to victory in a £1.7 million race.
The white filly thrilled racegoers at Tokyo with her late burst in the Victoria Mile on Sunday. Naosuke Sugai's star had several lengths to make up on the leader on the run to the line. Jockey Hayato Yoshida galvanised his mount for a final effort and she powered clear for an impressive success.
“It was like a dream for a white horse to be able to win a Grade 1 race at Tokyo racecourse,” said Yoshida. In footage of the performance, huge cheers go out from the crowd as the 'white wonder' stretches ahead of her 17 rivals. The win earns her a place in the Breeders Cup Filly and Mare Turf at Keeneland in November.
In 2021, Loves Only You and Marche Lorraine were the first horses trained in Japan to triumph at the event.
Kate Hunter, who was at Tokyo races, posted a clip on social media of racing enthusiasts celebrating Sodashi's excellent performance.
She tweeted: "The roar of the crowd rose 100 fold when Sodashi launched into her stretch drive. Very much a fan favorite. Now to convince her to come to the @BreedersCup."
Described as a 'unicorn', Sodashi is a daughter of champion grey Kurofune, out of the spotted-white mare Buchiko. Her dam was called Shirayukihime, which means ‘Snow White’. Due to her colour, Sodashi, now a three-time Grade 1 winner, has become very popular since her career began back in September 2020.
She has also been successful at Sopporo and Hanshin racecourses and is yet to compete outside of her home nation. Sodashi, translated as 'purity, radiance,' broke the course record when taking the 2021 Japanese 1,000 Guineas.
The official winning margin for her weekend performance was two lengths, as she collared outsider Rosa Noir. "She relaxed well and ran positively, so I could make her keep a good rhythm. When I urged her, her response was so good against a strong field," Yoshida added.
Kaneko Makoto Holdings Co Ltd and Sugai now have to decide whether to target the big meeting in America later in the year. "She has grown up mentally and I'll discuss her next plan with her owner," the trainer said.
A fan page dedicated to Sodashi on Facebook is followed by more than 1,200 people. Pictures of the filly in her stable at home and the latest race results are among the regular posts. The most recent picture shows Yoshida saluting the crowd as Sodashi adds to her big race haul.
