Big Victory in Satsuki Sho

Victory came home a photo-finish winner of the 2007 Satsuki Sho(Japanese 2000 Guineas) this afternoon at Nakayama Racecourse. Aggressively and perfectly ridden by Katsuharu Tanaka, seventh favorite Victory won it in 1 minute 59.90 seconds at the Nakayama turf course over 2,000 meters. Second place, a nose behind, was long shot Sun Zeppelin with second favorite Fusaichi Ho O another nose back third. Another 1 1/2-length further back, race favorite Admire Aura finished fourth in the field of 18 colts.

Tanaka, who rode Victory for the first time, let him go into the front while making the turn into the backstretch, then never gave up the position for the big victory in the first 3-year-old classic of the year. Before a narrow victory, the winner, however, had to deny challenges from Sun Zeppelin and Fusaichi Ho O.Tanaka said after the race, "I am very pleased with this victory. I thought we got caught. He is a temperamantal colt, so I tried not to disturb his mood. I expect him to have a good run in the Derby."

Victory, in H.Kondo's colors, has now three wins in 4 starts. The first prize improved his career earnings to 171.8+ million yen. Hidetaka Otonashi trains him at Ritto. Northern Farm in Hayakita, Hokkaido is the breeder of Victory, a bay colt by Brian's Time out of the Tony Bin mare Grace Admire.