Asian Winds wins Victoria Mile

Asian Winds held off charging Vodka to win the Victoria Mile on Sunday afternoon at Tokyo. Shinji Fujita rode the winner to cover the 1,600-meter distance in 1 minute 33.70 seconds on firm ground. A 3/4-length behind Asian Winds, Vodka ran for second with Blumenblatt third in the field of 18 fillies and mares. At around 200 meters to go, Asian Winds broke the pack after squeenzing between horses on the middle. On the outside of her, Vodka came with a strong late stride, but it was too late to catch her.

Asian Winds, a 4-year-old filly by Fuji Kiseki out of the Danehill mare Sakurasaku, has now recorded the sixth win in 11 starts for trainer H. Fujiwara and owner Y. Ota. Shadai Farm in Chitose, Hokkaido was the breeder of the bay filly.