Japan first and second in 1351 Turf Sprint as Christophe Lemaire times it right

Ascoli Piceno deprives front-running Win Marvel in a thriller

Ascoli Piceno looms large, closing in on the brave Win Marvel / JCSA / MATHEA KELLEY

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (Special for Thoroughbred Daily News).- Japan celebrated a spectacular one-two finish in the 1351 Turf Sprint (G2, $2,000,000), presented by Boutique Group, as Ascoli Piceno (Daiwa Major) edged out a valiant Win Marvel (I’ll Have Another) in a thrilling, high-voltage finish.

French-born Christophe Lemaire, a veteran of the world's top races and now a fixture in Japan, tracked the bold frontrunning effort of Win Marvel, ridden by Kohei Matsuyama, before launching his decisive late charge.

Trained by Yoichi Kuroiwa, Ascoli Piceno—a filly who had already proven herself at the highest level over a mile at two and finished second in the Oka Sho (G1), the Japanese 1,000 Guineas—relied on her blend of speed and stamina to wear down her compatriot at the wire, prevailing by a head. One length back, Goemon (Dark Angel) checked in third, stopping the clock in 1:17.879.

"We had a great trip behind Win Marvel, a horse I know well and knew could take me far into the race. I waited until the last possible moment, and when I asked her for the final effort, she responded with that turn of foot we know she has.

"She confirmed today that she is a filly of great quality. The track was extremely fast, so catching the leader wasn’t easy, but she fought bravely. This was a shorter trip than she’s used to, but she handled the pace comfortably and, being fresh, she was right in the race from the start. I knew she was going to put up a big performance.

"I always ride good horses in Riyadh, and she is a G1-caliber filly. Looking at the field, I thought she had a real chance to win," said a delighted Christophe Lemaire, a frequent visitor to the world’s top winner’s circles with Japanese stars.

For his part, trainer Yoichi Kuroiwa added: "I’m incredibly excited. In the final stride, I knew she had won. She usually runs over a mile, and this was a shorter trip, but she broke well, and everything unfolded smoothly.

"I thought we had a good position along the rail, but Win Marvel was holding strong… well, a win is a win, even if it’s just by a whisker. Right now, I’m too emotional to think about the future. I’ll do that once I calm down, but without a doubt, this victory opens many doors for her."