CHAMPION MARE TOAST OF JAPAN AFTER COURAGEOUS CUP WIN

IT was close, but Vodka did not disappoint her fans this time.

Vodka on Sunday finally lifted the Japan Cup in her third try as trainer Katsuhiko Sumii’s superstar won the 29th running of the 2,400m race at Tokyo Racecourse in a photo finish over Oken Bruce Lee.

In a new partnership with jockey Christophe Lemaire, the five-year-old Vodka went off as the first choice in another glamorous field of 18 for the Japan Racing Association’s international showpiece.

After two defeats this fall in the Mainichi Okan and the Tenno Sho (Autumn) under Yutaka Take, Vodka, by Tanino Gimlet out of Tanino Sister, bounced back to cut a winning time of 2 minutes, 22.4 seconds at her favorite track, the third fastest Japan Cup of all time.

Vodka and the Hiroyuki Uchida-ridden Oken Bruce Lee, last year’s Kikuka Sho (Japanese St. Leger) champion, appeared to crash the wire at the same time before the cameras ruled in favor of the mare by a nose. Red Desire, this year’s winner of the Shuka Sho, took third a further length and a half behind.

Two-time defending champion of the Breeders’ Cup Turf, Conduit, the third overall pick, was the highest finisher at fourth among the five foreign horses. Just as Well came in seventh, Scintillo 11th, Interpatation 14th and Marsh Side 17th. Conduit, set to stand stud at the Big Red Farm in Hokkaido next year, had been eligible for the Japan Autumn International bonus of 130 million yen but came up short in the final race of his career.

It was the sixth top level victory at Fuchu for Vodka, who after the race was ruled out for the next month with a nosebleed, meaning she will not run in the 2,500-meter Arima Kinen at Nakayama, the year’s grand finale. It could also mean that the Japan Cup was Vodka's final race.

Lemaire, who had originally been scheduled to ride Shalanaya before the French filly pulled out, said he was far from confident when he crossed the line.

“After the winning post, I thought very negative,” said Lemaire, who won his first Japan Cup, as did Melbourne Cup-winning trainer Sumii. “I thought I was beaten because many things come into your head, like Heart’s Cry against Alkaased (in 2005). Last weekend, I didn’t win a race and this weekend, I didn’t win until the Japan Cup. You think you are in a bad wave. He came so fast on the outside, I really had a doubt.”

Lemaire said he had specifically been asked by Sumii to position Vodka in the front half during the journey.

“It’s difficult to make plans before races, but I was asked to ride the filly in the fifth, sixth position, not far from the lead in case of the slow pace,” the Frenchman said. “The most important thing was to get the filly relaxed. I was very happy when Yutaka took the lead and did a regular pace.

“I knew that a mile and a half would be long for her. Even though she is a tremendous filly, it’s difficult to go further.”

Sumii said it was his call to make the switch in the saddle, a decision that turned out to be the right one.

“Stretching her out has always been the issue with her,” he said. “The change in jockeys definitely had something to do with it, but Lemaire happened to be free and it was my decision.”

Vodka won last year’s Tenno Sho (Autumn) also after a photo finish over Daiwa Scarlet.

“It’s not good for your heart,” owner Yuzo Tanimizu said. “I had complete faith in the horse, but I was nervous. Winning the Japan Cup means a lot to me, because we finished third last year and fourth the years before. We came back this year to pick up what we fee like we left behind.

“But I knew this year was different from the moment she set foot on the course. When the result finally came out, I was relieved.”

Tanimizu did not give a definitive answer when asked about Vodka's future.

“I think we’re nearing the time where we have to make some kind of decision,” he said. I’ll talk to the people at the stable about it first because they know her better than anyone. It’s all up to the horse, but we just always try to take it one race at a time.”

Vodka is 10-for-25 for her career, and took her earnings to more than 1.3 billion yen.

STORY AND PHOTO COURTESY OF JAPAN RACING ASSOCIATION