Japan: Starke, 51, rides Kamunyak from off pace to win Oaks
Kamunyak used a powerful closing kick to complete a victorious rally Sunday in the US$2,289,075 Yushun Himba, the Japanese Oaks at Tokyo Racecourse which provided the stage for her first Grade 1 win.
Andrasch Starke, who has been riding under a short-term license since March 9, landed his first top-level Japan victory in his 25th attempt. At 51, the Germany native became the oldest Oaks-winning jockey.
For me it has been a dream to win a Grade 1 race in Japan, and I have no words,” Starke said. “My dream came true.”
Training for owner Kaneko Makoto Holdings, Yasuo Tomomichi pocketed his first Oaks triumph.
Breaking from post 15, Kamunyak (13-1) was reserved in mid-pack but dropped back a bit before making a wide, sweeping move turning into the homestretch. The 3-year-old daughter of Black Tide uncoiled an impressive run from there, drawing even with Arma Veloce (2-1) a sixteenth of a mile out. With another gear she dug in through the final strides to notch the win.
“The pace was not so fast in the second half of the race, and before the homestretch, I moved to the outside, where she responded very well,” Starke said.
The winning time was 2:25.7 without a run-up going 2,400 meters, 15 yards short of 1 1/2 miles, on a turf course rated good to firm.
Looking to turn the tables this time, Oka Sho runner-up Arma Veloce broke smoothly from the innermost stall and sat on the rails in tandem with post-time favorite and Oka Sho winner Embroidery (2-1) until the top of the stretch. After launching her bid and splitting horses before the eighth pole to emerge as the leader, the 2024 Japan champion 2-year-old filly was caught by Kamunyak and rallied in deep stretch, putting up a stubborn fight but surrendered the win at the wire by a head margin for second place once again.
Tagano Abby (48-1) was off slow and unhurried trailing in the field of 18 3-year-old fillies. While most of the runners fanned out in the turn for home, the chestnut filly cut the corner, launching the fastest drive through the last three furlongs and ran strongly to secure a respectable third another 1 1/4 lengths back.
After a good break, Embroidery was eased back to settle between horses in seventh to eighth from the front. After hitting the straight in good striking position, she came out of the uphill climb with nothing left and never fired, disappointing with her ninth-place result.
The great-grandchild of 1995 Japanese Oaks victor Dance Partner, Kamunyak broke her maiden in her debut start in August at Chukyo and finished sixth in the Artemis (G3) in October. After a fourth in the listed Elfin Stakes in February, the Black Tide filly claimed the Flora Stakes (G2) going 1 1/4 miles April 27, earning the ticket to her first challenge in a fillies classic.
“She’s an amazing horse,” Starke said. “She just won four weeks ago. It was important that she was very relaxed today. She put in a sound performance, and her ability was amazing.”