Izu Jo No Kiseki stuns Sodashi and Japanese racing in Fuchu Himba upset

There was a significant upset in the Grade 2 Fuchu Himba Stakes in Tokyo as Izu Jo No Kiseki claimed her first Graded win, defeating the darling of Japanese racing, multiple Grade 1 winner Sodashi in the process.

Sent off a 34-1 chance, the five-year-old daughter of Epiphaneia defeated last year's Oka Sho winner by a head, with Grade 2 winner Andvaranaut a length further back in third place. It was the Koichi Ishizaka-trained mare's fifth win from 21 starts.

Bred by Ichiro Izumi, she is the third foal out of the winning King Kamehameha mare King Dancer, and became the the fifth individual Graded stakes winner for her sire, who stands at Shadai Stallion Station.

Now a 12-year-old, Epiphaneia has been responsible for celebrities such as Efforia, Daring Tact and Circle Of Life so far during his stud career, having landed the Kikuka Sho and Japan Cup on the track.

Winning rider Yasunari Iwata said: "It was a great race so I was delighted. I knew Sodashi was in front of me so I thought that if I followed her, the gaps would open up.

"I was able to win because of Izu Jo No Kiseki's turn of foot up Tokyo's home straight. The owner has been supporting me since I was a Sonoda jockey, so I'm happy I was able to live up to his expectations by winning this first Graded race with her."

Sodashi's rider Hayato Yoshida said: "At the one-furlong mark, I thought I would be able to hold on to the finish, but we were passed towards the line. She ran her best race over this distance, although the pace was faster than I imagined so I thought it would be a bad idea to keep near the front."

Her trainer, Naosuke Sugai, added: "She ran a great race. Even at the 1800 metres she was able to race well and run until the finish. She seemed to idle once she hit the front."

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