Demuro completes Classic full house as Kiseki proves a St Leger miracle horse

Report: Japan, Sunday

Kyoto: Kikuka Sho (Japanese St Leger) (Grade 1) 1m7f | turf | 3yo

Kiseki (Katsuhiko Sumii/Mirco Demuro) lived up to his name, which translates as 'miracle', when brought through from last to first in atrocious conditions to win the Grade 1 Kikuka Sho at a typhoon-threatened Kyoto on Sunday.

The favourite, who has won four of his eight career starts, was stepping into the top grade for the first time to win the 3,000m race known as the Japanese St Leger.

Demuro, finally adding the St Leger to his victories in the other Japanese Classics, rode the Katsuhiko Sumii-trained Kiseki with extreme confidence.

'Terrible conditions'

Demuro, who lives locally in Kyoto, said: "It was a tough race in terrible conditions but I had confidence in him. Kiseki is an highly-talented horse.

"He was a little worked up before the race and has not been a strong stayer, so I settled him and got into a good rhythm."

Clincher made a bid for glory quickening clear around the final bend and only Kiseki could reel him in to win by two lengths, with the fast-finishing Popocatepeti a nose back in third with the winning time 3min 18.9sec.

Kiseki was a first Graded-stakes winner for his sire Rulership, who won the 2012 Hong Kong QEII Cup and is out of the Deep Impact mare Blitz Finale.

Kikuka Sho (Japanese St Leger) result

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