It gets better for Deep Impact as Keiai Nautique lands NHK Mile Cup

Report: Japan, Sunday

Tokyo: NHK Mile Cup (Grade 1) 1m | turf | 3yo

It had already been a good weekend for sire Deep Impact due to Saxon Warrior's 2,000 Guineas triumph, but it got even better at Tokyo on Sunday as Keiai Nautique (Mitsuru Hirata/Yusuke Fujioka), won the NHK Mile, the Japanese mile championship for three-year-olds.

Hours after Saxon Warrior's demolition job, Kaiai Nautique swooped late to deliver a second big prize for his sire, who also managed a one-two as Gibeon, who was a neck behind in second, was also one of his five representatives in the race. Red Veyron was a further head back in third. The favourite, Godolphin's Tower Of London, finished only 12th of the 18 runners.

Yusuke Fujioka, who was replacing the currently suspended Yutaka Take, was riding his first Grade 1 winner.

He said: "I am very happy! I didn't think my riding was too good but he ran well and helped me. I didn't know whether or not I had won crossing the line.

"I can't say thank you enough to my horse. He has real potential so I want him to rest well and show us his best again."

Christophe Lemaire, who rode Tower Of London, said: "He stumbled at the break and I couldn't settle in the position I hoped and had to run at the rear. When I let him go up the straight, another horse came to cut me off, so he couldn't get a run anyway."

Full race result