Lauda Sion powers to NHK Mile success under well-executed Demuro ride

Lauda Sion (Takashi Saito/Mirco Demuro) claimed a first Grade 1 victory in the ¥226,800,000 (£1.71 million) NHK Mile Cup at Tokyo on Sunday.

Racing prominently under jockey Mirco Demuro, Lauda Sion sat on the shoulder of leader Resistencia before mounting his challenge inside the final two furlongs, drawing away to register a comfortable length-and-a-half victory.

Demuro said: "I knew the track today ran better for front-runners, and considering he's usually an evenly paced colt I planned to keep him well up in front.

"He's always quick out of the gate so we were able to secure a good position and I felt he had plenty to outrun the filly in the final stages."

The NHK Mile was been won by a number of illustrious names in the past including the likes of El Condor Pasa, King Kamehameha and Mikki Isle.

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