Mozu Katchan lands QEII Cup for Demuro and Sameshima

Report: Japan, Sunday

Kyoto: Queen Elizabeth II Cup (Grade 1) 1m3f | turf | 3yo+ f/m

Three-year-old filly Mozu Katchan (Mirco Demuro/Ippo Sameshima) took the 42nd running of the Queen Elizabeth II Cup at Kyoto on Sunday, claiming a maiden Group 1 win for her trainer in the process.

Never too far away on the inside, Mozu Katchan closed all the way up the straight and got to Crocosmia in the final strides, prevailing by a neck to land the winner's share of the £1.34 million prize fund.

Demuro, also successful on Queens Ring 12 months ago, said: "I'm so happy to have won this title again this year. Mozu Katchan is such an honest and talented filly and it was such a shame that she'd lost a shoe last time out in the Shuka Sho, so I'm glad that we were able to prove her ability in this race. We had a good draw and everything went as planned."

The winner, by the great King George winner Harbinger, had been placed in both the Japanese Oaks and Shuka Sho (the third leg of the fillies' triple crown in Japan) so was hardly winning a Group 1 out of turn, having also taken the Group 2 Oaks trial in the lead up to that race. She had only been fifth in the betting this time, however.

The QEII card also began Ryan Moore's extended stint in the far east following the end of the British turf season. He rode second-favourite Rouge Buck, who was never really involved and finished ninth of the 18 runners.

Full result

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