Sambista became the first female winner of the US$1,636,000 Champions Cup (Jpn-I), run as the Japan Cup Dirt until 2013, when pulling a 66-1 upset Dec. 6 at Chukyo Racecourse.
Fourth to Hokko Tarumae in last year's edition of the race, the 6-year-old Suzuka Mambo mare, sixth on the rail in the early running, angled out into the stretch and accelerated powerfully to overtake pacesetter Copano Rickey and champion dirt horse Hokko Tarumae 200 meters out. From there, she was all out to hold back strong closing bids from Nonkono Yume and Sound Tune for a 1 1/2-length triumph.
Japan Dirt Derby victor Nonkono Yume, toward the back of the field early, bested Sound Tune, coming from the tail end in the full field of 16, by a neck for second.
Ridden by Italian Mirco Demuro, Sambista was timed in 1:50.04 for 1,800 meters (about 1 1/8 miles) on a fast track. The victory was her fourth from nine starts this season and first at the highest level as a convincing winner in one of only two group I races contested on dirt in Japan.
Trainer Katsuhiko Sumii added a third win in the race, following previous victories in the Japan Cup Dirt in 2005 and 2008 with Kane Hekili. Demuro registered his 13th Japan Racing Association-hosted group I victory following his win in the Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby) with Duramente this spring.
Odds-on-favorite Copano Rickey sprinted out to set the pace but tired from his early efforts to finish seventh. Hokko Tarumae came home fifth in trying for a repeat in the race.
The trainer trains Sambista for owner K. Hidaka Breeders Union. The 12th choice in the Champions Cup, she earned a sixth overall stakes win while taking her career line to 11-4-6 from 28 starts.
Grand Stud bred Sambista from Japanese grade III winner White Carnival, by Misil.
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