White filly Sodashi enhanced her immense popularity when returning to winning ways in the Grade 1 Victoria Mile at Tokyo on Sunday.

Tracking the leaders in fourth for most of the race, jockey Hayato Yoshida asked Sodashi to go in the home straight and she responded emphatically to the delight of a vocal crowd.

The two-length success over Fine Rouge earned the 'White Wonder' an automatic berth into the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf at Keeneland in November.

Sodashi, who races for late Japanese legend Deep Impact's owner Makoto Kaneko and is out of black-spotted white mare Buchiko, gained her first victory since the Grade 2 Sapporo Kinen last August.

Prior to that she rose to fame in 2020 when becoming the first white horse to win at the top level with success in the Hanshin Juvenile Fillies in December, and her fame rose higher still when she won last year's Japanese 1,000 Guineas.

Yoshida said: "She relaxed well and ran positively, so I could make her keep a good rhythm. When I urged her, her response was so good against a strong field.

"Every time I ride her, I feel a special pressure and when she won I was so happy to be the rider of a historical white filly winning at Tokyo racecourse."

Now a four-year-old, Sodashi built on her comeback third over the course and distance in the February Stakes last time.

Trainer Naosuke Sugai said: "Her start was so good and she raced an ideal race. Maybe she likes a one-turn race. She has grown up mentally and I'll discuss her next plan with her owner."

Daring Tact, the 2020 Triple Tiara winner, finished sixth on her return from a 13-month layoff.

Racing Post