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Little Amapola stands tall in QEII
Little Amapola advanced into contention turning into the stretch and, as the pacesetter and her nearest attendants faded, struck the decisive blow, taking command and opening up a daylight margin on the field. Kawakami Princess, who had passed the post first in the 2006 Queen Elizabeth, only to be disqualified and placed 12th for causing interference, produced her rally, but it was not powerful enough to threaten the winner. The only potential danger for Little Amapola was Portofino. When the loose horse did not come close enough to bother her, Little Amapola was home free by 1 1/2 lengths, completing the affair in 2:12.1 on the firm turf. "The pace was fast and the filly kept on going," Lemaire said. "She's a tough filly with much stamina and a big stride." Kawakami Princess held second by three-quarters of a length from the closing Bella Rheia (Narita Top Road), the 7-1 second choice. Meine Ratsel (Stay Gold) checked in another 2 1/2 lengths back in fourth, followed by Rain Dance (Dance in the Dark), Mood Indigo (Dance in the Dark), Arco Senora (Stay Gold), Red Agate (Manhattan Cafe), Ask Deputy (French Deputy), French raider Tres Rapide (Anabaa Blue), Tokai Luna (El Condor Pasa), Reginetta (French Deputy), F T Maia (Fuji Kiseki), Biennale, Pisa no Juban, Fair Breeze and Cosmo Platina. Portofino was officially listed as a non-finisher. Both international shippers were run off their feet by the demanding tempo, according to their respective jockeys. "The filly (Tres Rapide) was in good condition but she broke slowly and was unable to keep up with the pace," rider Dominique Boeuf recapped. "I was able to settle her (Fair Breeze) in good position," Andreas Helfenbein said, "but the pace was too fast and she had nothing left in the homestretch." Little Amapola's first major stakes success improved her record to 8-4-0-0, $1,403,791. The winner of her only two starts as a juvenile, the dark bay was a close fourth versus males in the Keisei Hai in her 2008 debut. Next time out, she captured the Daily Hai Queen Cup, but was unable to build on that effort in her ensuing runs in the classics. Little Amapola wound up fifth in the Oka Sho (Japanese One Thousand Guineas), seventh as the nearly 4-1 favorite in the Yushun Himba (Japanese Oaks), and sixth in the Shuka Sho most recently on October 19. The Japanese-bred is out of the winning Commander in Chief mare Little Harmony, herself a daughter of champion Louisiana Pit (Valley Forge), Japan's top older mare of 1989. Little Amapola traces to Arlanza (Djebel), an unraced full sister to 1950 Epsom Derby conqueror, Galcador. The Japan Autumn International continues with the Mile Championship (Jpn-G1) on November 23. The final two events are the Japan Cup (Jpn-G1) on November 30 and the Japan Cup Dirt (Jpn-G1) on December 7.
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