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Victoire Pisa wins emotional World Cup for Japan

Victoire Pisa edges compatriot Transcend (hidden) to become Japan's first World Cup hero (Andrew Watkins/Dubai Racing Club) As Japan struggles to recover from the recent catastrophic earthquake and tsunami, and the resultant problems with several nuclear reactors, the nation that loves its horse racing received a much-needed shot in the arm Saturday when VICTOIRE PISA (Neo Universe) and Transcend (Wild Rush) spearheaded an historic one-two finish for Japan in the $10 million Dubai World Cup (UAE-G1). Jockey Mirco Demuro made the winning move on the Meydan backstretch, sending Victoire Pisa after the front-running Transcend early, and his tactical acumen paid dividends in the world's richest race. "My horse usually has a good start, but this time he hit his head in the stall and we had a bad start. But maybe it was lucky because there was a slow pace on the backstretch, so I could find a good position close to the leader. It was a really tight finish," Demuro said. "We always believed in him. He won his last race very easy giving two kilos away. He's a very nice horse. We were hoping to do well, but to win is amazing."

Owned by Yoshimi Ichikawa and trained by Katsuhiko Sumii, Victoire Pisa had previously earned his biggest victories at Nakayama. Over that right-handed course, he captured the 2010 Satsuki Sho (Japanese Two Thousand Guineas) (Jpn-G1) and Arima Kinen (Jpn-G1), defeating Japanese Horse of the Year and World Cup rival Buena Vista (Special Week) in the latter, and he opened 2011 with a comprehensive success in the February 27 Nakayama Kinen (Jpn-G2). But Victoire Pisa had failed to shine in his previous foreign mission to France last campaign, and he was also attempting a synthetic surface for the first time here. Answering any lingering question marks with a resounding affirmative, the four-year-old presented Japan with its first World Cup trophy.

The confirmed front runner Transcend quickly took up his position at the head of affairs, stalked by Coolmore's Cape Blanco (Galileo [Ire]), and Godolphin's Monterosso (Dubawi) tracked them in a ground-saving spot. A fracas ensued farther back in the field on the first turn, as Fly Down (Mineshaft) was checked hard on the fence, and several others were jostled around.

Victoire Pisa overcame a head-banging start (Andrew Watkins/Dubai Racing Club) Victoire Pisa, after his poor beginning, was dead last until the field settled in on the backstretch. Much as he had done in the Arima Kinen, Demuro sensed the sedate tempo, and drove his mount into contention in a bold early move. Transcend was still in control turning for home, but his compatriot Victoire Pisa was looming as his biggest threat. Staying on resolutely, Victoire Pisa put his head in front in the lane. Transcend wasn't yielding an inch, though, and kept on gamely on the inside. Victoire Pisa kept finding more to grind out a half-length victory, covering about 1 1/4 miles on the Tapeta in 2:05 4/5 to extend his record to a perfect six-for-six at the trip. "The horse was shying with the track but he did a very good job," said Shinji Fujita, who was aboard Transcend. "I'm very happy with this result because the people in Japan are having a difficult time at this moment, so we're very happy." Monterosso found his best stride in the final yards to grab third, missing second by a neck. "I'm really delighted with his run," jockey Mickael Barzalona said, "but I wish I had more room because I'm sure I could have finished second. The lack of pace worked in my favor because this is not really his trip." A one-paced Cape Blanco was the same margin back in fourth, followed by Gio Ponti (Tale of the Cat); Gitano Hernando (GB) (Hernando [Fr]); Musir (Redoute's Choice); Buena Vista, ostensibly the best of the Japanese trio on paper, who never fired from off the pace; Twice Over (GB) (Observatory), who could not duplicate his impressive score in the March 3 Maktoum Challenge Round 3 (UAE-G2); Prince Bishop (Dubawi); Golden Sword (GB) (High Chaparral [Ire]); Richard's Kid (Lemon Drop Kid); Fly Down, who didn't recover from being badly hampered early; and Poet's Voice (Dubawi).

Jamie Spencer was pleased with Cape Blanco's effort in his seasonal reappearance.

"I was on the right side of a slow pace," Spencer recapped. "I could have done with holding up a little bit longer, but he really stuck his neck out at the finish. He really tried. Bear in mind, it was his first run of the year and there will be more to come from him for sure."

Several other riders were lamenting the way the World Cup unfolded.

"The only two times I can remember (Gio Ponti) being strong with me was last year here and today," jockey Ramon Dominguez said. "It's very unfair they're going extremely, extremely slow and I feel my horse was taken out of his game. Turning for home his kick, of course, isn't going to be as effective. Everybody was kind of sprinting home."

"It's a go-cart race, not a workout," summed up Christophe Soumillon, who rode Musir.

"The race played out terribly," Ryan Moore said of his trip aboard Buena Vista.

"It was a messy race for everyone and I never got into it at any stage," said Tom Queally, the rider of Twice Over.

"They went very slowly early and that didn't suit him," Twice Over's trainer Henry Cecil observed. "He broke well and was up there but couldn't get back in. The next minute they slowed it up and he got shuffled back through the field. He never got anywhere and it is disappointing, but that is the way it goes. Tom said he was pushed wide and out of the back. It is such a shame as he was very well."

With the $6 million bonanza in his account, Victoire Pisa has amassed $12,891,734 in earnings from his 13-8-1-2 mark. The hero of the 2009 Kyoto Nisai S. and Radio Nikkei Hai Nisai S. as a juvenile, the dark bay also claims a win in the 2010 Hochi Hai Yayoi Sho (Jpn-G2) at Nakayama and placings in last season's Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby) (Jpn-G1) and Japan Cup (Jpn-G1) at Tokyo. In between those top-level races at home, he had embarked upon a French adventure, finishing a well-beaten fourth in the Prix Niel (Fr-G2) and a creditable seventh in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (Fr-G1).

Bred by Shadai Farm in Japan, Victoire Pisa is a half-brother to Yasuda Kinen (Jpn-G1) winner Asakusa Den'en (Singspiel [Ire]) and a three-quarter brother to Grade 3 victor and Grade 1-placed Swift Current (Sunday Silence). Their dam, English/Irish highweight older mare Whitewater Affair (Machiavellian), is herself a half-sister to Group 2 hero Little Rock (Warning [GB]) and multiple Group 3 queen and classic-placed Short Skirt (GB) (Diktat). Victoire Pisa hails from the family of Irish St Leger (Ire-G1) winner Arctic Owl (Most Welcome [GB]) and Sydney Cup (Aus-G1) scorer Marooned (Mill Reef).

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