French pair fail in Japanese mission

French raiders Sahpresa and Immortal Verse failed to make an impact as Eishin Apollon claimed the Mile Championship at Kyoto.

Rod Collet’s Sahpresa finished fourth in the race last year and she went once place better this time in third but Immortal Verse, who is trained by Collet’s father Robert, could muster only a seventh-place finish.

Local runner Eishin Apollon, trained by Masahiro Matsunaga and ridden by Kenichi Ikezoe, just edged out Fifth Petal by a neck after a thrilling battle in the final furlong.

Sahpresa was a further one and a half lengths behind while Immortal Verse came up the inside but could not find any extra on the rain-softened ground.

Christophe Lemaire, rider of Sahpresa, said: “She ran very smoothly and responded well at the stretch. I think it would have made a difference if we had an inside draw.”

Rod Collet added: “We were unlucky again with the draw for the third year running, but I am extremely proud with the mare, at age six, for maintaining her form to meet the high level of competition in this Japanese mile race.

“We may be headed to Hong Kong for our next target, but I will have to discuss this with the owners.”

Immortal Verse’s jockey Christophe Soumillon felt the ground had not been in his mount’s favour.

“I don’t think she’s run on such wet turf before – even in France – and the track condition today certainly didn’t suit her.

“I’m sure she would have been able to display her great acceleration on a firmer track, so I am sorry that it turned out this way today.”

Robert Collet confirmed that the filly, winner of the Coronation Stakes and the Jacques Le Marois this term, will now enjoy a winter break before returning next year.