Robe Decollete on Sunday became the first foreign-bred filly to win the Oaks as she picked off the favorite in the final stride, besting a field of 18 in the classic's 68th running at Tokyo Race Course. Bella Rheia finished second before a crowd of more than 100,000, with Love Caerna and Minty Air placing third and fourth place, respectively.
The American-born, Cozzene-sired Robe Decollete, who had placed fourth in the Okasho, edged Bella Rheia by a nose after gaining a clear run from the 400 mark, where jockey Yuichi Fukunaga brought her sharply out. Shinichiro Akiyama had held Bella Rheia in about fifth position about three widths from the rail, then chose to move to the top at the 400.
Fukunaga said the initial traffic jam they had encountered "worked to our favor in the end," leaving Robe Decollete with legs to spare. Gate practice as well, no doubt, helped. "Her poor start in the Okasho cost us the race," said Fukunaga, "but today she broke well and was able to show her stuff." Japan's top race for 3-year-old fillies, like the other classics, held foreign participants at bay till as late as 2003, after which it opened to a possible two entrants.