Fans were kept waiting over a quarter of an hour for a decision on the Oaks on Sunday at Fuchu after Tall Poppy squeezed her way up the ranks to the top of the field with some 50 meters to go and held on for the eventually acknowledged win of the Oaks' 69th running.
Despite an outside No. 15 draw, the eighth-place finisher in the mile Okasho on April 13 was able to find an inside spot, save ground, and, given the gutsy riding of Kenichi Ikezoe, claim her second group I race after the Hanshin Juvenile Fillies in December.
Globe-trotting trainer Katsuhiko Sumii expressed relief at the win, which was Tall Poppy's first in three starts since the Juvenile.