Vodka, with characteristic aplomb, dropped jaws at Tokyo Racecourse with yet another inebriating performance, laying waste to the all-female, 18-strong field of the Victoria Mile on Sunday to win by 7 lengths. With the win, Vodka became the first horse to notch four top-level firsts at Tokyo — the Derby, Yasuda Memorial, Emperor's Cup, and Victoria Mile.
It was Vodka's first win after three losses, the first victory since edging Daiwa Scarlett in the fall Emperor's Cup last year by the shortest of noses. An agonizing wait after the Emperor's Cup had Yutaka Take ready to accept a dead heat.
"Today," he deadpanned, "I knew I'd won."