Report: Japan, Sunday
Sapporo: Sapporo Kinen (Grade 2) 1m2f, turf, 3yo+
Fumino Imagine(Masaru Honda/ Keisuke Dazai) landed the richest Grade 2 in Japan as he took the Sapporo Kinen, an important prep for the Grade 1 Tenno Sho Autumn.
Favourite Dark Shadow, runner-up of last year's Tenno Sho Autumn and having his first run since a disappointing ninth in the Dubai Duty Free in March, tracked leader Aliseo at a steady pace and shot past the leader around the home turn.
However, Fumino Imagine had him covered and went to the lead in the straight to take the win. Hiruno D'Amour was the third.
Dazai said: "I believed she could win if I could make her run smoothly. She is very strong because she beat Grade 1-class horses."
