Apanane made a clean-sweep of Japan’s Fillies Triple Crown last year and she lifted to another level when toppling champion mare Buena Vista in the G1 Victoria Mile in Tokyo on Sunday.

Apapane (4f King Kamehameha – Salty Bid by Salt Lake) broke from a wide barrier and settled midfield as Lady Alba Rosa, another daughter of Shadai sire King Kamehameha, assumed control in front.  Jockey Masayoshi Ebina sent Apanane clear close to home and they had enough momentum to hold off the late challenge of Buena Vista.

Buena Vista (Special Week) looks set for another successful preparation.  She was named Japan’s 2010 Horse of the Year after winning the G1 Tenno Sho (Autumn) and finishing second in the Japan Cup and Arima Kinen.

Apapane had won the Listed Hanshin Juvenile Fillies in 2009 before launching a successful classic campaign with victories in the Japanese 1000 Guineas and Japanese Oaks last year.  The winner clocked 1.31.90s which broke the old mark of 1.32.40s held by Vodka when she won the Victoria Mile by seven lengths in 2009.  

Apapane’s dam Salty Bid won three races and the champion filly is her second winner after Tom Tom (Jungle Pocket).  Second dam Piper Piper (Spectacular Bid) was G1 placed in the Ashland Stakes at Keeneland.