The 21st Victoria Mile (G1) is set for May 17 at Tokyo Racecourse over 1,600 meters on turf. Cervinia, the 2024 two-year-old filly champion and winner of two major fillies’ classics, is showing signs of a resurgence as she aims for her first victory since the Shuka Sho. The 5-year-old mare, trained by Tetsuya Kimura at Miho and sired by Harbinger, has been under a more rigorous training regimen in preparation for this race.
On May 6, Cervinia engaged in an extended workout alongside Magic Palace (a 3-year-old maiden) on the Miho W-course, completing six furlongs in an impressive 77.8 seconds—a significant improvement over her previous best times. The stable’s strategy has been to increase training intensity with efficient form, and on May 10, she was pushed hard on the hill track as well. Assistant trainer Ota noted, “She’s been progressing smoothly since returning from the farm, and the daily morning work is positive. We’re seeing a good direction.”
The race will be run over Tokyo’s 1,600-meter turf, where Cervinia previously won the Artemis Stakes as a 2-year-old. She will be partnered with jockey Damian Lane, who recently claimed victory in the NHK Mile Cup on May 10. “Tokyo is better than other tracks for the mile distance, and we’re hoping for a strong performance,” Ota added. With the combination of the Fuchu track—where she secured her first G1 win in the Oaks—and the skilled rider, Cervinia aims to recapture her dominant form.
