Already a star in her native Japan entering the starting gate May 17, Silk Racing Co.’s Embroidery (JPN) appears destined to seek greatness on the international scale after an eye-catching performance at Tokyo Racecourse while winning the Victoria Mile (G1).
The 4-year-old daughter of Admire Mars (JPN) will have an opportunity to do just that in the fall as she was awarded an automatic berth to the $2 million Maker’s Mark Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1) through the Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series: Win and You’re In.
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The Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series is an international series of stakes races, the winners of which receive automatic starting positions with fees paid into a corresponding race of the 2026 Breeders’ Cup World Championships, to be held at Keeneland Oct. 30-31.
Trained by Kazutomo Mori, Embroidery was prepped for another match with Kaneko Makoto Holdings Co.’s Kamunyak (JPN). The two fillies raced their way into the hearts of the Japanese racing fans in 2025 by winning the three races that comprise the Japanese Filly Triple Crown.
Embroidery had taken the first and third races in that series: the 1,600-meter (about 1-mile) Oka Sho (Japanese One Thousand Guineas, G1) and the 2,000-meter (about 1 1/4-mile) Shuka Sho (G1). Kamunyak had taken the 2,400-meter (about 1 1/2-mile) Yushun Himba (G1) in the middle of the series while Embroidery finished ninth.
Lemaire Gives Confident Ride
Matched up again over a mile Sunday, jockey Christophe Lemaire was the picture of confidence aboard Embroidery. Sitting a comfortable outside trip in seventh during the race’s early stages, Lemaire rode like a statue until the final 300 meters when he called on his filly for more. She responded and kicked on to easily surge by the frontrunners.
Kamunyak would emerge from the field with a late run, but had too much ground to make up. In the end, it was 1 1/4 lengths that separated the two as Embroidery completed the course in 1:30.9.
Bred by Northern Farm, Embroidery has shown consistent ability at the mile trip but, as shown in the Shuka Sho, can stretch out in distance as well. That will be a much needed ability as the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf is set to be contested over 1 3/8 miles this year at Keeneland.
Embroidery’s first attempt at international travel did not go as planned, running 11th in the Hong Kong Mile (G1) Dec. 14. However, Lemaire spoke confidently about her ability exiting the Victoria Mile victory.
“She’s a smart horse with a strong mentality and she’s developing physically as well,” Lemaire said in comments quoted by BloodHorse. “She’s truly a grade 1-caliber horse. I think she can compete both in Japan and overseas.”
The Filly & Mare Turf provided Japan with their first Breeders’ Cup victory in 2021 when Loves Only You (JPN) conquered the race at Del Mar.
