Horse of the Week #7: Embroidery

May 18th 2026

Embroidery Secures Third Group 1 Title in the Victoria Mile

Seven months after winning the Oka Sho and Shuka Sho double, Silk Racing’s Embroidery established herself as the leader of Japan’s older female mile division. On Sunday afternoon at Tokyo, the four-year-old daughter of Admire Mars secured her third career Group 1 victory in the 21st running of the Victoria Mile, tracking the pace before pulling clear in the straight to defeat a field of 18.

Ridden by Christophe Lemaire, the 1.9 race favourite travelled wide in mid-division before advancing up the straight. She took the lead at the 200-metre marker and won by a comfortable 1 1/4 lengths, stopping the clock in 1:30.9 on firm turf. The winning time was just four-hundredths of a second off Normcore's 2019 record, and the victory earned her an automatic entry into the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf this autumn at Keeneland.

How The Race Was Won

The 1600-metre contest was led by Erika Express under Yutaka Take, who set a steady, even tempo from the start. Breaking from stall 12, Embroidery was settled by Lemaire in sixth position along the outer path, conserving energy while tracking just behind Cervinia. Her main market rival, Kamunyak, positioned herself one slot further back in seventh.

As the field rounded the turn and met the uphill rise in the Tokyo straight, Embroidery travelled smoothly on her own accord. While several runners were ridden along early, Lemaire delayed his effort until the final furlong. Once asked for an effort at the 200-metre pole, Embroidery responded with a final three-furlong split of 33.0 seconds, quickly establishing a clear advantage over the field.

Kamunyak, under Yuga Kawada, stayed on to finish second, 1 1/2 lengths ahead of last year’s runner-up Queen’s Walk, who closed from tenth to secure third under Atsuya Nishimura. Erika Express faded late but held on for fourth. The result saw the top three market choices fill the frame exactly as the betting public anticipated, with wagering turnover reflecting the high interest in the older female division.

"It was a perfect race. We were able to break smoothly, which allowed us to race in a good position. She responded really well on the uphill stretch, and I was confident we could win again." - Christophe Lemaire

Pedigree and Connections

The victory marked several milestones for the connections of the winner. It gave jockey Christophe Lemaire his 60th JRA Group 1 victory on Japanese soil and his 100th elite-level victory worldwide. It also extended his personal record in the Victoria Mile to five wins, following victories with Admire Lead (2017), Almond Eye (2020), Gran Alegria (2021), and Ascoli Piceno (2025). For trainer Kazutomo Mori, it registered his third career JRA Group 1 win, with all three coming courtesy of this filly.

Bred by Northern Farm, Embroidery is the first-crop progeny of champion miler Admire Mars, who is by Daiwa Major. Her pedigree features high cruising speed and physical robustness suited to the long Tokyo straight. She is out of the Kurofune mare Rottenmeier, with her third dam being the champion two-year-old filly Biwa Heidi, making her a close relative to Japanese Horse of the Year Buena Vista and 2011 Group 1 Hanshin Juvenile Fillies winner Joie de Vivre.

AB's Verdict

This performance confirmed Embroidery’s physical progression as a four-year-old and answered any questions regarding her distance preferences following an 11th-place finish in the Hong Kong Mile in December. Since returning to Japan, she has put together consecutive victories, having won the Group 2 Hanshin Himba Stakes over 1600 metres last month.

While the Victoria Mile win secures her automatic invitations to the Breeders' Cup and elite French miles like the Prix Jacques le Marois, her connections are not rushing into a decision. Trainer Kazutomo Mori noted that there are various options under consideration, both domestically and overseas, and that the stable will evaluate her condition before consulting with the owners. Regardless of where she lines up next, Mori has set a loftier expectation for the champion filly, stating that as a three-time Group 1 winner, she is in a position where she must deliver results, and they intend to approach every future target with the sole intention of winning.