Almond Eye Makes the Dubai Turf Her Own

Mark Smith - Sunday March 31

The Japanese love to showcase their best on the world stage and they don't come much better than Almond Eye.

I will refrain from the tired old Winx comparisons and just say she strode around that track at Meydan like she owned it to defeat another Japanese visitor in Vivlos, who has the dubious distinction of being the only Japanese-bred to feature on Best On Breeding.

Advertisement

Grant Courtney was trackside to capture all the action


She arrived in Dubai with a huge reputation and Japan's super filly Almond Eye proved herself on a world stage at Meydan when showing brilliant acceleration to win the US$6 million Dubai Turf sponsored by DP World.

The Lord Kanaloa filly, trained by Sakae Kunieda to win all three legs of the Filly Triple Crown and the Japan Cup at home, produced a well-timed run by Christophe Lemaire to land the 1800m Dubai Turf.

The race provided a great result for Japan with compatriot Vivlos a length and a quarter back in second and Deirdre finishing fourth. British trainer David O'Meara saddled Lord Glitters to produce a career-best run to take third.

Sakae Kunieda, Trainer, ALMOND EYE (1st)—"It was a really great race. She broke well, settled well, got a good position and accelerated well to win well. It was the result I thought we could get and I'm happy she proved us right. I was nervous, I've lost my voice. Almond Eye can continue my dreams, so next we'll go to Europe, our dream is to take her to the Arc."

Advertisment
More Reading...
Lord Kanaloa's Tagaloa Eyes Off The Magic Millions 2yo Classic
Lord Kanaloa’s champion daughter Almond Eye will not make the trip to Sha Tin for the Hong Kong Cup after spiking a temperature however Lord Kanaloa’s 2yo son Tagaloa did make it to Moonee Valley on Saturday to open his winning account in the Strath Haven Preston Plate (1000m).
Lord Kanaloa Filly Wins Japan Cup
To sire a Japan Cup winner from your first crop is a fairytale start to a stud career for a Japanese sire and it’s a feat achieved by former champion sprinter miler Lord Kanaloa, whose outstanding three year-old filly Almond Eye took out the prestigious 2400 metre contest on Sunday.
$400,000 Invincible Filly a Grand Investment
A three-quarter sister-in-blood to dual Group I winning mare Charm Stone, stakes-placed I Am Invincible filly Naifah always looked well bought at the 2025 Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale for $400,000.
Tarzino Stayer Wins G3 Geelong Cup
Trainer Paul Preusker will get another tilt at a Gr.1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) after Torranzino ran out a strong winner of the Gr.3 Geelong Cup (2400m) on Thursday.
$140,000 NZB Ready to Run Graduate Books Ticket to G1 Victoria Derby
Bred for stamina being by Melbourne Cup winner Shoicking from a daughter of Tavistock, talented Kiwi bred three-year-old Azazel has booked his passage for the Gr.1 VRC Derby (2500m) on Saturday week after a tough victory in the Listed Roderick Insurance Brokers 3YO Geelong Classic (2200m) at Geelong on Thursday.
Bold Showing Tipped for Yes Yes Yes 2YO
Speed Demon will be given every opportunity to live up to his name when he makes his debut at Ellerslie.
2025 G1 Spring Champion – Pedigree Preview
A lot of attention is paid to the sprinting three year-old division and much less so to the stayers, but with $2million in prizemoney the Group I ATC Spring Champion Stakes (2000m) at Randwick on Saturday has attracted a full field of 14 and all of them are on trial at the trip.
Sires With Winners - Wednesday October 22
Here is the full list of 37 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Sires With Winners - Thursday October 23
Here is the full list of 26 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
End Of An Era - 2025 G1 Cox Plate
“There are many ways of going forward, but only one way of standing still” - Franklin D Roosevelt.