Christophe Lemaire Hits Milestone 60th G1 Win as Embroidery Dominates Victoria Mile

On May 17, 2026, the 21st Victoria Mile (G1) was held at Tokyo Racecourse, where the race favorite Embroidery, ridden by Christophe Lemaire, displayed overwhelming strength to claim victory. This win marks Embroidery’s third G1 title, following her "Double Crown" victories in last year’s Oka Sho and Shuka Sho. It also marked a historic milestone for Lemaire, who reached his 60th JRA G1 career win.

Supported by heavy odds of 1.9, Embroidery lived up to her reputation as the 2025 Double Crown winner. She showed a powerful turn of foot in the home stretch, finishing with a sharp winning time of 1:30.9. The race followed the betting favorites closely, with second-favorite Kamnyak finishing second and third-favorite Queen's Walk taking third. After the race, Lemaire praised his partner, saying, "Today, she was a true G1 horse."

Furthermore, the "Jockey Camera" footage released by the JRA has become a hot topic among fans. The video captures raw moments of joy, including Lemaire exchanging words in English with fellow jockey Yuga Kawada and saying "Sorry" immediately after crossing the finish line. During the winning lap, he was also seen gesturing to the crowd, asking them to "Celebrate more!"—a move that captured the hearts of the excited spectators.

Social media was flooded with praise, with fans commenting that "Lemaire is a monster" and "When in doubt, bet on Lemaire." Many were also awestruck by the power of Embroidery, who carries on the prestigious bloodline of the legendary mare Biwa Heidi. All eyes now turn to next week’s Oaks, as fans eagerly anticipate the master jockey's next performance.

The context

The Victoria Mile is one of Japan's premier Grade 1 horse races, specifically for fillies and mares aged four and older. Held annually in May at Tokyo Racecourse, it serves as a stage for the top female horses in the country to compete at a distance of 1,600 meters. Christophe Lemaire, a French jockey licensed by the Japan Racing Association (JRA), has been a dominant force in Japanese racing for years, consistently leading the jockey rankings. The mention of "Biwa Heidi" refers to a famous Japanese mare who was a G1 winner herself and became a legendary producer of champions, most notably the multi-G1 winner Buena Vista. In Japanese racing culture, the pedigree of a horse is highly revered, and the success of a descendant like Embroidery is seen as a continuation of a great legacy.

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