FAST FORWARD

From TDN

Jockey Yasunari Iwata, recently returned from injury, rode lucky number 13 A SHIN FORWARD (Forest Wildcat) to a course-record victory in a thrilling blanket finish to Sunday’s G1 Mile Championship at Kyoto. Let go at odds of 51-1 after running eighth as the favorite in the G2 Swan S. in late October, A Shin Forward was reserved in midpack on the rail until midway on the turn. He found an opening as the field turned into the straight, powered to the lead with 100 meters left and just held sway over favored Danon Yoyo (Jpn) (Dance in the Dark {Jpn}). “I’ve only been back riding since last week, and I never thought I’d win a Group 1 race so soon,” said an elated Iwata, who spent two months on the sidelines after fracturing a collarbone and ankle in a spill at Sapporo Sept. 4. “It was a really easy race. The pace and the trip were just right.” But, he added, “I was out there alone [on the lead] thinking, ‘Isn’t it over yet?!'” The final time of 1:31.80 for the 1600 meters established a new course record, shaving .30 seconds off the mark set by Hat Trick (Jpn) (Sunday Silence) five years ago.