Abu Qir Bay unleashed a storming late run to register a first G3 success in the Aoi Stakes at Kyoto, Japan, on Saturday, 31 May.
The Tomoyasu Sakaguchi-trained daughter of Fine Needle settled in seventh in the six-furlong sprint for three-year-olds as Craspedia rushed up to lead the 16 runners.
Abu Qir Bay still had six rivals in front of her entering the final furlong before quickening strongly for Mirai Iwata down the centre of the course, collaring Craspedia in the final strides to prevail by three-quarters of a length, with Rapier (Tower Of London) back in third.
Owned and bred by Godolphin, she is a daughter of the winning Heart’s Cry mare Ago Bay, who is a granddaughter of the G1 Santa Anita Oaks heroine Composure.
Fine Needle has now sired Group winners in each of his first three crops after A Shin Fencer (born 2020) and Culture Day (2021).
