place before taking the lead in the straight but tired in the closing stages and came home sixth behind Chrono Genesis. In the Grade 2 Sapporo Kinen over 2000 metres Sapporo Racecourse in August she started odds-on favourite but after gaining the advantage in the straight she was run down in the closing stages and finished third behind Normcore and Persian Knight. At Kyoto on 15 November Lucky Lilac attempted to become the fourth horse after Mejiro Dober, Admire Groove and Snow Fairy to win as second Queen Elizabeth II Cup and started the 2.3/1 favourite ahead of Normcore and Loves Only You in an eighteen-runner field which also included Centelleo (Sankei Sho All Comers), Salacia (Fuchu Himba Stakes), Ria Amelia (Rose Stakes) and Win Marilyn (Flora Stakes). Partnered by Christophe Lemaire, she started well and settled in around twelfth place as Normcore set the pace. She made good progress on the outside approaching the final turn, went to the front 300 metres from the finish and kept on well to win by a neck from Salacia, with Loves Only You the same distance back in third.. Breaking smoothly from the outermost draw, Lucky Lilac settled in mid-division behind Loves Only You, around 12th from the front, edged forward toward the end of the backstretch and continued to advance turning the corners wide. The defending champion immediately made bid entering the corner, assumed command 300 meters out and held off the strong charges from behind in the last 100 meters to cross the wire a neck in front. Lemaire commented "We were able to race smoothly and advance our position from the third corner. She was very composed and gave her usual turn of speed. We took the front early in the stretch but she held on well until the end. She's a strong horse. She has been racing at the top level since her two-year-old season and I had confidence in her." On 27 December Lucky Lilac started the 7.1/1 fourth favourite for the Arima Kinen at Nakayama after finishing second to Chrono Genesis in the poll to select the runners. She raced in mid-division towards the outside before staking on in the straight to come home fourth behind Chrono Genesis, Salacia and Fierement. Pedigree References 2015 racehorse births Racehorses bred in Japan Racehorses trained in Japan Thoroughbred family 6-a