A troupe of retired stars continues on December 26 at Arima Kinen (G1) at Nakayama Racecourse such as Chrono Genesis try to emulate Opposite, Gran Alegria , and Only love you with a career-ending win.
As always, the revolving door continued to spin, and a number of younger competitors finished ready to step up to Arima Kinen to help fill the void.
Japanese fans are encouraged to vote for the horses they would like to see run at Arima Kinen. Of course, the participation of the top voting participants is not guaranteed, but this year the first three in the poll included not only Chrono Genesis but also 3-year-olds. Efforia and Owner and all are expected to participate.
Chrono Genesis, a 5 year old child Bago mare, which won the 2020 Arima Kinen and will start for the fourth time in 2021 as coach Takashi Saito has put his best foot forward in an ambitious touring schedule.
She started the new year with an impressive second, just a little bit missing Mishriff (IRE) and a necklace before Loves Only You, during the Longines Dubai Sheema Classic (G1) at Meydan in March. She went home to score a repeat win in the Takarazuka Kinen (G1) at Hanshin in June, then didn’t race again until an unsuitable pitch sent her to seventh at the Qatar Prix de l’Arc. de Triomphe (G1) at Longchamp on October 3. .
Christophe Lemaire got the call in the Takarazuka Kinen after casual rider Yuichi Kitamura was injured in May, and Lemaire is expected to take part in the mares’ final race.
Loves Only You, part of a desperate protracted battle at the Sheema Classic, subdued the winner on December 12 at Sha Tin Racecourse following the Hong Kong Longines Cup (G1).
As the stars of the past seasons died out in the early darkness of winter, Efforia looked unprepared to take her place in the ensemble of Japanese equestrian heroes.
Efforia defeats Contrail in Tenno Sho (Autumn) at Tokyo Racecourse
The Epiphaneia Colt mastered some of his elders, having solid wins over Contrail and Gran Alegria in the Tenno Sho (Autumn) (G1) match at Tokyo Circuit on October 31. He has five wins from six catches. with his only defeat was a second-place finish at Tokyo Yushun (Japan Derby, G1).
Trainer Yuichi Shikato expressed satisfaction with the pony’s final quick work.
“It’s fine for a week out,” Shikato said. “He came back from the farm looking happy, healthy and training went well.”
Contrail, the 2020 Japanese Triple Crown champion, has begun her breeding career after returning from a loss to Tenno Sho with a win at the Japan Cup (G1) on November 28. Gran Alegria is also back. after failing to end his career with an impressive score in the Miles Championship (G1) on November 21 in Hanshin.
Title owner, a Duramente Colt, has become more integrated in his 3-year-old season. After finishing second to Efforia in Satsuki Sho (Japan Two Thousand Guineas, G1), he finished sixth in Tokyo Yushun and 13th in Asahi Hai St. Lite Kinen on September 20 when severely hampered by traffic. He reversed course completely on October 24 at the 3,000 meters (approximately 1 7/8 miles) Kikuka Sho (Japan St. Leger, G1), winning five races.
Four of the last 10 Arima Kinen winners came directly from Kikuka Sho — three of those marathon winners and the other, fourth. This year’s Kikuka Sho fourth, Stella Veloce, another promising 3-year-old pony, is also in the field of Arima Kinen.
The 2,500-meter Arima Kinen (about 1 mile, 4 and a half strands) starts at the outer ring of the Nakayama racecourse, passes the stands the first time, then follows the inner ring around and down the second to the battle post. win.
Arima Kinen is the penultimate 1st place on the Japanese racing calendar for 2021, followed by the hopeful 2nd place (G1) for 2-year-olds on the same track. Top level races will then continue on hiatus until February’s Day (G1) on February 20 at Tokyo Circuit.
