The three horses leading Japan’s early-season dominance in Saudi Arabia and Dubai return to action in the June 26 Takarazuka Kinen (G1) at Hanshin Racecourse facing some sort of talent at home with future international matches.
The winner at the finish of 2,200 meters (about 1 3/8 miles) will get automatic admission to both — indeed, as they are only two weeks apart and 9,768 miles apart — Longines Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1T) at Keeneland and Ladbroke’s Cox Plate (G1) of Australia.
The international path is a proven path Lys Gracieux won both Takarazuka Kinen and Cox Plate in 2019, then ended her remarkable career with a class treble by landing Arima Kinen (G1).
Women have won the most recent three editions of Takarazuka Kinen, and if that trend continues, Bold Tact looks most likely to get the job done. 5 year old child Epiphaneia The mares return from a 13-month absence to finish a respectable sixth at the Victoria Mile (G1) on May 15 and will have to improve on that while adding 600 metres.
“She’s back from a long break last time, and it was a tough multi-mile race. Before the race there was quite a bit of rain and she pulled the gate inside, which didn’t work for her. her… I think It was a good run, considering everything,” said coach Haruki Sugiyama after drawing gate number 7.
Melody Lane and Win MarilynOther discriminators in the field, will have longer odds.
The role of the lover may depend on winning the likes Owner, Efforiaand Deep linking .
The owner, a 4 year old kid Duramente colt, won the Kikuka Sho in 2021 (Japan St. Leger-G1) at 3,000 meters and is already 2v2 in 2022, most recently winning the Tenno Sho (Spring) (G1) at 3,200 meters on Hanshin grass. The Takarazuka Kinen is one of two Japanese races in which fans vote for which horse they want to see run, and Titleholder won that honor this year.
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“I really feel pressured when the horse is in the spotlight,” says Titleholder trainer Toru Kurita. “But I hope he does well.”
Efforia won six of her eight starts, including three top-tier bets, and finished ahead of Titleholder in three of those races. But a 4 year old Epiphaneia Colt struggled to finish ninth in his 2022 debut, Osaka Hai (G1) April 3, and hasn’t raced since. Trainer Yuichi Shikato said the pony was in better shape after the break and performed well with the addition of flash lights.
The coach said: “It was really bad about his last race, so I want to see the real Efforia this time, and hope that he can show what a talented horse he is.”
Deep Bond, a 5 year old child by Kizuna has finished first or second in six of his last seven starts and was last seen second behind Titleholder in Tenno Sho (Spring).
Returning from victory in the desert is Authorization , Panthalassa and Be stupid .
Authority, a 4-year-old child by Orfevre get out Symboli Kris WILL mare Rosalind second after Opposite in the Japan Cup (G1) ending 2021, then won the Neom Grass Cup presented by Jahez (G3T) at King Abdulaziz Racecourse in Saudi Arabia in February before finishing third at the Longines Dubai Sheema Classic ( G1T).
Panthalassa, a 5 year old child by Lord Kanaloa die hot with Lord North won the Dubai Turf sponsored by DP World (G1T) on March 26.
Then there are Be stupid . While Authority went to the Middle East with identification, Stay Foolish, a 7-year-old son of Hold Gold brings question marks when his record showed just two wins quite a while ago from 29 starts.
He loved something about the change of scenery or more likely the extra mileage, as he became a key player in Japan’s months-long international tour, winning the race. won both the Longines Red Sea Turf Handicap (G3T) at 3,000 meters (approximately 1 7/8 miles) in Saudi Arabia and the Dubai Gold Cup sponsored by Al Tayer Motors (G2T) at 3,200 meters (approx. two miles). Those were the most enduring endeavors of his career.
Assistant coach Yusaku Oka: “He has run well in Saudi and Dubai on long trips but this time it will be shorter. So we will just have to see how he adjusts with the distance.”
After Takarazuka Kinen, the next high-profile event on the Japanese racing calendar is the Sprinters Stakes (G1) at Nakayama Racecourse on October 2.
