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Third favorite Blow the Horn won this year’s Takarazuka Kinen to claim his first G1 victory. Initially trained by Eiji Nakano, the son of Epiphaneia debuted as a two-year-old in November, broke his maiden in his ninth career start in June (Hakodate, 2,000m) at three, and marked another win the same year in December (Nakayama, 2,500m). Last year, he captured three victories between 2,200-2,600-meter distances as a four-year-old but pulled up due to an atrial fibrillation in his last start of the season in the Kyoto Daishoten (G2, 2,400m) in October. He kicked off this season by registering his first graded title in the Nikkei Shinshun Hai (Kyoto, G2, 2,400m) in January, and after moving to the current stable with the retirement of the trainer, he finished third in the Hanshin Daishoten (G2, 3,000m) and second in his previous start, the Tenno Sho (Spring) (G1, 3,200m) at Kyoto Racecourse on April 28. Trainer Tatsuya Yoshioka, who opened his yard in 2020, claimed his fifth graded win and first G1 title, while jockey Akira Sugawara, who debuted in 2019 and has partnered with this horse in recent starts, scored his tenth graded and first G1 victory.

Five-year-old Blow the Horn broke smoothly from stall 12 and settled second from last, right outside the race favorite. As the field entered the uphill climb in the backstretch, the Epiphaneia bay edged forward from the outside, turned the final corners the widest and passed his rivals one by one in the lane before taking the front 100 meters out and pulling away with a powerful late kick that marked the tied fastest three furlongs for a comfortable two-length victory.

“We were able to win the race because the horse ran really hard despite the heavy going. Although we were positioned further back than planned and took the widest route, the horse seemed to have plenty of strength left when we turned the fourth corner so I urged him to go at the stretch and he responded with a remarkable turn of speed,” commented jockey Akira Sugawara.

Seventh pick and last year’s Satsuki Sho (Japanese 2000 Guineas, G1, 2,000m) victor Sol Oriens settled wide around seventh, dropped position turning the last corners wide to enter the stretch in 12th, and though he had too much ground to catch up with the eventual winner, launched the tied fastest late drive to secure the runner-up seat just before the wire by a neck.

Fifth choice and this year’s Osaka Hai (G1, 2,000m) champion Bellagio Opera chased the pace in fourth, rallied for the lead after the third corner and briefly took command before the 200-meter pole but soon surrendered the lead and was denied by Sol Oriens for third while holding Pradaria by a neck.

Race favorite Do Deuce traveled in the very rear and took the inner course after entering the stretch to make bid but was unable to catch up with the leaders and finished sixth.

Other Horses:
4th: (7) Pradaria—tracked leader in 2nd, rallied for lead at stretch, weakened in final strides
5th: (10) Rousham Park—raced around ninth early, made headway in backstretch to rally for lead at final corner, failed to sustain bid while briefly met traffic 200m out
7th: (5) Deep Bond—sat wide around 5th, showed effort at early stretch, unable to keep up with top finishers
8th: (13) Rouge Eveil—set pace on rails, angled out to stretch, faded after 100m out
9th: (11) Yamanin Sympa—trailed in rear, advanced after 1,200m to go, lacked needed kick
10th: (2) Justin Palace—traveled around 7th, driven near favorite but failed to respond
11th: (1) Struve—took economic trip around 9th, briefly made headway, showed little at stretch
12th: (6) Heat on Beat—saved ground around 5th, advanced to 3rd at one point, faded after 3rd corner
13th: (8) Karate—stalked leader in 2nd early, gradually dropped back

The final JRA Grade 1 of the first half of the year will be held this coming Sunday (June 23), when the Takarazuka Kinen will be run at Kyoto Racecourse, a switch from its usual Hanshin venue, due to renovation work at the Kansai track near Kobe. It’s one of the two so-called ‘All-Star’ races in the year, where fans get to vote for the horses they’d like to see race against each other.

The first Takarazuka Kinen was run in 1960, and it was originally run over 1,800 meters, before taking on its current distance of 2,200 meters in 1966. For the most part, the race has been run at Hanshin Racecourse, exceptions being when renovation work has meant the race was transferred to Kyoto, as is the case this year. The last time Kyoto staged the race was in 2006, when Deep Impact won.

Open to 3-year-olds and up, the Grade 1 Takarazuka Kinen became an international Grade 1 in 1997, but there have only ever been two runners from overseas: Seto Stayer from Australia in 1997, and Hong Kong’s Werther ran a strong race to take second in 2018. There will be no foreign horses running in the race this year.

There are 13 nominations for Sunday’s race, and topping the fans’ vote is Do Deuce (with just over 238,000 votes), who obligingly takes part in the race. Four-year-olds and up carry 58kg, while there is a generous weight allowance for 3-year-olds with a 53kg set weight, and a 2kg allowance for fillies and mares. No 3-year-olds are among the nominations, however, and just one mare holds an entry.

A couple of races leading up to this week’s big race have been the Grade 1 Osaka Hai, run over 2,000 meters at Hanshin in March, and the Grade 1 Tenno Sho (Spring), run over 3,200 meters at Kyoto in April.

The past ten years have seen just three first favorites win the Grade 1 Takarazuka Kinen, and in that same timespan, seven 5-year-olds have won. Record time for the race is held by Titleholder, who stopped the clock in a time of 2 minutes, 9.7 seconds in 2022. This year’s winner’s check is JPY220 million (in the region of USD1.5 million), and the first past the post also receives an automatic entry to the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Turf and the Grade 1 Cox Plate.

The Grade 1 Takarazuka Kinen will be Race 11 on the Sunday card at Kyoto, with a post time locally of 15.40. Final declarations and the barrier draw for the 65th running of the race will be available later in the week.

Here’s a look at some of the runners expected to line up on Sunday:

Do Deuce: The now 5-year-old Do Deuce is the one racing fans want to see run, and it will be his first race in Japan this year, after taking on the Grade 1 Dubai Turf in March, when he finished fifth. Trainer Yasuo Tomomichi’s recent comments on the horse were: “In the home straight last time, he wasn’t able to find a way through and get a good finish in. He returned to Japan without any problems, and has had a break at Northern Farm Shigaraki. In training at the end of last month, his times were faster than I thought. More recently, he’s been moving well in his work with other horses, despite the pace not being that quick.” Four-time winner of the Takarazuka Kinen, jockey Yutaka Take looks set to partner Do Deuce once again.

Bellagio Opera: The 4-year-old colt by Lord Kanaloa finally broke through at Grade 1 level last time, when he won the Osaka Hai over 2,000 meters back in March. He now has five wins from just eight starts, and in one race at Kyoto, he finished second in the Grade 2 Kyoto Kinen in February, which was run over the same course and distance of this week’s race. Trainer Hiroyuki Uemura commented: “In the Osaka Hai, when I looked at the other horses in the race and the going on the day, I thought he would do well running from a forward position. The jockey also thought the same and was able to go through with the plan very well. The horse had a break at the farm after that race, and since returning to the stable, it’s been as usual with him. He’s been moving well in recent training.”

Justin Palace: Winner of the Grade 1 Tenno Sho (Spring) in 2023, and third to Equinox in last year’s Grade 1 Takarazuka Kinen, the 5-year-old’s recent form also shows that he’s not far off another big race win. His latest run was in the Grade 1 Dubai Sheema Classic at Meydan in March, where he finished a respectable fourth. Trainer Haruki Sugiyama said: “He’s having his usual training routine, now that he’s recovered from the trip to Dubai. He’s more mature mentally now, and if he stays calm, we’ll be able to increase his workload a bit more from now.” Taking the ride for the first time since he won on Justin Palace in 2023 will be Christophe Lemaire.

Rousham Park: The 5-year-old by Harbinger put together three straight wins in Japan last year, which included a Grade 3 and a Grade 2, before finishing eighth on his overseas trip to take on the Grade 1 Hong Kong Cup last December. In just one run this year, he narrowly missed out on a first Grade 1 win when beaten by Bellagio Opera in the Grade 1 Osaka Hai in March. Comments from assistant trainer Hiroyuki Yamazaki were: “He had a break at Northern Farm Tenei after his last race, as he was quite tired after it. He’s regained his condition, and he returned to the stable on May 25. Previously he moved around a lot in his box, but he seems more relaxed now, and he’s the type that quickly improves for his training.”

Deep Bond: If ever the term ‘never give up’ should be applied to a racehorse, 7-year-old Deep Bond would be labeled just that. In his 15th start in a Grade 1 last time, it looked as if he might have gone on to win when turning for home in the Tenno Sho (Spring), only to be beaten into third at the finish. He’s back for another try this time, and his tenacity continues to surprise, as assistant trainer Tatsuo Taniguchi explained. “I thought he would improve for his run in the Hanshin Daishoten, but it was hard to know exactly how he might run in the Tenno Sho. As things turned out, he ran a very good race, and having had a spell at the farm since, his condition is about the same as usual,” Taniguchi said.

Sol Oriens: The 4-year-old colt by Kitasan Black hasn’t won since last year’s Grade 1 Satsuki Sho (Japanese 2000 Guineas), although it still seems like he has the potential to win at the top-level again if things work out in his favor. He is coming off a seventh-place finish in the Grade 1 Osaka Hai in March, and trainer Takahisa Tezuka gave his thoughts on that result and the horse in general: “We put blinkers on him last time, and it made for a different race for him. When he got into a position to challenge, he got bumped and quickly lost momentum. We’ve taken the blinkers off in training, and being careful not to overwork him, he’s improving his condition once more and moving well.”

Blow the Horn: With two wins from four starts at Kyoto, Blow the Horn is another of the runners looking to win his first Grade 1. In his last two races, he has been beaten by T O Royal, and the most recent came in the Grade 1 Tenno Sho (Spring) over 3,200 meters at Kyoto in April. Comments from assistant trainer Sho Tajima were: “He ran quite well in the Hanshin Daishoten, but for the Tenno Sho, we changed his bit and fitted a hood. He got into a good rhythm in the race, and racing on the outside, that was the only real difference between him and the winner. Things have been fine with him since returning from the farm.” Also looking for his first JRA Grade 1 victory is Blow the Horn’s jockey, Akira Sugawara.

Rouge Eveil: The only filly or mare among the nominations is the 5-year-old daughter of Just a Way, Rouge Eveil. She has shown that she’s capable of running well in Grade 1 races by finishing second in last year’s Queen Elizabeth II Cup, and most recently managed a third-place finish in the Osaka Hai. Trainer Yoichi Kuroiwa said: “She put in a good run last time when up against male horses, doing especially well from a wide draw. It was good to see her back to her best. After her recent stay at the farm, she’s recovered the weight she lost, and her hooves and overall body condition are good, so we’re able to give her a suitable workload in training.” Interestingly, jockey Yuga Kawada has been booked for the ride, and it will be the first time for him to ride Rouge Eveil.

The picture isn’t quite complete without mentioning Struve, a 5-year-old gelding who has won his last three races, the latest being the Grade 2 Meguro Kinen over 2,500 meters at Tokyo in May. Trained by Noriyuki Hori, Struve will be ridden by Australian jockey Damian Lane, and every time a foreign jockey has ridden the horse, he’s been led into the winner’s enclosure.

Hong Kong’s Romantic Warrior demonstrated a powerful performance as race favorite to take this year’s Yasuda Kinen title which extended his G1 winning streak to five and eighth victory overall at this level. His G1 resume so far includes three consecutive Queen Elizabeth II Cup (2,000m) victories between 2022 and 2024, back-to-back Hong Kong Cup (2,000m) titles in 2022 and 2023, the Cox Plate (2,040m) in 2023, the Hong Kong Gold Cup (2,000m) and his first G1 victory at a mile in the Yasuda Kinen. The son of Acclamation becomes the fourth foreign winner after Heart Lake (1995), Fairy King Prawn (2000) and Bullish Luck (2006). The Yasuda Kinen victory is the first win in Japan for both trainer Chap Shing Shum and jockey James McDonald.

The race broke off with Dobune taking the leading spot and Win Carnelian pressing the pace on his outside. Romantic Warrior, breaking from stall seven, was settled comfortably in sixth and two-wide. The multiple G1 champion struggled briefly for room in early stretch but once a clear path opened in front of him around 300 meters out, the son of Acclamation found his stride, taking command at the 200-meter pole and stormed home with incredible speed, holding off the fast-closing runner-up by half-a-length.

“It was a great moment (to win this race). I had been working on finding the right horse to bring here to race in Japan so it was really exciting and a happy moment. I have had connections with Japan both in business and also within the racing circle and I am grateful to have had the opportunity to race here this time. The racing track here is wide and very fair and beautiful. I had heard from my friends in Hong Kong about the big fan base in Japan but it was even more than I expected and I feel that they are very enthusiastic. I understand that the Japanese horses are very strong—last time in Hong Kong two Japanese horses nearly beat us and I’ve seen the Japanese horses racing in Dubai and in Australia so I know that they are of good quality. After this race, I think the horse should be quite tired, he’s had a big season so the option (to race in the Takarazuka Kinen) may not be a possibility this time,” commented owner Pak Fai Lau.

“I have a world-class jockey, James McDonald, he’s the champion jockey at the moment and I have every confidence in him. He loves Romantic Warrior and Romantic Warrior loves him—he does his best for him. I’ve been lucky to be given a lot of experience from Ivan Allan and travel with his horses to the Yasuda Kinen and the Japan Cup in the past. Romantic Warrior’s best distance is 2,000 meters but in Hong Kong, the straight is 400 meters where in Tokyo it’s 525 and the hill goes up at 350 meters and down and flat at 250, so you need a horse that can handle 1,800 meters at Tokyo. After discussing with the owner, we have decided that the horse should be given a rest so he won’t race anymore this season,” added trainer Chap Shing Shum.

“I’m just extremely proud, very honored to be traveling with such a good horse and to showcase him to such passionate racing fans. The whole team had done a very very good job. The race went perfectly as planned—we had a plan of being in the first half of the field—he enabled us to sit in a very comfortable position throughout. Before the start he was a bit fresh and above himself so I felt that he was definitely on the job and as always, he was there when I asked him for a supreme effort. Once he hit the front with 200 meters to run, it was going to have to be a good horse to go pass him because there’s not many who can go pass him when he’s in full flight with a furlong to go. He’s a proven champion, he’s won one of the toughest races in Australia in the Cox Plate, he’s won two Hong Kong Cups taking on strong opposition and now has come to Japan and won a mile race, a little bit shorter than his best distance. He always rises to the occasion and that’s the beauty of this horse, he’s got a heart of a lion and tremendous ability,” said jockey James McDonald.

Namur broke nicely and unrushed but not too far behind the mid-field group, shifted out and circled wide to secure a clear path on the outside into the straight and unleased a fine turn of speed, the fastest over the last three furlongs, to reach contention outside Soul Rush with a furlong to go and out-finished that foe by a nose for second, while 1/2 length short of the winner.

Soul Rush sat in mid-division keeping an eye on the eventual winner, a few lengths in front. Gradually picking up speed over the giving ground with about 300 meters to go, the son of Rulership closed in impressively but was unable to match the winner and nosed out at the wire by Namur, finishing third.

Sent off eighth pick, Hong Kong’s other contender Voyage Bubble also broke well and traveled on the heels of the eventual winner in around seventh. In good striking position, this year’s G1 Stewards’ Cup champion shifted to an outer path entering the lane and remained a factor but ran out of steam in the last 300 meters and faded to 17th.

“He had a good round—he was in a good spot just outside Romantic Warrior but he just didn’t fire in the straight. It’s twice now he’s gone left-handed, and he’s performed poorly both times so I think left-handed is not really suitable for him—we’ll get him back down right-handed. He’s handled soft ground in Hong Kong before. He traveled well and his actions were fine so I don’t think the track was an excuse for us. The barrier draw didn’t make a difference as well,” commented jockey Zachary Purton.

Other Horses:
4th: (2) Gaia Force—hugged rails in mid-field, boxed in entering straight, managed to escape following winner, good effort
5th: (17) Serifos—settled third from rear early, followed Namur to reach contention
6th: (4) Geoglyph—among front runners while saving ground, checked behind horses 200m out
7th: (12) Fierce Pride—prominent early and into straight, appeared to inherit lead but soon out-rallied
8th: (16) Elton Barows—in mid division along rails, slow to find clearing at straight while showing effort
9th: (13) Stella Veloce—moved up quickly soon after start to join front runners, weakened 200m out
10th: (8) Air Lolonois—traveled fourth from rear, rallied with Red Mon Reve to wire, finished willingly
11th: (3) Red Mon Reve—trailed in rear, showed effort in stretch but never reached contention
12th: (14) Corepetiteur—settled 2nd from rear, even paced at stretch
13th: (9) Parallel Vision—sat in mid-division, chased winner into stretch, lacked needed response
14th: (11) Win Carnelian—pressed pace in second, briefly took over lead in early stretch, gave way in last furlong
15th: (18) Danon Scorpion—lost ground taking widest route in mid-pack, nothing left in straight
16th: (1) Catedral—saved ground fifth from rear, shifted paths in stretch for late run, came up empty
18th: (6) Dobune—set pace into stretch, caught 300 meters out, used up from early efforts

The five weeks of top-level action at Tokyo Racecourse finally come to an end this coming Sunday (June 2), when the Grade 1 Yasuda Kinen will round out the feature races that have attracted so much attention these past few weeks, and have given racing fans a glimpse of what to expect in the latter half of the year.

This Sunday’s Grade 1 Yasuda Kinen promises to be something special too, with two of Hong Kong’s best horses traveling over for the race. Bidding to give Hong Kong its third win in the race, after wins by Fairy King Prawn (2000) and Bullish Luck (2006), Romantic Warrior and Voyage Bubble will do battle with the Japanese horses over the distance of a mile on the turf course at Tokyo.

The race was first run in 1951, and was named after the first president of the JRA, Izaemon Yasuda. It became a Grade 1 race in 1984, and an international Grade 1 in 1993, since when it has attracted over 50 horses from overseas. There are 18 nominations for this year’s Grade 1 Yasuda Kinen, which will have a maximum 18 runner field, and the race is open to 3-year-olds and up, with the latter set to carry 54kg, while 4-year-olds and above carry 58kg. Fillies and mares receive a 2kg allowance.

The last 10 years have seen just two first favorites win the race, with the last one to do so being Maurice in 2015. During the same time period, 4-year-olds have been the most successful with five wins, and the last 3-year-old to win was Real Impact in 2011. Record time for the race was set by Indy Champ in 2019, when he won in a time of 1 minute, 30.9 seconds. This year’s winner’s check is JPY180 million (just over USD1 million), and the winner also receives an automatic entry to the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Mile later this year.

A number of horses go into this Sunday’s race having run in the Grade 2 Yomiuri Milers Cup, run at Kyoto in April, and the Grade 1 Victoria Mile, run at Tokyo earlier this month.

The 74th running of the Grade 1 Yasuda Kinen will be Race 11 on this Sunday’s card at Tokyo, and post time is 15:40 locally. The final declarations and the barrier draw will be available later in the week.

Here’s a look at some of the Japanese horses set to take on the race:

Soul Rush: Expected to be one of the top picks among the Japanese runners, the 6-year-old by Rulership might not have tasted success at the very top level, but it’s not for the lack of trying. Finishing fourth in last December’s Grade 1 Hong Kong Mile, his one run this year in Japan saw him win the Grade 2 Yomiuri Milers Cup at Kyoto in April. Assistant trainer Yuki Iwasaki said: “He ran a strong race last time, even without having blinkers on, and it was good that he didn’t need to rely on the running rail. He came out of the race well, and after a stay at the farm, things have been as usual with him back at the stable.” Giving another boost to Soul Rush’s chances is the booking of Joao Moreira for the ride.

Serifos: Jockey Yuga Kawada and trainer Mitsumasa Nakauchida team up with Serifos in Sunday’s race, and the horse has finished 4th and 2nd in the past two years of the Grade 1 Yasuda Kinen. Assistant trainer Taku Fukunaga commented: “He might not have been in the very best condition for his last race, but he still put in a good run. He’s been at the stable since, and there weren’t any problems after his last race. There are strong horses in this next Grade 1, but he did finish second in the race last year, and he has won over a mile at Tokyo.” Serifos finished second to Soul Rush last time in the Grade 2 Yomiuri Milers Cup, and will be looking to reverse the placings.

Namur: After a couple of good runs in Hong Kong and Dubai, Namur was sent off the second favorite for the recent Grade 1 Victoria Mile in Japan, but could only manage eighth in that race. She doesn’t always get off to the best of starts, as trainer Tomokazu Takano explained: “She can get restless in the gate, and it doesn’t help her jump smoothly,” the trainer said. “Her front legs can go up, and it means her timing isn’t smooth at the start. In the Victoria Mile, she ended up settling at the rear and found a good rhythm, but from the final corner she wasn’t able to run on well in the way that she usually does.” Yutaka Take once again rides the 5-year-old mare Namur.

Elton Barows: The 4-year-old by Deep Brillante is one of two likely runners for trainer Haruki Sugiyama, and the horse’s last race was in the Grade 1 Champions Mile in Hong Kong in April, where he finished eighth. The trainer commented: “I’d have liked him to have run on good ground last time, but he still ran quite a good race. After returning to Japan and seeing out quarantine, he’s been at Tokyo Racecourse, where he’s recovered his condition and is getting back to himself again.”

Gaia Force: Also trained by Haruki Sugiyama, Gaia Force was tried in the Grade 1 February Stakes last time, and put in a very good run to finish second, in what was the 5-year-old’s first run on dirt. Comments from the trainer were: “Last time I thought we’d try him over a mile on dirt at Tokyo, and he ran very well. He returned to the stable not long ago after a break with an injury, and he’s been his usual self since. He’s been moving very well in his recent training.”

Parallel Vision: It is two wins from two starts in 2024 for the 5-year-old, with the latest win coming in the Grade 3 Lord Derby Challenge Trophy over a mile at Nakayama in March. His raw form looks good, even though he has never run above Grade 2 level. Trainer Sakae Kunieda said: “We’ve tried racing him on dirt, but turf looks to be best for him. It was a good race last time, when he jumped well from the gate and got into a good rhythm. He had a break at the farm after that race, with this being his next target.” Christophe Lemaire will ride Parallel Vision, and he has won on the horse five times already.

Geoglyph: Although he hasn’t won since the Grade 1 Satsuki Sho in 2022, Geoglyph is always being tried in different races, including overseas, and more than not he’s never too far off the mark. His last race was the Grade 1 Osaka Hai in March, when he finished fifth over the 2,000 meters of the race. Assistant trainer Yu Ota commented: “The distance of the Osaka Hai was a bit of a challenge for him, but he ran well. Just recently in training, he’s shown that he can improve more, and one thing is to try and keep him from throwing his head around too much.”

Stella Veloce: The 6-year-old is quite versatile when it comes to distance, and has some fair form at Tokyo, so he’s one not to overlook, even in this strong field. He was last seen finishing fourth in the Grade 1 Osaka Hai over 2,000 meters at Hanshin in March, and unlike some of the other runners, he will have had more time between races. Trainer Naosuke Sugai said: “He ran behind the main leading group of horses last time, but still got a good result in the end. He’s had a nice break in Hokkaido, and has come back in good shape. In a recent piece of work on the uphill, he posted a time of 50.7 seconds over four furlongs.”

Red Mon Reve: The 5-year-old by Lord Kanaloa has produced some good results over a mile, and in his last race he finished second in the Grade 2 Keio Hai Spring Cup over 1,400 meters at Tokyo just recently. Comments from assistant trainer Daisuke Tsumagari were: “He didn’t break particularly well last time, but was able to make up for it with a good finish. In the Nakayama Kinen, he lost his concentration and he couldn’t get a finish in. The key is for him to be able to show his turn of foot, and he seems to have to be in the right state of mind to do that.”