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The Osaka Hai will stage a line-up of top turf runners of all ages beginning with a tough group of four-year-olds.
Last season’s three-year-old group upstaged their senior rivals by claiming the majority of fall G1 majors, including the Mile Championship (G1, 1,600m), the Japan Cup, the Champions Cup and the Arima Kinen. This year they are likely to continue dominating into their four-year-old seasons. The Osaka Hai on March 31 will stage a line-up of top turf runners of all ages beginning with a tough group of four-year-olds, including Arima Kinen champion Blast Onepiece (JPN, C4, by Harbinger), who could be targeted at the Arc depending on how his spring campaign progresses.
Wagnerian (JPN, C4, by Deep Impact), who out-finished Blast Onepiece in the Tokyo Yushun, proceeded to win the Kobe Shimbun Hai (G2, 2,400m) in his fall debut but was turned out for the rest of the season to recover properly and start fresh into his four-year-old season, which begins with the Osaka Hai.
Stelvio (JPN, C4, by Lord Kanaloa), fourth and eighth in his two classic starts, demonstrated his best form over a mile when the 2017 Asahi Hai Futurity Stakes (G1, 1,600m) runner-up claimed his first G1 title against his seniors in the Mile Championship last fall. Meanwhile, Epoca d’Oro (JPN, C4, by Orfevre) won the Satsuki Sho (Japanese 2000 Guineas, G1, 2,000m) and was also a close second in the Tokyo Yushun. In the fall, however, he was unable to maintain his form, finishing fourth and eighth, and then was given the rest of season off after the Kikuka Sho (Japanese St. Leger, G1, 3,000m). Both Stelvio and Epoca d’Orokicked off their four-year-old seasons in the Nakayama Kinen, collecting a third and a fifth, respectively.
The 2017 Kikuka Sho winner Kiseki (JPN, H5, by Rulership) remains one of the most consistent five-year-olds, having finished third in the Tenno Sho (Autumn) and second in the Japan Cup. Other Osaka Hai starters from the five-year-old group include Al Ain (JPN, H5, by Deep Impact) and Persian Knight (JPN, H5, by Harbinger), winners of the Satsuki Sho and the Mile Championship, respectively, during their three-year-old seasons. Both horses also ran in the Kinko Sho, finishing fourth and fifth, respectively, along with 2018 Tenno Sho (Autumn) runner-up Sungrazer (JPN, H5, by Deep Impact) and multiple grade-race winners Danburite (JPN, H5, by Rulership) and Stiffelio (JPN, H5, by Stay Gold).
Mozu Katchan (JPN, M5, by Harbinger), the 2017 Queen Elizabeth II Cup winner, was unable to recover after finishing ninth in the Kinko Sho and will pass up her entry in the Osaka Hai.
Although 2016 Best Three-Year-Old Colt Satono Diamond (JPN, by Deep Impact) and last year’s Takarazuka Kinen (G1, 2,200m) victor Mikki Rocket (JPN, by King Kamehameha) have both retired to stud, derby winner Makahiki (JPN, H6, by Deep Impact) remains in training to face the aforementioned younger age group in the Osaka Hai, coming off a third-place finish in the Kyoto Kinen (G2, 2,200m) on February 10.
In addition to the Osaka Hai runners headed for the Tenno Sho (Spring) on April 28 as their next target, other probable starters in the race include Glory Vase (JPN, C4, by Deep Impact), winner of this year’s Nikkei Shinshun Hai (G2, 2,400m) on January 13, and Sciacchetra (JPN, H6, by Manhattan Cafe), who kicked off the year with a win in the American Jockey Club Cup and turned in an overwhelming five-length victory in the Hanshin Daishoten (G2, 3,000m) on March 17.
Fierement (JPN, C4, by Deep Impact), 2018 Kikuka Sho champion, kicked off his 2019 season with a runner-up effort in the American Jockey Club Cup (G2, 2,200m) on January 20. While 2018 Kikuka Sho third-place You Can Smile (JPN, C4, by King Kamehameha) will come off his first graded win in the Diamond Stakes (G3, 3,400m) on February 16, Etario (JPN, C4, by Stay Gold), runner-up in the 2018 Kikuka Sho, is expected to come off his four-year-old season kick-off, the Nikkei Sho (G2, 2,500m) on March 23, prior to the Tenno Sho (Spring).
The JRA’s turf G1 begins with the Takamatsunomiya Kinen (G1, 1,200m) on March 24 at Chukyo Racecourse. Last year’s champion and 2018 Best Sprinter or Miler Fine Needle (JPN, by Admire Moon) has retired from racing, so attention has shifted to Danon Smash (JPN, C4, by Lord Kanaloa). The four-year-old, since stepping down in distance to 1,200 meters last summer, has proved successful with back-to-back graded victories in the Keihan Hai (G3, 1,200m) on November 25 and the Silk Road Stakes (G3, 1,200m) on January 27.
The field will also include 2017 Takamatsunomiya Kinen winner Seiun Kosei (JPN, H6, by Admire Moon), who finished 15th in his 2019 kick-off in the Silk Road Stakes; Dea Regalo (JPN, M5, by Manhattan Cafe), who registered her first grade-race title in the Kyoto Himba Stakes (G3, 1,400m) on February 16; last year’s Takamatsunomiya Kinen runner-up Let’s Go Donki (JPN, M7, by King Kamehameha), who is coming off a second in the Hankyu Hai (G3, 1,400m) on February 24; and Mozu Superflare (USA, F4, by Speightstown) and Nac Venus (JPN, M6, by Daiwa Major), who finished first and second, respectively, in the Ocean Stakes (G3, 1,200m) on March 2.
The Victoria Mile (G1, 1,600m) on May 12 for four-year-old-and-up fillies/mares is without the now-retired defending champion, Jour Polaire (JPN, by Deep Impact), and last year’s runner-up Lys Gracieux, who will be away in Hong Kong. This will raise the chances for Aerolithe (JPN, M5, by Kurofune), fourth last year and a G1 winner in the 2017 NHK Mile Cup, who hopes to bounce back from her ninth-place finish in the Pegasus World Cup Turf (G1, 1,900m) in the USA on January 26. The Kurofune (JPN, by French Deputy) mare has a record of 3-2-0 out of six starts at Tokyo Racecourse.
Also aiming for a second G1 title in the Victoria Mile is Lucky Lilac (JPN, F4, by Orfevre), the 2017 Best Two-Year-Old Filly, who was winless in her three-year-old fillies’ Triple Crown last year, finishing no higher than second in the Oka Sho (Japanese 1000 Guineas, G1, 1,600m). The Orfevre (JPN, by Stay Gold) filly was second in the Nakayama Kinen, her first start of this season. Four-time graded winner Miss Panthere (JPN, M5, by Daiwa Major) finished fifth in the Kyoto Himba Stakes (G3, 1,400m) on February 16. Both Lucky Lilac and Miss Panthere will be starting in the Hanshin Himba Stakes (G2, 1,600m) on April 6.
Frontier Queen (JPN, M6, by Meisho Samson), winner of the Nakayama Himba Stakes (G3, 1,800m) on March 9, is scheduled to head towards the Victoria Mile. Connections of 2017 Victoria Mile champion Admire Lead (JPN, M6, by Stay Gold) announced her retirement following the Stay Gold (JPN, by Sunday Silence) mare’s 10th-place finish in the Nayakayama Himba Stakes.
Last year’s Yasuda Kinen (G1, 1,600m) champion Mozu Ascot (USA, H5, by Frankel) was defeated to 13th due to disadvantages in the fall Mile Championship and was seventh in the following Hong Kong Mile. The son of Frankel (GB, by Galileo) is hoped to pick up his form this year beginning with the Milers Cup on April 21 or the Keio Hai Spring Cup (G2, 1,400m) on May 11. Smart Odin (JPN, H6, by Danon Chantilly), who scored his fourth grade-race title in the Hankyu Hai, will also run in the Keio Hai Spring Cup prior to the Yasuda Kinen on June 2.
Meanwhile, 2017 Best Two-Year-Old Colt Danon Premium (JPN, C4, by Deep Impact), who was sidelined with a hoof problem after finishing sixth in the Tokyo Yushun last year, will be stepping down in distance. After a dominating performance in his comeback start, the Kinko Sho, he will pass up the Osaka Hai in favor of the Milers Cup in mid-April and then head for the Yasuda Kinen.
The Yasuda Kinen is expected to include runners from the Osaka Hai as well, including Stelvio, Persian Knight and Al Ain. Aerolithe is also expected to aim for the title after her start in the Victoria Mile. Other possible Yasuda Kinen starters include Pax Americana (JPN, C4, by Kurofune), winner of the Kyoto Kimpai (G3, 1,600m) on January 5, Indy Champ (JPN, C4, by Stay Gold), winner of the Tokyo Shimbun Hai (G3, 1,600m) on February 3, and 2018 NHK Mile Cup (G1, 1,600m) winner Keiai Nautique (JPN, C4, by Deep Impact)—with all three colts slated to run in the Milers Cup in April prior to the Yasuda Kinen.
Oju Chosan (JPN, H8, by Stay Gold), the three-time (2016-2018) Best Steeplechase Horse, switched to flat racing following his victory in the Nakayama Grand Jump (J-G1, 4,250m) and was not disgraced when beaten to ninth in the “All-Star” Arima Kinen. The history-making jumper made his 2019 comeback over obstacles and landed his 10th graded title in the Hanshin Spring Jump (J-G2, 3,900m) on March 9. He will aim for a fourth title in the Nakayama Grand Jump on April 13.
Nihonpiro Baron (JPN, H9, by Fusaichi Richard), who won the Nakayama Daishogai (J-G1, 4,100m) last December in Oju Chosan’s absence and will make his first start since then in the Nakayama Grand Jump, will face the defending champion against whom he finished third last year.
The first JRA-G1 event of the season, the February Stakes, was won by Inti (JPN, H5, by Came Home), who came off a six-race winning streak to out-finish 2017 Best Dirt Horse Gold Dream (JPN, H6, by Gold Allure) by a neck, landing him his first G1 title. Inti and Gold Dream will join 2018 Best Dirt Horse Le Vent Se Leve (JPN, C4, by Symboli Kris S), who passed up the February Stakes with a minor problem in his left foreleg, in the Kashiwa Kinen (Dirt 1,600m) on May 6 and then the Teio Sho (dirt, 2,000) on June 26.
