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Regaleira wins this year’s Arima Kinen at Nakayama.
Conquering a nail-biting fierce duel to the finish line, fifth favorite Regaleira became the second three-year-old filly to dominate the "All-Star" race since Star Roch in 1960. Beating a stellar field which included nine G1 winners, the Suave Richard filly had been winless since claiming the Hopeful Stakes (G1, 2,000m) last year, finishing sixth in the Satsuki Sho (Japanese 2000 Guineas, G1, 2,000m) and fifth in the Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby, G1, 2,400m) against male opponents this spring. After a fifth in her first start of the autumn season, the Rose Stakes (G2, 2,000m), she was fifth again in her latest outing, the Queen Elizabeth II Cup (G1, 2,200m) on November 10. Trainer Tetsuya Kimura, who won the Arima Kinen with Equinox in 2022, scored his 11th JRA-G1 victory following this year's Shuka Sho with Cervinia. Jockey Keita Tosaki, who took the reins of the filly for the first time on this Grand Prix stage, registered his 13th G1 title, his latest being the Satsuki Sho with Justin Milano, and second Arima Kinen victory after Gentildonna in 2014.
Regaleira was settled off the pace in fifth to sixth the first time in front of the stands with 10th favorite Shahryar traveling two to three lengths behind in mid-division. After steadily cruising down the backstretch, Shahryar gradually made headway from the outside before the third corner while the Suave Richard filly also made bid and slightly shifted out for clear sailing at the final turn. Entering the straight in third, the eventual winner was immediately challenged by the six-year-old son of Deep Impact who emerged from the outside and after both unleashed a furious drive and a head-to-head battle all the way to the wire while picking off the tired pacesetter 50 meters out, it was Regaleira who won by a whisker in a breath-taking photo finish.
"I knew a good break was crucial but although we might have been a tad late, we were able to sit in a good position and maintain a smooth run in good rhythm. She responded well but the competition was so strong, I couldn't tell at all crossing the wire who'd won. I just want to express my heartfelt gratitude to the connections of the filly for giving me the opportunity to ride her today," commented Keita Tosaki after the race.
Second pick and this year's Tokyo Yushun champion Danon Decile took the front from the innermost stall to set the slow pace and maintained the lead until 50 meters out but was overtaken by the fast-closing Regaleira and Shahryar while securing third place by half a length.
Race favorite Urban Chic missed his break but quickly improved position to sit on the rails in mid-pack. Although hitting the stretch in good striking position, the three-year-old chestnut struggled in climbing the hill and finished sixth.
Other Horses:
4th: (5) Bellagio Opera—stalked leader in 2nd, failed to catch pacesetter and overtaken by top 2
finishers
5th: (11) Justin Palace—ran around 9th, bumped at early stretch, showed effort thereafter
7th: (6) Rousham Park—settled around 12th, advanced and angled out for stretch run, passed
rivals
8th: (13) Stunning Rose—sat wide around 6th, failed to find another gear at stretch
9th: (14) Danon Beluga—trailed in rear, circled wide, timed tied fastest over last 600m but
belatedly
10th: (12) Struve—positioned wide around 12th, lacked needed kick
11th: (10) Prognosis—broke poorly, raced near rear, even paced at stretch
12th: (4) Blow the Horn—saved ground around 10th, unable to reach contention
13th: (9) Deep Bond—traveled wide around 3rd, driven after 3rd corner but outrun at stretch
14th: (7) Stars on Earth—hugged rails around 5th, dropped back after 3rd corner
15th: (15) Hayayakko—advanced to 4th approaching 2nd corner, faded after 4th corner
Scratched: (2) Do Deuce—lameness in right foreleg
