Japan Horse Racing Tips-Umanity.jp

On Sunday, Dec. 28, with the Hopeful Stakes scheduled for the previous day, racegoers can welcome the Grade 1 Arima Kinen (The Grand Prix) back to its traditional spot as the year’s final big bang.

The site is Nakayama Racecourse and a full gate of 16 from 22 nominees is expected in the 70th running of the iconic race, as they vie over 2,500 meters of turf for Japan’s biggest purse. It is one that matches that of the Japan Cup with a first-place prize of JPY500 million and a total value of JPY1.09 billion.

The Arima Kinen field is chosen in part by fan balloting and this year the No. 1 pick - last year’s winner Regaleira - received over 612,700 votes from fans (more than three times what she had last year) as the horse they most wanted to see compete.

Regaleira, and five more from the fans’ Top 10 choices have been included in the nominees. They are Meisho Tabaru (the fans’ No. 4 pick), Justin Palace (No. 6 in the balloting), Museum Mile (No. 7), Danon Decile (No. 8) and Redentor (No. 10).

Run over the Nakayama inner course, the iconic race starts at the end of the backstretch on a part of the outer course just before the far bend. With the field immediately having to jockey for position, horses drawn wide are at something of a disadvantage (the reason behind the Arima maximum field of only 16).

The field passes before the grandstand and circles around once again. A slope in the homestretch begins 200 meters before the finish line and rises two meters in less than 150 meters. The ground continues to rise halfway through the turn into the backstretch, then it’s all downhill until just before the turn off the backstretch where it more or less flattens until the homestretch again. The two laps and the second hill at the end make for an especially challenging test of skill and stamina.

The Arima Kinen is open to 3 year olds and up, including geldings. The two 3-year-old colts and two females expected in the final lineup this year will carry 56kg each, with the rest of the field racing under 58kg. Post time is 15:40 locally for the Arima Kinen, the 11th race on the Sunday card of 12 at Nakayama.

Here’s a look at those horses gaining attention:



Regaleira: The Suave Richard-sired Regaleira just clinched her third G1 victory, the Queen Elizabeth II Cup on Nov. 16, adding to her wins of the 2023 Hopeful Stakes and last year’s Arima Kinen. After last year becoming the first 3-year-old filly in 64 years to win the Arima Kinen, Regaleira was discovered to have suffered a fracture. She didn’t race again until the June 15 Takarazuka Kinen, where she finished in 11th place, her first double-digit result. Back in the winner’s circle three months later in the Grade 2 Sankei Sho All Comers over 2,200 meters at Nakayama, then she landed the QEII Cup at Kyoto. If she can notch a second win in a row of the Arima Kinen, Regaleira will join only four other horses that have done so - Speed Symboli (Japan’s first runner in the Arc), Triple Crown champion Symboli Rudolf, Grass Wonder and Symboli Kris S. Regaleira also would become the very first filly/mare to land back-to-back Arima Kinen victories. Last year, the filly was paired with Keita Tosaki, but this year her expected partner will be Christophe Lemaire, currently atop the jockey rankings with a total 138 firsts, seven wins ahead of second-place Tosaki.



Danon Decile: A 4-year-old old son of Epiphaneia, Danon Decile has two wins from four starts this year. He has landed two G1s thus far (the Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby) at Tokyo and the Dubai Sheema Classic at Meydan, and has only missed the board once in his career. Third here last year and coming off a third-place finish in the Japan Cup three months after returning from England, the big chestnut has had an extremely demanding schedule, especially with the effort it took to finish a mere 0.5 seconds behind the record-setting Calandagan in the Japan Cup. Danon Decile also had to deal with Masquerade Ball crashing into him after the two had passed the finish line, in what was a bizarre confrontation that unseated both Christophe Lemaire and Keita Tosaki. Tosaki, who has ridden Danon Decile’s last four starts, is expected up on Sunday.



Museum Mile: This year’s Satsuki Sho (Japanese 2000 Guineas) champion, Museum Mile, is by 2015 Asahi Futurity Stakes winner Leontes, whose promising racing career was cut short by tendonitis in his 3-year-old year. Son Museum Mile is eyeing his second big title. In his three starts following the Satsuki Sho, Museum Mile was 6-2 at the top level, first in the Japanese Derby and, in the Tenno Sho (Autumn), where he competed against older horses for his first time. In between those two big tests, he won the Grade 2 St. Lite Kinen over 2,200 meters at Nakayama. Having passed on the last of the 3-year-old classics, the Arima Kinen will be his longest race (by 100 meters) to date. The colt is said to be in good condition, filled out and fresh.



Meisho Tabaru: A 4-year-old Gold Ship colt, Meisho Tabaru, returned early this year from a fifth place in the Grade 1 Dubai Turf, took the lead characteristically in the Grade 1 Takarazuka Kinen and held it all the way home, landing on his fourth attempt the first big win of his career. Following the Takarazuka Kinen, Meisho Tabaru returned in the fall and took on the Tenno Sho (Autumn) and finished in sixth place. His five career wins have all come in the 1,800-2,200 range and key will be whether he can follow in his sire’s footsteps and land the Arima Kinen.


Justin Palace: Winner of the Grade 1 Tenno Sho (Spring) in 2023 and second in two other top-level competitions, the now 6-year-old Justin Palace heads into his fourth bid in the Arima Kinen. He went to the Arima from the Kikuka Sho in 2022, from the Tenno Sho (Autumn) in 2023, but over the last two years the demand doubled in his fall campaign. Three big events were on his menu this year and last year, the Ritto-based son of Deep Imact went from the Tenno Sho (Autumn) to the Japan Cup to the Arima Kinen. Last year, he was 4-5 heading in, this year it’s 3-5. This will be Justince Palace’s retirement race. Jockey Taisei Danno, who took the reins in this year’s Tenno Sho (Autumn), is expected up.



Shin Emperor: Second in the 2023 Hopeful Stakes, 5-3 in the first two classics the following year, Shin Emperor is another of those who have come so close but have failed to land a big title. After the Japanese Derby, the French-born colt was off to Ireland, then France, posting 3-12 in the top level Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown and the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp. Following a second in the Japan Cup last year, it was decided to take him abroad again and the Yoshito Yahagi-trained son of Siyouni picked up his first overseas win, the Grade 2 Neom Turf in Riyadh in late February. He then missed the board again in the Dubai Sheema Classic (7th place), and in the Irish Champion Stakes (6th place), before returning to Japan. Only two months and-some later, he scored an eighth in the Japan Cup, where he was in part disadvantaged by a wide draw. He is tough, tenacious and gutsy, but whether Shin Emperor can rise to the heights while being whisked all over the globe and challenged by one big test after another, remains to be seen.



Others to watch:



Tthe 4-year-old Admire Terra gave himself a 58-kg handicap when he tripped and dumped Yuga Kawada at the Japan Cup break. Sired by 2018 Arima runnerup Rey de Oro, Admire Terra has made the board in all his 10 legitimate finishes, placed third in the Kikuka Sho last year, and won the 2,500-meter G2 Meguro Kinen this year. Kawada may get a better chance at the pot this time around.
Tastiera heads into his third start this autumn since winning the Queen Elizabeth II Cup in Hong Kong in the spring. He scored a lackluster 8-7 in the Tenno Sho (Autumn) and Japan Cup, where he ran into trouble with the freewheeling Admire Terra. Interference in the final stage was also a factor in his sixth-place finish in the 2023 Arima. With a smooth trip, he should run better.

Second favorite Cavallerizzo claimed the Asahi Hai Futurity Stakes to become the two-year-old champion miler of 2025. The son of Saturnalia broke his maiden in his debut start in late August (Chukyo, 1,600m) and was runner-up to race favorite Admire Quads in his most recent Daily Hai Nisai Stakes (Kyoto, G2, 1,600m) start on November 15. Trainer Tatsuya Yoshioka scored his second JRA-G1 title following last year’s Takarazuka Kinen with Blow the Horn, while jockey Cristian Demuro, who is riding in Japan under a short-term license since November 1, registered his sixth G1 title, his latest being the 2024 Queen Elizabeth II Cup with Stunning Rose. This win gives Cavallerizzo’s sire Saturnalia, the 2019 Satsuki Sho (Japanese 2000 Guineas) champion who stands at stud since 2021, his first G1 victory.

On yielding ground, Cavallerizzo was settled in midfield on the outside of Ecoro Alba running on the rails and behind Corteo Soleil as the field approached the final turns. As the field fanned out and still in a two wide position at the top of the stretch, Cristian Demuro, instead of shifting out, guided his mount to surge through an opening on the rails. With only the pacesetter Diamond Knot to beat by the 200-meter pole, the son of Saturnalia closed powerfully with the fastest late speed to overtake the leader just before the wire for a 3/4-length victory.

“After a normal start, I had a good position behind Yuga (Kawada). In the last corner I had a little bit of a trouble with another horse next to me but when I asked my horse to go inside, he had a good reaction, a good turn of foot. Christophe (Lemaire) was trying to escape but my horse was very strong in the end,” commented Cristian Demuro after the race.

Fifth pick Diamond Knot broke sharply to set the pace putting a length and a half between himself and the rest of the field by the 800-meter marker. The son of Bricks and Mortar stubbornly held on to his lead up to the final strides but gave way to the fast-closing winner for second place.

Breaking moderately from a wide gate, Admire Quads was unhurried sitting in fourth from the rear before advancing rapidly from the outside before the last turn, making a wide bid into the lane. While the runners in front gradually tired, the race favorite closed from the outside and drew even to briefly rally with Ecoro Alba in the last 50 meters but dug in with another gear in the last strides to secure third.

Other Horses:
4th: (3) Ecoro Alba—raced wide around 10th, showed effort but outrun by Admire Quads before wire
5th: (13) Realize Sirius—settled wide around 4th, lacked needed kick
6th: (1) Good Piece—keen to go early, ran around 4th, weakened in last 100m
7th: (2) White Orchid—saved ground in 12th, passed tired rivals in last 300m
8th: (6) Tagano Aralia—tracked leader in 3rd, sustained bid until 200m pole
9th: (5) Storm Thunder—trailed in rear, showed belated charge
10th: (4) Cosmo Red—unhurried in 13th, unable to reach contention
11th: (7) Corteo Soleil—sat around 4th, boxed in at early stretch, dropped back
12th: (11) Kakuuchi—chased leader in 2nd, faded after 300m out
13th: (14) Red Ligare—ran wide around 7th, checked at top of stretch, showed little
14th: (9) Spe Luce—traveled wide around 8th, met traffic at early stretch, failed to fire

It’s the turn of the 2-year-old colts this coming Sunday (December 21), following on from the fillies last week. The Grade 1 Asahi Hai Futurity Stakes continues the watch on Japan’s latest stars in the making, when it will be run at Hanshin Racecourse over 1,600 meters on the outer turf course (the same as last week’s Grade 1 Hanshin Juvenile Fillies).
First run back in 1949 at Nakayama over 1,100 meters, it was then known as the Asahi Hai Sansai Stakes. The distance was changed to 1,200 meters in 1959, and it was finally extended to 1,600 meters - the distance of the race today - in 1962. It became a Grade 1 race in1984 and got its current name in 2001. Runners from overseas were permitted in 2010, and the switch to Hanshin came in 2014. The race returns to Hanshin this year, after renovations at the track last year meant the race was run at Kyoto.
No geldings are allowed to run in the race, and all colts will carry the set weight of 56kg, with just a 1kg allowance for any fillies that connections decide to run. The race is aimed at horses that look suited to a mile, with the extended trip of the Grade 1 Hopeful Stakes the following week, set up for runners expected to stay over the distance of that race at Nakayama, which is 2,000 meters, the same course and distance as next year’s Grade 1 Satsuki Sho (Japanese 2000 Guineas).
The 77th running of the Asahi Hai Futurity Stakes has attracted 18 nominations for a maximum 18 runner line-up. It’s a tough race for the youngsters, with the rise in the homestraight just before the winning post. Recent big-name winners of the race have included Do Deuce (2021) and Jantar Mantar (2023). Just three first favorites have won in the past ten years (Jantar Mantar was the last one), and Grenadier Guards holds the race record for the race at Hanshin, when he won in a time of 1 minute 32.3 seconds in 2020. Jockey Yuga Kawada has won the race four times in the last decade, and Ritto-trained runners certainly have the upper hand, with eight wins in that same time period. This year’s winner’s check is JPY 70 million (around USD 450,000).
Many of the runners in this year’s Grade 1 Asahi Hai Futurity Stakes are coming off runs in various graded races for 2-year-olds, run at Tokyo, Kyoto and Niigata in the past few months. Final declarations and the barrier draw will be available later in the week. This Sunday’s big race will be race 11 on the Hanshin card, with a post time of 15.40 in Japan.
Here’s a look at some of the up-and-coming colts expected to feature in the race:

Admire Quads: The unbeaten colt by Real Steel is trained by Yasuo Tomomichi, who has already won this Grade 1 three times, including last year with Admire Zoom. Admire Quads won on his debut at Tokyo over a mile in October, and followed that up with an impressive win in record time in the Grade 2 Daily Hai Nisai Stakes, run over a mile at Kyoto in November. He’s since had a refreshing break at the farm. The colt worked on the woodchip course at Ritto over six furlongs with two other horses on December 11, clocking 11.2 seconds for the final furlong. Jockey Ryusei Sakai has struck up a good partnership with him, and thinks he’s improved since his second race, and that the Hanshin mile will be fine for him. Admire Quads runs in the colors of owner Junko Kondo.

Realize Sirius: Also unbeaten in two starts, the Shadai Farm-bred colt by Poetic Flare won on his first start at Tokyo over a mile back in June, and then ran out an easy winner of the Grade 3 Niigata Nisai Stakes over a mile in August. He’s been ridden up with the pace in both his starts. Jockey Akihide Tsumura has ridden the horse in his two easy victories so far, and retains the ride on the colt. “He seemed a bit heavy, possibly due to the ground, but he’s better for a recent piece of work, and is more relaxed now. He has a nice big stride. One thing will be how he handles the gate to get into a good rhythm,” the jockey said last week.

Ecoro Alba: His JPY 77 million price tag at the 2025 Chiba Thoroughbred Sale starts to look like it could be a bargain, with the son of Mozu Ascot also scoring two wins from his two career races. He won a newcomer race at Niigata over 1,400 meters in July, and then proceeded to win the Grade 3 Saudi Arabia Royal Cup over a mile at Tokyo in October, and the form of that race invariably works out very well. In both his wins, he recorded the fastest final three-furlong times. He is trained at the Miho Training Center by Yasuhito Tamura, and jockey Kohei Matsuyama will ride the colt for the first time. The trainer said recently: “He’s moving well, and his reactions are better now than at the time of the Saudi Arabia Royal Cup. It’ll be interesting to watch him run in this next race.”

Diamond Knot: The colt by Bricks and Mortar has had five starts so far, and he’s coming off a win in the Grade 2 Keio Hai Nisai Stakes over 1,400 meters at Tokyo in November. Trainer Yuichi Fukunaga commented: “His workload’s been good and there’s no big change with him. There’s an extra furlong to see out in the race this time, but hopefully with the help of the jockey, he’ll be able to do that.” The colt won his last race very easily over the 1,400 meters at Tokyo. Christophe Lemaire is the jockey on board, and Diamond Knot runs in the colors of Kaneko Makoto Holdings Co. Ltd.

Cavallerizzo: The colt won on his debut, with quite a bit in hand, over a mile at Chukyo in August, and then ran a very close second - beaten by just a head - to Admire Quads in the Grade 2 Daily Hai Nisai Stakes at Kyoto in November, a race run in record time. Trainer Tatsuya Yoshioka said: “Things have been fine with him in training. As for this next race, a couple of points will be for him to be relaxed, and to save enough during the run to use his speed at the end.” Cristian Demuro looks set to ride the son of Saturnalia, to try and reverse the placings with Admire Quads.

Tagano Aralia: It’s two wins from five starts for the colt by Mr Melody, and he’s coming off a one-win class victory over 1,400 meters at Kyoto in November, but it was such an easy win that the extended distance of a mile would seem to be no problem for him. Trainer Shota Nishizono said: “He’s been moving well in training, when you consider the going at the time he’s done his work. I’m not worried about him finding a good rhythm, and the mile should be fine for him.” Tagano Aralia will be ridden by America-based French rider, Florent Geroux, who’s still looking for his first win, riding in Japan on a short-term license.

Others among the nominations include Spe Luce, Corteo Soleil and Red Ligare. Spe Luce has a second and a first from two starts, with jockey Kosei Miura expected to ride, while Corteo Soleil has always been in the first three from his five starts, and Yuga Kawada has been booked for the ride on the colt by Win Bright. Red Ligare has had just the one start, and is coming off a maiden win over a mile at Kyoto in November.

Second favorite Star Anise claimed this year’s Hanshin Juvenile Fillies title while matching the race record of 1:32.6 over 1,600 meters. Foaled out of two-time graded winner Epice Arome, the daughter of Drefong was fifth in her debut in June (Kokura, 1,200m) and broke her maiden in July over the same track and distance before finishing second in her previous start, the Chukyo Nisai Stakes (Chukyo, G3, 1,400m) against male opponent in late August. Trainer Tomokazu Takano won his 11th JRA-G1 title following his victory with Jantar Mantar in the Mile Championship last month. Jockey Kohei Matsuyama, who had ridden this filly since her debut, scored his seventh G1 victory after this year’s NHK Mile Cup with Panja Tower.

Star Anise broke sharply but was eased back to about eighth between rivals behind a brisk pace. Shifted out to ensure a clear path approaching the third corner, the Drefong filly circled wide into the stretch, immediately picked up speed along the outside route, taking command passing the 200-meter pole, and continued strongly to fend off strong challenges from Garavogue and Taisei Vogue from the inside, stretching beautifully in the last strides for a 1-1/4-length victory.

“I am grateful to the connections for allowing me to have another shot with this strong filly at this big stage after being defeated in our last start, and also to the filly Star Anise herself for putting in such great effort to win this race. Although it was her first time at a mile distance, she gave me the impression that she’d be just fine after her last start over 1,400 meters. She has big jumping stride so that my main concern was the weather but (after the rain yesterday) it held up fine so luck was on our side. We were nearly stuck inside early in the race but, with a big stride like hers, I wanted her path to be clear and chose the outside route which worked out just as I had imagined. She responded beautifully and had enough in the tank to put in another effort in the end. The three-year-old triple crown awaits her with expectations next season. I just hope that she will arrive there safe and sound and it would be great if I can partner her again,” commented Kohei Matsuyama.

Garavogue, saved ground, further back than mid-pack, early. Although struggling to escape traffic soon after entering the stretch, the Lord Kanaloa filly turned in the fastest late kick under strong urgings from her rider, as soon as an opening presented itself between horses, to quickly reach contention and, while unable to match the winner in the last strides, managed to out-finish Taisei Vogue by a neck for second.

Taisei Vogue jumped well from an outside draw and advanced steadily along the outside passing the eventual winner 800 meters out and within striking distance into the stretch. With Star Anise on her outside, the two hit the front in the last 200 meters to join Garavogue to rally but the winner had another gear in the last strides while the Indy Champ filly ran gamely to cross the wire a neck behind Garavogue who came up strongly with the fastest finishing speed.

Race favorite Alankar, who had come off two impressive wins by more than three lengths, trailed at the rear of the 18-horse field after a decent break, advanced rapidly to mid-field approaching the third corner but, after turning widest for the stretch run, had much ground to cover and was unable to cause a serious threat to the leaders while improving to fifth at the wire.

Other Horses:
4th: (11) Sweet Happiness—settled around 11th, angled out, launched 2nd fastest late kick
6th: (6) Arbanne—saved ground around 14th, met traffic 200m out, quicken belatedly
7th: (18) Shonan Charis—ran wide around 10th, lacked needed kick
8th: (7) Margot Love Me—sat around 4th, remained in contention until 100m out
9th: (2) Lady Goal—positioned 3rd from rear, showed belated charge
10th: (10) Inubono Utagoe—bumped at break, traveled around 13th, even paced
11th: (14) Stunning Lady—unhurried around 16th, circled wide, passed tired rivals
12th: (3) Mitsukane Venera—ran around 9th, met traffic 300m out, unable to reach contention
13th: (16) Rose Charis—tracked leaders in 3rd, rallied for lead at one point, faded after 200m pole
14th: (12) Maple Happy—hugged rails around 6th, weakened in last 200m
15th: (8) His Masterpiece—rallied to set pace, used up passing 200m pole
16th: (15) Lasting Snow—raced wide around 5th, failed to sustain bid
17th: (13) From Raven—chased leader in 2nd, faded after 300m out
18th: (1) Angelitas—traveled around 14th, dropped back after 3rd corner