Fan favorite Chrono Genesis (Jpn) (Bago {Fr}), who will attempt to add a victory in Sunday’s G1 Arima Kinen at Nakayama after a win in the G1 Takarazuka Kinen earlier this season, aims to follow in the illustrious hoofprints of Lys Gracieux (Jpn) (Heart’s Cry {Jpn}), who completed the double in 2019. The 2019 G1 Shuka Sho winner, Chrono Genesis kicked off 2020 with a score in the G2 Kyoto Kinen in February before finishing second to Lucky Lilac (Jpn) (Orfevre {Jpn}) in the 2,000-meter G1 Osaka Hai at Hanshin Apr. 5. Back in the winner’s circle following the Takarazuka Kinen June 26, the 4-year-old filly finished a close-up third behind recently retired champion Almond Eye (Jpn) (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}) and 2020 G1 Tenno Sho (Spring) hero Fierement (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) in Tokyo’s G1 Tenno Sho (Autumn) Nov. 1.
World Premiere (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) recorded a career high win in last season’s 3,000-meter G1 Kikura Sho (Japanese St. Leger) before rounding out the term with a third behind Lys Gracieux in the G1 Arima Kinen. Off for the next 11 months, the 4-year-old returned with a credible sixth behind Almond Eye in the Nov. 29 G1 Japan Cup.
Following her Osaka Hai win last spring, Lucky Lilac finished sixth in the Takarazuka Kinen prior to a third in the G2 Sapporo Kinen in August. Most recently, the 5-year-old mare won the G1 Queen Elizabeth II Cup at Hanshin Nov. 15.
Sunday Racing Co.'s 4-year-old filly Chrono Genesis (JPN) pulled away in mid-stretch to win the US$3 million, 1 3/8-mile Takarazuka Kinen (G1) at Hanshin Racecourse near Osaka, Japan, on Sunday by a stakes-record six lengths. With her victory, Chrono Genesis, ridden by Yuichi Kitamura, earned an automatic berth and fees paid into the $6-million Longines Breeders' Cup Turf (G1) through the international Breeders' Cup Challenge Series.
The Breeders' Cup Challenge is an international series of stakes races whose winners receive automatic starting positions and fees paid into a corresponding race of the Breeders' Cup World Championships, which is scheduled to be held at Keeneland Race Course in Lexington, Ky., on Nov. 6-7.
As part of the benefits of the Challenge Series, Breeders' Cup will pay the entry fees for Chrono Genesis to start in the Longines Breeders' Cup Turf, which will be run at 1 1/2 miles over the Keeneland turf course. Breeders' Cup also will provide a travel allowance of US$40,000 for all starters based outside of North America to compete in the World Championships.
Chrono Genesis becomes the third horse to gain a free berth into the 2020 Longines Breeders' Cup Turf, joining Gran Premio International Carlos Pellegrini (G1) winner Nao Da Mais (BRZ) and Prince of Wales's Stakes (G1) winner Lord North (IRE).
Chrono Genesis, a gray daughter of Bago (FR) out of the Kurofune mare Chronologist (JPN) claimed her second Group 1 title after taking last year's Shuka Sho, the last jewel of the fillies Triple Crown.
Trained by Takashi Saito, Chrono Genesis completed the 1 3/8 miles in 2:13.50 over a course listed as good, as the 4-1 second choice in the 18-horse field.
Chrono Genesis, one of the only two female contenders in the race, broke smoothly out of stall 16 and settled around ninth from frontrunner Tosen Surya (JPN). Continuing to take a wide route rounding the last two turns, she advanced strongly to enter the lane in second behind 5-year-old mare Lucky Lilac (JPN), also entered by Sunday Racing.
Once assuming command 300 meters out, Chrono Genesis unleashed a powerful kick despite the somewhat soft going due to rain, leaving the field behind.
“The filly broke smoothly and we were able to travel in good rhythm in good striking position,” said winning rider Kitamura. “I didn't really have to urge her to go but she just went spontaneously. She was responding really well so I knew that she will stretch well in the lane. She has become a powerful filly and was in very good condition. She was really strong,”
Tatsue Ishikawa's 6-year-old Kiseki (JPN) stalked Chrono Genesis from her position in the middle of the field, but could not match her rally and was the runner-up for the second consecutive year. He finished five lengths ahead of longshot Mozu Bello (JPN).
Carrot Farm's 5-2 favorite Saturnalia (JPN), the 2019 Japanese 3-year-old Male Champion, broke smoothly, hugged the rail in 10thand angled out turning the last corner for the attack but was unable to exert his strong late kick due to the soft ground, finishing fourth. He was followed by longshot Meisho Tengen (JPN) in fifth. Lucky Lilac, the nearly 5-1 third choice, could not sustain a drive in the stretch and finished sixth.
Chrono Genesis improved her record to six wins in 11 starts. She won her seasonal debut against open company in the 1 3/8-mile Kyoto Kinen (G2) over a yielding course on Feb. 16 before finishing second to Lucky Lilac in the 1 1/4-mile Osaka Hai (G1) at Hanshin on April 5.
Chrono Genesis becomes the fourth Breeders' Cup Challenge Series winner in Japan this year. The 6-year-old Mozu Ascot was the first automatic qualifier, winning the February Stakes (G1) at Tokyo Racecourse on Feb. 23, and earned an automatic berth into the $7 million Breeders' Cup Classic. The 5-year-old mare Almond Eye (JPN) won the Victoria Mile (G1) on May 17 and secured a free starting position into the Maker's Mark Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1), and the 4-year-old filly Gran Alegria (JPN) took the Yasuda Kinen (G1) at Tokyo Racecourse on June 7 and a “Win and You're In” spot for the TVG Breeders' Cup Mile (G1).
The 4-year-old filly Chrono Genesis (Jpn) (Bago {Fr}) was the second choice in the betting for Sunday’s G1 Takarazuka Kinen at Hanshin, but at the finish line there was no doubting who was number one, with the Sunday Racing colourbearer establishing her dominance with a race record six-length victory and earning a spot in the Nov. 7 GI Breeders’ Cup Turf.
After finishing third in the opening two races of last year’s fillies’ Triple Crown, the G1 Oka Sho and the G1 Yushun Himba, Chrono Genesis collected her first Group 1 title in the third leg, the G1 Shuka Sho, in October before running a respectable fifth against older mares in the G1 Queen Elizabeth II Cup. She opened her season with a win in the G2 Kyoto Kinen on Feb. 16 and finished a neck second in the G1 Osaka Hai on Apr. 5.
Breaking from gate 16 of 18, Chrono Genesis was able to get within three paths of the fence by the time they hit the first bend and established a position about six lengths off the lead. Chrono Genesis began to circle runners rounding the final turn and found herself four-wide and among the leaders as they straightened. Despite the rain-softened ground she employed an eye-catching turn of foot to draw clear and never appeared in danger in the lane, leaving the 2017 G1 Kikuka Sho victor Kiseki (Jpn) (Rulership {Jpn}) to settle for second once again.
“The filly broke smoothly and we were able to travel in good rhythm in good striking position,” said jockey Yuichi Kitamura. “I didn’t really have to urge her to go but she just went spontaneously. She was responding really well so I knew that she would stretch well in the lane. She has become a powerful filly and was in very good condition. She was really strong.”
Pedigree Notes
Chrono Genesis is the eighth foal out of the winning 3-year-old Chronologist (Jpn) (Kurofune), who one year prior had produced the G1 Victoria Mile winner Normcore (Jpn) (Harbinger {GB}). Chrono Genesis and Normcore are the only two black-type winners under the first two dams, while the former champion 2-year-old Fusaichi Richard (Jpn) (Kurofune) appears under the third dam amidst a smattering of minor stakes winners.
Sunday, Hanshin, Japan TAKARAZUKA KINEN-G1, ¥291,400,000, Hanshin, 6-28, 3yo/up, 2200mT, 2:13.50, gd.
1–CHRONO GENESIS (JPN), 123, f, 4, by Bago (Fr) 1st Dam: Chronologist (Jpn), by Kurofune 2nd Dam: In This Unison (Jpn), by Sunday Silence 3rd Dam: Rustic Belle, by Mr.Prospector
O-Sunday Racing; B-Northern Farm; T-Takashi Saito; J-Yuichi
Kitamura; ¥153,780,000. Lifetime Record: 11-6-2-2. *1/2 to
Normcore (Jpn) (Harbinger {GB}), G1SW-Jpn, $2,709,237. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.Werk Nick Rating: F.
2–Kiseki (Jpn), 128, h, 6, Rulership (Jpn)–Blitz Finale (Jpn), by
Deep Impact (Jpn). O-Tatsue Ishikawa; B-Shimokobe Farm;
¥61,080,000.
3–Mozu Bello (Jpn), 128, c, 4, Deep Brillante (Jpn)–Harlan’s
Ruby, by Harlan’s Holiday. O-Capital System; B-Murata Farm;
¥38,540,000.
Margins: 6, 5, 1 3/4. Odds: 3.10, 13.20, 105.10.
Also Ran: Saturnalia (Jpn), Meisho Tengen (Jpn), Lucky Lilac (Jpn), Tosen Surya (Jpn), Tosen Cambina (Jpn), Danburite (Jpn), Red Genial (Jpn), Stiffelio (Jpn), Cadenas (Jpn), Wagneran (Jpn), Admire Alba (Jpn), Persian Knight (Jpn), Blast Onepiece (Jpn), Glory Vase (Jpn), African Gold (Jpn). Click for the JRA chart and videoor the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
