G1 Takarazuka Kinen | Horse Racing Free Tips

The fan's pick Titleholder (Jpn) (Duramente {Jpn}) lived up to his star billing with a facile two-length victory in Sunday's G1 Takarazuka Kinen at Hanshin, a 'Win and You're In' event to the GI Breeders' Cup Turf later this fall. With the top 10 runners in the 2200-meter event selected by fan voting, the 4-year-old was installed the 3-1 second choice behind Efforia (Jpn) (Epiphaneia {Jpn}).

Titleholder vied for the early lead with Panthalassa (Jpn) (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}) before settling in second. Inching closer to the pacesetter in the latter stages, the colt reached the weakening leader turning for home and strode clear late to score by a comfortable two-length margin. Hishi Iguazu (Jpn) (Heart's Cry {Jpn}) closed to take second, while 2020 Fillies' Triple Crown heroine Daring Tact (Jpn) (Epiphaneia {Jpn}) offered a nice closing kick to grab third. Favored Efforia was sixth. The final time of 2:09.7 equaled the track record for the distance.

“This was my fourth race with Titleholder and I knew how the colt could run in good rhythm,” commented winning rider Kazuo Yokohama. “The pace was fast, but I wasn't concerned because he still had enough power left at the straight. He's still in the process of maturing and I think he'll get better going forward.”

Victorious in last season's G1 Kikuka Sho (Japanese St Leger) at Hanshin, the dark bay also took Nakayama's G2 Deep Impact Kinen and finished runner-up in the G1 Satsuki Sho (Japanese 2000 Guineas) during the 2021 season. He kicked off this term with a victory in the G2 Nikkei Sho at Nakayama in March before returning to his favored surface at Hanshin to triumph in the May 1 G1 Tenno Sho (Spring).

Titleholder becomes the first horse to capture both the Tenno Sho and Takarazuka Kinen in the same year since Deep Impact (Jpn) in 2006.

According to trainer Toru Kurita, “I've been told by the owner that the colt will go to 'the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe if he wins' so we're planning to send him straight to France with Kazuo.”

Pedigree Notes:
Takarazuka Kinen winner Titleholder went one better than his sire, dual Group 1 winning Duramente, who finished runner-up in the 2016 renewal of the race. The Japanese Derby and 2000 Guineas scorer is also responsible for this season's G1 Japanese Oaks heroine Stars on Earth (Jpn). With only two named foals to her credit, 13-year-old Mowen (GB) (Motivator {GB}) is also responsible for the minor winner Melody Lane (Jpn) (Orfevre {Jpn}), who finished 13th behind her more exalted sibling in Sunday's Takarazuka Kinen.

Sunday, Hanshin, Japan
TAKARAZUKA KINEN-G1, ¥385,400,000, Hanshin, 6-26, 3yo/up, 2200mT, 2:09.70 (NCR), fm.
1–TITLEHOLDER (JPN), 128, c, 4, by Duramente (Jpn)
1st Dam: Mowen (GB), by Motivator (GB)
2nd Dam: Top Table (GB), by Shirley Heights (GB)
3rd Dam: Lora's Guest (Ire), by Be My Guest
(¥20,000,000 Wlg '18 JRHAJUL). O-Hiroshi Yamada; B-Okada Stud; T-Toru Kurita; J-Kazuo Yokoyama; ¥203,780,000. Lifetime Record: 12-6-2-0, ¥793,111,000. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Hishi Iguazu (Jpn), 128, h, 6, Heart's Cry (Jpn)–La Liz (Arg), by Bernstein. (¥97,000,000 Wlg '16 JRHAJUL). O-Masahide Abe; B-Northern Farm; T-Noriyuki Hori; J-Damian Lane. ¥81,080,000.
3–Daring Tact (Jpn), 123, m, 5, Epiphaneia (Jpn)–Daring Bird (Jpn), by King Kamehameha (Jpn). (¥12,000,000 Ylg '18 JRHAJUL). O-Normandy Thoroughbred Racing; B-Hasegawa Farm; T-Haruki Sugiyama; J-Kohei Matsuyama. ¥50,504,000.
Margins: 2, 2, NO. Odds: 3.20, 8.50, 6.30.
Also Ran: Deep Bond (Jpn), Meiner Fanrong (Jpn), Efforia (Jpn), Win Marilyn (Jpn), Panthalassa (Jpn), Stay Foolish (Jpn), Gibeon (Jpn), Potager (Jpn), Gloria Mundi (Jpn), Melody Lane (Jpn), Arrivo (Jpn), Iron Barows (Jpn), African Gold (Jpn), King of Koji (Jpn). Scratched: Authority (Jpn). Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Click for the JRA chart and video.

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Chrono Genesis (Jpn) (Bago {Fr}) justified 4-5 favouritism and took her second consecutive G1 Takarazuka Kinen title at Hanshin on Sunday. The 2200-metre contest is a “Win and You're In” for the GI Breeders' Cup Turf at Del Mar in November, as well as the Oct. 23 G1 Cox Plate at Moonee Valley Down Under.

Unicorn Lion (Ire) (No Nay Never) led the charge into the first turn while shadowed by Lei Papale (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) and Chrono Genesis sat third a few lengths back. A touch keen, pilot Christophe Lemaire found a bit of cover for the grey who had drifted to fourth. Primed to take off after the leaders rounding the final bend, Chrono Genesis immediately scythed in between horses when given the opportunity 1 ½ furlongs from home, as Lei Papale engaged Unicorn Lion on the front end. She employed her superior turn of foot-covering her final three furlongs in a race-best :34.40–and dashed past the pacesetting duo to win by 2 ½ lengths with her ears pricked.

“The mare was in very good condition and looked great at the paddock,” said Christophe Lemaire, who was deputising for the injured Yuichi Kitamura. “We were able to race in good position behind Lei Papale. She stretched really well and was able to run the last 200 meters easily. She can race really well in soft track, so I think she will perform well especially in France.”

The Oct. 3 G1 Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe is a potential long-term target for Chrono Genesis.

Third in the first two legs of the 2019 Japanese Fillies' Triple Crown, Chrono Genesis delivered in the third leg, the G1 Shuka Sho at Kyoto in October of that year, her first top-level triumph. Her next win did not arrive until last February's G2 Kyoto Kinen, and, after a second-place showing in the G1 Osaka Hai that April, she captured her first Takarazuka Kinen at the end of June. Benched until Nov. 1, she ran third in the G1 Tenno Sho (Autumn) to Japanese Horse of the Year Almond Eye (Jpn) (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}), and claimed the G1 Arima Kinen (The Grand Prix) on Dec. 27. Her only prior 2021 start was a good second in the G1 Dubai Sheema Classic on Mar. 27.

Pedigree Notes

Chrono Genesis is French champion Bago's most decorated progeny. One of two Group 1 winners for the 2004 G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe winner, the grey is joined by G1 Kikuka Sho victor Big Week (Jpn). The pair lead seven group winners and 11 black-type winners overall.

The eighth foal, and one of eight winners out of her winning dam who captured a 1700-metre maiden in two starts, Chrono Genesis is also one of two black-type winners, alongside her year-older half-sister Normcore (Jpn) (Harbinger {GB}). The latter, also grey, was first past the post in both the G1 Victoria Mile in her native land and also a winner of the G1 Longines Hong Kong Cup. Chronologist's 2017 filly, Clotho Nona (Jpn) (Rulership {Jpn}) is followed by 2018 colt Klug (Jpn) (Maurice {Jpn}). Covered by Drefong later that year, Chronologist did not produce a foal in 2019, but has since produced fillies of 2020 and 2021 by Maurice (Jpn) and Rey de Oro (Jpn), respectively.

Her second dam is an unraced full-sister to Fusaichi Airedale (Jpn) (Sunday Silence), a MSW in Japan and the dam of Japanese Champion 2-Year-Old Colt Fusaichi Richard (Jpn) (Kurofune), MSW Lailaps (Jpn) (French Deputy) and the G1 Hanshin Juvenile Fillies third Beach Samba (Jpn) (Kurofune).

Sunday, Hanshin, Japan
TAKARAZUKA KINEN-G1, ¥290,020,000, Hanshin, 6-27, 3yo/up, 2200mT, 2:10.90, fm.
1–CHRONO GENESIS (JPN), 123, m, 5, 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 (Jpn); T-Takashi Saito;
J-Christophe Lemaire. ¥152,814,000. Lifetime Record:
15-8-3-3. *1/2 to Normcore (Jpn) (Harbinger {GB}), G1SW-Jpn
& HK, $5,619,785. Werk Nick Rating: F. Click for the
   eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Unicorn Lion (Ire), 128, h, 5, No Nay Never–Muravka (Ire), by
High Chaparral (Ire). (850,000gns Ylg '17 TATOCT). O-Lion Race
Horse; B-Desert Star Phoenix Jvc (Ire); ¥60,804,000.
3–Lei Papale (Jpn), 123, m, 4, Deep Impact (Jpn)–Shells Lei
(Jpn), by Kurofune. O-Carrot Farm; B-Northern Farm (Jpn);
¥38,402,000.
Margins: 2HF, NK, 2. Odds: 0.80, 26.80, 2.50.
Also Ran: Curren Bouquetd'or (Jpn), Kiseki (Jpn), Miss Mamma Mia (Jpn), Cadenas (Jpn), Mozu Bello (Jpn), Aristoteles (Jpn), Wipe Tears (Jpn), Melody Lane (Jpn), Admire Alba (Jpn), Shironii (Jpn). Click for the JRA chart & video or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.

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