Chrono Genesis Takes On Males In ‘Win And You’re In’ Takarazuka Kinen

Top female stars Chrono Genesis (JPN), the defending champion, and undefeated Lei Papale (JPN) lead 13 runners for Sunday's US$3 million, 1 3/8-mile Takarazuka Kinen (G1) at Hanshin Racecourse. The winner of Sunday's race will receive an automatic berth and fees paid into the US$4million Longines Breeders' Cup Turf (G1) through the Breeders' Cup Challenge Series.

The Breeders' Cup Challenge Series is an international series of 84 stakes races whose winners receive automatic starting positions and fees paid into a corresponding race of the Breeders' Cup World Championships, which will be held at Del Mar racetrack in Del Mar, California, on Nov. 5-6.

As part of the benefits of the Challenge Series, Breeders' Cup will pay the entry fees for the Takarazuka Kinen winner to start in the Longines Breeders' Cup Turf, which will be run at 1 ½ miles on the Del Mar 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. The Challenge winner must be nominated by the pre-entry deadline of Oct. 25 in order to receive the rewards.

The Takarazuka Kinen, the fourth Breeders' Cup Challenge race to be held in Japan this year, will be run in a clockwise direction. The race will be televised live on TVG.

Sunday Racing's 5-year-old Chrono Genesis, trained by Takashi Saito, won last year's race by 6 lengths as the 4-1 second choice. A gray daughter of Bago (FR) out of the Kurofune mare Chronologist (JPN), Chrono Genesis has seven wins and has finished out of the money just once in 14 starts. Last year's Takarazuka Kinen triumph was her second Group 1 win, following her October 2019 victory in the Shuka Sho at Kyoto against 3-year-old fillies. Her third Group 1 came last December at Nakayama where she captured the 1 ½-mile Arima Kinen by a neck. In her lone start this year, Chrono Genesis had a rough trip in the closing stages of the 1 ½-mile Longines Dubai Sheema Classic (G1) at Meydan battling in between Loves Only You (JPN) and Mishriff (IRE) to the wire, and finishing second to Mishriff by a neck.

“She got bumped quite badly last time in the Dubai Sheema Classic and it was an unlucky race for her, but she still ran well,” said Saito to JRA.com. “Having returned and completed quarantine at Miki Horseland Park, she then went to Northern Farm Shigaraki to settle back in on her return. She came back to the stable on June 2, and in her first piece of work after that, she seemed a little heavy, but soon got switched on in her usual way of doing things.”

Christophe Lemaire has the mount aboard Chrono Genesis from post seven.

Lei Papale, owned by U Carrot Farm and trained by Tomokazu Takano, has won all six of her races, three of them over the Hanshin course. A 4-year-old bay daughter of Deep Impact (JPN), Lei Papale is coming off a spectacular wire-to-wire win by 4 lengths in the 1 ¼-mile Osaka Hai (G1) at Hanshin on April 4 at 12-1. That victory was her second triumph of the year against males. She closed out 2021 by taking the 1 ¼-mile Challenge Cup (G3) at Hanshin on Dec. 5. “She would certainly be one of the main threats to Chrono Genesis,” said Takano. “There was some concern with the ground last time, but she went straight to the front and ran very cleverly to go on and win well. I put a lot of that down to the jockey's efforts. After that, the horse had a break at Northern Farm Shigaraki, and she has recovered from her last race quite quickly and looks to be in good condition.” Her regular jockey Yuga Kawada will once again be in the saddle breaking from post two.

Takashi Suzuki's 5-year-old mare Curren Bouquetd'or (JPN), finished third in the demanding 2-mile Tenno Sho (Spring) (G1) over the Hanshin course, beaten 2 ¾ lengths. Trained by Sakae Kunieda, Curren Bouquetd'or, a bay daughter of Deep Impact (JPN) has just two wins in 15 starts, but has seven second-place finishes, including the 2019 Yushun Himba (Japanese Oaks) (G1) and 2019 Japan Cup (G1). “Last time she pressed on at the end to try and win the race, but just got caught and had to settle for third,” said Kunieda. “It was her first time over 3,200 meters, and she did pull a bit. The shorter distance will suit, and she showed she can handle the Hanshin track in that last run.” Curren Bouquetd'or will be ridden by Keita Tosaki from post 10.

Another runner coming out of the Tenno Sho is Hideko Kondo's 4-year-old homebred Aristoteles (JPN). Trained by Hidetaka Otonashi, Aristoteles, a son of Epiphaneia, finished fourth in the Tenno Sho as the 7-2 second choice. Last October, he finished second by a neck to Contrail (JPN) in the Kikuka Sho (Japanese St. Leger) (G1). He opened 2021 with a victory in the 1 3/8-mile American Jockey Club Cup (G2) at Nakayama on Jan. 21. Yutaka Take, a four-time winner of the Takarazuka Kinen, has the mount from post nine.

Tatsue Ishikawa's Kiseki (JPN) and Capital System Co.'s Mozu Bello (JPN), finished second and third, respectively, behind Chrono Genesis in last year's race. Trained by Yasuyuki Tsujino, the 7-year-old Kiseki, by Rulership (JPN), a four-time winner, returns from Hong Kong, where he finished a solid fourth, beaten 2 ¾ lengths, in the 1 ¼-mile FWD Queen Elizabeth II Cup (G1) at Sha Tin on April 25. Kiseki, who also finished second in the 2019 Takarazuka Kinen, won the 2017 Kikuka Sho (Japanese St. Leger) (G1). Kiseki will be ridden by Yuichi Fukunaga from post 13.

At odds of 68-1, the 5-year-old Mozu Bello closed from 10th to second place behind Lei Papale in the Osaka Hai. Trained by Naoyuki Morita and ridden by Kenichi Ikezoe from post 11, Mozu Bello is a bay son of Deep Brillante (JPN) out of the Harlan's Holiday mare Harlan's Rudy. Mozu Bello has also won four races, but his last triumph came in January 2019 when he won the Nikkei Shinshun Hai (G2) at Kyoto.

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Chrono Genesis Defends Title In Takarazuka Kinen

Japan stages a pair of 'all-star' races each season, the G1 Takarazuka Kinen in early summer and the G1 Arima Kinen at year's end, giving fans a chance to vote for their favourite runners. The last four runnings of these events have been won by females–Lys Gracieux (Jpn) completed the double in 2019, while Chrono Genesis (Jpn) (Bago {Fr}) repeated the feat last year. The latter, who scored by six lengths last June, is back to defend her title in the final top-level test of the first half of the season, which offers the winner a fees-paid berth into the GI Breeders' Cup Turf at Del Mar in November.

Winner of half of her 14 career trips to the post, the gray mare was a sound third to Almond Eye (Jpn) (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}) in the G1 Tenno Sho (Autumn) over 2000 metres last November before taking the 12 1/2-furlong Arima Kinen by a neck Dec. 27. She was most recently beaten a neck into second by Mishriff (Ire) (Make Believe {GB}) in the Mar. 27 G1 Dubai Sheema Classic (2410m), the form of which was franked when Loves Only You (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) returned to take the G1 FWD QE II Cup in Hong Kong.

“She got bumped quite badly last time in the Dubai Sheema Classic and it was an unlucky race for her, but she still ran well,” her trainer Takashi Saito said. “She came back to the stable on June 2, and in her first piece of work after that, she seemed a little heavy, but soon got switched on in her usual way of doing things.”

Further female power comes in the form of Lei Papale (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}), who has yet to taste defeat in her six career trips to the post to date. Winner in Group 3 company at the tail end of her 3-year-old season, the bay got the litmus test in the G1 Osaka Hai over a rain-affected turf course at Hanshin Apr. 4, but she proved more than equal to the task in scoring by four lengths from Mozu Bello (Jpn) (Deep Brillante {Jpn}), with the likes of Triple Crown hero Contrail (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) and champion Gran Alegria (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) left further back in her wake.

Aristoteles (Jpn) (Epiphaneia {Jpn}) finished first or second in his first seven starts, then put a real scare into Contrail in the G1 Kikuka Sho (3000m), going down to a narrow defeat in that final leg of the Triple Crown last October. A Group 2 winner to begin this season, he exits a fourth in the May 2 G1 Tenno Sho (Spring) over two miles of this course. Kiseki (Jpn) (Rulership {Jpn}), winless since the 2017 Kikuka Sho, was runner-up in this event in each of the last two seasons.

Unicorn Lion (Ire) (No Nay Never) cost 850,000gns at Tattersalls October in 2017 and enters the Takarazuka Kinen on a two-race winning streak, including a 19-1 upset of the G3 Naruo Kinen at Chukyo June 5.

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Chrono Genesis Earns Spot In Breeders’ Cup Turf With Overpowering Takarazuka Kinen Victory

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).

 

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Chrono Genesis Streets Ahead In Takarazuka Kinen

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 video or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.

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