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2023 06 23

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Group 1 Takarazuka Kinen 2023 Preview

First run in 1960, the Takarazuka Kinen is one of Japan’s finest top-level races, staged every June at Hanshin Racecourse. The 2200 metre Group 1 is one of two “All-Star” races in Japan, alongside the Arima Kinen (Grand Prix) in December, meaning the fields in both races are influenced via fan vote. So, if you’re wondering how the All-Star Mile, Victoria's premier Autumn race came to fruition, that is how. It was largely based on the success of the Japanese series, which has seen some of the fastest middle-distance horses in the world clash in recent editions. This year alone, the 2023 Takarazuka Kinen received over 2.5 million votes, with the world’s highest rated horse Equinox attracting 216,379 votes – a new record.In 2019, the Takarazuka Kinen formed part of the Ladbrokes Cox Plate International Boost Series, whereby the winner would be eligible for a $2 million bonus if they could also win the Ladbrokes Cox Plate that year. Ridden by Australia’s own Damian Lane, Lys Gracieux drew barrier 12 of 12 in the Takarazuka Kinen, yet slotted into a positive position with ease and went on to win the race by three lengths. Her trainer Yoshito Yahagi accepted the invitation to fly to Australia, and she went on to start a dominant $2.50 favourite in the 2019 Ladbrokes Cox Plate and duly salute, devouring her opposition one by one, despite running sideways and not at all handling the home turn well. Lys Gracieux pocketed $5 million for her connections, $3 million for first prizemoney and the $2 million bonus, one of the highest collects owners have ever received in Australia. She returned to Japan to take the Arima Kinen in even more destructive fashion than her two previous victories, defeating the short-priced favourite in wonder mare Almond Eye, and taking 2019 Japanese Horse of the Year Honours in the process. She was soon retired to stud succeeding the Arima Kinen, bowing out at the peak of her powers, but it is hard to argue that she is the best internationally trained horse ever to grace Australian shores.With all that said, this year we see a horse in Equinox whose peak rating surpasses the likes of the recently inducted Japanese Hall of Famer Almond Eye, and easily outstrips very good recent winners Titleholder, dual winner Chrono Genesis and Cox Plate champion Lys Gracieux.Equinox is a winner of five races from seven starts, and his rapid improvement has him on a trajectory to become one of Japan’s greatest ever racehorses, with that mantle belonging to the one and only Deep Impact.Last start Equinox led all the way in the Sheema Classic in Dubai to win by 3.5 lengths, leaving Irish Derby winner in Westover in his wake and embarrassing subsequent Prince Of Wales’s Stakes winner Mostahdaf by 7 lengths. Prior to that, he came from off the speed and circled the field to score a cosy victory in the Arima Kinen – 2.5L the deciding margin in his career peak rating success.It is that versatility he has shown in recent starts that has been one of the most impressive elements of his rise to stardom, and one that will take him a long way this Sunday no matter which barrier he draws.Equinox is son to the champion Kitasan Black, a dual Japanese of the Year who reigned supreme in 2016 and 2017. Equinox received the prestigious award in 2022 and would be odds on to go back-to-back this season, as he is this Sunday.$1.50 is his price in final field markets, but the resistance includes Justin Palace, Geraldina, Deep Bond and Danon The Kid. Justin Palace is $5.50 and deserves to be viewed as one of the main dangers following his 2.5 length romp in the Tenno Sho (Spring) last start. That was a big career peak for him, but it came over 3200 metres and followed another easy victory over 3000, so his query is coming back 1000-metres in trip while being asked to match the speed of Equinox. Geraldina is currently $9 and is a very capable mare, but underperformed when we last saw her in Hong Kong, which can happen when horses don’t acclimatise to new surroundings. She returns to the scene of the crime of her Group 1 Queen Elizabeth 2 Cup win and could be another fighting out the placings. Deep Bond is more honest than he is ominous and will be thereabouts at $17, while Danon The Kid has been soundly beaten by Romantic Warrior twice in Hong Kong but his close-up third to Jack ‘Or and Stars On Earth has him somewhere in the frame at $29.In conclusion, Equinox should be winning, and the $1.50 on offer is more than justified. In fact, there’s every chance he could start shorter as the race time nears closer, and the global market homes in on a budding champion. The only horse who appears to be a danger to Equinox right now is the exciting filly Liberty Island, by Cox Plate placegetter of 2016 Yankee Rose. The two could clash later in the year, with the Japan Cup in November shaping as one of the great match races of modern times. That said, she still has some ways to go before being mentioned in the same breath as he.Racing is for the no nonsense, diehards in Japan, but there will something for the omen punters playing along at home this weekend too. ‘Equinox’, meaning a solar equinox featuring the moment in time when the Sun crosses the Earth's equator, has some serious linkage to its namesake in the great horse this season. Equinox won the Arima Kinen the week of the winter solstice, won the Sheema Classic the week of the Spring equinox, and will be going for four straight wins this week in the Takarazuka Kinen, which happens to be the week of the summer solstice – a coincidence of timing you simply couldn’t make up.All eyes will be on Equinox this weekend as a capacity crowd of up to 139,000 packs into Hanshin Racecourse, and even if he does as expected, wins, and connections decide against bringing him to Melbourne to contest the 2023 Ladbrokes Cox Plate, even the prospect of being able to engage with the crew behind the world’s best horse on and invite them to Australia’s Best Race, is an exciting one.

Preview of the prestigious 2200m Group 1 Takarazuka Kinen race at Hanshin Racecourse. Learn about top contenders Equinox and more.

Learn about Equinox and other top contenders in the 2023 Takarazuka Kinen, a highly anticipated 2200m Group 1 race at Hanshin Racecourse.