Takarazuka Kinen Draws Full Field of Strong Competitors

The Takarazuka Kinen (G1)—that concludes the first half of the Japanese racing season—will be the feature race June 28 at the Japan Racing Association. A quality field, which includes eight grade 1 winners, has lined up to contest the US$3 million race.

From 20 fillies and mares who started in the last 10 renewals of the Takarazuka Kinen, two of them managed to win, three of them finished second, and four of them finished third. Those statistics bode well for supporters of two female athletes in this year's field, both of whom have run well against colts and older horses in the past.

Lucky Lilac, a daughter of Orfevre and champion juvenile filly of 2017, is now a 5-year-old and still improving much like her grand sire, Stay Gold, who won the Hong Kong Vase (G1) at 7. She finished second to Glory Vase in the Hong Kong Vase in December and collected her third grade 1 victory in April, when she won the Osaka Hai (G1) at Hanshin Racecourse.

Chrono Genesis was narrowly beaten by Lucky Lilac in the Osaka Hai, overcoming an unlucky wide draw. In addition to winning the Shuka Sho (G1) for 3-year-old fillies, she won the Kyoto Kinen (G2) over 2,200 meters Feb. 16 against colts and older horses, and it is obvious the 4-year-old filly by Bago is a strong competitor. 

All runners will try to follow in the footsteps of Lys Gracieux, who won the Takarazuka Kinen last year and was eventually awarded the title as Horse of the Year in 2019.