Lys Gracieux Earns BC Turf Berth in Takarazuka Kinen

Lys Gracieux tracked pacesetting Kiseki through most of the June 23 Takarazuka Kinen (G1) at Hanshin Racecourse, challenged 200 meters out, and easily drew clear to win by three lengths, earning a berth in both the Nov. 2 Longines Breeders' Cup Turf (G1T) and the Oct. 26 W.S. Cox Plate (G1) in Australia.

Kiseki held for second, with Suave Richard, Al Ain, and Rey de Oro trailing. Lys Gracieux, the only female in the field of 12, finished the 2,200 meters (about 11 furlongs) in 2:10.8 on firm going.

The Takarazuka Kinen is one of two "Grand Prix" races in which potential runners are selected through voting by Japanese fans. This year's No. 1 fan favorite, star filly Almond Eye, declined the honor. Lys Gracieux, a 5-year-old daughter of Heart's Cry, was ninth in the balloting after running third in the April 28 FWD Queen Elizabeth II Cup (G1) in Hong Kong.

In a straightforward race, Suave Richard, a 5-year-old son of Heart's Cry, went right to the front from the inside stall under Mirco Demuro. Australian visitor Damian Lane quickly eased Lys Gracieux over from the outside gate and took station in second. As they ran out of the second bend into the stretch, one burst of speed put matters to rest.

"The horse turned out in perfect condition," said Lane, who notched his second grade 1 win and 37th overall under a short-term license running from the end of April through the June 23 program. "She broke well, and I thought I might as well use that to my advantage. I was very confident turning in that she had plenty left in the tank. I was worried that there were a lot of good horses chasing, and I thought that they would challenge, but she was just too strong.

"I was very lucky to be aboard her today," Lane added.

In recent races, Lys Gracieux has been partnered by Oisin Murphy, Joao Moreira, Andrasch Starke, and Demuro.

Owned by U. Carrot Farm and trained by Yoshito Yahagi, Lys Gracieux was bred by Northern Farm. She is out of Liliside, who won a trio of listed races in France.

The win was her fifth from 20 starts and the second at the top level, following the 2018 Queen Elizabeth II Cup in November at Kyoto, also at 2,200 meters. She has finished second in five group/grade 1 events: the 2016 Hanshin Juvenile Fillies as 2-year-old, the Oka Sho (Japanese One Thousand Guineas) and Shuka Sho at 3, and the Victoria Mile and Longines Hong Kong Vase last year.

Sunday's win provides plenty of opportunity to add some frequent flyer miles to Lys Gracieux's tab.

The Takarazuka Kinen became a "Win and You're In" for the Breeders' Cup Turf in 2011. For the first time this year, it also offers an automatic berth in the Cox Plate—a race won for the past four years by the now-retired Winx.