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Meisho Tabaru Defends His Title in This Year’s Takarazuka Kinen
Second favorite Meisho Tabaru captured this year’s All-Star “Grand Prix,” the Takarazuka Kinen, becoming only the third horse to win the race two years in a row, following his sire Gold Ship in 2013-2014 and Chrono Genesis in 2020-2021. After winning last year’s edition, the son of Gold Ship finished sixth, 0.2 seconds behind the winner, in the Tenno Sho (Autumn) (G1, 2,000m) before finishing a disappointing 13th in the year-end Arima Kinen (G1, 2,500m). He commenced the current season by finishing second to Croix du Nord in the Osaka Hai (G1, 2,000m) on April 5, his most recent start. Trainer Mamoru Ishibashi scored his second JRA-G1 win, while jockey Yutaka Take claimed his 86th G1 title, following his victory in the Yasuda Kinen aboard Sixpence just a week earlier, and extended his own record for most Takarazuka Kinen victories to six, including victories with Inari One (1989), Mejiro McQueen (1993), Marvelous Sunday (1997) and Deep Impact (2006). He also extended his own record as the oldest jockey to win a G1 race at the age of 57 years, 3 months and 1 day.
With the track condition changing from “good to firm” to “yielding” due to a sudden downpour just before the race, the strong field of 18, which included five of the top six horses in the fans’ vote, made a clean break in front of a large crowd of racing fans. As Cosmo Kuranda rushed to the front to take the lead, Meisho Tabaru broke smoothly from an outside draw and settled just off the pace in second. As the field crowded while turning the last two corners, the five-year-old bay by Gold Ship tenaciously closed ground, caught the leader passing the 200-meter marker and managed to fend off the strong charge by the race favorite in the final 100 meters to defend his title by a neck.
“When it started raining just before the race, I felt as though the late owner Yoshio Matsumoto had sent it down from heaven. Since races are unpredictable, I stayed flexible and settled in second position, and we were able to race in good rhythm. When Croix du Nord closed in before the wire, I thought, “Please, not this time!” I felt that Meisho Tabaru was in really good form and the strongest today. I think we can head to France with our heads held high,” commented jockey Yutaka Take.
Race favorite Croix du Nord tracked the pace in good striking position, around fifth from the front, and saved ground along the rails through the final two corners. The four-year-old Kitasan Black colt launched his bid upon entering the lane, chasing Meisho Tabaru and unleashing a powerful late kick in an attempt to catch the leader as he had in the Osaka Hai but fell a neck short this time to finish second.
Breaking from the innermost stall, third pick Danon Decile was unhurried around 14th and made headway on the rails rounding the final corners before angling out at the top of the stretch. The two-time G1 victor dug well to close in on the leaders with the fastest late speed, and while unable to threaten the top two finishers due to too much ground to make up, he denied tenacious Cosmo Kuranda just before the wire to register his fourth consecutive third-place finish since last year’s Japan Cup.
For details, please access
japanracing.jp/_news2026/2606…
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81 days ago
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Meisho Tabaru Defends His Title in This Year’s Takarazuka Kinen
Second favorite Meisho Tabaru captured this year’s All-Star “Grand Prix,” the Takarazuka Kinen, becoming only the third horse to win the race two years in a row, following his sire Gold Ship in 2013-2014 and Chrono Genesis in 2020-2021. After winning last year’s edition, the son of Gold Ship finished sixth, 0.2 seconds behind the winner, in the Tenno Sho (Autumn) (G1, 2,000m) before finishing a disappointing 13th in the year-end Arima Kinen (G1, 2,500m). He commenced the current season by finishing second to Croix du Nord in the Osaka Hai (G1, 2,000m) on April 5, his most recent start. Trainer Mamoru Ishibashi scored his second JRA-G1 win, while jockey Yutaka Take claimed his 86th G1 title, following his victory in the Yasuda Kinen aboard Sixpence just a week earlier, and extended his own record for most Takarazuka Kinen victories to six, including victories with Inari One (1989), Mejiro McQueen (1993), Marvelous Sunday (1997) and Deep Impact (2006). He also extended his own record as the oldest jockey to win a G1 race at the age of 57 years, 3 months and 1 day.
With the track condition changing from “good to firm” to “yielding” due to a sudden downpour just before the race, the strong field of 18, which included five of the top six horses in the fans’ vote, made a clean break in front of a large crowd of racing fans. As Cosmo Kuranda rushed to the front to take the lead, Meisho Tabaru broke smoothly from an outside draw and settled just off the pace in second. As the field crowded while turning the last two corners, the five-year-old bay by Gold Ship tenaciously closed ground, caught the leader passing the 200-meter marker and managed to fend off the strong charge by the race favorite in the final 100 meters to defend his title by a neck.
“When it started raining just before the race, I felt as though the late owner Yoshio Matsumoto had sent it down from heaven. Since races are unpredictable, I stayed flexible and settled in second position, and we were able to race in good rhythm. When Croix du Nord closed in before the wire, I thought, “Please, not this time!” I felt that Meisho Tabaru was in really good form and the strongest today. I think we can head to France with our heads held high,” commented jockey Yutaka Take.
Race favorite Croix du Nord tracked the pace in good striking position, around fifth from the front, and saved ground along the rails through the final two corners. The four-year-old Kitasan Black colt launched his bid upon entering the lane, chasing Meisho Tabaru and unleashing a powerful late kick in an attempt to catch the leader as he had in the Osaka Hai but fell a neck short this time to finish second.
Breaking from the innermost stall, third pick Danon Decile was unhurried around 14th and made headway on the rails rounding the final corners before angling out at the top of the stretch. The two-time G1 victor dug well to close in on the leaders with the fastest late speed, and while unable to threaten the top two finishers due to too much ground to make up, he denied tenacious Cosmo Kuranda just before the wire to register his fourth consecutive third-place finish since last year’s Japan Cup.
For details, please access
japanracing.jp/_news2026/2606…
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82 days ago
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Winning jockey interview Takarazuka Kinen(G1)
Jockey: Yutaka Take (Meisho Tabaru)
"I am truly overjoyed. I honestly believe the late Mr. Matsumoto, the owner, brought this rain from heaven just for Meisho Tabaru. The horse settled beautifully in second position and showed incredible patience. Down the homestretch, I was praying we wouldn't let Croix du Nord pass us, just like what happened in the Osaka Hai.
Meisho Tabaru was in the absolute best condition I have ever experienced. I owe that entirely to the stable staff who trained him to this level. Now, I can head to France with him with my head held high. To win G1 victories two weeks in a row makes me incredibly happy. I am so grateful to all the fans for their wonderful support."
* Full race roundup will be available later tonight.
#TakarazukaKinen #JRA #YutakaTake
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82 days ago
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