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Last year’s running of the Takarazuka Kinen run at Hanshin on Sunday was the forerunner of things to come.
Lys Gracieux won in style and did even better things home and away afterwards. Could we see similar in the 2020 Takarazuka Kinen (2200m) at Hanshin on Sunday?
2020 TAKARAZUKA KINEN - RACE HISTORY AND BACKGROUND
The Takarazuka Kinen is a Grade 1 race run under Weight For Age conditions for three year olds and above at Hanshin racecourse conducted by the Japan Racing Association.
The Takarazuka Kinen is run over 2200m. It was first run in 1960 and won by Homare Hiro.
It is one of the two 'All-Star' races in Japanese horse racing along with the Arima Kinen. The majority of the runners in the field are selected by a vote from racing fans, while the remainder are determined by the amount of prizemoney won.
When first run it was over 1800m. From 1961 to 1965 the race was run over 2000m and since 1966 it has been run over its present distance.
The race is named after the city where Hanshin Racecourse is located.
The Takarazuka Kinen was worth JPY325,000,000 in 2020.
Hanshin racecourse is a right handed course with the start at the top of the home straight.
The 1995 and 2006 Takarazuka Kinens were run at Kyoto.
The five year olds have taken the last six runnings of the race.
Deep Impact took it out during his 2006 season where only the Arc was a defeat. It was a top win down in trip off the Tenno Sho (Spring).
The big grey Gold Ship could do some weird and wonderful things but he did win this race twice.
After winning the Hong Kong Vase the previous December, Satono Crown won the Takarazuka Kinen in 2017.
Lys Gracieux, winning in 2019, gave Australian jockey Damian Lane another G1 during his Japanese stint. The horse would be invited to the Cox Plate after this win and would superbly take the race out coming from near last. She repeated that in the Arima Kinen.
The jockeys have spread this race around with Ryuji Wada winning it 18 years apart following the great TM Opera O's win in 2000.
Yasutoshi Ikee is a trainer with three wins in the last decade including the sometimes unbelievable Orfevre.
Notable winners of the Takarazuka Kinen include Lys Gracieux (2019), Satono Crown (2017), Lovely Day (2015), Gold Ship (2013/2014), Orfevre (2012), Admire Moon (2007), Deep Impact (2006), Sweep Tosho (2005), Tap Dance City (2004), TM Opera O (2000), Grass Wonder (1999), Mejiro McQueen (1993), Katsuragi Ace (1984), Haiseiko (1974) and Shinzan (1965).
The 2019 Takarazuka Kinen was won by Lys Gracieux from Kiseki and Suave Richard.
