Chrono Genesis Tops Takarazuka Kinen Field

On form, the June 27 Takarazuka Kinen (G1) at Hanshin Racecourse is a simple affair: Chrono Genesis (JPN) has done it, and then some, while her rivals very much still have it to do. The 5-year-old mare is a multiple grade 1 winner, including on her tally sheet last year's running of this race. Others in the Takarazuka Kinen have remarkable records of coming up just short. The race is a Breeders' Cup Challenge "Win and You're In" affair for the Longines Breeders' Cup Turf (G1T) at Del Mar Nov. 6 and a ticket to the W.S. Cox Plate (G1) Oct. 23 at Moonee Valley in Australia and has a record of producing overseas success. Lys Gracieux (JPN) used the 2019 Takarazuka Kinen as a springboard to victory in the Ladbrokes Cox Plate in 2019. The Japan Racing Association asks fans to vote which horses they want to see run in the 2,200-meters (about 1 3/8 miles) Takarazuka Kinen and Chrono Genesis was this year's top vote-getter—no surprise given her record of success in world-class affairs, including a victory in last year's edition of this race. "I'm grateful to the fans for all their votes to see her in the race," trainer Takashi Saito said June 25 after Chrono Genesis drew gate 7 in a field of 13. Chrono Genesis, by Bago (FR) out of the Kurofune mare Chronologist (JPN), has three grade 1 wins to her credit and was last seen finishing second in the Dubai Sheema Classic Presented by Longines (G1) March 27 at Meydan. That race was a highlight of World Cup night with Mishriff (IRE), currently in a tie for the No. 3 position on the Longines World's Best Racehorse Rankings, first by a neck and Loves Only You (JPN) third, another neck back after a tight stretch battle. She has seven wins from 14 starts, has missed a top-three finish only once, and Saito said she looks ready to go after a rest at Northern Farm Shigaraki. "She got bumped quite badly last time in the Dubai Sheema Classic and it was an unlucky race for her, but she still ran well," the trainer said. "She came back to the stable on June 2 and, in her first piece of work after that, she seemed a little heavy but soon got switched on in her usual way of doing things." Regular rider Yuichi Kitamura is sidelined by injury but Chrono Genesis won't suffer from a switch to Japan's leading jockey, Christophe Lemaire. After Chrono Genesis, the Takarazuka Kinen field includes an unusual collection of hard-luck types. Kiseki (JPN), a 7-year-old by Rulership (JPN), is winless since the 2017 Kikuka Sho (Japanese St. Leger, G1), although he has finished second five times since then, including the Takarazuka Kinen in both 2019 and 2020. Despite his age, said trainer Yasuyuki Tsujino, Kiseki "still seems young and has a lot of power... This is the race where he's finished second the last two years, so that's a positive. He's a tough and persistent performer, so I think he can run a good race again." Curren Bouquetd'or (JPN) exits a third-place finish in the Tenno Sho (Spring, G1) and remains winless at the grade 1 level. The 5-year-old Deep Impact mare has six second-place finishes, including the 2019 Yushun Himba (Japanese Oaks, G1) and 2019 Japan Cup (G1). Mozu Bello (JPN) was third in the 2020 Takarzuka Kinen and most recently second in the Osaka Hai (G1) at Hanshin Racecourse in April. The 5-year-old son of Deep Brillante (JPN) also remains without a grade 1 score. On the flip side, the field also includes some progressive 4-year-olds, notably Lei Papale (JPN). The Deep Impact (JPN) filly is undefeated after six starts and stepped up to the top rung to win the Osaka Hai in her last start. "She's a progressive filly with a lot of potential," jockey Yuga Kawada said of Lei Papale, "and while I haven't always been sure about how she might run, her performance in the Osaka Hai was her best so far." Aristoteles (JPN), an Epiphaneia (JPN) colt, came within a neck of upsetting last year's 3-year-old Japanese champion, Contrail (JPN), in the Kikuka Sho. He comes off a fourth-place finish in the Tenno Sho (Spring). The race starts at the top of the stretch, runs right-handed past the Hanshin Racecourse grandstand, and comprises a full circuit of the inner turf loop.