The Japan Racing Association has moved the Takarazuka Kinen (G1) up a few weeks on the calendar to avoid the worst of increasingly hot summers but competition on the racecourse for the June 15 renewal should provide enough heat of its own.
The race is one of two in Japan that encourage fans to vote for the horses they want to see run. The balloting is, of course, not binding. But this year it appears the three top vote-getters all will line up at Hanshin Racecourse for a shot at the ¥300 million (about US$2.8 million) winner's share.
The Takarazuka Kinen also offers an automatic starting berth to two grade/group 1 races. As a Breeders' Cup Challenge Series event, the winner earns a spot in the starting gate to the Nov. 1 Breeders' Cup Turf (G1T) at Del Mar, and it's the first of three international qualifiers for Australia's Cox Plate (G1) Oct. 25.
With nearly 230,000 votes cast, Bellagio Opera, Regaleira, and Urban Chic were the fans' top three choices and, thus, presumably the early race favorites.
Bellagio Opera, a 5-year-old son of decade-past crack sprinter Lord Kanaloa, is a prototypical "horse for the course," undefeated in four outings at Hanshin. He also outruns his sire's influence, specializing in 2,000 meters (about 1 1/4 miles).
Bellagio Opera came up short when third in the 2,200-meter (about 1 3/8-mile) Takarazuka Kinen in 2024. That race, however, was run at Kyoto Racecourse and on soft turf. In his previous start, he won the 2,000-meter Osaka Hai (G1) for the second straight year.
"He's been training well and the weather's not too hot yet, so we don't have to worry about that with the race being two weeks earlier this year," said trainer Hiroyuki Uemura.
Regaleira, a 4-year-old filly by 2019 Japan Cup (G1) winner Suave Richard, shouldn't have any problem with the distance of the Takarazuka Kinen. She scored her second grade 1 win, following the 2023 Hopeful Stakes (G1), in her last outing, going 2,500 meters (about 1 9/16 miles) in the Arima Kinen Grand Prix (G1). She has not raced since that triumph Dec. 22 and has never set foot on the Hanshin turf.
"Even though she hasn't run since the Arima Kinen, she seems to have filled out and matured in the meantime," said assistant trainer Yu Ota. "She looks well in her coat and is in good condition. She's better mentally too. We just want to improve her balance before this next race."
Urban Chic, another Suave Richard 4-year-old, finished sixth in the Arima Kinen but has prepped for the Takarazuka Kinen with a third-place finish in the Nikkei Sho (G2) at Nakayama March 29. His career peak to date came in the Kikuka Sho (Japanese St. Leger, G1) last October. He also makes his Hanshin debut.
"It was a pity he lost in the Nikkei Sho last time," said trainer Ryo Takei. "But the going was bad, and I still thought he ran a good race. The jockey (Christophe Lemaire) also put it down to it being the horse's first race in a while."
Rousham Park returns to Japanese competition after finishing sixth in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes (G1) at Randwick Racecourse in Australia in his last start April 12. The 6-year-old son of Harbinger finished second behind Rebel's Romance in the 2024 Breeders' Cup Turf and also has raced in Hong Kong. He still seeks his first top-level victory.
Others with top-level experience include Justin Palace, third in this race in 2023; Danon Beluga, who has been better overseas than at home, finishing second in the 2023 Dubai Turf (G1T) and third in the 2024 edition; and Meisho Tabaru, fifth in this year's Dubai Turf.
