Regaleira Holds Arima Kinen Claims, Tokyo Daishoten Offers Redemption For Narukami

[Wandering Eyes]

Billed as Japan's richest race, the ¥960,040,000 (€5.2m) G1 Arima Kinen sees a slew of Group 1 winners vying for its ¥500,000,000 (€2.7m) first-place prize. Leading the way in the advance markets and by total votes delivered by the voting public is four-year-old mare Regaleira.

The three-time Group 1 winner by Suave Richard will carry the silks of Sunday Racing. Christophe Lemaire will ride the daughter of Roca (Harbinger), who claimed the 2023 Hopeful Stakes–won today by Lovcen–the 2024 Arima Kinen, and last month's Queen Elizabeth II Cup.

Assistant trainer Yu Ota said, “Her break was a little bit off in the Queen Elizabeth II Cup last out, but her timing was good, so we were lucky there. She stayed at Miho after that and we gave her more gate practice. Since she doesn't get tense at the training center, there were no problems, but the question is how she'll do in the race.

“We clocked her on Dec. 10 and she's showing steady improvement. Last week, she worked on the dirt. Her reactions and responses were still a bit slow, but this week's work should fix that. Her muscle tone is good, she's eating well, but the main concern is the gate. The start isn't in front of the grandstand this time, which should make things easier.”

The 2025 Classic generation is represented by G1 Satsuki Sho (Japanese 2000 Guineas) hero Museum Mile (Leontes). Booked in stall four with Cristian Demuro in the irons, the colt claimed the G2 Asahi Hai St. Lite Kinen at this course in September and was a good second to Masquerade Ball (Duramente) in the G1 Tenno Sho (Autumn) last month.

“He didn't have early speed in the Tenno Sho (Autumn) and ended up traveling from near the rear,” reflected assistant trainer Yuichi Tomomichi. “That said, his final drive was strong and he settled well even amid the slow pace of the race.

“He's grown overall and filled out in various areas. This is his third start of the autumn but there's been ample time in between races, so he does look fresh. His condition looks good too. The distance is longer this time, but he has gotten good results at Nakayama before.”

Another Group 1 winner set to contest the Arima Kinen is June's Takarazuka Kinen scorer Meisho Tabaru. The son of enters on the back of a sixth-place run in the Tenno Sho (Autumn).

“The pace was slow in the Tenno Sho (Autumn), with the first 1000 meters run in 62 seconds and it came down to the fastest late speed, which worked against him,” said trainer Mamoru Ishibashi. “Still, he covered the last three furlongs in :33.1 seconds and he traveled very nicely. I hadn't thought he'd be able to settle that well, so I think he learned quite a bit from that race.

“His three fast workouts at Ritto, all over the woodchip flat course, have gone well. He has won over 2200 meters and, if he settles well again, I think he should be able to handle the trip this time.”

A pair of Japanese Derby heros also line up in 2024 victor and G1 Dubai Sheema Classic winner Danon Decile (Epiphaneia) and 2023 hero and 2025 G1 Queen Elizabeth II Cup scorer Tastiera (Satono Crown). The duo leave from stalls nine and 16, respectively. Justin Palace (Deep Impact), the 2023 G1 Tenno Sho (Spring) hero, has placed twice at the highest level this term without a win and leaves from stall three.

Stepping up to this tier for the first time is Mystery Way (Just A Way). The seven-year-old gelding is on a two-race winning streak, and captured the G2 Copa Republica Argentina over this trip at Tokyo in November.

Japan's Group 1 Bonanza Continues On Dirt

Godolphin's Narukami aims to regain the winning thread in Monday's G1 Tokyo Daishoten at Ohi. The son of Thunder Snow has won five of his seven starts, including the Listed Japan Dirt Classic over the track and trip of Monday's contest. Stepping up to group level for the first time there, he ran 13th as the favourite after a stalking journey before fading in Chukyo's G1 Champions Cup earlier this month.

The consistent Natural Rise (Kizuna) also boasts five wins from seven starts, with his only blip a fourth in a listed race at Kawasaki in December of 2024, and his aforementioned second-place run to Narukami in the Japan Dirt Classic at Ohi in October. The three-old will leave from stall one in the 16-horse field.

Mizuki Noda's Mikki Fight (Drefong) adds intrigue with a third in the G1 February Stakes and a victory in the G3 Antares Stakes his two most recent performances. Although his sire was best known in the U.S. as the 2016 Eclipse Champion Sprinter and GI Breeders' Cup Sprint hero, his progeny have thrived at longer distances in Japan.

Ho O Roulette (Roses In May) is fresh off a victory in September's G3 Sirius Stakes, while Diktaean (King Kamehameha) exits a tally in the G3 Korea Cup that same month. The duo will break from posts 12 and 10, respectively.

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