PDF(176kb)

Matured Lucky Lilac Finishes Strongly to Win Osaka Hai

Second favorite Lucky Lilac improved on her runner-up effort in the Nakayama Kinen (G2, 1,800m) last month to captured her third G1 title in this year’s Osaka Hai which was held without the usual cheering crowd due to precautionary measures against COVID-19 taken by the JRA. The Hanshin Juvenile Fillies (G1, 1,600m) victor and 2017 Best Two-Year-Old Filly landed her second G1 victory last November in the Queen Elizabeth II Cup (2,200m) and concluded her four-year-old campaign with a runner-up effort in the Hong Kong Vase (G1, 2,400m). Trainer Mikio Matsunaga claimed his fifth career G1 title (steeplechases included)—the last being the Queen Elizabeth II Cup with the same horse. Jockey Mirco Demuro landed his 31st JRA-G1 title, the first since the 2019 Yushun Himba (Japanese Oaks) with Loves Only You. He also won the 2018 edition of the Osaka Hai with Suave Richard, a year after the race was upgraded to G1 status.

Lucky Lilac broke sharply from a good draw but allowed race favorite Danon Kingly to pass and dictate a moderated pace and eased to third along the rails, a few lengths behind the pace setter and Jinambo who stalked the leader in second. While keeping an eye on Chrono Genesis who made her move towards the outside route turning for home, Mirco Demuro kept the Orfevre mare to the inside, and did not miss the chance as Jinambo began to tire with 200 meters to go and slipped through to the outside of Danon Kingly, increasing her strides impressively to out-win both Chrono Genesis and Danon Kingly for a neck victory.

“I really miss the fans that were unable to come and watch the race, but it’s always a great feeling to be able to win a G1 race. Lucky Lilac was well prepared for coming into this race after a prep at Nakayama where she found the uphill still a little tough at the finish—she was definitely very strong and fit this time. She was really sharp coming out of the gate and we were a little forwardly positioned than expected but the race went perfectly for us and she was really concentrating and taking the bit after the third corner—we were lucky to find a nice opening at the stretch. She’s a mare but a not timid and has the strength to face the top males in the future,” commented Mirco Demuro.

Chrono Genesis broke smoothly from an outside draw and gradually moved up to settle in fourth position, outside and half a length behind the eventual winner. The Bago filly made her move approaching the fourth corner, overtaking Lucky Lilac and shifting to the outside for the stretch run, and while she was able to pin down Danon Kingly who gave a good fight to maintain his lead, she was a neck short in second at the wire after having to cover more ground than the winner who came from the inside.

Other Horses:
4th: (11) Cadenas—sat in 11th, met traffic at early stretch, showed terrific late kick after 300m pole, fastest over last 3 furlongs
5th: (4) Wagnerian—took economic trip around 5th, found little room between last 2 corners, accelerated in last 200m
6th: (10) Jinambo—tracked leader in 2nd, ran gamely until 200m pole, outrun thereafter
7th: (3) Blast Onepiece—sat 3-wide around 9th early, made headway after 3rd corner, lacked needed kick
8th: (6) Red Genial—settled around 5th, turned last 2 corners outside winner, unable to reach contention
9th: (7) Stay Foolish—race 3-wide around 5th, outrun after final corner
10th: (2) Satono Saltus—hugged rails around 9th, switched outside for stretch run, even paced
11th: (9) Makahiki—traveled around 8th, circled wide, showed little at stretch
12th: (1) Lord My Way—trailed in rear, gradually advanced, faded at stretch

THE 64TH OSAKA HAI (G1)
4-year-olds & up, 2,000 meters (about 10 furlongs), turf, right-handed
Sunday, April 5, 2020           Hanshin Racecourse        11th Race         Post time: 15:40
Total prize money: ¥ 291,600,000 (about US$ 2,700,000 <US$1=¥108>)
4-y-o & up: 57kg (about 126 lbs),
2kg allowance for Fillies & Mares, 1kg allowance for Southern Hemisphere-bred born in 2016
Course Record: 1:57.2         Race Record: 1:58.2 [Suave Richard (JPN, by Heart’s Cry), 2018]
Safety factor: 16 runners     Going: Firm           Weather: Fine

Turnover for the Race alone: ¥ 12,012,697,800  Turnover for the Day: ¥ 20,783,501,200

Winner= 15 starts, 6 wins, 4 seconds, 2 thirds / Added money: ¥ 137,604,000 / Career earnings: ¥ 627,264,700

* Osaka Hai (G1)

The Osaka Hai, renewing its name in 2017 from the familiarly known Sankei Osaka Hai, was established in 1957 as a handicap race open to runners of four years of age and upwards run over 1,800m at Hanshin Racecourse in March. After the distance was extended to 2,000m in 1972, the date was moved to one week earlier to the Oka Sho (Japanese 1000 Guineas) in 1981. The race was given G2 status in conjunction with the new grading system in 1984, opened its doors to foreign competitors in 2003 and was upgraded to G1 in 2017. The winner of the race will automatically earn a starting position in the Irish Champion Stakes (G1, 2,000m) held in September.

Attracting strong contenders by serving as a prep race for G1 spring races for older horses such as the Tenno Sho (Spring) (G1, 3,200m) and the Takarazuka Kinen (G1, 2,200m), many Osaka Hai champions have gone on to achieve G1 successes; Meisho Samson (JPN, by Opera House) in 2007, Hiruno d’Amour (JPN, by Manhattan Cafe) in 2011, two-time Horse of the Year Kitasan Black (JPN, by Black Tide) in 2017, all went on to capture the Tenno Sho (Spring) that followed; and Dream Journey (JPN, by Stay Gold) in 2009 landed his Takarazuka Kinen victory two starts later. 2018 victor Suave Richard (JPN, by Heart’s Cry) captured his second G1 title in the Japan Cup (G1, 2,400m) last year. Winners who also showed extraordinary accomplishments include 2008 champion Daiwa Scarlet (JPN, by Agnes Tachyon), legendary 2013 winner Orfevre (JPN, by Stay Gold) and 2014 victor Kizuna (JPN, by Deep Impact).