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Favorite Croix du Nord Shines in Osaka Hai Win

Race favorite Croix du Nord claimed his third G1 title in this year’s Osaka Hai in his first appearance of the season. Sired by Kitasan Black, who won the Osaka Hai in 2017, the brown colt was undefeated in three starts including the Hopeful Stakes (G1, 2,000m) as a two-year-old and landed another major triumph in the Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby, G1, 2,400m) the following season. In his first overseas challenge in France that autumn, the son of Kitasan Black notched the Prix du Prince d’Orange (G3, 2,000m) before disappointing to 14th in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (G1, 2,400m) and concluded the season with a good fourth in the Japan Cup (G1, 2,400m). Both trainer Takashi Saito and jockey Yuichi Kitamura celebrate their first JRA-G1 victory since last year’s Tokyo Yushun title with this colt, resulting in Saito achieving ten G1 titles in total while Kitamura now has eight.

Breaking from the widest stall, Croix du Nord steadily advanced to travel in the middle of the field, three wide and close to rival Danon Decile running on the rails. After rounding the third corner, the Kitasan Black colt made rapid headway to enter the lane in second and briefly struggled to find his best stride but finally showed a change of gear in the last 100 meters and finished strong, overtaking the pacesetter in the final strides for a 3/4-length win.

“To be honest, I’m relieved that we were able to win and live up to the expectations as race favorite. The going was tough to handle and the incredible speed of the pacesetter, Meisho Tabaru, was also tough to beat but I gave my all to drive the colt to the wire in which he responded beautifully. I’m confident that this season will be all about Croix du Nord and that he will play the leading role in all of his starts,” commented jockey Yuichi Kitamura.

Third pick Meisho Tabaru, although a touch late out of the gate, gunned for the lead to set the pace as expected, distancing himself with the rest of the field by more than three lengths in the backstretch. Still maintaining the lead with only 100 meters to the wire, last year’s Takarazuka Kinen champion held on stubbornly but surrendered to the fast-closing Croix du Nord and finished second.

Second pick and 2024 Tokyo Yushun champion Danon Decile settled around sixth in front of Croix du Nord and saved ground rounding the last corners. Turning into the lane, the son of Epiphaneia briefly met traffic but found space for clear running too late, failing to track the winner nor overtake Meisho Tabaru, finishing a length behind in third.

Other Horses:
4th: (14) Tagano Dude—unhurried in 13th, launched charge after 3rd corner to time fastest over last 3 furlongs, neck short for 3rd
5th: (3) Seiun Hades—tracked leaders on rails around 3rd, ran gamely, weakened in final strides
6th: (12) Lebensstil—kept eye on winner around 11th, driven after 3rd corner, needed more in last 200m
7th: (9) Yoho Lake—raced inside winner around 9th, lacked needed kick
8th: (11) David Barows—positioned wide around 6th, even paced at stretch
9th: (10) Boldog Hos—trailed in rear, passed tired rivals on inner stretch
10th: (5) Shohei—sat around 5th, gradually advanced, failed to sustain bid
11th: (2) Matenro Leo—ran around 12th, switched to outside rounding last corners, never fired
12th: (1) Sun Stockton—raced near rear, circled wide, unable to reach contention
13th: (13) Faust Rasen—tracked leader in second, faded after final corner
14th: (8) Ecoro Walz—traveled near winner around 8th, showed little at stretch
15th: (7) Ecoro Dinos—chased leaders in 3rd, fell back after 3rd corner

THE 70TH OSAKA HAI (G1)
4-year-olds & up, 2,000 meters (about 10 furlongs), turf, right-handed
Sunday, April 5, 2026            Hanshin Racecourse        11th Race         Post time: 15:40
Total prize money: ¥ 651,000,000 (about US$ 4,200,000 <US$1=¥155>)
4-y-o & up: 58kg (about 128 lbs),
2kg allowance for Fillies & Mares, 1kg allowance for Southern Hemisphere-bred born in 2022
Course record: 1:56.2           Race record: 1:56.2 [Bellagio Opera (JPN, by Lord Kanaloa), 2025]
Safety factor: 16 runners       Going: Good to Firm        Weather: Fine

Turnover for the Race alone: ¥ 18,673,814,200       Turnover for the Day: ¥ 30,000,693,100       Attendance: 41,875

Winner= 9 starts: 6 wins & 1 second / Added & stakes money: ¥ 303,192,000 / Career earnings: ¥ 916,648,600

* 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.
The Osaka Hai has established its role as the season’s first target for middle-distance runners since acquiring G1 status, attracting top-tier 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). Former champions went on to achieve further success; 2017 champion Kitasan Black (JPN, by Black Tide) registered three more G1 wins that year and earned his second Horse of the Year title; Suave Richard (JPN, by Heart’s Cry), who won the 2018 edition, added another G1 title in the 2019 Japan Cup (2,400m); and 2024 victor Bellagio Opera (JPN, by Lord Kanaloa) successfully defended his Osaka Hai title last year and marked two G1 runner-up efforts before capping off his racing career at the end of the season.
2024 Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby, G1, 2,400m) winner Danon Decile was initially entered in the Dubai Sheema Classic (G1, 2,410m) in aim for a back-to-back victory but canceled his trip and commenced the current season with this race. 2025 Tokyo Yushun victor Croix du Nord and Takarazuka Kinen champion Meisho Tabaru, who were last seen marking a fourth in the Japan Cup and 13th in the Arima Kinen (G1, 2,500m), respectively, also began their 2026 campaigns in this race. Coming off their respective graded wins were David Barows (Naruo Kinen [G3, 1,800m]), Shohei (American Jockey Club Cup [G2, 2,200m]), Tagano Dude (Kokura Daishoten [G3, 1,800m]) and Lebensstil (Nakayama Kinen [G2, 1,800m]). This year’s race also welcomed back last year’s runners Yoho Lake and Ecoro Walz, who were third and fourth, respectively, and also two-time graded winner Seiun Hades.