Yasuda Kinen (G1) - Preview

Admire Zoom

Trovatore

Gaia Force

Panja Tower

Lebensstil

World’s End

Seiun Hades

Stellenbosch

Rounding out the five weeks of top-level action at Tokyo Racecourse is the Grade 1 Yasuda Kinen. The famous all-aged mile race on the turf track will be run for the 76th time, and has attracted 20 nominations this year for a maximum 18 runner line-up.

First run in 1951, it was originally known as the Yasuda Sho (named after the first JRA president, Izaemon Yasuda), and it was a handicap race for 4-year-olds and up. It became a Grade 1 race in 1984, and an international one in 1993. There have been many runners from overseas to take on the race previously, but this year it will be an all-domestic affair, with no foreign horses among the nominations. Since 2001, 3-year-olds have had the chance to run in the race, but since then, there has been just one 3-year-old winner – Real Impact in 2011.

Recent big-name winners have included Lord Kanaloa (2013), Maurice (2015) and Hong Kong’s Romantic Warrior (2024). For 4-year-olds and up, the weight carried is set at 58kg, while 3-year-olds are given 54kg, with a 2kg allowance for fillies and mares.

The race often throws up a surprise winner, as only one first favorite has won in the past 10 years, and that was Romantic Warrior. The race, however, has been dominated by 4-year-olds in that same time period, with five of them winning, the latest being Jantar Mantar last year. Record time for the race is held by Indy Champ, who won in 1: 30.9 in 2019. This year’s winner’s check is JPY180 million (just over USD1 million). Since 2016, the Grade 1 Yasuda Kinen has been a part of the Breeders’ Cup Challenge series of races, whereby the winner receives an automatic entry to the Breeders’ Cup later this year.

A couple of lead-up races to the Grade 1 Yasuda Kinen have been the Grade 3 Epsom Cup, run over 1,800 meters at Tokyo in May, and the Grade 2 Yomiuri Milers Cup, held at Kyoto in April.

This Sunday’s big race will be Race 11 on the Tokyo card, with a post time of 15:40 locally. Final declarations and barrier draw will be available later in the week. Here’s a look at some of the runners expected to take on the race:

Admire Zoom: Jockey Yutaka Take teams up with trainer Yasuo Tomomichi, and the partnership is always something to look out for. Admire Zoom will be having his eighth start, but is already a Grade 1 winner, and is coming off a win in the Grade 2 Yomiuri Milers Cup. “He no longer has hoof issues, and he ran a good race in the Milers Cup,” Tomomichi said recently. “He’s been at the stable since that race, and he’s been working well and seems to be in very good shape. He lost a shoe in the NHK Mile Cup, so we have to forget that run.” The son of Maurice looks set for a big effort here.

Trovatore: The 5-year-old has won his last two races, the most recent of which was the Grade 3 Epsom Cup at Tokyo, and with five career wins over a mile, the shorter distance this time should prove no problem at all. Trainer Yuichi Shikato said: “The jockey did a good job in the Epsom Cup last time. It was a strong win, and it shows that if he finds a good rhythm, the distance isn’t a problem. He took a break at Northern Farm Tenei after that race, and there’s no tiredness about him, as we now target the Yasuda Kinen this time.” Trovatore will be the mount of Christophe Lemaire, as he bids to make it a hat-trick of wins for the horse.

Gaia Force: The evergreen 7-year-old is still looking for an elusive Grade 1 win, and he’s finished 4th, 4th and 2nd in the Grade 1 Yasuda Kinen the last three years. Neither did he have the best of luck last time in Dubai, as trainer Haruki Sugiyama explained: “The weather was wet, and he’s a horse that needs firm ground. On returning to Japan, he spent time at Miki Horse Land Park, before moving to Ujitawara. He’s striding out well in his work now, and looks to be in good condition. It’s a much better rotation for him this year, compared to last year.”

Panja Tower: Last year’s Grade 1 NHK Mile Cup winner has had a couple of runs this year, with his latest being a creditable fourth in the Grade 1 Takamatsunomiya Kinen at Chukyo in March. Trainer Shinsuke Hashiguchi said: “He did well last time from an inside draw in the Takamatsunomiya Kinen. Since returning from Champion Hills Farm, everything’s been as usual with him, with no changes. He won the NHK Mile Cup, and I think 1,600 meters is probably his best distance.” Panja Tower is by Tower of London and is unbeaten in two starts at Tokyo, with jockey Kohei Matsuyama set to continue his association with the colt.

Lebensstil: The 6-year-old has seven career wins to his name, and is able to tackle races of different distances. Last time he took on the Grade 1 Osaka Hai over 2,000 meters in April and finished sixth. Comments from assistant trainer Hiroyuki Yamazaki were: “He ran a good race last time, looking as if he could win at one point, but the distance was just a bit too long for him. Nevertheless, he did well up against the other strong horses. After a spell at the farm, he’s returned to the stable and will target this race next.” Jockey Keita Tosaki won on Lebensstil two starts ago and is expected to get the ride on Sunday.

World’s End: Trained at Ritto by Manabu Ikezoe, World’s End showed his liking for Tokyo last time, when he ran away with the Grade 2 Keio Hai Spring Cup over 1,400 meters to record his fifth career win. The trainer said: “After a break at the farm, he came back to the stable on May 15. There have been no problems up to now. He’s in about the same condition, and he’s been doing some light work on the uphill. His workload will have been good enough. He did well in his last race, the Keio Hai Spring Cup, where he drew an outside gate, but showed a lot of speed to do what he did.” The extra 200 meters doesn’t look to be a problem for the 5-year-old by Lord Kanaloa.

Seiun Hades: Now a 7-year-old, Seiun Hades might have been unplaced in his last four races, but his fifth last time in the Grade 1 Osaka Hai in April would certainly put him in with a chance here over the shorter trip. Trainer Shinsuke Hashiguchi said: “He lost a shoe in the Osaka Hai, but considering that, he ran a strong race. He’s spent some time at Champion Hills Farm, and everything’s fine with him as we look to this next race. He’s won the Epsom Cup before, so I think he’s suited to Tokyo.” Jockey Hideaki Miyuki will be hoping to end his lean spell without a Grade 1 win, which goes back to 2021 when he won the QEII Cup on Akai Ito.

Another horse to look out for is the 5-year-old mare Stellenbosch, who comes off a second-place finish to Trovatore in the Grade 3 Epsom Cup and gets to claim the 2kg allowance. Damian Lane is now booked for the ride, and all things considered, Stellenbosch could have a part to play in this week’s big race.

Sources: Keiba Book