Welcome back to our annual series of newsletters leading up to the 2026 Japan Cup (G1, 2,400m) on November 29. This year, three of JRA’s autumn G1 events—the Sprinters Stakes (1,200m), the Tenno Sho (Autumn) (2,000m) and the Arima Kinen (2,500m)—were added to the additional-bonus series for winners of designated overseas G1 races who also finish within the first three places in these JRA races. The series, launched in 2008, also includes the Queen Elizabeth II Cup (G1, 2,200m), the Mile Championship (G1, 1,600m), the Japan Cup, and the Champions Cup (G1, dirt, 1,800m). As established Japanese horses prepare for the coming autumn G1 events, it is hoped that this new bonus system will entice more high-profile foreign contenders to enter these and other races in Japan.

After domestic runners proudly retained the Japan Cup title for 20 years, in 2025 they finally had to concede victory to French raider Calandagan, who subsequently was crowned the World’s Best Racehorse of the season. The last non-Japanese Japan Cup winner was Britain’s Alkaased in 2005. Among the top Japanese racers who narrowly missed winning, the second- through fourth-place finishers remained active in 2026, but fifth-place Justin Palace (JPN, by Deep Impact) retired to stud. Runner-up Masquerade Ball (JPN, C4, by Duramente) and third-place Danon Decile (JPN, H5, by Epiphaneia) were scheduled to start this season in the Middle East but plans to run in the Dubai Sheema Classic were canceled due to turmoil in the region.

Masquerade Ball was shifted to the Queen Elizabeth II Cup (G1, 2,000m) in Hong Kong in late April. Although Masquerade Ball made an impressive late charge from the back of the eight-horse field to finish second, Hong Kong’s multiple G1 winner Romantic Warrior proved an insurmountable obstacle. The Japanese colt then headed to the prestigious King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes (G1, 2,390m) in late July. In the race, he failed to settle midway and lost momentum well before the decisive stretch, finishing seventh out of nine and trailing winner Kalpana by more than 14 lengths. While connections have not yet announced his second half agenda, assuming the colt remains in good health his likely targets are the Tenno Sho (Autumn) on November 1 and the Japan Cup, both at Tokyo Racecourse where the colt has excelled in the past.

Meanwhile, Danon Decile, now focusing on domestic races, entered two middle-distance Grade 1 events, the Osaka Hai (2,000m) and the Takarazuka Kinen (2,200m), and finished third in both. He was also third in both Japan Cup and then the 2025 Arima Kinen, marking a frustrating streak of four consecutive third-place G1 finishes. His connections have not yet announced autumn Danon Decile’s targets, but considering that his two previous Grade 1 victories were on left-handed courses at distances of 2,400m and 2,410m, the Tenno Sho (Autumn) and the Japan Cup seem most probable.

Croix du Nord (JPN, C4, by Kitasan Black), fourth in the 2025 Japan Cup, has focused entirely on domestic racing. In fact, consecutively he contested three Grade 1 races—the Osaka Hai, the Tenno Sho (Spring) (3,200m) and the Takarazuka Kinen. While this has been a rarity for top-class horses in recent years, he was taking aim at the JRA’s 300-million-yen bonus to any horse that wins all three events. Croix du Nord had previously finished fourth in the 2025 Japan Cup, his first race back in Japan after a disastrous defeat in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (G1, 2,400m) in the autumn of 2025.

In the Osaka Hai, his 2026 opener, the favorite Croix du Nord tracked the leaders at a measured pace before skillfully reeling in the front-running Meisho Tabaru just before the finish line to secure his third Grade 1 title. In the subsequent Tenno Sho (Spring), although the field lacked depth, the 3,200-meter distance posed a challenge for Croix du Nord, but he employed his signature move to the front early in the home straight and held off a fierce late challenge from Wurttemberg to prevail by a nose.

In the last of the three races, the Takarazuka Kinen, heavy pre-race rain rapidly lowered the track condition from “good to firm” to “yielding.” The bonus-eligible Croix du Nord mounted a furious challenge, but Meisho Tabaru, who excels on soft going, moved up from second with perfect timing. Croix du Nord crossed the finish line by a mere neck behind, narrowly missing out on becoming the first-ever JRA bonus winner. His connections have already announced he will start in the Tenno Sho (Autumn), and his return to the Japan Cup thereafter is considered highly likely.

Among other 2025 Japan Cup entrants, ninth-place Cosmo Kuranda (JPN, H5, by Al Ain) went on to place second in the Arima Kinen and fourth in this year’s Takarazuka Kinen. Eleventh-place Deep Monster (JPN, H8, by Deep Impact) achieved a notable victory over two-time G1 winner Goliath in Qatar’s Amir Trophy (G2, 2,400m) in February. The son of Deep Impact will fly to the United States for the Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1, 2,400m) on October 31 after a prep run in the Kyoto Daishoten (G2, 2,400m) on October 4. And twelfth-place Seiun Hades (JPN, H7, by Silver State) has improved by stepping down in distance to finish fifth in this year’s Osaka Hai and fourth in the Yasuda Kinen (G1, 1,600m).

Although Japan’s autumn G1 events got underway in September, many eyes have turned overseas to the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe’s two Japanese entrants: Meisho Tabaru (JPN, H5, by Gold Ship), a back-to-back winner of the Takarazuka Kinen, and Admire Terra (JPN, H5, by Rey de Oro), whose 2025 Japan Cup run ended abruptly when his jockey was unseated right after the start. Japanese horses in the Arc have finished second on four occasions with three different runners, but in recent years they have failed to place within the top three since Orfevre’s consecutive runner-up finishes in 2012 and 2013. Although this year’s two contenders face uncertainties in adapting to French track conditions and distances, many are hoping they can make history for Japan.

Museum Mile (JPN, C4, by Leontes), JRA’s 2025 Champion Three-Year-Old Colt, scored his second G1 win in last year’s Arima Kinen against older foes, following his Satsuki Sho (Japanese 2000 Guineas, 2000m) victory earlier in the season. This year he has passed up scheduled starts overseas, the Dubai Turf and the Queen Elizabeth II Cup, making just one start in the Takarazuka Kinen, where he finished ninth on a soft track that stifled his finishing kick. Later, periostitis was found in the distal end of his right foreleg’s radius, but it was surgically removed, so depending on his recovery he may target middle-distance G1 races such as the Tenno Sho (Autumn), Japan Cup and Arima Kinen.

Among four-year-olds and up, those likely to compete in the autumn middle-distance G1 circuit include Shake Your Heart (JPN, H6, by Heart’s Cry), who scored his third grade-race victory in the Sapporo Kinen (G2, 2,000m) in August, Shohei (JPN, C4, by Saturnalia), a two-time G2 winner who finished third in last year’s Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby, G1, 2,400m), and Tagano Dude (JPN, H5, by Yamakatsu Ace), who respectively finished fourth, sixth and fifth in the Osaka Hai, Tenno Sho (Spring) and Takarazuka Kinen. Redentor (JPN, H5, by Rulership), who won last year’s Tenno Sho (Spring) but was fifth this year, will kick off his autumn campaign with the Kyoto Daishoten and then likely head to the Japan Cup.

Attention is also focusing on the chances of the first Triple Crown winner since Contrail in 2020. Lovcen (JPN, C3, by World Premiere) has already secured the first two titles of the three-year-old Classics for colts and will attempt to take the last crown in the Kikuka Sho (Japanese St. Leger, G1, 3,000m) in late October. A talented colt with versatile running tactics, the World Premier colt won led all the way in his debut race (2,000m) last November. He followed up by claiming the Hopeful Stakes (G1, 2,000m), surging to victory from mid-pack, but then tasted his first defeat in his three-year-old debut, the Kyodo News Hai (G3, 1,800m) in February, where he lost his rhythm early in the race. In his next race, the Satsuki Sho, his jockey learned from the mistake and kept his mount in good rhythm up front for another wire-to-wire win. He then closed strongly from off the pace in the Tokyo Yushun to outduel his rival at the wire for a narrow victory.

Lovcen’s sire World Premiere, initially not considered a highly rated stallion, won two G1 titles at distances of 3,000 meters and beyond—the 2019 Kikuka Sho and 2021 Tenno Sho (Spring). His first crop—25 foals in 2023, of whom 22 have debuted—includes the Triple Crown candidate, Lovcen, who was purchased for 21 million yen (excluding tax) at the Northern Farm Mixed Sale in October 2023. Lovcen is not expected to proceed to the Japan Cup after the Kikuka Sho, but instead begin competing in major overseas races once he turns four.

Among this year’s spring three-year-old fillies’ Classics, much attention was focused on the Yushun Himba (Japanese Oaks, G1, 2,400m), which was won by Juryoku Pierrot (JPN, F3, by Orfevre), making her jockey, Seina Imamura, the first female in Japan to win a G1 race in her very first Classic ride. After racing on dirt last year and securing one win, the three-year-old filly defied low expectations by winning her turf debut (2,000m) this January and then the Wasurenagusa Sho (Listed, 2,000m). But she made an even bigger impact with her Oaks win, starting from the rear to thread her way into contention in the final stretch, and then out-finishing favored mounts ridden by skilled jockeys Christophe Lemaire and Damian Lane. Juryoku Pierrot is scheduled to run in the Shuka Sho (G1) in the second half of the year and if all goes well possibly even the Japan Cup, which would surely draw significant attention.

Among the three-year-olds, Realize Sirius (JPN, C3, by Poetic Flare) is set to challenge his seniors in the Tenno Sho (Autumn) rather than the Kikuka Sho. He defeated rivals including Lovcen to win the Kyodo News Hai in February, and then was beaten by three-quarters of a length to finish a strong second in the Satsuki Sho. However, after finishing seventh when he attempted to step up in distance in the Tokyo Yushun, he will make his fall return in the shorter Mainichi Okan (G2, 1,800m). Another three-year-old colt, Zoroastro (JPN, by Maurice), who landed his second G3 victory in the Niigata Kinen (2,000m) against older foes in August, will also target the Tenno Sho (Autumn).

The Sprinters Stakes (1,200m), the opening G1 event of the 2026 JRA fall season, will be held on September 27. In the main prep race, the Centaur Stakes (G2, 1,200m) on September 6, Flicker Jab (JPN, C4, by Saturnalia) dug in strongly in the final strides to notch his second graded title following the Kitakyushu Kinen (G3, 1,200m) in July. In second was Puro Magic (JPN, M5, by Asia Express), who was coming off back-to-back wins in the Hakodate Sprint Stakes (G3, 1,200m) and the Ibis Summer Dash (G3, 1,000m). The 2023 Sprinters Stakes winner Mama Cocha (JPN, M7, by Kurofune) was third.

Sprinters Stakes’ defending champion Win Carnelian (JPN, H9, by Screen Hero) registered a respectable third in the Takamatsunomiya Kinen (G1, 1,200m) this spring and delivered another third-place effort in the Keeneland Cup (G3, 1,200m) on August 23. Sound Moryana (JPN, F4, by Mikki Isle) claimed her first graded title in the race and in second was 2025 NHK Mile Cup (G1, 1,600m) victor Panja Tower (JPN, C4, by Tower of London).

The Stakes’ field will also include Lugal (JPN, H6, by Duramente), the 2024 Sprinters Stakes champion who scored a runner-up effort in the Al Quoz Sprint (G1, 1,200m) in Dubai this spring, along with June Blair (USA, M5, by American Pharoah), last year’s runner-up, and Star Anise (JPN, F3, by Drefong), the 2025 Best Two-Year-Old Filly and this year’s Oka Sho (Japanese 1000 Guineas, G1, 1,600m) victor, who will try the sprint distance after a 12th in the 2,400-meter Yushun Himba.

This year’s Queen Elizabeth II Cup for three-year-olds-and-up fillies and mares will be held at Kyoto Racecourse on November 15. Regaleira (JPN, M5, by Suave Richard) won last year and was fourth in the following Arima Kinen, but then in June she struggled on yielding ground in the Takarazuka Kinen to finish seventh. The five-year-old mare was fourth in the All Comers (G2, 2,200m) on September 20. In the same race, Nakayama Himba Stakes (G3, 1,800m) winner Ethelfleda (JPN, M5, by Kitasan Black) was ninth.

Last year’s Yushun Himba victor Kamunyak (JPN, F4, by Black Tide) put in a runner-up effort in the Victoria Mile (G1, 1,600m) in May and will kick off her autumn campaign in the Ireland Trophy (G2, 1,800m) on October 11. That race may also feature Nishino Ti Amo (JPN, M5, by Duramente) and Sekitoba East (JPN, M5, by Declaration of War), respective winners of the Fukushima Kinen (G3, 2,000m) last November and the Fuchu Himba Stakes (G3, 1,800m) in June.

This year’s Queen Elizabeth II Cup will likely see runners such as Jocelyn (JPN, F4, by Epiphaneia) and Koganeno Sora (JPN, M5, by Gold Ship), respective winners of the Kokura Himba Stakes (G3, 2,000m) in January and the Fukushima Himba Stakes (G3, 1,800m) in April, Cervinia (JPN, M5, by Harbinger), the 2024 Yushun Himba and Shuka Sho champion, and Stellenbosch (JPN, M5, by Epiphaneia), winner of the 2024 Oka Sho. They will also be joined by emerging three-year-old fillies coming from the Shuka Sho on October 18, the last leg of the fillies’ Triple Crown.

The Mile Championship (G1, 1,600m) on November 22 will miss defending champion and 2025 Best Miler Jantar Mantar, who retired from racing after finishing 13th in the Hong Kong’s Champions Mile in April. Sixpence (JPN, H5, by Kizuna) became the spring champion miler by claiming the Yasuda Kinen (G1, 1,600m) in June, and despite a disappointing tenth in the following Prix Jacque Le Moris (G1, 1,600m) in France he is still likely to target the Mile Championship.

Embroidery (JPN, F4, by Admire Mars), who won both the Oka Sho and Shuka Sho last year to earn the 2025 Best Three-Year-Old Filly title, has validated her status by registering outstanding back-to-back victories in the Hanshin Himba Stakes (G2, 1,600m) in April and the Victoria Mile in May. Meanwhile, the NHK Mile Cup champion Rodeo Drive (JPN, C3, by Saturnalia) launched his autumn campaign with a close second in the Niigata Kinen (G3, 2,000m) in late August, but has since encountered a minor problem in his right foreleg.

Gaia Force (JPN, H7, by Kitasan Black), last year’s runner-up in both the Yasuda Kinen and Mile Championship, was also second in this year’s Yasuda Kinen, finishing in a dead heat with World’s End. The proven miler will now head directly to the Mile Championship. 2024 Asahi Hai Futurity Stakes (G1, 1,600m) champion Admire Zoom (JPN, C4, by Maurice) will start his fall season with the Fuji Stakes (G2, 1,600m) on October 17, joined by 2025 Best Two-Year-Old Colt Cavallerizzo (JPN, C3, by Saturnalia) and three-time graded winner Trovatore (JPN, H5, by Rey de Oro). World’s End (JPN, H5, by Lord Kanaloa) notched his first grade-race title in the Keio Hai Spring Cup (G2, 1,400m) in May, then held on tenaciously after setting the pace in the Yasuda Kinen to share runner-up status with Gaia Force. Prior to the Mile Championship he will make an inaugural attempt at the 1,200-meter distance in the Sprinters Stakes.

This year’s Mile Championship may also welcome three-time grade-race victor Elton Barows (JPN, H6, by Deep Brillante), Chukyo Kinen (G3, 1,600m) winner Lavanda (JPN, M5, by Silver State), and Lord Derby Challenge Trophy (G3, 1,600m) winner Suzu Khalom (JPN, H6, by Satono Diamond), who will respectively begin their autumn seasons in October’s Mainichi Okan, Ireland Trophy and Swan Stakes (G2, 1,400m) on October 12. The Mile Championship field may also include Ampadu (GB, H5, by Iffraaj) and Coconuts Brown (JPN, M6, by Kitasan Black), respective winners of the Sekiya Kinen (G3, 1,600m) in July and the Queen Stakes (G3, 1,800m) in August.

The Champions Cup (G1, dirt, 1,800m), JRA’s autumn dirt G1 event, will be held at Chukyo Racecourse on December 6. Last year, W Heart Bond (JPN, M5, by Kizuna) became the second female to win the race since Sambista in 2015. The five-year-old mare went on to register a third by one length in the February Stakes (G1, dirt, 1,600m). Having taken a full rest, she will return in the Ladies’ Prelude (Listed, dirt, 1,800m) at Oi Racecourse on October 6, and then likely challenge the JBC Ladies’ Classic (Listed, dirt, 1,500m) at Kanazawa Racecourse on November 3.

Wilson Tesoro (JPN, H7, by Kitasan Black), who has registered consecutive runner-up efforts in the last three Champions Cups, added another second in this year’s February Stakes and then won NAR’s major title in the Kashiwa Kinen (Listed, dirt, 1,600m) in May. The son of Kitasan Black will kick off his autumn campaign in the Mile Championship Nambu Hai (Listed, dirt, 1,600m) at Morioka Racecourse on October 12. Last year’s third-place finisher Ramjet (JPN, H5, by Majestic Warrior), who finished eighth in the February Stakes and fifth in the Teio Sho (Listed, dirt, 2,000m) in July, will run in the Sirius Stakes (G3, dirt, 2,000m) on September 26, hoping to score his first victory since the 2024 Tokyo Derby (Listed, dirt, 2,000m).

Costa Nova (JPN, H6, by Lord Kanaloa) became the third horse to claim the February Stakes two years in a row, after Copano Rickey (2014-2015) and Cafe Pharoah (2021-2022), but sustained a fracture in his left foreleg after finishing fourth in the Kashiwa Kinen, so he will likely sit out the rest of the season. Mikki Fight (JPN, H5, by Drefong) successfully defended his Teio Sho title this June and will commence his autumn campaign in the Nippon TV Hai (Listed, dirt, 1,800m) at Funabashi Racecourse on September 30, then head to the JBC Classic (Listed, dirt, 2,100m) on November 3 at Kanazawa Racecourse, where he won last year. Other Champions Cup candidates include Luxor Cafe (USA, C4, by American Pharoah), winner of the Elm Stakes (G3, dirt, 1,700m) in August, and Outrange (JPN, H6, by Regalo), who was fifth last year and third in the Hakusan Daishoten (Listed, dirt, 2,100m) on September 22. The field will be rounded out by three-year-olds coming off the Japan Dirt Classic (Listed, dirt, 2,000m) at Oi Racecourse on October 7.

The Nakayama Daishogai (J-G1, 4,100m) on December 26, the second of two annual J-G1 steeplechase events, will determine the season’s best jumper. The spotlight will shine on Ecoro Duel (JPN, H7, by Kitasan Black), the 2025 Best Steeplechase Horse who defended his Nakayama Grand Jump (J-G1, 4,260m) title with an overwhelming victory in April. The seven-year-old is scheduled to kick off the autumn season with the Tokyo High-Jump (J-G2, 3,110m) on October 18 before aiming at back-to-back wins in the Nakayama Daishogai.

Other possible participants are Sun Davis (JPN, H8, by Jo Cappuccino), Shihono Speranza (JPN, H7, by Black Tide), Suzuka Harbin (JPN, H6, by Harbinger), Rohdiamant (JPN, G6, by Satono Diamond) and Okini (JPN, G7, by Admire Moon), respective winners of the Kokura Jump Stakes (J-G3, 3,390m) in February, the Kyoto High-Jump (J-G2, 3,930m) in May, the Tokyo Jump Stakes (J-G3, 3,110m) in June, the Niigata Jump Stakes (J-G3, 3,250m) in August, and the Hanshin Jump Stakes (J-G3, 3,140m) in September. Dinasta (JPN, H7, by Duramente), who won the Hanshin Spring Jump (J-G2, 3,900m) and then was second in the Nakayama Grand Jump, is also under consideration, as well as last year’s runner-up Neviim (JPN, H8, by Kizuna) and 2023 Best Steeplechase Horse Meiner Grand (JPN, H8, by Gold Ship).

While Oka Sho winner Star Anise will run in the Sprinters Stakes, Yushun Himba victor Juryoku Pierrot and Oka Sho runner-up Garavogue (JPN, F3, by Lord Kanaloa) will head directly to the Shuka Sho on October 18, the final jewel of the fillies’ Triple Crown. Meanwhile, Yushun Himba third-place finisher Laughterlines (JPN, F3, by Al Ain) will skip her intended start in the Mainichi Okan due to a minor issue on her right foreleg, but if she recovers, she will challenge older foes in the Queen Elizabeth II Cup instead of the Shuka Sho as originally planned.

Two trial races were held leading up to the Shuka Sho. In the Shion Stakes (G2, 2,000m) on September 6, sixth favorite Master Soarer (JPN, F3, by Siskin) launched a strong stretch run on yielding ground from near the rear to claim her first graded title. Something Sweet (JPN, F3, by Saturnalia) was in second and Yushun Himba runner-up Dream Core (JPN, F3, by Kizuna) was in third, while Oka Sho third-place finisher Zippy Tune (JPN, F3, by Lord Kanaloa) disappointed to tenth.

The other trial, the Rose Stakes (G2, 1,800m) on September 13, was claimed by race favorite Monroe Walk (JPN, F3, by Kizuna), who came in undefeated in all three career starts. Flora Stakes (G2, 2,000m) runner-up Enne (JPN, F3, by Kizuna) was second and Flower Cup (G3, 1,800m) third-place finisher Exceed (JPN, F3, by Kitasan Black) was third, while Flower Cup winner Smart Priere (JPN, F3, by Epiphaneia) was sixth and Tulip Sho (G2, 1,600m) victor Taisei Vogue (JPN, F3, by Indy Champ) finished a discouraging 12th.

The last leg of the colts’ Triple Crown, the Kikuka Sho on October 25, will feature the aforementioned Lovcen, who won the two Classics in spring and also scored a victory in the Kobe Shimbun Hai (G2, 2,400m) on September 21. The Kobe contest also featured the Mainichi Hai (G3, 1,800m) champion Altramuz (JPN, C3, by Isla Bonita), who was a nose behind in second, and Sea to Summit (JPN, C3, by Maurice) in third by another half a length. Kyoto Shimbun Hai (G2, 2,200m) winner Congestus (JPN, C3, by Contrail) was sixth and Keisei Hai (G3, 2,000m) victor Green Energy (JPN, C3, by Suave Richard) finished eighth.

In the St. Lite Kinen (G2, 2,200m), another Kikuka Sho trial on September 13, Justin Chicago (JPN, C3, by Suave Richard) scored an upset victory as the 12th choice to claim his first graded title. Savoire Faire (JPN, C3, by Epiphaneia) was in second and Spring Stakes (G2, 1,800m) victor Audacia (JPN, C3, by Kizuna) was third. Aoba Sho (G2, 2,400m) winner Going to Sky (JPN, C3, by Contrail), Radio Nikkei Sho (G3, 1,800m) winner Sanono Greater (JPN, C3, by Greater London) and Tokyo Yushun third-place finisher Basse Terre (JPN, C3, by Kitasan Black) finished sixth, 11th and 13th, respectively.

Both Satsuki Sho runner-up Realize Sirius and third-place finisher Reichsadler (JPN, C3, by Siskin) will race in the middle-distance Mainichi Okan. Japanese Derby runner-up Peintre Naif (JPN, C3, by Kizuna) sustained a fracture in his right foreleg and will require a full 12 months to recover.