The Breeders’ Cup Challenge for 2022 returns to Japan on Sunday with a stellar renewal of the $3.75m Takarazuka Kinen at Hanshin racecourse
With Japan’s historic achievements last year at Del Mar still easily brought to mind, the Breeders’ Cup ‘Win and You’re In’ Challenge returns to the Far East powerhouse this weekend when a star-studded renewal of the Takarazuka Kinen brings down the curtain on the spring season.
Five G1 winners plus a coterie of high-profile overseas winners line up for the hugely prestigious 432 million ($3.75m) event, which offers a fees-paid berth in the Longines Breeders’ Cup Turf at Keeneland on November 5.
Won for the last two seasons by top-class racemare Chrono Genesis, this 1m3f contest at Hanshin racecourse, just outside Osaka, is a designated ‘All-Star’ event, where fans vote for the majority of the field.
A whopping 2,232,089 votes were received for Sunday’s 63rd edition, with seven-length Tenno Sho (Spring) winner Titleholder topping the ballot with a record 191,394 votes – just ahead of Arima Kinen hero Efforia, the reigning Horse of the Year, who polled 188,525.
Both face question marks. TItleholder is shortening up in trip, while Efforia was well beaten behind Sunday’s rival Potager in the Osaka Hai on his seasonal debut at this venue.
There’s a bit of sibling rivalry here, by the way, as Kazuo Yokoyama has the ride on Titleholder, while younger brother Takeshi rides Efforia.
A formidable 18-runner line-up also features Daring Tact, fillies’ Triple Crown winner in 2020, plus several horses who have left their mark on the international stage already in 2022 such as Saudi winner Authority, Dubai Turf dead-heater Panthalassa and Stay Foolish, who won lucrative stayers’ races in both Saudi and Dubai.
The Takarazuka Kinen is the fourth JRA race included in this year’s Breeders’ Cup Challenge. There are also ‘Win and You’re In’ races this weekend in Peru and Brazil.
Top contenders
Efforia (Yuichi Shikato/Takeshi Yokoyama) – Japan’s reigning Horse of the Year after near spotless 3yo campaign in which sole defeat came in five races came when touched off in Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby); three-time G1 winner landed Satsuki Sho (2,000 Guineas), Tenno Sho (Autumn) and Arima Kinen (end-of-season grand prix, nation’s most popular race) but odds-on disappointment on return behind Sunday’s rival Potager on return in G1 Osaka Hai; ahead of Titleholder on each of three times they’ve clashed.
Titleholder (Toru Kurita/Kazuo Yokoyama) – front-running four-year-old looked an improved performer when slamming Deep Bond by 7l in the Tenno Sho (Spring) over 2m on May 1; unbeaten in two starts at this track, also easy winner of last year’s Kikuka Sho (Japanese St Leger); cuts back in trip now and may also have to contend with other horses who like to lead, notably Panthalassa, who went wire-to-wire in Dubai.
Daring Tact (Haruki Sugiyama/Kohei Matsuyama) - went undefeated through fillies’ Triple Crown campaign as 3yo in 2020 before solid third behind the great Almond Eye in red-hot Japan Cup; hasn’t won since, but promise on last month’s return after 13-month injury layoff over inadequate trip in G1 Victoria Mile.
Shall we talk about it?
Toru Kurita, trainer of Titleholder: "On his return to the training center on June 1, he looked well and refreshed, and probably better all round than he did when he returned before the Tenno Sho. He has been moving well in his recent training. There might be another horse that will want to lead in the race, but the jockey knows the horse well and will know what’s best to do. We’ll leave it to him.”
Yuichi Shikato, trainer of Efforia: “I do think Efforia is the most talented horse here. His preparation has gone well, and he’s probably in better shape than he was for his last race. He has been more switched on wearing blinkers in training, and running in between two other horses. He has now had experience of transporting long distance to a track, and I don’t see a problem with the race over the 2,200 metres on the inner course this time. It was too bad about his last race, so I want to see the real Efforia this time, and hope that he can show what a talented horse he is and give his best showing in the race.”
Haruki Sugiyama, trainer of Daring Tact:“She should definitely improve for her last race – she was coming back after her long layoff and it was a tough mile race. “She was coming back after her long layoff last time, and it was a tough mile race. There had been quite a lot of rain before the race, and she drew the inside gate which wasn’t to her advantage. She still ran well, putting in a final three-furlong time of just over 33 seconds. The extra distance this time is a plus.”
Yasuo Tomomichi, trainer of Potager: “He showed how good he is in the Osaka Hai, and his weight should be about the same this time. I think he can run over any distance up to 2,400 metres, which is good given the tough final part of the race at Hanshin. He always gives it his best in a race, and even if the going is soft, I still think he can run well.”
Nicholas Godfrey’s verdict
Cutting back in distance is a concern for Titleholder, and in any event, EFFORIA has finished in front of him every time they’ve met in the past. The Horse of the Year is taken to bounce back to form; there were excuses for his poor return to action.
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