Japanese racing fans have no trouble figuring out who their favorite horses are and the Arima Kinen (G1) is one of two races each year in which they get to vote on the makeup of the field.
Unfortunately, the Dec. 24 renewal of the prestigious race will go to the post at Nakayama Racecourse without the fans' top two picks as Japan Cup (G1) winner Equinox has been retired and super 3-year-old filly Liberty Island is taking a break before a likely ambitious 2024 campaign.
There's plenty left to cheer about, though, as the field includes the last three winners of the Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby, G1)—2021 winner Shahryar, 2022 winner Do Deuce, and this year's champ, Tastiera.
Also in the mix are known top-level quantities Justin Palace, Titleholder, Through Seven Seas, Deep Bond, and Sol Oriens. On form, the field is likely to generate a substantial chunk of Japan's international contingent for top events around the world in 2024.
The race is run at 2,500 meters, or just over 1 1/2 miles, around Nakayama's inner turf loop. The winner gets about US$3.5 million of the US$6.7 million purse.
Equinox would have been the star of the show. But the Kitasan Black colt, who ran his grade/group 1 winning streak to six with the Japan Cup win, clearly was too valuable to risk further on the racecourse. Thousands attended a retirement ceremony for the 4-year-old Dec. 16 at Nakayama. Liberty Island, winner of four straight grade 1 events before finishing second in the Japan Cup, is expected to carry on, but gets a break before the new year.
That's who won't be there for the Arima Kinen. Here's a look at some who will participate:
Shahryar, a son of Deep Impact, finished third in the Breeders' Cup Turf (G1T) at Santa Anita Park in his most recent start. He was to have tried the Hong Kong Vase (G1) but scratched days before that Dec. 11 event "because of a potential health issue." He also has competed at Royal Ascot and in Dubai.
Assistant trainer Nobuyuki Tashiro said Shahryar returned from Hong Kong in fine fettle and cleared quarantine with no problems.
"He's fit and in good condition, so all that was needed (for the Arima Kinen) was a bit of fine-tuning," Tashiro said. "It's his first time at Nakayama but he has done well on other tight courses. The distance isn't a problem either. He can show his best on a fast track. It'll be enough to run to his full potential."
Do Deuce also had a schedule hiccup, missing the Dubai Turf (G1) in March as a late scratch. After a break, he then finished seventh in the Tenno Sho (Autumn) (G1) in October in his comeback and improved to fourth in the Japan Cup. His trainer, Yasuo Tomomichi, said the 4-year-old is ready to go and the absence of the superstars won't hurt his chances.
"I'd say he has improved quite a bit and there is no need for more work. Equinox is out of the picture now and I think any horse has a chance," Tomomichi said.
Titleholder, by Duramente, comes off a fifth-place finish in the Japan Cup and is a three-time grade 1 winner in Japan but his trainer, Toru Kurita, said he's never sure just what kind of effort the 5-year-old will deliver on a given day.
"There are other horses that will want to lead," Kurita said. "But we want this horse to run his own race. When he wins, he wins big. But when he loses it's always like, 'What happened?' He does things you don't expect him to, in good ways and not so good ways. He's quite a character."
Through Seven Seas, a late-developing 5-year-old mare by Dream Journey, finished second in the June 25 Takarazuka Kinen (G1), between Equinox and Justin Palace. She then was Japan's only representative in the Oct. 1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (G1), outrunning her odds to finish a credible fourth and trainer Tomohito Ozeki said with a little better luck, she might have ended Japan's long and frustrating quest to land that prestigious event.
"In the Arc ... she didn't start well and ended up racing from behind," Ozeki said. "On top of that, she wasn't able to move to the outside in the stretch and finished fourth racing amid the pack. It was a good effort, but I think the results may have been different if she'd been able to travel from a more forward position.
Justin Palace, another by Deep Impact, had the misfortune of running into Equinox in each of his last two races and settled for third in the Takarazuka Kinen and second in the Tenno Sho (Autumn) behind that superstar.
Deep Bond and Sol Oriens likely need to take a step forward to figure against these rivals.
