2024 Arima Kinen: Group 1 Review
Venue: Nakayama Racecourse
Distance: 2500m
Value: ¥1,085,000,000 (US$6,934,900)
The Arima Kinen marked a changing of the guard as Tetsuya Kimura-trained Regaleira became the first three-year-old filly in more than 60 years to win Japan’s most prestigious race.
The race seemingly lost some hype when likely Horse of the Year and defending champion Do Deuce was withdrawn on Friday, but rather than an anticipated coronation, it became an intriguing contest with plenty of chances.
It was two Sunday Racing contenders, emerging talent Regaleira and hardy veteran Shahryar, who came away to fight out the finish. A nose was all that separated the pair at the line, with the filly posted as the winner.
Jockey Keita Tosaki, who wore the Sunday Racing colours when he guided Gentildonna to a famous retirement victory in this race a decade ago, denied Shahryar a similar send-off with his second victory in the all-star event.
THE RACE
Different race, same story. The Japanese autumn has been marked by a string of races run at an exceptionally slow tempo, well below the standard 60 seconds for the first 1000m. That was the case again as the field went through the first kilometre in 62.9 seconds, with a ridiculously slow 13.3-second furlong out of the straight the first time between the 1600m and the 1400m.
Cox Plate runner-up Prognosis again bounded in the air at the start; ironically, the one time he jumped away cleanly – at Moonee Valley – was the one time where it would have been advantageous to jump slowly.
Urban Chic, Rousham Park and even Regaleira were slightly slow to begin as well, although she quickly recovered to sit ahead of midfield, while Kazuo Yokoyama on Bellagio Opera and his father Norihiro, aboard Danon Decile, engaged in an early speed battle. Quickly, though, it was the elder Yokoyama who took up the running on Danon Decile, showing initiative that was lacking in the Kikuka Sho.
Regaleira ended up fifth between Stars On Earth to her inside and Deep Bond out wide, while Shahryar was midfield and three-deep.
The field was tightly packed heading along the back and at the 800m only six lengths covered most of the runners, bar Danon Beluga. Regaleira was clearly travelling best in behind the speed, but required luck given the compact field, while Cristian Demuro brought Shahryar with a sweeping run into the short Nakayama straight.
It quickly developed into a two-horse battle as Danon Decile weakened, while a number of horses – led by Justin Palace and Rousham Park – sprinted strongly from well back but all too late to get into the finish.
THE WINNER
Regaleira’s career has been strange for a three-year-old filly, so it is only fitting that she broke new ground in the Arima Kinen.
Winner of the G1 Hopeful Stakes last year, defeating Shin Emperor, she did not contest any of the fillies’ Classics this year – avoiding a clash with Sunday Racing barn mates Cervinia, Ascoli Piceno and Queen’s Walk. Instead, she raced against the boys, finishing sixth to Justin Milano in the Satsuki Sho and fifth to Danon Decile in the Tokyo Yushun.
She did race against the fillies in the Rose Stakes, a trial for the Shuka Sho, while she took on the older mares in the Queen Elizabeth II Cup. Both times she finished just behind the placegetters.
One of two Group 1 winners from the first crop of Japan Cup winner Suave Richard, the other being her brother in blood Urban Chic, Regaleira descends from blue hen Wind In Her Hair, dam of the almighty Deep Impact.
It was Kimura’s second Arima Kinen in three years, having won with Equinox in 2022, while it was Tosaki’s first win in a decade.
THE RUNNER-UP
It had been over 1,000 days – 1,001 to be precise – since Shahryar had won a race. That came on a balmy Arabian night in Dubai, where he took the 2022 G1 Sheema Classic at Meydan.
Since then, he’d finished fourth in the Prince Of Wales’s Stakes at Royal Ascot, second in the Japan Cup, third in two Breeders’ Cup Turfs and runner-up in this year’s Sheema Classic.
When he loomed up turning for home, it looked like the perfect send-off was on the cards. However, the work that he had to do from the outside barrier of 15 proved the difference as he fell a nose short.
Whether he races on or is retired remains to be seen, but he is a warhorse that has flown the Japanese flag with distinction time and time again – even in defeat.
THE THREE-YEAR-OLDS
Regaleira, Danon Decile and Urban Chic finished first, third and sixth, confirming that this year’s group of three-year-olds are the match of their elders.
This came after Shin Emperor and Cervinia finished second and fourth in the Japan Cup and Stellenbosch’s third in the Hong Kong Vase.
They should form the bedrock of the older division in 2025 and beyond.
THE RETIREMENTS
A decision awaits for horses like Shahryar (2nd), Stunning Rose (8th) and Stars On Earth (14th) with the two five-year-old mares almost certain to head to the breeding barn.
Stars On Earth won the first two legs of the 2022 Triple Tiara, the Oka Sho and the Yushun Himba, before Stunning Rose denied her bid for history by winning the third leg, the Shuka Sho.
Stunning Rose added the Queen Elizabeth II Cup to her record this year while Stars On Earth was placed a further four times at Group 1 level without success.
In addition, Deep Bond (13th) has been retired and will become a lead pony at Kyoto Racecourse.
Deep Bond was a four-time Group 2 winner, including the Prix Foy at Longchamp, while he finished top four in seven Group 1 races without managing a victory at the top level.
THE BETTING
In Japan, betting topped 55 billion yen (US$352 million) – an increase of 500 million yen (US$3.2 million) on last year. More than US$5 million was bet in Hong Kong and another US$5 million wagered elsewhere in the world, taking the total above US$362 million.
By contrast, Britain’s famous Grand National held about US$314 million this year, US$210.7 million was wagered on Mystik Dan’s Kentucky Derby and Melbourne Cup betting peaked at approximately US$140 million in 2020.
It confirms the Arima Kinen’s position as the biggest betting race on the planet.
THE PACE
Japan is normally known for its fast-run races but a feature of their top-level races this year has been the distinct lack of tempo. Not just a moderate speed, either, but a farcically slow pace.
Perhaps we were spoiled with the presence of Panthalassa during the Equinox years, while horses like Kiseki also ensured a strong tempo in recent years.
Hopefully, there is a front-running type among next season’s three-year-olds who can inject some pace into these races in 2025.
THE STATISTIC
Regaleira became just the second three-year-old filly to win the Arima Kinen and, remarkably, the first since 1960.
Three-year-old fillies that have tried and failed to win the Arima Kinen include the inaugural Triple Tiara winner Mejiro Ramonu and high class types like Fine Motion, Vodka, Daiwa Scarlet and Buena Vista.
THE QUOTE
Keita Tosaki (Regaleira, 1st): “I am truly grateful to Regaleira. I thought the start would be key, and although I felt we were a little slow out of the barrier, the recovery afterwards was good, and we were able to track into the race smoothly. Her response in the home straight was excellent, but it was a close contest with the horse next to us, so I focused on ensuring we didn’t lose the fight in spirit as I pushed her forward.
“I didn’t know (if we had won). The moment I realised we had won, I felt an overwhelming sense of joy from the bottom of my heart. I want to express my gratitude to the owner, trainer, and staff.
“It’s been a long time (since I last won in 2014), but I am delighted to have won again and feel motivated to keep working hard moving forward.”
THE FUTURE
Regaleira is likely to find herself in the Middle East for her next start with the G1 Dubai Sheema Classic in early April set to be her first start of 2025. If Shahryar remains in training, their rematch could be one of the highlights of the Dubai World Cup meeting ∎
