Takarazuka Kinen (Group 1)

THE odds-on favourite Chrono Genesis claimed back-to-back wins in the Group 1 Takarazuka Kinen at Hansin last week to become the first horse to do so since Gold Ship in 2013 and 2014.

The five-year-old mare was coming off a second-place finish behind Mishriff in the Dubai Sheema Classic in March when she was just beaten a neck. The win marked her fourth Group 1 and sixth graded victory.

She joins Vodka, Buena Vista, Gentildonna and Almond Eye, among the great mares who have earned over a billion yen.

Christophe Lemaire rode her for the first time in this race, after regular rider Yuichi Kitamura was unable to ride her due to an injury.

Unicorn Lion and Lei Papale broke smoothly from the first two stalls and lead the field with Unicorn Lion setting the pace and Lei Papale pressing in second.

Chrono Genesis broke well from stall seven and settled around fifth behind second favourite Lei Papale. Though surrounded by horses entering the lane, the Bago mare found space 300 meters out and came with a powerful burst of speed with the fastest last three furlongs to reach the line with a comfortable two-and-a-half-length margin.

Looked great

“The mare was in very good condition and looked great at the paddock. We were able to race in good position behind Lei Papale. She stretched really well and was able to run the last 200 meters easily,” Lemaire reported. Unicorn Lion and Lei Papale held off the rest of the field to finish second and third ahead of Curren Bouquetd’or and Kiseki in sixth.

The race is a “Win and You’re In” event for the Breeders’ Cup and for the Cox Plate in Australia. But Lemaire appeared to be directing connections towards that coveted Japanese win in the Prix de l’Arc at Longchamp in Paris. “She can race really well on a soft track,” he said, “so I think she will perform well especially in France.”