THE Group 1 Takarazuka Kinen marks the end of the first segment of the year’s top-tier races in Japan’s racing calendar. Group 1 action is set to return on October 2nd with the Sprinter Stakes, which is the eighth leg of the Global Sprint Challenge.

Along with the Arima Kinen, the final Group 1 of the calendar year, the Takarazuka Kinen is the only so-called ‘All-Star’ race where the line-up is determined by votes from the fans as to which horses are invited to compete.

First run in 1960, the 11-furlong race gained worldwide Group 1 accreditation in 1997. It is also now part of the Breeders’ Cup Challenge whereby the winner is granted an automatic berth in the autumn’s Breeders’ Cup Turf, with a $40,000 travel supplement included.

A maximum field of 18 runners accepted their invitation into the €2,600,000 contest run at Hanshin racecourse. Recent Dubai Turf runner-up Duramente and 2016 Tenno Sho winner Kitasan Black dominated the head of the betting market. However, it was the sole mare in the field, Marialite, who was to spring a 25/1 surprise.

Drawn in stall 16, Marialite broke evenly to race in mid-division but was forced to race wide throughout. On obviously holding ground, despite being officially described as good, the Masoyoshi Ebina-ridden mare readily made progress around the field. Straightening into the home-stretch, she sat in fourth position, three lengths off the lead held by the front-running Kitasan Black. The daughter of Deep Impact galloped on resolutely to take pole position in the last 50 yards and to prevail by a neck from the fast-finishing Duramente.

Giving her trainer, Takashi Kubota, his second JRA Group 1 title, Marialite also became the first mare to win the mid-season showpiece since Sweep Tosho brushed aside the males in 2005.

Kitasan Black stayed-on gallantly to claim third place. Considering both his top-level successes have come over 15 and 16 furlongs, the four-year-old colt lost very little in defeat given this less than ideal trip.