THE Yasuda Kinen marks the end of a five-week bonanza of Group 1 racing at the headquarters of JRA racing, Tokyo Racecourse.

Japanese Group 1 racing eases down for the abrasively hot summer months, and ‘keiba’ (racing) action migrates to the cooler climate of Japan’s northern most island of Hokkaido. The Group 1 Takarazuka Kinen scheduled for June 25th, is the final Group 1 event before top-tier racing enters its summer hiatus.