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Meisho Tabaru wins this year’s Takarazuka Kinen at Hanshin.

Seventh favorite Meisho Tabaru led the field wire-to-wire to capture his third graded and first G1 title in this year's Takarazuka Kinen after his fifth-place finish in the Dubai Turf (G1, 1,800m) on April 5. Sired by 2014 Takarazuka Kinen champion Gold Ship, the bay colt broke his maiden in his third start in December as a two-year-old and won his first grade-race title in the Mainichi Hai (G3, 1,800m) in his three-year-old spring campaign before finishing 17th in the Satsuki Sho (Japanese 2000 Guineas, G1, 2,000m). He added another graded victory in the Kobe Shimbun Hai (G2, 2,200m) that autumn but disappointed to 16th in the following Kikuka Sho (Japanese St. Leger, G1, 3,000m) in October and 11th in his kick-off start of this season, the Nikkei Shinshun Hai (G2, 2,200m) in January. Trainer Mamoru Ishibashi, who won the Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby) as a jockey in 2006 and opened his yard in 2014, registered his third graded and first G1 victory. Jockey Yutaka Take marked his 84th JRA-G1 title following last year's Japan Cup with Do Deuce and extended his own record of Takarazuka Kinen victories to five—Inari One (1989), Mejiro McQueen (1993), Marvelous Sunday (1997) and Deep Impact (2006).

Quick out of stall 12, four-year-old Meisho Tabaru promptly took the front to set the pace and continued to lead the all-star field through the backstretch. Although threatened by Bellagio Opera in the final corners, the Gold Ship colt found another gear after entering the stretch and pulled away tenaciously to capture his first G1 title with a comfortable three-length victory.

"My plan was to take the lead, and although I was unsure about the pace, I think we were able to race at just the right pace. I knew the other horses were going to make bid early but my mount had good momentum going around the fourth corner and I was hoping that he would manage to push through," commented jockey Yutaka Take.

Race favorite Bellagio Opera broke smoothly and settled in fourth, 2-3 lengths behind the front three runners. As the field approached the final corners, the Lord Kanaloa bay shifted to the outside to make bid, entered the lane in second and, though unable to display his usual late charge, managed to hold off the strong charge from behind to secure the runner-up seat.

Tenth choice Justin Palace saved ground around 14th, gradually switched to the outside in the backstretch and circled wide to enter the lane in 15th. The son of Deep Impact launched the fastest kick over the last three furlongs and, while having too much ground to catch the front two finishers, crossed a neck behind the runner-up to finish third.

Other Horses:

4th: (16) Shonan la Punta—raced wide in 11th, made headway after 3rd corner, showed effort
5th: (5) Chuck Nate—sat in 12th on rails, advanced to 3rd at 200m pole, outrun in final strides
6th: (11) Sol Oriens—trailed in rear, circled wide, showed 2nd fastest late drive but belatedly
7th: (10) Libyan Glass—tracked leaders in 2nd or 3rd, sustained bid until 200m pole
8th: (15) Lord del Rey—hugged rails in 13th, passed tired rivals on inner stretch
9th: (2) Durezza—sat in 6th on rails, failed to respond at stretch
10th: (6) Boldog Hos—traveled in 10th, angled out, lacked needed kick
11th: (17) Regaleira—settled wide in 8th, advanced after 3rd corner, failed to find another gear
12th: (8) Chevalier Rose—raced 2nd form rear on rails, unable to reach contention
13th: (4) Pradaria—ran in 4th early, gradually dropped back
14th: (13) Urban Chic—traveled wide in 14th, never fired at stretch
15th: (3) Rousham Park—took economic trip in 9th, checked at final corner, outrun
16th: (14) June Take—chased pace in 2nd, faded after final corner
17th: (9) Yoho Lake—sat in 5-6th behind favorite, dropped back at stretch