The overwhelming race favorite and 2012 Best Sprinter or Miler, Lord Kanaloa, captured this year’s Takamatsunomiya Kinen, in its second year over the newly renovated Chukyo Racecourse, in a course record time of 1:08.1, to register three consecutive G1 titles following last year’s Sprinters Stakes and Hong Kong Sprint.

This also marks his fourth consecutive victories, which includes his previous start in the Hankyu Hai (G3), and his sixth grade-race title overall. Lord Kanaloa is the first Japanese-trained horse to accomplish three G1 sprint titles.

The son of King Kamehameha brought his trainer, Takayuki Yasuda, back-to-back Takamatsunomiya Kinen titles—he won the race with Curren Chan last year—and his ninth JRA G1 victory following his win in this year’s February Stakes (dirt, 1,600m) with Grape Brandy (JPN, by Manhattan Cafe).

With this race, Jockey Yasunari Iwata captured his first Takamatsunomiya title and 19th JRA G1 career wins. He has succeeded in seizing JRA G1 titles for seven consecutive years since 2007.

The race broke off with tenth pick Hakusan Moon rushing out to lead the field of 17, with Memorial Year, also quick out of the gate, pressing the pace from the outside. Lord Kanaloa broke smoothly and settled three wide around tenth from the front, while second choice Dream Valentino stalked right behind the race favorite. Fourth pick Sakura Gospel traveled wide and was reserved in mid-pack, sixth from the front.

Coming into the homestretch, Lord Kanaloa readily responded to Iwata’s urgings and easily accelerated along the uphill stretch, pinning Hakusan Moon 100 meters out and pulling away to a 1-1/4-length victory in record time.

Dream Valentino, after turning the corners wide behind the Sprinters Stakes and Hong Kong Sprint champion, also exerted a strong turn of speed from the outside to nose out Hakusan Moon—who held on well until the end with great tenacity—right before the wire. Sakura Gospel rallied for the lead at the top of the homestretch and ran persistently behind the leader, but was passed by Lord Kanaloa and Dream Valentino to finish fourth, 1/2 length behind Hakusan Moon.

THE 43RD TAKAMATSUNOMIYA KINEN (G1) —the 2nd leg of Global Sprint Challenge—
4-year-old & up, 1,200 meters (about 6 furlongs), turf, left-handed
Sunday, March 24, 2013 Chukyo Racecourse 11th Race Post

1. Lord Kanaloa (JPN), bay, horse, 5-year-old
King Kamehameha / Lady Blossom (Storm Cat)
Breeder: K. I. Farm Owner: Lord Horse Club
Trainer: Takayuki Yasuda Jockey: Yasunari Iwata
15 Starts, 10 Wins
Added money: ¥ 98,654,000 Career earnings: ¥ 530,650,900
Principal Race Performances: ’12 Hong Kong Sprint (G1, 1,200m) 1st
’12 Sprinters Stakes (G1, 1,200m) 1st
’13 Hankyu Hai (G3, 1,400m) 1st
’12 Silk Road Stakes (G3, 1,200m) 1st
’11 Keihan Hai (G3, 1,200m) 1st
’12 Takamatsunomiya Kinen (G1, 1,200m) 3rd

2. Dream Valentino (JPN), black, horse, 6-year-old
Roses in May / Cosmo Valenti (Meiner Love)
Breeder: Big Red Farm Owner: Saison RaceHorse Co., Ltd
Trainer: Tadashi Kayo Jockey: Kohei Matsuyama

3. Hakusan Moon (JPN), chestnut, colt, 4-year-old
Admire Moon / Ciliege (Sakura Bakushin O)
Breeder: Shirai Stud Farm Owner: Goichi Kawasaki

Other Horses:
5th: (17) Dasher Go Go—made headway to mid-division from widest stall, ran willingly but short to leaders
6th: (8) Majin Prosper—saved ground in 4th, passed by late chargers in final strides
7th: (4) Sugino Endeavour—positioned in rear field, responded well and finished strongly
8th: (10) Fifth Petal—settled toward rear, improved position but unable to reach contention
9th: (9) San Carlo—sat last, circled wide to enter lane and showed belated charge
10th: (14) Memorial Year—led briefly then pressed the pace, came up empty in last 100m
11th: (16) I Love Riri—prominent early, tired after 400m mark
12th: (7) Tsurumaru Leon—chased leaders in 5th, boxed in entering lane, lacked needed kick
13th: (5) Silk Fortune—first start on turf since debut race, raced inside winner, no acceleration at final stage
14th: (3) Epice Arome—travelled 2-wide in mid-group, found little room at early stretch
15th: (1) Admire Sceptre—trailed in rear pack, mild late charge
16th: (6) Monstre—2nd from last, even paced at stretch
17th: (2) Mikino Banjo—hugged rail in mid-division, unable to quicken turning home