Satono Diamond, race favorite and the only three-year-old of the all-star field, captured this year’s Arima Kinen, marking his second consecutive G1 victory following his Kikuka Sho (Japanese St. Leger) triumph in October. The Deep Impact colt is the first three-year-old since Gold Ship in 2012 and 18th overall to capture the title. Owner Hajime Satomi enjoys a three-week G1 winning streak after claiming the Hong Kong Vase with Satono Crown and the Asahi Hai Futurity Stakes with Satono Ares. This is the fourth Arima Kinen triumph and 16th JRA-G1 win for trainer Yasutoshi Ikee and he now reigns as the trainer with the most Arima Kinen titles after his successes with Dream Journey (2009) and Orfevre (2011 and 2013). Jockey Christophe Lemaire captured his second Arima Kinen title after 2005 on board Heart’s Cry and 10th JRA-G1 victory, his most recent one being the Hanshin Juvenile Fillies with Soul Stirring two weeks ago.

Satono Diamond broke sharply from stall 11 and traveled wide in mid-division, around eighth from the frontrunner Maltese Apogee, and advanced forward through the 1st-2nd corners to enter the backstretch right behind Kitasan Black in third. The son of Deep Impact was given a breather along the backstretch then advanced turning the last two corners and was third again when facing the last stretch. Chasing persistently behind Kitasan Black and Gold Actor before the cheering crowd, Satono Diamond found another gear and accelerated in the last 100 meters to pass Gold Actor 50 meters out then Kitasan Black right before the wire for a neck victory.

“This is so thrilling for me—I won my first G1 title in the same race with Heart’s Cry but I have partnered this colt, Satono Diamond, since he was still a newcomer and he’s become a super horse. He can be a little difficult at times and he got keen early but today, he was able to relax when I placed him behind Kitasan Balck and put in a strong finish to win this race as race favorite. He has won the Arima Kinen (against his seniors) as a three-year-old and he is a fine colt with a lot of talent, stamina and great potential to become a strong contender in big races next year,” commented winning jockey Christophe Lemaire after the race.

Sent off second favorite, Kitasan Black sat five lengths from pacesetter up to the second corner but gradually reduced the gap in the backstretch and took over the lead before the final turn. While Gold Actor threatened persistently on his outside down the straight, the Black Tide colt ran strongly in shaking the defending champion off, but succumbed to the extraordinary speed of the winner who loomed up from the outside just before the wire for a neck second.

Gold Actor broke smoothly and saved ground about three lengths behind Kitasan Black in third then settled in fourth or fifth when overtaken by Satono Diamond entering the backstretch then Satono Noblesse soon after. As the field began to close in on the fast tiring Maltese Apogee approaching the final turn, the son of Screen Hero quickly gained ground to join Kitasan Black 300 meters out and looking to duel with the Japan Cup winner but was short of matching the stride with the eventual runner-up while also overtaken in the last strides by the winner.

Other Horses:
4th: (4) Yamakatsu Ace—reserved in mid-field along the rails then further back along backstretch and entering straight, angled out then towards the rail at the homestretch, fastest finish
5th: (8) Mikki Queen—between rivals in around seventh position, followed Gold Actor into the straight but unable to reach leaders
6th: (14) Cheval Grand—rated well off the pace three wide, headway approaching third corner, followed eventual winner into the straight but unable to reach contention while rallying for fourth
7th: (15) Albert—hugged rails second from last, wide turn into the lane, quickened well while never a threat
8th: (6) Sounds of Earth—rated off the pace in mid-division between rivals, quickened while angling out turning for home but even paced
9th: (13) Denim and Ruby—raced near the rear, steady headway down the backstretch, forced to turn wide into homestretch, unable to make up ground
10th: (16) Marialite—broke well from farthest stall, in 6th to 7th up to last corner, took inner path into lane, mild late response
11th: (10) Admire Deus—raced behind Gold Actor until last corner, even paced in stretch
12th: (9) Hit the Target—trailed in rear, improved position turning widest around last 2 corners
13th: (12) Satono Noblesse—stalked race favorite, advanced to 3rd before last 2 corners, tired thereafter
14th: (3) Mousquetaire—broke poorly, sat 2nd to 3rd from rear, never a threat
15th: (7) Maltese Apogee—set pace, gave up lead before last turn, used up
16th: (5) Samson’s Pride—hugged rails in mid-division, last at top stretch, never fired