Second favorite Jantar Mantar claimed his third G1 title in the 75th running of the Yasuda Kinen, his first outing of 2025, on Sunday, June 8 at Tokyo Racecourse.
In 2023, the son of Palace Malice won all three starts in his 2-year-old season, including the Daily Hai Nisai Stakes (G2, 1,600 meters) and the Asahi Hai Futurity Stakes (G1, 1,600 meters) to become the season's Best Two-Year-Old Colt.
With Sunday's win, Jantar Mantar became the first NHK Mile Cup winner (May 2024) to claim the prestigious mile Yasuda Kinen.
Trainer Tomokazu Takano registered his ninth Japan Racing Association G1 title following his 2024 Queen Elizabeth II Cup with Stunning Rose.
Jockey Yuga Kawada scored his 29th G1 victory. It was his fourth Yasuda Kinen title following previous wins aboard Maurice in 2015, Satono Aladdin in 2017 and Danon Kingly in 2021.
The Path to Victory for Jantar Mantar
Jantar Mantar was quick out of the gate and raced in a prominent position around third behind Mad Cool (Ryusei Sakai's ride). Keeping the keen Palace Malice colt in control while choosing the better part of the track off the rails and asking his mount to stay patient entering the stretch, Kawada gave Jantar Mantar the green light after the 400-meter pole.
The 4-year-old responded with good speed to take command just before the 100-meter marker. And he pulled away to win by a comfortable 1½-length margin over Gaia Force. (Watch the race on the JRA's YouTube channel.)
Kawada Reacts to Yasuda Kinen Triumph
"The colt broke well and was in a good position in third to start. But then [he] got a little overexcited as horses came from behind so I got a little worried," Kawada said after the race.
He then said, "The colt just barely managed to contain himself as much as he could after that, and I was still in doubt as to how he would respond at the stretch. But, considering the circumstances, he really put in a good performance in the end and really exceeded my expectations as to how strong he is."
Vying for the Yasuda Kinen Title
Gaia Force (Seinosuke Yoshimura) raced in mid-division between rivals after a smooth break and edged forward approaching the final turn as Soul Rush (Suguru Hamanaka) passed him on the outside.
After a brief struggle to find space to angle out early in the stretch, the 6-year-old son of Kitasan Black unleashed an impressive turn of foot that timed the second-fastest finish (tying with Soul Rush and Water Licht) soon after the furlong pole. Gaia Force overtook several rivals, including the race favorite, to outduel that foe by a neck for second while unable to match the winner.
Race favorite Soul Rush was unhurried after a good break, sat in mid-field around 11th and made headway approaching the final corner. He was in good position for a clear run on the outside for the stretch run. But Hamanaka's ride was unable to pick up speed early enough while quickening in the final 100 meters.
As a result, Soul Rush finished a neck's length behind the runner-up.
Fourth favorite Brede Weg (Keita Tosaki) and 11th favorite Win Marvel (Kohei Matsuyama) placed fourth and fifth, respectively.
A Look Ahead
The Takarazuka Kinen is the JRA's next G1 race on Sunday, June 15 at Hanshin Racecourse.
Read the full report, including details on each of the Yasuda Kinen entrants, on JRA News.
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Author: JRA News
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