[close]

With contacts from around the world, Racing and Sports provides something no other website can - information and form prior to a race with news and views after a race. This is both written, audio and visual. As a result, our appeal is unmatched.

As the most sought after tool for your international racing and punting needs, Racing and Sports has dedicated coverage in various sections to help you navigate the global sport.

We have Singapore/Malaysia, UK/Ireland/Europe, Hong Kong/Macau, South Africa, Japan, USA plus other international jurisdictions.

Stick with Racing and Sports for everything you need to know in the racing game.

Japan

Adam Blencowe's Arima Kinen Preview

It is the original racing popularity contest and it happens this Sunday.

REGALEIRA winning the Arima Kinen at Nakayama in Japan.
REGALEIRA winning the Arima Kinen at Nakayama in Japan. Picture: Japan Racing Association

The Japan Cup may have more international recognition, but the Arima Kinen is the race that resonates deepest domestically. In Japan, the Arima Kinen is a national event.

As the last major race of the season, the Arima Kinen provides the stage for many champions to farewell Japan's unique racing fans – and to cement their legacy. Deep Impact, Orfevre, Gentildonna, Lys Gracieux and Kitasan Black are among those who have signed off as winners at Nakayama.

That won't be the case in 2025, none of that standing are running let alone retiring, but the case remains the same – this is a good horse's race.

In the past 15 years, 12 of the winners came into the race already rated 124 or better by Racing and Sports and the average winning rating in the Arima Kinen has been higher still. 

Five runners among those expected to take their place in 2025 are rated 124 or better along with the 122+ rated three-year-old Museum Mile whose defeat of Masquerade Ball and Croix Du Nord in the Satsuki Sho stamps him as one with that sort of talent.  

 

Three-year-olds have historically done well in the Arima Kinen, winning eight of the past 15 editions (53%) despite making up just 17.5% of the runners.

Of the eight winners, only a pair – Regaleira and Blast Onepiece – had a lower pre-race rating than Museum Mile who will almost certainly need to improve to add to the three-year-old tally, but the case is there for him to do so.

The highest rated performer on Racing and Sports Ratings is the Derby winner from 2024 Danon Decile who was third in this race last year as a three-year-old but has been better again in 2025 with his highlight being success in Dubai in the Sheema Classic.

There he took down Calandagan, since the winner of the King George at Ascot and the Japan Cup at Tokyo with Danon Decile this time in behind.

That was a high-rating Japan Cup and Danon Decile has outstanding form claims in the Arima Kinen as a result, but it is worth noting that the Japan Cup has slightly underwhelmed as a lead-up in modern times.

That hangs over the head of two other key ratings players in the Arima Kinen picture - Tastiera and Shin Emperor – who were sixth and seventh in the Japan Cup and must improve sharply.

Tastiera had looked a touch soft in the finish of his past two starts, and a high-pressure 2500m around the more frantic Nakayama course hardly looks the ideal scenario for him to find his form.

Shin Emperor was a bit better there than he had been in a couple of international runs prior and might be ready to recapture his best, but he will need to with this race expected to be won at a level that he is yet to scale.

The great Yutaka Take has won the Arima Kinen four times dating back to 1990, and he will link up with Meisho Tabaru with the pair looking to improve on a Tenno Sho sixth last time.

Museum Mile ran straight past Meisho Tabaru there but the race was run at a remarkably slow gallop and that didn't appear to suit Meisho Tabaru at all. He had looked an Arima Kinen contender when winning the Takarasuka Kinen in fast time from the front at Hanshin and he should be back running fast around the relatively tight and turning Nakayama course this time.

Regaleira was among those that felt the pinch behind Meisho Tabaru's punch at Hanshin but she was back to something like her best at Kyoto last time and last year's winner rounds out the key ratings hopes in 2025.

Regaleira was a bit of a surprise winner last year, bringing a lower rating to the race than any other modern winner, and things should be tougher again this time around, but she is not to be overlooked lightly as a past winner coming off another Grade One success last time out.


Racing and Sports
Check out the latest South African News