Cheval Grand opens 2018 campaign with Osaka Hai

Cheval Grand, the winner of the Grade 1 Japan Cup last November, will have his first start of 2018 in a tough running of Sunday’s Grade 1 Osaka Hai at Hanshin Racecourse near Osaka, Japan.

Cheval Grand has not raced since finishing third in the Grade 1 Arima Kinen in December behind Kitasan Black, the Japanese Horse of the Year in 2016 and 2017. Kitasan Black has since been retired to stud. The Arima Kinen is annually one of the most prestigious races of the year for older horses in Japan.

The $2,439,529 Osaka Hai at 1 1/4 miles on turf is a key early season race for older runners in Japan, leading to races such as the spring running of the Grade 1 Tenno Sho at two miles at Kyoto on April 29.

Despite decent credentials, Cheval Grand is likely to be overlooked in the betting compared to Suave Richard, Al Ain and Satono Diamond.

Suave Richard won the Grade 2 Kinko Sho at 1 1/4 miles on turf at Chukyo Racecourse on March 11, his second win in his last three starts. Suave Richard, a 4-year-old gelding by Heart’s Cry, was fourth in the Arima Kinen.

Al Ain, the winner of the Grade 1 Japanese 2,000 Guineas last year, has had one start this year, finishing second in the Grade 2 Kyoto Kinen on Feb. 11. Rey de Oro was third in that field and was entered in Saturday’s Group 1 Sheema Classic at Meydan Racecourse in the United Arab Emirates.

Satono Diamond is a well-traveled 5-year-old. He won the 2016 Arima Kinen by a neck over Kitasan Black. Last year, Satono Diamond was a Group 2 winner in Japan and was later 15th in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe in France.

This year, Satono Diamond has had one start, finishing third in the Kinko Sho.