Japan: Defections leave Tastiera in driver's seat for Osaka Hai

Tastiera was the champion 3-year-old male of 2023 in Japan, a season highlighted by a win in the Grade 1 Japanese Derby last May.

Those credentials make Tastiera an exciting prospect for the older horse division this year, beginning with an appearance in Sunday’s Grade 1 Osaka Hai at 1 1/4 miles on turf at Hanshin Racecourse. Unraced since December, Tastiera has an easier assignment than expected with the defection of several of Japan’s leading runners to Group 1 races at Meydan Racecourse in Dubai on Saturday.

Instead of contending with major stakes winners such as Do Deuce, Liberty Island, Namur, or Shahryar – to name four formidable Japanese-based runners in Dubai, Tastiera is part of a field of 16 that includes Harper, who was second in the Grade 1 Japanese Oaks last May and the Grade 2 winners Pradaria and Rousham Park.

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Tastiera, a winner of 3 of 7 starts, ended his 2023 season with a sixth-place finish by 3 1/2 lengths behind Do Deuce in the Grade 1 Arima Kinen at Nakayama Racecourse in December.

Trained by Noriyuki Hori, Tastiera will start at 1 1/4 miles in the $2.54 million Osaka Hai for the first time since a second by 1 1/4 lengths to Sol Oriens in the Grade 1 Japanese 2000 Guineas last April. Tastiera won the Grade 2 Deep Impact Kinen at 1 1/4 miles in March 2023.

Sol Oriens is part of the Osaka Hai field, but is rated as a longshot. Harper and Rousham Park are held in higher regard.

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A winner of 2 of 8 starts, Harper was third by 3 1/2 lengths in the Grade 1 Shuka Sho for 3-year-old fillies at 1 1/4 miles last October. Harper was ninth in the Arima Kinen in her last start.

Rousham Park won three consecutive races at 1 1/8 miles to 1 3/8 miles last year before ending the year with an eighth-place finish in the Group 1 Hong Kong Cup at 1 1/4 miles at Sha Tin in Hong Kong. A winner of 6 of 11 starts, Rousham Park’s winning streak last year included a Grade 3 race at 1 1/4 miles.

The Osaka Hai has a post time of 2:40 a.m. Eastern on Sunday or 11:40 p.m. Pacific on Saturday.

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