Japan: Meisho Tabaru outlasts Croix du Nord in Takarazuka Kinen
Meisho Tabaru held off a late surge from Croix du Nord to win Sunday’s Grade 1 Takarazuka Kinen at Hanshin Racecourse in Japan for the second consecutive year in a victory expected to lead to a trip to France this fall.
Despite starting from post 16 in a field of 18, Meisho Tabaru raced in second for most of the $3.5 million Takarazuka Kinen at 1 3/8 miles on turf, following 98-1 Cosmo Kuranda, who led by as many as four lengths.
Meisho Tabaru steadily gained on Cosmo Kuranda in early stretch and took the lead with a furlong remaining. Meisho Tabaru was clear in the final sixteenth, but was fully extended to hold off Croix du Nord.
Ridden by Yutaka Take, Meisho Tabaru (who paid $13.40 in American pools) won by a neck over Croix du Nord, the 4-5 favorite.
Danon Decile (8-1) finished third. Cosmo Kuranda faded to finish fourth by 2 3/4 lengths.
“When Croix du Nord closed in before the wire, I thought, Please not this time,” Take told Japan Racing Association publicists. “I felt that Meisho Tabara was in really good form and the strongest today.
“I think we can head to France with our heads held high.”
Croix du Nord was favored in the Takarazuka Kinen on the strength of two Grade 1 wins earlier this year - the Grade 1 Osaka Hai at 1 1/4 miles at Hanshin in April, and the spring running of the Tenno Sho at two miles at Kyoto Racecourse on May 3.
Meisho Tabaru was second in the Osaka Hai in his first start of 2026. A 5-year-old horse by Gold Ship, Meisho Tabaru has won 6 of 15 starts for owner Yoshitaka Matsumoto and trainer Mamoru Ishibashi.
Meisho Tabaru earned fees-paid berths to the Breeders’ Cup Turf at Keeneland on Oct. 31, and the Group 1 Cox Plate in Australia in October, but the Group 1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp in Paris on Oct. 4 has been mentioned as a goal.
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