Christmas Day is G1 Arima Kinen (2500m) Day this year with the 67th running of Japan’s racing grand finale, also known as “The Grand Prix,” set for Sunday (25 December) at Nakayama Racecourse. The lineup of 16 is packed with talent and picking the winner, let alone the top three finishers, is going to require more luck than usual.

On Wednesday (21 December), as all 16 runners set for the turf Group 1 were given their final fast work, attention centred on the eastern training base of Miho. Miho houses the heavyweights for this year’s Arima Kinen – Titleholder, Equinox and Efforia – who are also the top three ballot winners in the voting for the horses fans most wanted to see in the Arima.

But, there is serious challenge hailing from Ritto as well, including G1 Japan Cup (2400m) winner Vela Azul, 2021 Arima Kinen runner-up Deep Bond, G1 Queen Elizabeth II Cup (2200m) champ Geraldina and up-and-coming new talent such as G1 Kikuka Sho (3000m) third-place finisher Justin Palace and runner-up in the same race Boldog Hos, who will give Yuichi Fukunaga his last Arima ride before the jockey embarks on a new career as trainer.

All the above, in addition to longshots Boccherini and Miho-based Breakup, received high marks for their work on Wednesday. But the headlines remain focused on the big three.

Titleholder, winner of this year’s G1 Tenno Sho Spring (3200m) and the G1 Takarazuka Kinen (2200m), is back from a disappointing run in the G1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (2400m), but he’s still a fan favourite and secured a record number of votes in the balloting.

Looking extremely fit, he breezed with a training partner on Wednesday (21 December) over 1000m on a fast woodchip course under regular rider Kazuo Yokoyama and clocked 1m07.9s.

Trainer Toru Kurita said, “Today, we put a horse ahead of him and had him wait patiently and I let the jockey do what he wanted. Afterward, he told me he was satisfied.”

Titleholder last year, returning from a five-length win of the Kikuka Sho, finished fifth in the 2021 Arima Kinen. Three months later he won the G2 Nikkei Sho over the same Nakayama 2500m indicating he has what it takes to weather the course successfully.

Equinox, yet to finish further back than second, was runner-up in the first two spring classics this year. He most recently won the G1 Tenno Sho Autumn (2000m) at Tokyo. After time off, he returned fresh to the Miho stable of Tetsuya Kimura. Trackmen commented on the colt’s excellent condition as he too breezed over the flat course for 1000m, with a time of 1m07.2s. “He was relaxed and responded well when asked to move out,” said Kimura. Equinox’s only previous run at Nakayama was his second in the G1 Satsuki Sho over 2000m. “The result was unfortunate, but the winner (Geoglyph) was absolutely fantastic,” Kimura said.

Runner-up in the first two of the spring classics, there is concern Equinox’s lightning-fast late speed may not serve him as well over the relatively short stretch of Nakayama compared to Tokyo, even with regular partner Christophe Lemaire up. It will also be the longest distance given to the colt, who has yet to win beyond 2000 metres.

Efforia sped to a win of the Arima Kinen last year after capturing the Satsuki Sho on a three-race winning streak from his debut. He was second by a nose to Shahryar in the G1 Japanese Derby (2400m), then claimed the Tenno Sho before adding the Arima to his conquests. A difficult feat to top, but this year has seen him fall far from grace, with off-the-board finishes in his only two starts – the G1 Osaka Hai (2000m) and the G1 Takarazuka Kinen (2200m) – both at Hanshin.

He returns without a prep after a six-month layoff. Still, he has done well before in similar situations, and though he did look a bit heavy on Wednesday, his footwork was good.

Jockey Takeshi Yokoyama breezed him alongside two other horses over 1200m on the flat. His overall time was a relaxed 1m 25.8s, but he turned in a sharp 11.3s final furlong and his lead changes looked much improved. “The time wasn’t fast but I think it was a good time,” said trainer Yuichi Shikato afterward. “After he crossed the finish line, he didn’t let up until he reached the turn, so it was actually a pretty tough workout.

“I apologize for not having gotten good results in the spring,” said Shikato. “He spent the summer relaxing and there is no trouble with his legs. He came back to the training centre in excellent condition and after quite a bit of hard work, we’ve got him where we want him.

“He has had some trouble in the gate and we’ve schooled him through tight places and, of course, in the gate. He’s also had pool work. We’ve done all we can and I think he’s in good shape.”