G1 – 2500m – Turf
| Blast Onepiece | Enjoys a very impressive second season, winning a pair of G3s over 1800m and 2000m as well as finishing 5th and 4th in two G1s. While he has been better at mid-distances in the higher levels, he has been game at longer distances as well and will be coming into the race fresh. |
| Cheval Grand | Back with Hugh Bowman who has partnered his win in the G1 Japan Cup (2400m) and coming in 3rd in this race last year, also 2nd in the G1 Tenno Sho Spring (3200m) in April. In his past two starts, he ran 4th both times, neither bad, but Bowman can get that extra drop out of the horse. |
| Clincher | After a disappointing trip to France this fall, the colt is refreshed for the Arima Kinen. Earlier in the year, he had beaten several G1 winners including Rey de Oro in the G2 Kyoto Kinen (2200m) on 11 February. Has ability to handle distance. |
| Kiseki | He set pace in the G1 Japan Cup (2400m) last time. While setting up Almond Eye’s record-breaking victory, he managed to hold on well for 2nd. Given the success up front in his past few races, it is likely the speedy bay will keep it up. His stamina is absolutely astounding. |
| Makahiki | Last seen in the G1 Tenno Sho Autumn where he finished a fairly disappointing 7th. He was closing well in that 2000m race, so perhaps with a little more time to position himself, he could perform better with an extra 500m. His greatest victories have all been over 2400m and this will be his first attempt in this race. |
| Mikki Rocket | Finished 5th in the G1 Tenno Sho Autumn (2000m) in October. Winner of the 2200m G1 Takarazuka Kinen two starts back, he should be set for a bigger run this time out with the added distance. Always a game runner he could be one to watch. |
| Mikki Swallow | Finished 5th in the G1 Japan Cup (2400m) after trailing the field, he should be looking to be closer to the pace this time to make up for the shorter stretch. The colt looks to be a decent stayer but will need to improve significantly to be a match for others in this race. |
| Mozu Katchan | Winning filly of last year’s G1 2200m Queen Elizabeth II Cup. Finished 3rd as top favorite of the same race this year. She doesn’t have the form to say she can beat the boys this time around but she was 2nd in the 2400m G1 Japanese Oaks last year so the distance shouldn’t be a problem. |
| Oju Chosan | This champion Steeplechaser is a 5-time JPN G1 winner. Connections decided to take him back to the flat to have a go at the Arima Kinen. He ran two different flat allowances since winning the JPN G1 Nakayama Grand Jump (4250m) in April and he won both fairly well. However, this is much harder. He will likely go to post at very low odds due to his popularity. |
| Perform A Promise | A late bloomer, it has taken the 6yo a long time to work his way into the highest level of the JRA. Though a remarkably consistent runner his first attempt at G1 ended with a 9th place finish in the G1 Takarazuka Kinen (2200m) in June. Took the G2 Copa Republica Argentina (2500m) latest Distance shouldn’t be a problem, but the competition could be. |
| Rey De Oro | The probable favourite on Sunday, the 2017 Derby winner won the G1 Tenno Sho Autumn (2000m) in October and skipped the Japan Cup in favour of the Arima Kinen. He has never been one to race too frequently either, choosing to train up to his goals. Distance is not a problem for the colt. |
| Ridge Man | Winning the G2 Stayers Stakes (3600m) on 1 December at Nakayama landed this son of a sprinter into the Arima Kinen. While he loves a good long run he will be running in his first G1 race. |
| Sakura Empereur | Probably a better middle-distance horse than a stayer, he finished 16th in this race last year. While he did finish 3rd in a G2 over the course and distance in March, the quality of the best runners in that race was not as high as we have in this race. |
| Satono Diamond | Took this race in 2016 and he will be looking to go out a winner one last time before retiring to stud. A top 3yo in Japan in 2016, but has been off his game ever since. While he won the G2 Kyoto Daishoten (2400m) in October, he finished a fairly disappointing 6th in the Japan Cup (2400m) last month. |
| Smart Layer | She hasn’t been in the top three since winning the G2 Kyoto Daishoten (2400m) last October. She had always been a game mare so this looks to be her last run before retirement. |
| Sounds Of Earth | The elder horse hasn’t been in the top three since he finished 2nd in the G1 Japan Cup in 2016 and he finished 14th in this year’s Japan Cup. |
