First-half summary of the 2023 domestic G1 season
Monday, 01 January, 2024 19:58
Songline after winning the Yasuda Kinen (Photo: Yuki Shimono)
2023 was packed with high-quality racing and historic battles between the finest Japanese horses. This article will take you through all the G1 results in the first half of 2023 from the February Stakes to the Takarazuka Kinen.
February 19th: Lemon Pop with Ryusei Sakai on board won the February Stakes at Tokyo Racecourse over 1600m on dirt. Red le Zele finished second, one-and-a-half lengths behind the winner. The winning time was 1:35.6.
March 26th: Taisei Danno teamed up with First Force to win the Takamatsunomiya Kinen at Chukyo Racecourse over 1200m on turf. Namura Clair finished second, a length behind the winner. The winning time was 1:11.5.
April 2nd: Jack d'Or and Yutaka Take brought home the Osaka Hai at Hanshin Racecourse over 2000m on turf. Stars on Earth finished second, a nose behind the winner. The winning time was 1:57.4.
April 9th: Yuga Kawada piloted Liberty Island to win the Oka Sho (Japanese 1000 Guineas) at Hanshin Racecourse over 1600m on turf. Kona Coast finished second, 3/4 lengths behind the winner. The winning time was 1:32.1.
April 15th: Irogotoshi was ridden by Yu Kuroiwa to win the Nakayama Grand Jump at Nakayama Racecourse over 4250m on the jump track. Mikki Meteo finished second, 3.1 seconds behind the winner. The winning time was 4:54.1.
April 16th: Sol Oriens with Takeshi Yokoyama on board won the Satsuki Sho (Japanese 2000 Guineas) at Nakayama Racecourse over 2000m on turf. Tastiera finished second, one-and-a-quarter lengths behind the winner. The winning time was 2:00.6.
April 30th: Justin Palace was ridden by Christophe Lemaire to win the Tenno Sho (Spring) at Kyoto Racecourse over 3200m on turf. Deep Bond finished second, two-and-a-half lengths behind the winner. The winning time was 3:16.1.
May 7th: Champagne Color and Hiroyuki Uchida claimed the NHK Mile Cup at Tokyo Racecourse over 1600m on turf. Umbrail finished second, a head behind the winner. The winning time was 1:33.8.
May 14th: Songline was guided by Keita Tosaki to win the Victoria Mile at Tokyo Racecourse over 1600m on turf. Sodashi finished second, a head behind the winner. The winning time was 1:32.2.
May 21st: Liberty Island returned under Yuga Kawada to find a facile victory in the Japanese Oaks at Tokyo Racecourse over 2400m on turf. Harper finished second, six lengths behind the winner. The winning time was 2:23.1.
May 28th: Tastiera with Damian Lane on board won the Japanese Derby at Tokyo Racecourse over 2400m on turf. Sol Oriens finished second, a neck behind the winner. The winning time was 2:25.2.
June 4th: Songline was back amongst the elite winners with Keita Tosaki on board in the Yasuda Kinen over 1600m on turf. Serifos finished second, one-and-a-quarter lengths behind the winner. The winning time was 1:31.4.
June 25th: Equinox fought out a tight victory under Christophe Lemaire to win the Takarazuka Kinen over 2200m on turf. Through Seven Seas finished second, a neck behind the winner. The winning time was 2:11.2.
February 19th: Lemon Pop with Ryusei Sakai on board won the February Stakes at Tokyo Racecourse over 1600m on dirt. Red le Zele finished second, one-and-a-half lengths behind the winner. The winning time was 1:35.6.
March 26th: Taisei Danno teamed up with First Force to win the Takamatsunomiya Kinen at Chukyo Racecourse over 1200m on turf. Namura Clair finished second, a length behind the winner. The winning time was 1:11.5.
April 2nd: Jack d'Or and Yutaka Take brought home the Osaka Hai at Hanshin Racecourse over 2000m on turf. Stars on Earth finished second, a nose behind the winner. The winning time was 1:57.4.
April 9th: Yuga Kawada piloted Liberty Island to win the Oka Sho (Japanese 1000 Guineas) at Hanshin Racecourse over 1600m on turf. Kona Coast finished second, 3/4 lengths behind the winner. The winning time was 1:32.1.
April 15th: Irogotoshi was ridden by Yu Kuroiwa to win the Nakayama Grand Jump at Nakayama Racecourse over 4250m on the jump track. Mikki Meteo finished second, 3.1 seconds behind the winner. The winning time was 4:54.1.
April 16th: Sol Oriens with Takeshi Yokoyama on board won the Satsuki Sho (Japanese 2000 Guineas) at Nakayama Racecourse over 2000m on turf. Tastiera finished second, one-and-a-quarter lengths behind the winner. The winning time was 2:00.6.
April 30th: Justin Palace was ridden by Christophe Lemaire to win the Tenno Sho (Spring) at Kyoto Racecourse over 3200m on turf. Deep Bond finished second, two-and-a-half lengths behind the winner. The winning time was 3:16.1.
May 7th: Champagne Color and Hiroyuki Uchida claimed the NHK Mile Cup at Tokyo Racecourse over 1600m on turf. Umbrail finished second, a head behind the winner. The winning time was 1:33.8.
May 14th: Songline was guided by Keita Tosaki to win the Victoria Mile at Tokyo Racecourse over 1600m on turf. Sodashi finished second, a head behind the winner. The winning time was 1:32.2.
May 21st: Liberty Island returned under Yuga Kawada to find a facile victory in the Japanese Oaks at Tokyo Racecourse over 2400m on turf. Harper finished second, six lengths behind the winner. The winning time was 2:23.1.
May 28th: Tastiera with Damian Lane on board won the Japanese Derby at Tokyo Racecourse over 2400m on turf. Sol Oriens finished second, a neck behind the winner. The winning time was 2:25.2.
June 4th: Songline was back amongst the elite winners with Keita Tosaki on board in the Yasuda Kinen over 1600m on turf. Serifos finished second, one-and-a-quarter lengths behind the winner. The winning time was 1:31.4.
June 25th: Equinox fought out a tight victory under Christophe Lemaire to win the Takarazuka Kinen over 2200m on turf. Through Seven Seas finished second, a neck behind the winner. The winning time was 2:11.2.