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Jack d’Or wins this year’s Osaka Hai at Hanshin.

Second pick Jack D'Or captured his first G1 and third graded victory in his kickoff start of this season, the Osaka Hai, with race record time of 1:57.4. Debuting as a two-year-old in December, the son of Maurice broke his maiden in April the following season. Though unable to race in the Classics, he extended his winning streak to five when claiming his first graded victory in the 2022 Kinko Sho (G2, 2,000m) in March and finished fifth in the Osaka Hai. He returned from a four-month break in August to win his second graded victory in the Sapporo Kinen (G2, 2,000m) and finished fourth and seventh, respectively, in the following Tenno Sho (Autumn) (G1, 2,000m) and the Hong Kong Cup (G1, 2,000m). Trainer Kenichi Fujioka marked his third JRA-G1 victory following his win in the 2016 Oka Sho (Japanese 1000 Guineas) with Jeweler, while jockey Yutaka Take claimed his 80th JRA-G1 win following his victory in last year's Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby) with Do Deuce. He has won the Osaka Hai with Kitasan Black in 2017, and is now the oldest G1 winning jockey at the age of 54 years and 19 days.

Quick out of the gate, Jack d'Or promptly advanced to the front as expected, and assumed command after rallying with North the World for the lead. The five-year-old son of Maurice continued to set a fast pace and ran persistently after entering the lane while managing to hold off a strong rally by Danon the Kid in the last 200 meters and a powerful late charge by Stars on Earth before the wire for a nose victory.

"I was hoping to take the front if we could get a good start. He was a bit keen to go in the first two corners but raced in good rhythm thereafter. I think it was tough for him because of the headwind in the straight, but I had a feeling that we were able to hold off the chasing horses when we crossed the wire. (Regarding his 80th G1 victory and becoming the oldest G1 winner) I owe it to all the many great horses I was able to ride, and I will do my best to extend this record even further," commented Yutaka Take.

Race favorite Stars On Earth broke slowly from an outer draw and settled toward the rear, around 12th from the front. The four-year-old Duramente filly gradually made headway turning the last corners and, while meeting traffic entering the lane, found an open space 300 meters out, dislodged a powerful late charge that marked the fastest closing speed and overtook her rivals one by one, though a nose short of the winner at the wire to finish second.

Tenth pick Danon The Kid made headway to fourth early from the no.13 stall, gradually closed in on the leaders to enter the lane in second but failed to catch the eventual winner and weakened in the final strides to be outrun by the favorite for third.

Other Horses:

4th: (7) Matenro Leo—chased leaders in 3rd, showed tenacity, weakened in last
              100m
5th: (2) Maria Elena—saved ground around 10th, quickened in last 300m but had
              too much ground to make up
6th: (1) Geraldina—hugged rails in 13th, threaded through horses at stretch to pass
              tiring frontrunners
7th: (14) Hishi Iguazu—traveled 3-wide around 5th, lacked needed kick at stretch
8th: (4) North Bridge—rallied for lead early then eased back to 5th, showed effort
              until 100m out
9th: (6) Weltreisende—ran around 8th, circled wide for stretch run, responded little
10th: (10) Potager—sat around 5th, unable to keep up with frontrunners in last
                  200m
11th: (8) Lagulf—settled in 14th, passed tiring rivals
12th: (3) Mozu Bello—positioned 2nd from rear, unable to reach contention
13th: (12) Killer Ability—raced 3-wide around 11th, even paced at stretch
14th: (5) Wonderful Town—trailed in far rear, no factor
15th: (16) North the World—advanced to 2nd from outermost draw, faded after final
                  corner
16th: (15) Hindu Times—traveled 4-wide around 8th, dropped back after 3rd corner