Race favorite Croix du Nord claimed his third Grade 1 title in the 70th running of the Osaka Hai, his first appearance of the 2026 season, on Sunday, April 5.
Sired by Kitasan Black, who won the Osaka Hai in 2017, the brown colt was undefeated in three starts including the Hopeful Stakes (G1, 2,000 meters) as a 2-year-old in 2024. He landed another major triumph in the Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby, G1, 2,400 meters) in 2025.
In his first overseas challenge in France that autumn, the son of Kitasan Black notched the Prix du Prince d’Orange (G3, 2,000 meters) before a disappointing 14th-place finish in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (G1, 2,400 meters). He concluded the season by placing fourth in the Japan Cup (G1, 2,400 meters).
On Sunday, trainer Takashi Saito and jockey Yuichi Kitamura both celebrated their first Japan Racing Association victory since their Tokyo Yushun title with this colt in June 2025. As a result, Saito notched his 10th G1 win. Kitamura now has eight.
Winning jockey Yuichi Kitamura reacts after the race. (©SANKEI)
The Path to Victory for Croix du Nord
At Hanshin Racecourse, breaking from the widest stall, Croix du Nord steadily advanced to travel in the middle of the field, three wide and close to rival Danon Decile (Ryusei Sakai) running on the rails. After rounding the third corner, the Kitasan Black colt made a rapid headway to enter the lane in second.
Croix du Nord briefly struggled to find his best stride but finally showed a change of gear in the last 100 meters and finished strong, overtaking the pacesetter in the final strides for a 3/4-length win. (Watch the race on the JRA’s YouTube channel.)
The winning time: 1 minute, 57.6 seconds.
“To be honest, I’m relieved that we were able to win and live up to the expectations as race favorite,” Kitamura said. “The going was tough to handle and the incredible speed of the pacesetter, Meisho Tabaru, was also tough to beat but I gave my all to drive the colt to the wire in which he responded beautifully.”
Kitamura added, “I’m confident that this season will be all about Croix du Nord and that he will play the leading role in all of his starts.”
In the final stretch, Croix du Nord (15) moves past Meisho Tabaru. (©SANKEI)
Vying for Victory in the 70th Osaka Hai
Third pick Meisho Tabaru (Yutaka Take), although a touch late out of the gate, gunned for the lead to set the pace as expected, distancing himself with the rest of the field by more than three lengths in the backstretch. Still maintaining the lead with only 100 meters to the wire, the 2025 Takarazuka Kinen champion held on stubbornly but surrendered to the fast-closing Croix du Nord and finished second.
Second pick and 2024 Tokyo Yushun champion Danon Decile settled around sixth in front of Croix du Nord and saved ground rounding the last corners. Turning into the lane, the son of Epiphaneia briefly met traffic but found space for clear running too late. Danon Decile failed to track the winner and couldn’t overtake Meisho Tabaru, and finished a length behind in third.
Tagano Dude (Yoshihiro Furukawa) and Seiun Hades (Hideaki Miyuki) placed fourth and fifth, respectively, in the 15-horse field.
Horses round the fourth corner in the 2026 Osaka Hai at Hanshin Racecourse. (©SANKEI)
A Look Ahead
The Oka Sho (Japanese 1000 Guineas), which will be held at Hanshin Racecourse, is the JRA’s next G1 race on Sunday, April 12.
Read the full report, including details on each of the Osaka Hai entrants, on JRA News.
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Author: JRA News
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