Fans' favourite Chrono Genesis clashes with Fierement and Kiseki in Arima Kinen

Arima Kinen (Grade 1) | 1m4½f | 3yo+ | turf

Fierement and Kiseki head 16 runners for the joint-richest race of the JRA calendar with ¥300 million (£2.14 million/€2.38m) up for grabs in the historic contest.

For the first time in four years the Arima Kinen returns to its traditional post-Christmas slot with the field partially made up of horses voted for by the Japanese racing public.

The leading pick by the fans was Chrono Genesis (Takashi Saito/Yuichi Kitamura), a four-year-old filly who landed the Grade 1 Tarakazuna Kinen in June and was third to the brilliant Almond Eye in the Tenno Sho (Autumn) last time out.

Kitamura said: “This week in work she felt as she always does. I think she has maintained her condition. She’s well prepared. She’s an agile horse so I’m not particularly worried about anything but I do want to be sure she’s well balanced at the start and the finish.”

Fierement (Takahisa Tezuka/Christophe Lemaire) was successful in the Grade 1 Tenno Sho (Spring) in May and was one place in front of Chrono Genesis last time.

He finished fourth in last year’s Arima Kinen having finished last behind Waldgeist in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, and trainer Takahisa Tezuka is optimistic about his prospects.

Tezuka said: “Last year he returned from the Arc and we’d worried whether he’d be ready for the Arima, and he did better than we’d expected, which reminded me what a strong horse he is. This year he’s not fatigued and it’ll be a better rotation. This time, he’s on home turf.”

Kiseki: will appreciate any emphasis on staminaCredit: Japan Racing Association

Kiseki (Katsuhiko Sumii/Suguru Hamanaka) fared better than Fierement in last year’s Arc when finishing seventh, and connections are hoping the race on Sunday will put an emphasis on stamina.

Takashi Kotaki, assistant trainer, said: “All has gone well. He’s good at the break again and I don’t anticipate any problem with the Nakayama course itself. And, rather than it all coming down to the fastest turn of foot at the finish, I’d like to see a bit slower track that can bring out his stamina and tenacity.”

The likes of Heart’s Cry, Deep Impact, Orfevre (twice) and Gentildonna have scored in past runnings of the Arima Kinen.

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