Meisho Tabaru

Meisho Tabaru
メイショウタバル[1]
Meisho Tabaru at the 2024 Satsuki Shō
BreedThoroughbred[1]
SireGold Ship[1]
GrandsireStay Gold[1]
DamMeisho Tsubakuro[1]
DamsireFrench Deputy[1]
SexStallion[1]
Foaled (2021-04-20) April 20, 2021[1]
Urakawa, Hokkaido[1]
CountryJapan[1]
ColorBay[1]
BreederMishima Bokujo[1]
OwnerYoshio Matsumoto
->Yoshitaka Matsumoto
Racing colors
TrainerMamoru Ishibashi[1]
JockeyYutaka Take[2]
Record17: 6-1-0[1]
Earnings866,338,600 JPY
842,785,000 JPY (Japan)[1]
150,000 USD (UAE)[3]
Major wins
Mainichi Hai (2024)
Kobe Shimbun Hai (2024)
Takarazuka Kinen (2025, 2026)

Meisho Tabaru (Japanese: メイショウタバル Hepburn: Meisho Tabaru; foaled April 20, 2021) is a Japanese thoroughbred racehorse who won the 2025 and 2026 Takarazuka Kinen.[1]

Background

The horse's name is derived from the Tabaruzaka district in Kumamoto, as well as the Meisho eponym (kanmei, 冠名) of the owner, Yoshio Matsumoto.[4]

Racing career

2023: two-year old season

Meisho Tabaru ran his first race at Kyoto Racecourse, a 2,000-meter maiden race for two-year-olds; ridden by Taiga Tsunoda, he finished fourth.[5] His second maiden race saw him finish fifth behind future rival Danon Dacile; his third, at Hanshin Racecourse, saw him claim his first win.

2024: three-year old season

Meisho Tabaru was to start the season with the Wakagoma Stakes on January 20, but was scratched at the last moment due to a lameness in the right forearm.[6][7] He was instead sent to the Tsubaki Sho on February 17, where he scored his second victory after taking the lead early on and holding onto it for the rest of the race.[7] He was initially planned to run the Spring Stakes after that, but instead entered the Mainichi Hai on March 23 after having to briefly recuperate from a phlegmon on his left forearm.[6] In the Mainichi Hai, Meisho Tabaru led from start to finish to claim his first graded win by 6 lengths.[6][8] Following this victory, it was announced that the horse's next race would be the Satsuki Shō.

At the Satsuki Shō, Meisho Tabaru set a blistering front-running pace, covering the first 1,000 meters in 57.5 seconds. While this led to the winner, Justin Milano, breaking the race record, Meisho Tabaru burnt through his stamina and lost momentum on the final stretch, finishing last.[9] He was next entered into the Tōkyō Yūshun, but was scratched on May 24 after it was discovered that he had suffered a stone bruise on his left hind leg.[10]

After taking the summer off, Meisho Tabaru was entered into the Kobe Shimbun Hai, held on September 22. After making a good start and taking the lead, he held on to beat June Take by half a length despite the latter's efforts to catch up.[11][12]

Meisho Tabaru at the Kikuka Sho

On October 20, Meisho Tabaru ran in the Kikuka-shō, where he briefly took the lead at the first corner of the second lap, but as the leader of the pack kept changing rapidly the horse lost the will to continue racing, dropping back and finishing 16th, over 5 seconds behind the winner, Urban Chic.[13][14]

In spite of this defeat, it was announced that the horse was planned to race the Arima Kinen.[15] However, as the race drew near, the number of horses registered to run in it exceeded the maximum, and Meisho Tabaru's inferior prize money left him unable to enter.[16][17]

2025: four-year old season

Meisho Tabaru after winning the Takarazuka Kinen

Following his Arima Kinen withdrawal, Meisho Tabaru was instead entered into the Nikkei Shinshun Hai.[18] After taking the lead early on, he sped up and covered the first 1,000 meters in 57.7 seconds. However, much like at the Satsuki Shō, he then lost momentum and fell back on the final straight to finish 11th, 2.1 seconds behind the winner Lord del Rey.[19][20] Following the race, the horse was sent to pasture to recuperate.[21]

His next race would be the Dubai Turf on April 5, with Yutaka Take as his new jockey.[22] In that race, he overcame a poor start to lead until the final stretch, where he was overtaken by Romantic Warrior and ultimately finished fifth.[23][24]

On June 15, after returning to Japan, the horse was entered into the Takarazuka Kinen, with Take once again as his jockey. After taking the lead at the start, Meisho Tabaru ran the first 1,000 meters in 59.1 seconds. Fending off a challenge from Bellagio Opera on the final corner, Meisho Tabaru would go on to win the race by three lengths. This marked a father-son victory for the horse, as his sire, Gold Ship, won the same race in 2013 and 2014. This also marked Yutaka Take's fifth victory in the race, the most by any jockey, and his first since Deep Impact in 2006; the first win for a front-runner in the race since Eishin Deputy in 2008; and the first Grade I victory for trainer Mamoru Ishibashi.[25][26]

After another rest period, Meisho Tabaru was entered into the Autumn Tenno Sho on November 2, where he once again led for most of the race only to run out of stamina and finish sixth.[27][28] His final race of the year was the Arina Kinen, where he overtook Mystery Way at the beginning of the backstretch, but again burned out in the final stretch and finished thirteenth, 1.1 seconds behind winner Museum Mile.[29][30]

2026: five-year-old season

Meisho Tabaru after winning the 2026 Takarazuka Kinen

Meisho Tabaru began 2026 with an attempt at the Osaka Hai at Hanshin Racecourse, where he had never previously lost. His trainer Ishibashi said that the horse was lighter and not being pushed so much in training, while jockey Take admitted that the Arima Kinen run had been botched due to the tough race flow and stated that the Osaka Hai's 2000-metre distance was more suitable for him.[31] At the start, he overcame a late start to take the lead as expected, pulling more than three lengths clear in the backstretch. He held on to that lead until the final 100 metres when Croix du Nord surged from the back and overtook him, winning by three-quarters of a length.[32] Despite losing the race, Take stated he was proud of his ride that day because Meisho Tabaru gave it his all, and credited him for not stopping until the very end.[33]

After the Osaka Hai, Meisho Tabaru's connection announced that they intended to have him run in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe in France,[34] and on May 21 he was one of seven JRA horses, including Forever Young, Shin Emperor, and Juryoku Pierrot, that were registered to enter.[35][36]

In his second entry to the Takarazuka Kinen, he would face the winners of his two previous races, Croix du Nord and Museum Mile, as well as top mare Regaleira, who had finished ahead of him in the 2025 Arima Kinen. Croix du Nord entered the race as the favorite: having won the first two legs of the Spring Triple Crown, the Osaka Hai and Tenno Sho (Spring), he was aiming to become the first Spring Triple Crown winner in JRA history.[37] Meisho Tabaru would start as second favorite, and indeed ran second throughout the race, before overtaking Cosmo Kuranda on the stretch, and then holding off Croix du Nord's final charge, to take a second Takarazuka Kinen win.[38] This matched his sire's record of back-to-back Takarazuka Kinen victories, with Chrono Genesis being the only other two-time winner. Take remarked after the race about how similar the final stretch, with Croix du Nord giving chance, had felt to the Osaka Hai.[39]

Racing form

The following racing form is based on information available on JBIS-Search, netkeiba.com, Racing Post, and the Emirates Racing Authority.[40][41][42][43]

Date Track Race Grade Distance

(Condition)

 Entry HN Odds

(Favored)

 Finish Time Margins Jockey Winner

(Runner-up)

2023 – two-year-old season
Oct 9 Kyoto 2yo Newcomer 2,000 m (Soft) 10 5 5.3 (3rd) 4th 2:05.9 0.4 Taiga Tsunoda Allnatt
Oct 28 Kyoto 2yo Maiden Race 1,800 m (Firm) 10 6 3.9 (2nd) 5th 1:48.3 0.4 Taiga Tsunoda Danon Decile
Dec 24 Hanshin 2yo Maiden Race 2,000 m (Firm) 14 7 3.3 (1st) 1st 2:00.6 -0.2 Suguru Hamanaka (Culminale)
2024 – three-year-old season
Jan 14 Kyoto Wakagoma Stakes L 2,000 m (Soft) 7 4 Scratched Suguru Hamanaka Sunrise Zipangu
Feb 17 Kyoto Tsubaki Sho ALW (1 win) 1,800 m (Firm) 9 5 6.1 (3rd) 1st 1:46.9 0.0 Suguru Hamanaka (Keep Calm)
Mar 23 Hanshin Mainichi Hai GIII 1,800 m (Soft) 10 4 9.4 (5th) 1st 1:46.0 -1.0 Ryusei Sakai (Noble Roger)
Apr 14 Nakayama Satsuki Sho GI 2,000 m (Firm) 17 2 7.0 (4th) 17th 1:59.3 2.2 Suguru Hamanaka Justin Milano
May 26 Tokyo Tokyo Yushun GI 2,400 m (Firm) 17 16 Scratched Suguru Hamanaka Danon Decile
Sept 22 Chukyo Kobe Shimbun Hai GII 2,200 m (Good) 14 15 5.4 (2nd) 1st 2:11.8 -0.1 Suguru Hamanaka (June Take)
Oct 20 Kyoto Kikuka-shō GI 3,000 m (Firm) 18 10 9.6 (5th) 16th 3:09.3 5.2 Suguru Hamanaka Urban Chic
2025 – four-year-old season
Jan 19 Chukyo Nikkei Shinshun Hai GII 2,200 m (Firm) 16 6 5.3 (2nd) 11th 2:11.9 2.1 Suguru Hamanaka Lord del Rey
Apr 5 Meydan Dubai Turf GI 1,800 m (Firm) 11 6 19.0 (5th) 5th 1:46.27 0.43 Yutaka Take Soul Rush
June 15 Hanshin Takarazuka Kinen GI 2,200 m (Good) 17 12 11.4 (7th) 1st 2:11.1 -0.5 Yutaka Take (Bellagio Opera)
Nov 2 Tokyo Tenno Sho (Fall) GI 2,000 m (Firm) 14 13 8.6 (5th) 6th 1:58.8 0.2 Yutaka Take Masquerade Ball
Dec 28 Nakayama Arima Kinen GI 2,500 m (Firm) 16 6 5.8 (4th) 13th 2:32.6 1.1 Yutaka Take Museum Mile
2026 – five-year-old season
Apr 5 Hanshin Osaka Hai GI 2,000 m (Firm) 15 6 4.8 (3rd) 2nd 1:57.7 0.1 Yutaka Take Croix du Nord
Jun 14 Hanshin Takarazuka Kinen GI 2,200 m (Yielding) 17 16 3.9 (2nd) 1st 2:12.1 -0.1 Yutaka Take (Croix du Nord)

Legend:

  Turf

Pedigree

Pedigree of Meisho Tabaru[44][45]
Sire
Gold Ship
gr. 2009		 Stay Gold
dk.b. 1994		 Sunday Silence Halo
Wishing Well
Golden Sash Dictus
Dyna Sash
Point Flag
gr. 1998		 Mejiro McQueen Mejiro Titan
Mejiro Aurola
Pastoralism Pluralisme
Tokuno Eighty
Dam
Meisho Tsubakuro
b. 2010		 French Deputy
ch. 1992		 Deputy Minister Vice Regent
Mint Copy
Mitterand Hold Your Peace
Laredo Lass
Dancing Happiness
dk. b. 1999		 Dance in the Dark Sunday Silence
Dancing Key
Meisho Sachikaze Crystal Glitters
Seattle Dancer
  • Meisho Tabaru is inbred 3 x 4 to Sunday Silence, meaning that this stallion appears in both the third and fourth generations of his pedigree.
  • Meisho Tabaru's uncle is Meisho Kanpaku, the winner of the 2012 Kyōto Daishōten.
  • Meisho Tabaru's dam, Meisho Tsubakuro, is the horse that Mamoru Ishibashi won his last win as a jockey.[46]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 "Meisho Tabaru(JPN)". JBIS-Search. Retrieved 2025-09-07.
  2. ↑ "Meisho Tabaru | Horse Profile, Pedigree, Form, Race Record". netkeiba. Retrieved 14 June 2026.
  3. ↑ "2025ドバイ・ワールドカップ・デイ施行競走 登録要綱（簡易版）" (in Japanese). Retrieved 2025-09-07.
  4. ↑ "メイショウタバル Meisho Tabaru（JPN）". Japan Racing Association. Retrieved 2025-09-07.
  5. ↑ "【京都5R新馬戦結果】ショウナンパンドラの弟オールナットが逃げ切りV！". netkeiba (in Japanese). 2023-10-09. Retrieved 2025-09-07.
  6. 1 2 3 "【毎日杯】メイショウタバルが6馬身差で"圧逃"の3連勝 坂井瑠星騎手の馬場読みもズバリ「本当に強い内容」". UMATOKU (in Japanese). Hochi Shimbun. 2024-03-23. Retrieved 2025-09-07.
  7. 1 2 "【つばき賞】メイショウタバルが前走除外から巻き返してＯＰ入り". サンスポZBAT! (in Japanese). Sankei Shimbun. 2024-02-17. Retrieved 2025-09-07.
  8. ↑ "【毎日杯回顧】圧勝メイショウタバル「GⅠ獲り条件」をクリア 単なる道悪巧者ではない大物". SPAIA競馬 (in Japanese). 2024-03-25. Retrieved 2025-09-07.
  9. ↑ "【皐月賞】大逃げでレコードを誘発メイショウタバルは17着に沈む 浜中「テンションが上がってしまった」". 東スポ競馬 (in Japanese). 2024-04-14. Retrieved 2025-09-07.
  10. ↑ "【日本ダービー】メイショウタバルが出走取消 左後挫石「申し訳ない気持ち」と石橋師". デイリースポーツ online (in Japanese). 2024-05-24. Retrieved 2025-09-07.
  11. ↑ "【神戸新聞杯】メイショウタバルが圧逃！浜中俊騎手「こういう形になればしぶとい」春2冠不完全燃焼からのリベンジ". UMATOKU (in Japanese). Hochi Shimbun. 2024-09-23. Retrieved 2025-09-07.
  12. ↑ "【神戸新聞杯】メイショウタバル 堂々の逃げ切りで重賞2勝目 浜中と息ピッタリ「馬とのコンタクトを大事に」". デイリースポーツ online (in Japanese). 2024-09-23. Retrieved 2025-09-07.
  13. ↑ "【菊花賞・人気馬の敗因】メイショウタバル16着に大敗 浜中俊「馬が嫌になってしまいました」". 東スポ競馬 (in Japanese). 2024-10-20. Retrieved 2025-09-07.
  14. ↑ "【浜中俊コラム】菊花賞メイショウタバル残念ながら16着 自分が思っていた競馬だったが大きな誤算が..." 中日スポーツ・東京中日スポーツ (in Japanese). Chunichi Shimbun. 2024-10-26. Retrieved 2025-09-07.
  15. ↑ "メイショウタバル、有馬記念視野 石橋師「オーナーと相談してみたけど...」". スポニチ競馬Web (in Japanese). 2024-10-23. Retrieved 2025-09-07.
  16. ↑ "【有馬記念出走馬決定順】フルゲート16頭に対して22頭が登録 ハヤヤッコまで出走可能". netkeiba (in Japanese). 2024-12-09. Retrieved 2025-09-07.
  17. ↑ "メイショウタバル有馬記念除外なら日経新春杯へ 現在補欠3番手で石橋師「ギリギリまで粘る」". Nikkan Sports (in Japanese). 2024-12-12. Retrieved 2025-09-07.
  18. ↑ "【日経新春杯・特捜班のガチ】「歩き方からして変わってきたんだ」 メイショウタバルに表れた〝ユーチューブ効果〟". 東スポ競馬 (in Japanese). 2025-01-16. Retrieved 2025-09-07.
  19. ↑ "【日経新春杯】メイショウタバルは11着 浜中「コーナーに入ってからガッツリかかって...」". スポニチ Sponichi Annex (in Japanese). 2025-01-19. Retrieved 2025-09-07.
  20. ↑ "【日経新春杯】芝2200メートルで歴代最速！ メイショウタバルがマイル通過1分32秒4の超速ラップ". 東スポ競馬 (in Japanese). 2025-01-19. Retrieved 2025-09-07.
  21. ↑ "日経新春杯11着のメイショウタバルはドバイターフか大阪杯へ【次走報】". 東スポ競馬 (in Japanese). 2025-02-11. Retrieved 2025-09-07.
  22. ↑ "武豊がメイショウタバルとの新コンビで4・5ドバイターフ参戦【次走報】". 東スポ競馬 (in Japanese). 2025-03-06. Retrieved 2025-09-07.
  23. ↑ "【ドバイターフ】武豊メイショウタバル5着 石橋師「良く頑張ってくれました」". スポニチ Sponichi Annex (in Japanese). 2025-04-06. Retrieved 2025-09-07.
  24. ↑ "【ドバイターフ】武豊騎手騎乗のメイショウタバルは果敢に逃げて5着「勝った馬が強かったです」". Nikkan Sports (in Japanese). 2025-04-06. Retrieved 2025-09-07.
  25. ↑ "【宝塚記念】メイショウタバルが逃走V 武豊が今季初G1制覇でディープ以来19年ぶりの宝塚5度目制覇". スポニチ Sponichi Annex (in Japanese). 2025-06-15. Retrieved 2025-09-07.
  26. ↑ "【宝塚記念・超速報】武豊騎手メイショウタバルがG1初制覇！「涙出そうになるくらいうれしい」". Nikkan Sports (in Japanese). 2025-06-15. Retrieved 2025-09-07.
  27. ↑ "Meisho Tabaru(JPN)". Nikkan Sports (in Japanese). 2025-08-21. Retrieved 2025-09-07.
  28. ↑ "末脚勝負を制した3歳馬マスカレードボールがGⅠ初制覇！". JRA.jp (in Japanese). 2025-11-02. Retrieved 2025-11-11.
  29. ↑ "JRA Race Card & Results". jra.jp. Retrieved 2025-12-28.
  30. ↑ JRA公式チャンネル (2025-12-27). 2025 ARIMA KINEN (The Grand Prix) (G1) | JRA Official. Retrieved 2025-12-28 – via YouTube.
  31. ↑ "Meisho Tabaru fully primed for G1 Osaka Hai, trainer Ishibashi and jockey Take speak confidently". netkeiba. NET DREAMERS, Co., Ltd. 3 April 2026. Retrieved 14 April 2026.
  32. ↑ "Favorite Croix du Nord Shines in Osaka Hai Win - News - Horse Racing in Japan". japanracing.jp. Japan Association for International Racing and Stud Book (JAIRS). 5 April 2026. Retrieved 14 April 2026.
  33. ↑ "武豊騎手「持っている力を引き出してあげるのがボクの仕事」 2着大阪杯の"パートナー"をたたえ桜花賞への期待を語る" [Jockey Yutaka Take: "My job is to bring out the full potential of the horse." He praised his "partner" in the Osaka Cup, where the horse finished second, and spoke of his expectations for the Oka Sho (Japanese 1000 Guineas).]. netkeiba (in Japanese). NET DREAMERS, Co., Ltd. 8 April 2026. Retrieved 14 April 2026.
  34. ↑ "メイショウタバルは凱旋門賞挑戦を視野 武豊騎手も「実現したらうれしい。雨は心配いらんもんね」と期待". UMATOKU (in Japanese). 2026-04-29. Retrieved 2026-06-15.
  35. ↑ "2026凱旋門賞（G1）の登録馬" (Press release). Japan Racing Association. 2026-05-21. Retrieved 2026-06-15.
  36. ↑ "Forever Young Headlines Strong Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe Entries For Japan". Thoroughbred Daily News. 2026-05-20. Retrieved 2026-06-15. The five-year-old Meisho Tabaru has also received an entry.
  37. ↑ "G1 Guide & Tips: Takarazuka Kinen". Idol Horse. Retrieved 2026-06-14.
  38. ↑ "TAKARAZUKA KINEN (G1) Full Result | 14 JUN 2026 R11 Hanshin Racing Information (JRA)". netkeiba. Retrieved 2026-06-14.
  39. ↑ ""Today, please don't catch me!," Yutaka Take guides Meisho Tabaru to historic G1 Takarazuka Kinen repeat | Horse Racing News". netkeiba. Retrieved 2026-06-14.
  40. ↑ "Race Records | Meisho Tabaru(JPN)". JBIS-Search. Retrieved 2025-09-07.
  41. ↑ "Meisho Tabaru Race Record and Form". netkeiba. Retrieved 2025-09-07.
  42. ↑ "Meisho Tabaru | Race Record & Form". Racing Post. Retrieved 2025-09-07.
  43. ↑ "Emirates Racing Authority". Emirates Racing Authority. Archived from the original on 2025-04-07. Retrieved 2025-09-07.
  44. ↑ "Five-generation Pedigree Table". JBIS-Search. Retrieved 2025-09-07.
  45. ↑ "PEDIGREE (5-GEN)". netkeiba.com. Retrieved 2025-09-07.
  46. ↑ "石橋守の騎手成績". db.netkeiba.com (in Japanese). Retrieved 2025-09-07.
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