Japan: Bellagio Opera earns narrow win in Grade 1 Osaka Hai

Bellagio Opera took the lead at the eighth pole and managed to fend off the repeated efforts of Rousham Park and fast-closing Rouge Eveil to win by a neck Sunday in the Grade 1, US$2,852,709 Osaka Hai, a 1 1/4-mile turf stakes at Hanshin, Japan.

Breaking sharply from post 11 in the field of 16 older horses, Bellagio Opera (9-2) rushed to the lead and settled just behind Stunning Rose to press the pace in second. The 4-year-old Lord Kanaloa colt continued to stalk the frontrunner in the second turn. He was a close second at the top of the stretch before hitting the front in the last 220 yards en route to his first Grade 1 and third graded-stakes victory.

Jockey-turned-trainer Hiroyuki Uemura, who opened his stable in 2019, celebrated his first Japan Grade 1 and fifth graded win. Jockey Kazuo Yokoyama registered his third Group 1 victory since he rode Titleholder to win the 2022 Takarazuka Kinen. He also rode Bellagio Opera to a fourth-place finish last spring in the Tokyo Yushun, also known as the Japan Derby.

“I was so disappointed when we lost the derby in that I really wanted to win a Grade 1 with this horse, so I’m really, really happy,” Yokoyama said. “Bellagio Opera has very good maneuverability, and I knew that he was in good condition, so I decided to race him toward the front. He’s really strong when it comes to a close rally. I’m glad he held off his rivals.”

Bellagio Opera’s winning time was 1:58.2 without a run-up on the right-handed, good-to-firm course covering 2,000 meters, 13 yards short of 1 1/4 miles. The early fractions were 23.3, 48.4, 1:11.7 and 1:34.6.

Winning his debut start in November as a 2-year-old, Bellagio Opera earned his third consecutive victory when winning the 1 1/8-mile Spring Stakes (G2) in March 2023. Although a well-beaten 10th in the 1 1/4-mile Satsuki Sho (G1), he registered a close fourth in the 1 1/2-mile Tokyo Yushun (G1). After capping his 3-year-old season with his second graded triumph in the 1 1/4-mile Challenge Cup (G3) in December, he started 2024 with a runner-up effort in the 1 3/8-mile Kyoto Kinen (G2) on Feb. 11.

Unhurried in 13th early in Sunday’s race, Rousham Park (5-1) made rapid headway toward the front in the backstretch, took the far turn outside the eventual winner to rally for the lead and, while unable to catch the stubborn leader, sustained his bid to hold off the late chargers by a nose for second place.

Rouge Eveil (39-1) traveled early in 12th, saved ground turning for home, fought well, launching the fastest late drive to close in on the leaders and, while missing the runner-up spot, secured third place by a half-length margin.

Post-time favorite Tastiera (3-1) hugged the rail in fourth and shifted slightly to the outside after entering the lane to make his bid. But the Satono Crown colt was one paced and gradually fell back in the last eighth of a mile to finish 11th.

With the win, Bellagio Opera earned an automatic starting position in the Irish Champion Stakes (G1) in September.