u/Revicii_XIII

The JRA Hall of Fame, as per usual, will be held around mid-June. It is not associated with any G1 race but you can use either Yasuda Kinen or Takarazuka Kinen as a marker for this event.

The Hall of Fame inductee last year was, unsurprisingly, Equinox. He was a guaranteed 1st ballot anyways.

Now we look forward to the future: who are your favorite candidates to nominate? What are your reasons?

As for me, here are my choices:

• Cesario (most priority)
• Daiwa Scarlet
• Buena Vista
• Maurice
• Gran Alegria
• Oju Chosan

Why did I prioritize Cesario? Well, considering the 20-year limit since the start of the 1st year she's eligible for Hall of Fame induction, I believe it is time for her to join the list.

5 wins in 6 starts, with the other one being a 2nd place defeat against Rhein Kraft in Oka Sho. Cesario has 2 Oaks titles in her name, with the American Oaks being Japan's first-ever G1 win in American soil. Not only that, but Cesario's American Oaks record also stood for a very long time (19 years) and was beaten only recently by She Feels Pretty in 2024. American Oaks would also be her last race because of her unfortunate career-ending injury. However, that would not be the last of her legacy.

Cesario, even after receiving a brutal injury that led to her retirement, would shine even brighter as a broodmare. Her career as a broodmare is arguably even more impressive than her career as a racer. She foaled 3 G1 winners: Epiphaneia, Leontes, and Saturnalia. These 3 would later sire even more multiple G1 winners, and are constantly top-ranking sires even up to this day. Cesario is carrying her father Special Week's bloodline real strong.

King Kamehameha was nominated to the Hall of Fame in 2024, almost 20 years since his eligibility for Hall of Fame induction. His career was very similar to Cesario: lost only 1 race and it was a 2nd place, ended his career after an injury, and later became a very successful sire.

If KKMH can enter the Hall of Fame, I honestly can't see why Cesario couldn't. She's easily Japan's equivalent of Urban Sea, and goes toe-to-toe with European mare Wind in Her Hair in terms of being a successful broodmare in Japan.

NAR Twitter post

After a brutal showdown with Mikki Fight under jockey Christophe Lemaire for the lead in the final stretch, Wilson Tesoro has brought victory in the 2026 JPN1 Kashiwa Kinen!

I'm sorry Mikki Fight, it may be your birthday today, but better luck next time. As for Costa Nova....well, that extremely late start definitely cost you the race.

Kitasan Black's strongest dirt progeny wins! 2026 truly is the Kitasan Black Festival!

Now we look forward to the future and hope that Wilson Tesoro finally wins a certified dirt G1 race and break his silver collector status on G1 races.