Croix du Nord unleashed a determined rally through the final 200 meters to win the Osaka Hai (G1T) April 5 at Hanshin Racecourse by 3/4 length, foiling legendary jockey Yutaka Take's theft effort aboard Meisho Tabaru.
Croix du Nord, a 4-year-old son of 2017 Osaka Hai winner Kitasan Black, scored his third Group 1 victory—one in each year of his career. It was also his sixth win overall from nine starts.
With Yuichi Kitamura up, Croix du Nord started from gate 15, widest of all, and took position slightly back of the middle of the field. He held that spot through the backstretch run. Approaching the bend in the inside loop of the turf course, Kitamura kicked him into gear and he advanced rapidly around rivals.
Turning for home, the only remaining competition was Meisho Tabaru. The 5-year-old had opened a 4- to 5-length lead midway through the 2,000-meter (about 1 1/4 miles) race and still maintained that margin, but Croix du Nord closed steadily outside the leader to seal the deal. Danon Decile finished third, 1 length farther back.
Danon Decile had been ticketed for a return trip to Dubai, where he won the 2025 Sheema Classic (G1T). His connections opted to pass on the repeat attempt in light of the hostilities and travel disruptions in the Middle East.
Croix du Nord stopped the timer at 1:57.6 over good to firm turf, well shy of the race and course record of 1:56.2, established in 2025 by Bellagio Opera.
"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 and he responded beautifully."
Croix du Nord, bred by Northern Racing, sports the colors of Sunday Racing Co. He is out of the Cape Cross mare Rising Cross, who finished second in the 2007 Oaks (G1) at Epsom Downs and third in the Irish Oaks (G1) at the Curragh.
The colt started his career with a bang, winning his first two starts and then bagging his first top-level win in the Hopeful Stakes (G1T) Dec. 28, 2024. He suffered his first defeat at the hands of Museum Mile in the Satsuki Sho (Japanese Two Thousand Guineas, G1T) to open his 3-year-old campaign but atoned with a victory in the Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby, G1T) in his next start.
That set him on a quest to France for the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (G1)—a race that has frustrated Japan's best for decades. A victory in the Prix du Prince d'Orange (G3) in September at Longchamp raised hopes but Croix du Nord's fortunes went south in the big race as he finished 14th.
Back home in November, he was much improved in finishing fourth in the Japan Cup (G1T), won by Calandagan and had not raced since.
"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," Kitamura said.
