Sunday's G1 Osaka Hai attracted a class field of 15, with at least one major entrant swerving a Dubai target thanks to the ongoing conflict in Iran and surrounding countries.Favoured is G1 Hopeful Stakes hero and 2025 G1 Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby) victor Croix Du Nord. The son of Kitasan Black claimed France's G3 Prix du Prince d'Orange in September, and, although unplaced in soft going in the G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, bounced back with a fourth to Calandagan (Gleneagles) in the G1 Japan Cup in November.“We didn't want to overdo things with him, so we passed on last year's Arima Kinen,” said trainer Takashi Saito. “There's a good feeling about him since he returned to the stable. He was a little heavy then, but has gradually got into a better shape. He's been moving well enough, and we'll just arrange things accordingly in the final week with him. It'll be his first time at Hanshin, but I don't worry about him running at different tracks. I think he should show his best in this race.”Last year's G1 Takarazuka Kinen winner Meisho Tabaru (Gold Ship) is also looking for redemption after a pair of losses, with a latest 13th-place finish in the G1 Arima Kinen in December.“We've had this race in mind for him since the beginning of the year,” said Mamoru Ishibashi, who trains the son of Gold Ship. “He was nice and relaxed two weeks ago, and more recently he's become a lot sharper under rider Keisuke Dazai. The horse is using his neck better. He was probably in better shape for the Takarazuka Kinen than he was for his run in the Arima Kinen, when he didn't run so smoothly. He's moving better now than he did for his last race, and we're taking care with him. He's three wins from three runs at Hanshin, and we'll rely on Yutaka Take to get the best out of him this time too.”A horse that opted out of a Dubai trip was 2024 Japanese Derby hero Danon Decile (Epiphaneia). Already a winner of the G1 Dubai Sheema Classic there in 2025, the five-year-old entire was third to Calandagan in the Japan Cup, and filled that position again in the Arima Kinen in December.Said trainer Shogo Yasuda, “It hasn't been a disadvantage not going to Dubai, as this race comes at about the same time. His balance is good, and there's no problem getting him up to speed, so he's moving well. He's more relaxed too. It's easier to prepare him now that it's not winter. He's in very good condition. He tried a little too hard in the Japan Cup, compared to the Arima Kinen, when he was calm in the paddock and ran a better race. There are still minor adjustments to be made, and we'll be thinking things over and monitoring the situation just before the race.”Rising stars Shohei (Saturnalia) and Lebensstil (Real Steel) are each coming into the 2000-metre race on the back of Group 2 victories. The former claimed the American Jockey Club Cup near the end of January, while the latter put his stamp on the Nakayama Kinen in March.The post Croix Du Nord Faces Stiff Challenge In Osaka Hai appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.