At this point, the participation of Gaia Force (Kitasan Black) in the G1 Yasuda Kinen is pretty much a given. The seven-year-old entire will be running in his fourth edition of the 1600-metre affair, and, after running fourth in both 2023 and 2024, he stepped up to finish second in last year's edition. Maybe 2026 is his year to finally secure the “Win And You're In” for the GI Breeders' Cup Mile at Keeneland in October.Since his second-place run last June, he captured the G2 Fuji Stakes in October and ran a good second to his 2025 Yasuda Kinen conqueror Jantar Mantar (Palace Malice) in the G1 Mile Championship in November. He was fifth to Ombudsman (Night Of Thunder) in the G1 Dubai Turf at Meydan earlier this spring and leaves from gate 14.“The weather was wet, and he's a horse that needs firm ground,” said trainer Haruki Sugiyama of his charge's run in Dubai. “On returning to Japan, he spent time at Miki Horse Land Park, before moving to Ujitawara. He's striding out well in his work now, and looks to be in good condition. It's a much better rotation for him this year, compared to last year.”Already on a two-race winning streak is second choice Trovatore (Rey De Oro). Yet to place in a Group 1, he won the course-and-distance G3 Tokyo Shimbun Hai in February and doubled up in the G3 Epsom Cup over 200 metres further in May.Trainer Yuichi Shikato said, “The jockey did a good job in the Epsom Cup last time. It was a strong win, and it shows that if he finds a good rhythm, the distance isn't a problem. He took a break at Northern Farm Tenei after that race, and there's no tiredness about him, as we now target the Yasuda Kinen this time.”2025 Epsom Cup hero Seiun Hades (Silver State) cuts back to 1600 metres after running fifth in the G1 Osaka Hai, one better than Lebensstil (Real Steel).Trainer Shinsuke Hashiguchi said of Seiun Hades, “He lost a shoe in the Osaka Hai, but considering that, he ran a strong race. He's spent some time at Champion Hills Farm, and everything's fine with him as we look to this next race. He's won the Epsom Cup before, so I think he's suited to Tokyo.”Tokyo-loving Panja Tower (Tower Of London) has claimed both the 2024 G2 Keio Hai Nisai Stakes over 1400 metres and the 2025 G1 NHK Mile Cup at Sunday's venue. In his two 2026 starts, he traveled to Saudi Arabia to run fifth in the G2 1351 Turf Sprint in February before going one better in the G1 Takamatsunomiya Kinen at Chuckyo on March 29.Trainer Shinsuke Hashiguchi said, “He did well last time from an inside draw in the Takamatsunomiya Kinen. Since returning from Champion Hills Farm, everything's been as usual with him, with no changes. He won the NHK Mile Cup, and I think 1600 meters is probably his best distance.”Handed a two-pound sex allowance, Stellenbosch (Epiphaneia) is the only mare in the field. She will attempt to reclaim the form that resulted in a victory in the G1 Oka Sho (Japanese 1000 Guineas) and placings in the other two fillies' Classics. Off the board in all of her 2025 starts, she ran an encouraging second to Trovatore in the Epsom Cup.The post Gaia Force Tries His Hand In The Yasuda Kinen Once Again appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.