Titleholder, with jockey Takeshi Yokoyama aboard, wins the Kikka-sho title at Hanshin Racecourse in western Japan on Oct. 24, 2021. (Kyodo)

       TAKARAZUKA (Kyodo) -- Fourth favorite Titleholder won the 82nd running of the Kikka-sho, the final leg of the Triple Crown for three-year-olds, for his first Grade One title and the 120 million yen ($1 million) winner's prize on Sunday.

       Titleholder, with jockey Takeshi Yokoyama aboard, completed 3,000 meters at Hanshin Racecourse in 3 minutes, 4.6 seconds, winning by an impressive five lengths over Orthoclase. Divine Love was a further head behind in third.

       "I wasn't sure if he could handle the distance but he was strong," said Yokoyama.

       It was also the first G1 victory for trainer Toru Kurita.

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