Smart Layer with Makahiki a neck away in third. In the Grade 1 Osaka Hai at Hanshin on 2 April he went off the 3.6/1 third choice in the betting but came home sixth of the fourteen runners behind Kitasan Black, beaten three lengths by the winner. His assistant trainer Kazutomo Mori later said "He ran a very strong race. He had lost weight for the Osaka Hai and was quiet but he was back to his usual unruly self". On 25 June on rain-softened ground at Hanshin the horse contested his second Takarazuka Kinen and started the 8/1 third choice in the betting behind Kitasan Black and Sciacchetra in an eleven runner field which also included Mikki Queen, Cheval Grand, Gold Actor and Rainbow Line. Ridden by Demuro he raced in mid-division on the outside before making rapid progress as the field entered the straight. He took the lead 200 metres from the finish and saw off a challenge from Gold Actor on the inside to win by three quarters of a length. Demuro commented "We were able to race well while eyeing the strong Kitasan Black. He felt really good turning the fourth corner and exerted a remarkable kick in the straight. He's really a G1 horse. I think this type of ground suits him. I always had confidence in him". After a break of over five months, Satono Crown returned to the track for the autumn edition of the Tenno Sho on 29 October. Starting the 3/1 second favourite he tracked the leaders before staying on strongly in the straight but failed to reel in the favoured Kitasan Black and finished second by a neck. He failed to reproduce his best form in two subsequent starts that year, finishing unplaced in the Japan Cup and the Arima Kinen. In the 2017 World's Best Racehorse Rankings he was rated on 120, making him the twentieth best racehorse in the world. 2018: six-year-old season For his first appearance of 2018 Satono Crown was flown to the United Arab Emirates to contest the Sheema Classic over 2400 metres at Meydan Racecourse on 31 March but never looked likely to win and came home seventh of the ten runners behind Hawkbill. On his return to Japan he attempted to reproduce his success of the previous year in the Takarazuka Kinen but ran unplaced behind Mikki Rocket. Satono Crown ended his racing