Japan
Race Favorite Croix du Nord Conquers Tokyo Yushun
Croix du Nord wins this year’s Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby) at Tokyo.
Odds-on favorite Croix Du Nord validated his Hopeful Stakes (G1, 2,000m) victory last year that earned his status as the season's Best Two-Year-Old Colt and a potential middle-distance G1 runner, this time, rising atop this year's 7,950 registered three-year-olds by conquering this year's Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby), the second leg of the Triple Crown. The son of Kitasan Black marked three wins in as many starts last year, including the Hopeful Stakes and kicked off this season with the Satsuki Sho (Japanese 2000, Guineas, G1, 2,000m) on April 20 as the heavy favorite but was beaten by Museum Mile by 1-1/2-lengths in second. Both trainer Takashi Saito and jockey Yuichi Kitamura claimed their first JRA-G1 title after last year's Hopeful Stakes with this colt, and this victory marked the former's ninth and the latter's seventh G1 in total. While it was their first classic title for both the trainer and jockey, owner Sunday Racing notched their fifth Derby victory—renewing the JRA record for most Derby titles won.
Croix du Nord broke smoothly from stall 13, shifted closer to the inside and secured a prominent position around third or fourth behind Satono Shining who was rushed to the front in his bid to lead the 18-horse field then gave way to Ho O Atman soon after as pacesetter entering the backstretch. Yuichi Kitamura kept his mount in good rhythm as the Ho O Atman increased his lead from the rest of the field by almost ten lengths. The race began in earnest as leader weakened 300 meters out at which point Croix du Nord came powerfully up the center lane to duel with Satono Shining then pulled away from that foe at the furlong pole while holding off a powerful chase by Masquerade Ball and Shohei to win by 3/4 length.
"I felt it was my responsibility to make Croix du Nord a Derby winner ever since the colt won the Hopeful Stakes, so my feeling now is that I am relieved to have accomplished by mission. The whole process since the win last year, including our runner-up effort in the Satsuki Sho, was a meaningful and precious learning experience for me. The colt felt great today and I was able to come into the race with every confidence so victory itself came as no surprise to me. The break was smooth and after that, I was concentrating on keeping him in a comfortable rhythm more so than what position he was sitting in. In the stretch run, he responded really well and as I've said, I had every confidence in the colt and drove him on believing that he would make it to the wire a winner," commented Yuichi Kitamura.
Masquerade Ball, secured a comfortable position in mid-field with a close view of the race favorite and eventual winner, running a few lengths in front. Giving the colt a breather along the backstretch before edging closer along the outside approaching the last two turns, Ryusei Sakai guided the colt further out for a clear run into the stretch where the son of Duramente turned in a terrific turn of foot to close in on the eventual winner while overtaking both Shohei and Satono Shining to secure second place although just short of reaching the winner.
Shohei made use of an inside break to sit close to the pace while saving ground along the rails before shifting out slightly coming into the straight to follow the eventual winner and, while unable to match that foe, ran on gamely to overtake Satono Shining in the last strides to secure third place.
Other Horses:
4th: (18) Satono Shining—rallied for lead, eased back to 2nd, took brief command after 400m
pole, showed tenacity, weakened in last 100m
5th: (3) Eri King—saved ground in 14th, launched fastest late kick but belatedly
6th: (7) Museum Mile—raced wide in 11th, passed tired rivals
7th: (8) M's—ran behind winner in 6th, launched bid but no match for top finishers
8th: (9) Giovanni—settled in 8th, struggled to find clear path at early stretch, quickened in last
200m
9th: (16) Feiern Kranz—sat behind winner, weakened in last 200m
10th: (1) Lila Emblem—took economic trip in 8th, showed brief effort
11th: (14) Ho O Atman—rallied to set pace, surrendered lead 300m out
12th: (12) Kalamatianos—traveled wide in 13th, unable to reach contention
13th: (10) Toppi Born—ran 2nd from rear, circled wide, never threatened
14th: (6) Fandom—hugged rails in 6th, outrun in last 300m
15th: (4) Dragon Boost—positioned in 16th on rails, showed little
16th: (11) Nishino Agent—raced in 14th, failed to respond at stretch
17th: (5) Readiness—traveled in 12th, switched to outside at early stretch, never fired
18th: (15) Faust Rasen—was off slowly, rear throughout trip
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