Tag: Do Deuce

Arima Kinen An Early Christmas Feast

With the recent retirement of the world's top-rated racehorse Equinox (Jpn) (Kitasan Black {Jpn}) and with Triple Tiara heroine Liberty Island (Jpn) (Duramente {Jpn}) spelling with destinations unknown for 2024, Sunday's G1 Arima Kinen is missing its top two votegetters. But the 2500-metre event, which easily attracts the largest single-race betting in the world on an annual basis, is certainly not lacking for quality.

While Equinox is not back to defend his title, a good deal of how to solve the contest from a pari-mutuel perspective goes through him. Do Deuce (Jpn) (Heart's Cry {Jpn}) is one of four runners pressing on to the Christmas Eve feature from the G1 Japan Cup, where Equinox had four lengths on Liberty Island. In the estimation of many, the 4-year-old–one of just two horses to finish ahead of the reigning Horse of the Year, in his case in the 2022 G1 Tokyo Yushun–would have been the one to beat in the G1 Dubai Turf in March, but was scratched and missed seven months. The bay was disappointing when seventh behind Equinox in the G1 Tenno Sho (Autumn) in October and fell a bit short of expectations when only fourth in the Japan Cup. His connections still have not lost faith.

'[Jockey Yutaka] Take rode work last week and, as I'd thought, they really looked good together,” said trainer Yasuo Tomomichi. “Take said the horse had moved really well as usual. This will be his third start of the fall season but I don't think he's tired at all. I'd say he has improved quite a bit and there is no need for more work. Equinox is out of the picture now and I think any horse has a chance.”

 

 

 

Do Deuce is one of three Derby winners in the race, joining 2021 hero Shahryar (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) and Tastiera (Jpn) (Satono Crown {Jpn}). The former was a cracking third to Auguste Rodin (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) in the GI Longines Breeders' Cup Turf Nov. 4 and was an intended runner in the G1 Longines Hong Kong Vase two weeks ago, but was a vet scratch. In spite of his obvious quality, the 5-year-old is no better than a 50-1 chance ante-post. Tastiera dropped a narrow decision to the sometimes mercurial Sol Oriens (Jpn) (Kitasan Black {Jpn}) in April's G1 Satsuki Sho before turning the tables in the Derby. He exits a second–with Sol Oriens third–in the G1 Kikuka Sho (Japanese St Leger) over 3000 metres Oct. 22.

No fewer than six fillies and mares feature in the 16-strong field, but two most-fancied have drawn the widest gates in a race that is run around three turns at Nakayama. Through Seven Seas (Jpn) (Dream Journey {Jpn}) put a bit of a scare into Equinox when flashing home for second in the G1 Takarazuka Kinen in June, after which it was announced that she'd be programmed for the G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe. A highly creditable fourth to Ace Impact (Ire) (Cracksman {GB}), she is capable if able to work out out a trip from barrier 15. Drawn widest is the oft-unlucky Stars on Earth (Jpn) (Duramente {Jpn}), who was unfortunate not to complete the 2022 Triple Tiara and looks to snap a frustrating streak of placings, including a latest third in the Japan Cup. Her late sire is also responsible for Titleholder (Jpn), a pacesetting ninth in this last year. Win Marilyn (Jpn) (Screen Hero {Jpn}), victorious in the 2022 G1 Longines Hong Kong Cup and an outstanding fourth to Inspiral (GB) (Frankel {GB}) in the GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf Nov. 4, makes the final start of her career and is the longest price at north of 115-1.

Adding further intrigue are the half-brothers Justin Palace (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}), winner of the G1 Tenno Sho (Spring) over 3200 metres and third in the Tenno Sho (Autumn), and Iron Barows (Jpn) (Orfevre {Jpn}), who punched his ticket to this with a victory in the G2 Stayers S. going 3600 metres of this course Dec. 2. The pair are half-brothers to recent Darley Japan import Palace Malice (Curlin).

The post Arima Kinen An Early Christmas Feast appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Take, Do Deuce Hold All The Aces in Japanese Derby

by Alan Carasso

The legendary Yutaka Take, already five times a winner of the G1 Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby), gave out an uncharacteristically bullish vibe about the chances of reigning champion 2-year-old male Do Deuce (Jpn) (Heart's Cry {Jpn}) ahead of Sunday's second jewel of the Japanese Triple Crown over 2400 metres of the Fuchu course, about 20 miles due west of the city centre.

And after a little less than a record-breaking 142 seconds on a warm and sunny warm afternoon and with a crowd on that looked and sounded a bit larger than the announced 62,364, the son of US import Dust and Diamonds (Vindication) kicked home down the centre of the track and found the line a neck better than an unlucky Equinox (Jpn) (Kitasan Black {Jpn}). Ask Victor More (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}), one of five in the race for the final intake of the 2005 Derby winner–also ridden by Take–was a forward factor throughout and clung on gamely for third.

“This is a truly emotional experience for me and I couldn't be happier,” said Take, 53, who can now boast of Derby victories in his 20s, 30s, 40s and 50s. “It's so wonderful to be able to win in front of a packed stand–you couldn't be a jockey and not dream of living this moment.”

Sent away as the 16-5 third choice exiting a wide-trip third behind Geoglyph (Jpn) (Drefong) and Equinox in the G1 Satsuki Sho (Japanese 2000 Guineas) at Nakayama last month, last year's G1 Asahi Hai Futurity hero was away fairly from gate 13 and drifted back to settle in the latter third of the field, racing with Equinox in his wake, as Desierto (Jpn) (Drefong) cut out the running from Ask Victor More. Switched off nicely and unhurried entering the final half-mile, Do Deuce stalked Geoglyph into the final 600 metres and was pulled out and around that star-faced chestnut rival entering the long Tokyo straight.

Desierto hoisted the white flag not long thereafter, allowing Ask Victor More to inherit the lead, but Take had Do Deuce in high gear, raced up to the front-runner inside the furlong marker and held sway late to score narrowly. Equinox, who drew 18 in the Guineas was unfortunate to do so again Sunday afternoon, was beaten to the punch by the winner and was fractionally short of room in the waning stages before attacking the line for second. His final 600 metres was timed in a race-fastest :33.6, a tenth of a second quicker than the winner. Favored Danon Beluga (Jpn) (Heart's Cry {Jpn}) ran on for fourth.

“He had so much left in the tank at the final corner when I asked him for his run–he responded amazingly and took the lead earlier than planned, but held on well to the wire,” Take added. “The [G1] Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe should be a strong option for the owner and will probably be our next target.”

Do Deuce is one of seven Japanese entries for Europe's weight-for-age centrepiece and is the third Derby winner in the last seven years for trainer Yasuo Tomomichi, who saddled Makahiki (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) in 2016 and Wagnerian (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) two years later.

 

 

 

Pedigree Notes:

Do Deuce is one of 11 top-level scores for the now-pensioned Heart's Cry, who famously defeated Deep Impact in the 2005 G1 Arima Kinen and gave Japan a notable victory on the world stage when carrying Christophe Lemaire to a barnstorming victory in the G1 Dubai Sheema Classic at old Nad al Sheba in 2006. Do Deuce is the second Derby winner for Heart's Cry, who also supplied One and Only (Jpn) in 2014. Heart's Cry is also responsible for dual-surface Grade I winner Yoshida (Jpn), now standing at WinStar Farm in the US.

The winner's dam raced as a homebred for Satish Sanan's Padua Stables for the first 10 starts of her career, winning the GII Gallant Bloom H. for trainer Steve Asmussen in 2012 before finishing a clear second in the GI Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint with Richard Santulli part of the ownership group.

Sent through the Fasig-Tipton November Sale a few days later, Dust and Diamonds was purchased by Borges Torrealba Holdings for $900,000 and was turned over to trainer Todd Pletcher for whom she won the GIII Sugar Swirl S. in what would be her final racetrack appearance.

Of the three foals the mare produced for Torrealba/Three Chimneys, the most accomplished became Much Better, who went on to be placed twice in graded company. Dust and Diamonds was subsequently sold to Katsumi Yoshida for $1 million carrying a full-sibling to Much Better at the 2016 Keeneland November Sale.

Now 14 years of age, Dust and Diamonds is represented by a 2-year-old Lord Kanaloa (Jpn) filly and was most recently covered by Real Steel (Jpn), the full-brother to the ground-breaking GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf heroine Loves Only You (Jpn).

 

 

 

Sunday, Tokyo, Japan
TOKYO YUSHUN (JAPANESE DERBY)-G1, ¥418,540,000, Tokyo, 5-29, 3yo, c/f, 2400mT, 2:21.90 (NSR), fm.
1–DO DEUCE (JPN), 126, c, 3, by Heart's Cry (Jpn)
1st Dam: Dust and Diamonds (MGSW & GISP-US, $496,260), by Vindication
2nd Dam: Majestically, by Gone West
3rd Dam: Darling Dame, by Lyphard
O-Kieffers Inc; B-Northern Farm; T-Yasuo Tomomichi; J-Yutaka Take; ¥226,978,000. Lifetime Record: Ch. 2yo Colt-Jpn, 6-4-1-1, ¥385,771,000. *1/2 to Much Better (Pioneerof the Nile), MGSP-US, $301,131. Werk Nick Rating: C. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Equinox (Jpn), 126, c, 3, Kitasan Black (Jpn)–Chateau Blanche (Jpn), by King Halo (Jpn) O-Silk Racing; B-Northern Farm; ¥87,708,000.
3–Ask Victor More (Jpn), 126, c, 3, Deep Impact (Jpn)–
Kartica (GB), by Rainbow Quest. 1ST GROUP 1 BLACK-TYPE. (¥170,000,000 yrl '20 JRHAJUL). O-Toshihiro Hirosaki HD; B-Shadai Farm; ¥53,854,000.
Margins: NK, 2, NK. Odds: 3.20, 2.80, 23.70.
Also Ran: Danon Beluga (Jpn), Pradaria (Jpn), Killer Ability (Jpn), Geoglyph (Jpn), Onyankopon (Jpn), Justin Palace (Jpn), Be Astonished (Jpn), Seiun Hades (Jpn), Ask Wild More (Jpn), Matenro Leo (Jpn), Lord Les Ailes (Jpn), Desierto (Jpn), Justin Rock (Jpn), Matenro Orion (Jpn), Piece of Eight (Jpn). Click for the JRA chart or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.

 

The post Take, Do Deuce Hold All The Aces in Japanese Derby appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Equinox Must Defy Outside Barrier in Satsuki Sho

Highly impressive in winning a pair of juvenile starts last season, Equinox (Jpn) (Kitasan Black {Jpn}) makes Sunday's G1 Satsuki Sho (Japanese 2000 Guineas) his 3-year-old debut, but must overcome the widest draw in the field of 18 if he is to stretch his unbeaten mark to three.

Receiving the always important endorsement of Christophe Lemaire for his career debut in an 1800-metre newcomers' event at Niigata at the end of August, the Silk Racing colorbearer settled handy to the pace and stormed clear to graduate by six powerful lengths. He faced the starter just once more, getting further back in the run before closing his final three furlongs in a smart :32.9 to take out the G2 Tokyo Sports Hai Nisai S. Nov. 20, becoming the second group winner of the year for his Group 3-winning dam Chateau Blanche (Jpn) (King Halo {Jpn}). Equinox's half-sister Weiss Meteor (Jpn) (King Kamehameha {Jpn}) won the G2 Radio Nikkei Sho last July.

“I have confidence in him, and with his two wins from two starts, there seems to be plenty more to come from him,” said Lemaire. “I am not worried about it being the first time at the track, or the fact that he hasn't run in a while. I think he can run from any position in a race, and he showed a really good turn of foot at Tokyo last time. I haven't won a big race in Japan this year, but my confidence is up after riding overseas, and I'd like to be successful here with this good horse.”

 

 

 

Do Deuce (Jpn) (Heart's Cry {Jpn}) ran the table in three starts last term, winning the Listed Ivy S. ahead of a championship-clinching success in the G1 Asahi Hai Futurity S. going a mile in December. The bay has the benefit of a tightener, and a bit of troubled one at that, as he was shuffled back at a key stage in the G2 Deep Impact Kinen over track and distance Mar. 6 and couldn't quite reel in Ask Victor More (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}), who sat a soft trip just off the speed.

Danon Beluga (Jpn) (Heart's Cry {Jpn}) is also a veteran of just two runs to date, a debut success going 10 furlongs at Tokyo Nov. 21 and a comebacking defeat of favoured Geoglyph (Jpn) (Drefong) in the G2 Kyodo News Hai at headquarters Feb. 13. While the former had a clear run down the centre of the track on that occasion, Geoglyph brushed with a rival and took a long time to fully let down before finishing with good energy.

Killer Graces (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) stamped himself a Classics contender in the G1 Hopeful S. at the end of the season, besting a fractionally unlucky Justin Palace (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) by 1 1/2 lengths.

The post Equinox Must Defy Outside Barrier in Satsuki Sho appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

American-Bred Mares Feature Prominently in Satsuki Sho

As has been well-documented, Japanese interests have–over the course of many years–accumulated some of the best bloodstock from all corners of the globe, and as evidenced in Riyadh and Dubai in the last couple of months, the Japanese are breeding horses that can compete anywhere at any level.

Classics season in the island nation kicked off last weekend with the running of the G1 Oka Sho (Japanese 1000 Guineas), with the colts' equivalent–the G1 Satsuki Sho (Japanese 2000 Guineas)–set for this weekend at Nakayama Racecourse. The 3-year-old offspring of some mares whose names will ring familiar dot the field of 18, with each of the four colts something of a winning chance.

Do Deuce (Jpn) (Heart's Cry {Jpn}) is a son of MGSW Dust and Diamonds (Vindication), who was purchased by Katsumi Yoshida for an even $1 million in foal to the late Pioneerof the Nile at Keeneland November in 2016, having been sold to Borges Torrealba Holdings for $900,000 at the same venue just days after her runner-up effort to Groupie Doll (Bowman's Band) in the 2012 GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint. A half-brother to MGSP Much Better (Pioneerof the Nile), Do Deuce capped an undefeated championship season in last years' G1 Asahi Hai Futurity and was the near-miss runner-up in the G2 Deep Impact Kinen on seasonal debut Mar. 6.

Danon Beluga (Jpn) (Heart's Cry {Jpn}) is the first foal from his dam Coasted (Tizway), winner of the P.G. Johnson S. and second in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf in 2016, who was knocked down to Yoshida for $1.3 million at the Fasig-Tipton November Sale in 2017. Just five months after his foaling date of Feb. 7, 2019, Danon Beluga was sent through the ring at the JRHA Select Foal Sale, hammering for $1.472 million, and is perfect in two tries, including a win at Group 2 level Feb. 13. Yuga Kawada, who was aboard the victorious Loves Only You (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) in last year's GI Filly & Mare Turf, has the ride from gate one.

Yoshida was striking while the iron was hot at FTKNOV when acquiring then 8-year-old Palace Rumor (Royal Anthem) for $1.1 million in foal to Mineshaft a handful of months after the mare's produce of 2010, a Curlin colt named Palace Malice, took out the GI Belmont S. A half-brother to the MGSP stayer Iron Barows (Jpn) (Orfevre {Jpn}), Justin Palace (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) also starred at the JRHA Sales, fetching nearly $1.8 million as a yearling in 2020. The dark bay colt won each of his first two starts over 10 furlongs and was last seen finishing runner-up in the G1 Hopeful S. over Sunday's course and distance when last seen Dec. 28.

The winner of the latter event was Killer Ability (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}), a son of 2011 GI Hollywood Starlet S. heroine Killer Graces (Congaree), who realized $850,000 from Yoshida at FTKNOV back in 2012. The late January foal was capping a four-race preparation in the Hopeful, having won his maiden by seven lengths at second asking at the end of August before just missing in listed company in October. Killer Ability is the mount of the up-and-coming Takeshi Yokoyama, the regular rider of last year's Satsuki Sho winner, champion 3-year-old and Horse of the Year Efforia (Jpn) (Epiphaneia {Jpn}).

The post American-Bred Mares Feature Prominently in Satsuki Sho appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Verified by MonsterInsights