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Efforia Named Japanese Horse of the Year

Efforia (Jpn) (Epiphaneia {Jpn}) became the first 3-year-old since Orfevre (Jpn) (Stay Gold {Jpn}) in 2011 to be named Japanese Horse of the Year as year-end honors were revealed Tuesday. The Carrot Farm colorbearer received 277 of the 296 possible votes, easily outdistancing the globetrotting Loves Only You (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}), who received 18 first-place votes for the top prize. Efforia was also unanimously named champion 3-year-old male.

A son of the Heart's Cry (Jpn) mare Katie's Heart (Jpn) and from the same family as fellow Horse of the Year Admire Moon (Jpn) (End Sweep) and multiple champion Hishi Amazon (Theatrical {Ire}), Efforia won the G1 Satsuki Sho (Japanese 2000 Guineas) to run his record to a perfect four-from-four in April, then was just caught on the wire by Shahryar (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) in the G1 Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby) the following month. Rested thereafter, Efforia outbattled last year's champion 3-year-old and Triple Crown hero Contrail (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) to take out the G1 Tenno Sho (Autumn) and closed his season with a sound success in the G1 Arima Kinen late last month. Efforia trains on in 2022

For third straight season, Contrail has taken home championship honors, this time as older male. Sparingly campaigned, the son of Rhodochrosite (Unbridled's Song) was third in a boggy-turf renewal of the G1 Osaka Hai on his 4-year-old debut in April and runner-up in the Tenno Sho before dominating the G1 Longines Japan Cup in his career swansong in November (video).

The exploits of Loves Only You at home and abroad were rewarded with champion older female honors. The 2019 G1 Yushun Himba (Japanese Oaks) heroine made just two of her six seasonal appearances in Japan, winning the G2 Kyoto Kinen in February ahead of a third to Mishriff (Ire) (Make Believe {GB}) in the G1 Longines Dubai Sheema Classic and a victory in the G1 FWD QE II Cup in Hong Kong in April. Runner-up to Sodashi (Jpn) (Kurofune) in the G2 Sapporo Kinen, Loves Only You became the first Japanese winner at the Breeders' Cup meeting, scoring the GI Filly & Mare Turf in dramatic fashion (video) before concluding her career victoriously in the G1 Longines Hong Kong Cup in December.

Though not as brilliant as in her championship 2-year-old season in 2020, Sodashi was named best of her generation in 2021, winning the G1 Oka Sho (Japanese 1000 Guineas) and the aforementioned Sapporo Kinen over Loves Only You.

Gran Alegria (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) successfully defended her title as Japan's champion sprinter/miler, her third championship overall after being named best 3-year-old filly of 2019. Facile winner of the G1 Victoria Mile against fellow females in May, the daughter of the late Tapitsfly (Tapit) fell just short in defense of her crown in the G1 Yasuda Kinen before getting a breather. A gallant third to Efforia in the Tenno Sho, she backed up to arguably her best trip and defeated top 3-year-old miler Schnell Meister (Ger) (Kingman {GB}) to win the G1 Mile Championship for the second year in a row in November (video).

With victories in the G1 Asahi Hai Futurity and G1 Hanshin Juvenile Fillies, respectively, Do Deuce (Jpn) (Heart's Cry {Jpn}) and Circle of Life (Jpn) (Epiphaneia {Jpn}) took home top honors in the 2-year-old male and filly divisions. T O Keynes (Jpn) (Sinister Minister) was named champion dirt horse on the strength of a powerhouse score in the G1 Champions Cup, while legendary 10-year-old Oju Chosan (Jpn) (Stay Gold {Jpn}) was tabbed champion steeplechaser for the fourth time in his career.

WATCH: Efforia stamps his authority on the G1 Tenno Sho (Autumn)

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Japan: Do Deuce Remains Undefeated In Asahi Hai Futurity

Third favorite Do Deuce (Heart's Cry) claimed this year's Asahi Hai Futurity Stakes and has become an undefeated champion two-year-old miler—the colt won his debut start in September and his next Ivy Stakes start in October.

Do Deuce traveled wide and in mid-pack after breaking from stall nine, ran down the middle of the straight with the tied fastest late speed tagging Serifos after the furlong marker and battled stride for stride finally shaking off the stubborn favorite in the final strides to win by half a length.

For trainer Yasuo Tomomichi, this is his second Asahi Hai Futurity Stakes victory following the 2018 version with Admire Mars, and his 14th overall JRA-G1 win—his latest was with World Premiere in this year's Tenno Sho (Spring). Jockey Yutaka Take celebrates his first Asahi Hai Futurity Stakes title in his 22nd challenge, and his 78th JRA-G1 win—his latest was with World Premiere in the 2019 Kikuka Sho (Japanese St. Leger). Among the 24 flat JRA-G1 races, Take is just one title short, the year-end Hopeful Stakes that was upgraded to G1 status in 2017.

“Do Deuce is an honest colt,” commented Yutaka Take. “We were able to run in a good position and in good rhythm while observing the others. He responded well going into the straight and although the favorite was stubborn and hard to beat, he dug in remarkably all the way to the line. He's getting stronger by every race—we can look forward to the spring classics next year. (Asked about his long-awaited first Asahi Hai Futurity Stakes title) I'm so happy—at last! It's been a while since my last G1 victory which makes the win even sweeter. I hope I can make the (flat-G1 race) sweep next week in the Hopeful Stakes.”

Race favorite Serifos broke well and was keen to press the pace but was held back, settling in fifth to sixth before the final turns. With a good turn of foot, the Daiwa Major colt ran strongly in the center of the lane, took over the lead after a brief duel with Toshin Macau but surrendered after putting up a good fight against the eventual winner for second place.

Fourth pick Danon Scorpion broke sharply, eased back to eighth and after angling out at the top of the stretch, launched a late drive chasing Do Deuce and Serifos but failed to threaten, finishing third while putting a good 1-3/4-length margin between himself and the rest of the field.

Other Horses:
4th: (3) Al Naseem—was off slow, saved ground around 12th, showed effort until overtaken by top finishers
5th: (13) Geoglyph—unhurried in 14th, angled out, showed belated charge
6th: (12) Toshin Macau—chased leaders around 3rd, took a brief lead before 200m pole, outrun
7th: (11) Dobune—ran 4-wide around 12th, passed tired rivals at stretch
8th: (8) Purpur Ray—tracked leader around 3rd, rallied for lead, weakened in last 200m
9th: (14) Tudo de Bom—stalked leader in 2nd, remained in contention up to 200m pole
10th: (10) Sprit the Sea—traveled 3-wide around 10th, even paced
11th: (5) Via Dolorosa—settled around 10th behind eventual winner, unable to reach contention
12th: (6) Otaru Ever—sat around 5th, circled wide, showed little at stretch
13th: (2) Sekkachi Cane—took economic trip around 5th, outrun in stretch
14th: (1) Kaju Faith—set pace, faded after passing 300m marker
15th: (15) Sin Limites—far rear throughout trip, no factor

The post Japan: Do Deuce Remains Undefeated In Asahi Hai Futurity appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Do Deuce Earns Asahi Hai Spoils

Five unbeaten 2-year-old colts lined up in Sunday's championship-crowning G1 Asahi Hai Futurity S. at Hanshin, and it was the third betting choice Do Deuce (Jpn) (Heart's Cry {Jpn}) who emerged with his perfect record intact while handing legendary jockey Yutaka Take his first win in the race.

In a pattern that would be unusual in most other major racing nations, Do Deuce made his first two starts over nine furlongs before dropping back to eight for his first Group 1 assignment. He won both his prior starts by a neck: a maiden race on Sept. 5 and Tokyo's Listed Ivy S. on Oct. 23.

Traveling midpack and wide on Sunday as the race favourite Serifos (Jpn) (Daiwa Major {Jpn}) sat closer to the pace while racing keenly, Do Deuce found himself in the middle of the track when they straightened for home. After being slightly hampered by a rival, Do Deuce regrouped to rally on the heels of Serifos. Always looking like he was traveling better than that rival despite switching back to his wrong lead two furlongs from home, Do Deuce overhauled a stubborn Serifos inside the final half-furlong to score by a half-length under mild coaxing.

“Do Deuce is an honest colt,” said Take, who was winning his 78th JRA Group 1 and his first since 2019. “We were able to run in a good position and in good rhythm while observing the others. He responded well going into the straight and although the favorite was stubborn and hard to beat, he dug in remarkably all the way to the line. He's getting stronger by every race—we can look forward to the spring classics next year.”

Take, Japan's most popular and best-known jockey internationally, now just needs to win the G1 Hopeful S. for 2-year-olds to have won all 24 JRA Group 1s. That race takes place next week.

Pedigree Notes
Do Deuce is the 11th Group 1 winner for his sire Heart's Cry and the fifth out of a Vindication mare. His dam, Dust And Diamonds, won the GII Gallant Bloom S. and GIII Sugar Swirl S. and was second in the GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint in 2012. She produced three foals in the U.S., headed by the listed-winning and multiple graded placed Much Better (Pioneerof the Nile) before being purchased by Katsumi Yoshida for $1-million, in foal to Pioneerof the Nile, at Keeneland November in 2016. Her first three foals in Japan are all winners, with Do Deuce the lone black-type winner among them.

ASAHI HAI FUTURITY S.-G1, ¥135,580,000, Hanshin, 12-19, 2yo, c&f, 1600mT, 1:33.50, fm.
1–DO DEUCE (JPN), 121, c, 2, 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
1ST GROUP WIN. O-Kieffers Inc; B-Northern Farm; T-Yasuo
Tomomichi; J-Yutaka Take; ¥71,106,000. Lifetime Record:
3-3-0-0. *1/2 to Much Better (Pioneerof the Nile), MGSP-US,
$275,031. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
Werk Nick Rating: C+.
2–Serifos (Jpn), 121, c, 2, Daiwa Major (Jpn)–Sea Front (Fr), by
Le Havre (Ire). O-G1 Racing; B-Oiwake Farm; ¥28,316,000.
3–Danon Scorpion (Jpn), 121, c, 2, Lord Kanaloa (Jpn)–Lexie
Lou, by Sligo Bay (Ire). O-Danox Inc; B-K.I. Farm; ¥18,158,000.
Margins: HF, HF, 1 3/4. Odds: 6.80, 1.40, 8.70.
Also Ran: Al Naseem (Jpn), Geoglyph (Jpn), Toshin Macau (Jpn), Dobune (Jpn), Purpur Ray (Jpn), Tudo de Bom (Jpn), Sprit the Sea (Jpn), Via Dolorosa (Jpn), Otaru Ever (Jpn), Sekkachi Cane (Jpn), Kaju Faith (Jpn), Shin Limites (Jpn).
Click for the JRA chart and video or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.

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