Yakushima (GB), the first and only runner in Japan for his 2022 European, British and Irish Champion Sire, became the sixth stakes winner for Havana Grey with a speedy score in the Listed Crocus S. at Tokyo on Saturday.
Third choice in the field at 3-1, the Godolphin colourbearer was part of the early pace discussion and shadowed From Dusk (Bolt d'Oro) and Smooth Velvet (Jpn) (Discreet Cat) through splits of :23.50 for the quarter and :47.30 for the half mile. He remained in shouting distance of the leaders and saved every inch of ground on the bend.
Given a small nudge from Smooth Velvet to his outside entering the stretch, he recovered and charged up in between the two frontrunners to take over a quarter-mile from home. Satono Wille (Jpn) (Declaration Of War) gave chase, but Yakushima rolled across the line a three-quarter length winner. It was two lengths back to the group-placed From Dusk.
The grey was a first-out winner against newcomers at Kokura over 1200 metres last July, and placed third in the Listed Kikyo S. going this trip at Chukyo in September. Fifth in the G2 Keio Hai Nisai S. behind Obamburumai (Jpn) (Discreet Cat) and From Dusk on Nov. 5, he ended his juvenile season with a fourth in the Sports Hochi Hai Chukyo Nisai S. Warming up for this run, the colt was third in a 1200-metre 3-year-old Class 1 affair at Chukyo on Jan. 7.
A half-brother to Good Vibes (GB) (Due Diligence), who won the G3 Cornwallis S. and was third in the G2 Lowther S., Yakushima is followed by fillies by Showcasing (GB) and Due Diligence born in 2021 and 2022, respectively. The Showcasing filly went to Carmel Stud for 120,000gns at the Tattersalls December Foal Sale in 2021.
Under the second dam is the G2 Flying Childers S. runner-up Astrophysics (GB) (Paco Boy {Ire}), while both G3 Ballyogan S. heroine Age Of Chivalry (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) and GI Hollywood Derby second Sebastian Flyte (GB) (Observatory) are also members of the extended family.
Saturday's Result:
CROCUS S.-Listed, ¥38,300,000, Tokyo, 1-28, 3yo, 1400mT, 1:21.10, gd/fm.
1–YAKUSHIMA (GB), 123, c, 3, Havana Grey (GB)
1st Dam: Satsuma (GB), by Compton Place (GB)
2nd Dam: Jodrell Bank (Ire), by Observatory
3rd Dam: Aravonia (GB), by Night Shift
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN. (130,000gns Wlg '20 TATNOV).
O-Godolphin. B-Whitsbury Manor Stud (GB). T-Ryo Terashima.
J-Christophe Lemaire. ¥20,000,000. Lifetime Record: 6-2-0-2,
¥39,237,000. *1/2 to Good Vibes (GB) (Due Diligence),
GSW-Eng, $126,592.
2–Satono Wille (Jpn), 123, c, 3, Declaration Of War–Daiwa
Gelato (Jpn), by Fuji Kiseki (Jpn). 1ST BLACK TYPE. O-Hajime
Satomi. B-Fujiwara Farm (Jpn). T-Yuichi Shikato. ¥8,000,000.
3–From Dusk, 123, c, 3, Bolt d'Oro–Foolish Cause, by Giant's
Causeway. ($200,000 Ylg '21 KEESEP; $900,000 2yo '22
OBSMAR). O-Susumu Fujita. B-Springhouse Farm (KY).
T-HIdeyuki Mori. ¥5,000,000.
Margins: 3/4, 2, 3/4. Odds: 3.00, 13.90, 2.50.
Also Ran: Lord Defeat (Jpn), Smooth Velvet (Jpn), Nishino Piu Mosso (Jpn), Raifort (Jpn), Cool Moore (Jpn), Blue In Green (Jpn), Boukephalas (Jpn). Click for the chart and video.
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