Yutaka Take and Do Deuce Triumph in the Japanese Derby

Mark Smith - Sunday May 29

The ageless Yutaka Take earned a sixth Group 1 Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby) (2400m) when last season's Champion Two-Year-Old Do Deuce prevailed in a thriller.

Do Deuce (image Yushi Machida twitter)

A third winner of the race for trainer Yasuo Tomomichi, the son of Heart’s Cry defeated the heavily backed Kitasan Black colt Equinox by a neck.

Advertisement

Ridden by Christophe Lemaire, Equinox was taken back to last from the extreme outside barrier. The Satsuki Sho runner-up made a long-sustained run that may have taken its toll in the final 100m.

Deep Impact colt Ask Victor More was two lengths further back in third ahead of the favourite Danon Beluga (Heart’s Cry).

Damian Lane’s mount Lord les Ailes (Deep Impact) was never a factor and clocked in 14th of the 18 runners.

Do Deuce made a successful career debut in a Newcomers race over 1800m at Kokura last September. A month later he captured the Listed Ivy Stakes (1800m) at Tokyo before rounding out a perfect season in the Group 1 Asahi Hai Futurity Stakes (1600m) at Hanshin on December 19.

The son of Heart’s Cry lost his unbeaten record on resumption at three when second to Ask Victor More in the Group II Deep Impact Kinen (2000m) at Nakayama on March 6. Five weeks later he clocked in a fast-finishing third behind Geoglyph in the Group 1 Satsuki Sho (2000m) (Japanese 2000 Guineas).

Connections are keen to have a shot at the Arc later this year.

Do Deuce is the best of six winners from as many to race from Dust and Diamonds (Vindication) a Grade II winner in America who was second in the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint.

Katsumi Yoshida shelled out for $1 million for Dust and Diamonds, in foal to Pioneerof the Nile, at the 2016 Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale.

Dust and Diamonds has a 2yo colt by Lord Kanaloa and visited Real Steel (JPN) last year. 

Do Deuce is the second Japanese Derby winner for the pensioned Heart’s Cry after One and Only in 2014.

Advertisment
More Reading...
Two Highest Priced Yearlings in World This Year Highlight Tattersalls October Day 1
The opening day of Book 1 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale saw two colts realise 3,700,000 guineas and 3,600,000 guineas, both exceeding the highest price for a yearling sold anywhere in the world in 2025, and five seven-figure lots.
National Thoroughbred Week invites support through GoFundMe campaign
National Thoroughbred Week (NTW) is calling on the thoroughbred community and broader public to be part of history, with the launch of a GoFundMe campaign to help bring this inaugural celebration to life.
Wrote SW on Comeback Trail
Robbie Patterson had high Classic hopes for Read About It last season before his rising young star’s progress was halted by illness.
Do Deuce From Last to First in Japan Cup
The visitors were once again humbled by the locals in the 44th running of Sunday’s Group 1 Longines Japan Cup (2400m) at Tokyo Racecourse.
Briasa Boost as More Youngsters Impress on HIT Sale Eve
The timing couldn’t be better for a sale page's pedigree boost, with Briasa announcing himself as one of Australia’s most exciting sprinters following his dominant victory in Saturday’s $1 million Group Two Premiere Stakes (1200m) at Randwick.
Sires With Winners - Tuesday October 7
Here is the full list of 25 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Yutaka Take Captures Arima Kinen on Do Deuce
The winner of the Group 1 Futurity Stakes at two and Japanese Derby at three, Do Deuce (JPN) earned a Group 1 in the dying days of 2023 when guided by Yutaka Take to victory in Sunday's Arima Kinen (The Grand Prix) (2500m) at Nakayama.
OTI Racing officially enters New Zealand market
OTI Racing is officially going trans-Tasman, with the Australian syndicator becoming a licensed New Zealand syndicator this week.
2025 G1 Caulfield Guineas Field and Barrier Draw
A full field plus emergencies have accepted for the $3million Group I MRC Caulfield Guineas (1600m) on Saturday with Golden Rose runners Wodeton, Autumn Boy, Nepotism and Rivellino all engaged.
Sword of State 2YO Ready for Debut
A pair of promising youngsters are set to make their debut for Cambridge trainer Chad Ormsby at Avondale on Wednesday, but track conditions may scupper plans for one of them.