It is Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby) time again, with the iconic race set for Sunday, June 1. The venue is Tokyo Racecourse in western Tokyo, and the gates will open on some of the very best 3-year-old thoroughbreds in Japan, and perhaps someday on the world stage.
Sunday's race is the 92nd running of the Tokyo Yushun, which is the second leg of Japan's Triple Crown races. All three are open to both 3-year-old colts and fillies. The Derby follows the Satsuki Sho (Japanese 2000 Guineas), and the Triple Crown wraps up in the autumn with the Kikuka Sho (Japanese St Leger).
First held in 1932 at Meguro Racecourse before being moved to Tokyo Racecourse two years later, the Classic race continued to lend some normality to the country even during World War II, until it was canceled in 1945. The Tokyo Yushun returned in 1947 and has since continued as a beloved racing fixture.
An All-Colt Lineup for the 92nd Tokyo Yushun
In this year's all-colt lineup, the top-five finishers from the Satsuki Sho are included ― Museum Mile, Croix du Nord, Masquerade Ball, Giovanni, and Satono Shining. Two other official trials leading into the Derby ― the Grade 2 TV Tokyo Hai Aoba Sho and the Principal Stakes ― handed a Derby ticket to their top finishers. However, only the Aoba Sho runner-up Feiern Kranz and Principal Stakes winner Readiness are expected to take part. Three others that earned their way to the gate with earnings alone are (in order of amount) Fandom, Shohei, and Faust Rasen. These 10 colts will also most likely comprise the most heavily bet names.
A full gate of 18 runners (from 20 nominees), including 10 who have already landed graded-stakes wins, will test their mettle over 2,400 meters of turf at Tokyo.
Winning the Derby is, of course, not just about its prize. The most wins, the youngest jockey, the oldest, anything associated with capturing this jewel is an honor and every jockey's dream. Many tears have been shed at the post-race interview.
In 2024, Norihiro Yokoyama (aboard Danon Decile) became, at age 56, the oldest jockey to win the Japanese Derby.
Take Seeking 7th Tokyo Yushun Victory
Yutaka Take, expected up on Satono Shining on Sunday, holds the record for most Tokyo Yushun wins. He has landed six thus far, in 1998, 1999, 2002, 2005, 2014 and 2022, and is gunning for a lucky seven.
Post time for the Japanese Derby (the 11th race) is 3:40 PM on the Sunday card of 12 at Tokyo. The Grade 2 Meguro Kinen follows as the last race of the day.
Here's a look at some of the standouts:
Museum Mile, Aussie Jockey Lane to Team Up for the 1st Time
Runner-up in the G1 Asahi Hai Futurity Stakes, Museum Mile next ran fourth in the Grade 2 Hochi Hai Yayoi Sho Deep Impact Kinen over 2,000 meters at Nakayama.
He then won the Satsuki Sho on April 20 despite having had to deal with interference in the backstretch and a rather rough trip overall. Extending nicely in the final stage, the son of Leontes managed to catch and pass Croix de Nord in the last 100 meters. He triumphed under Joao Moreira by a margin of a length and a half.
This time, the key will be how well he can handle not only his Tokyo debut, but also the extra distance, 400 meters longer than what he's experienced before. His third-place finish in his debut at Chukyo would indicate the left-handed track shouldn't pose a problem.
Damian Lane is expected up on Sunday, riding Museum Mile in a race for the first time. The Australian rider, currently in Japan on a short-term license until June 27, started off winning big with the Tenno Sho (Spring), but has posted a 6-4-7 in the next three G1s.
Lane won the Derby in 2023 aboard Tastiera, whom he was also riding in a race for the first time.
Croix du Nord Brings Strong Credentials to the Tokyo Yushun
A son of seven-time G1 champion Kitasan Black, Croix du Nord was named Best 2-Year-Old for 2024 after claiming the Grade 1 Hopeful Stakes, from which point his three-race winning streak from his debut ended. Disappointing as the race favorite in the Satsuki Sho, Croix du Nord finished second by a length and a half to Museum Mile.
Trainer Takashi Saito, who has yet to win the Tokyo Yushun but has amassed eight G1 wins (three alone from his star mare Chrono Genesis), said of Croix du Nord: "The Satsuki Sho was a tough race. But except for the winner, he showed his strength in holding off all the others."
Saito added, "Compared to before that race, he has filled out and is looking stronger. His work last week (under regular rider Yuichi Kitamura) should have him sharpened up."
Masquerade Ball Going for 4th Win in 6 Starts
With three wins from five starts thus far, the Duramente-sired Masquerade Ball has proved consistent except for one time, his unexpectedly poor showing in the G1 Hopeful Stakes. It was his first time racing to the right and he'd leapt from a listed race win to the top level.
Less than two months later, he scooped the Grade 3 Kyodo News Hai (Tokinominoru Kinen) over 1,800 meters at Tokyo. In the Satsuki Sho, despite coming from far off the pace and suffering interference in the stretch, he was able to finish in third place, only 0.3 seconds off winner Museum Mile. His three wins have all come over left-handed tracks.
Masquerade Ball hails from the stable of veteran trainer Takahisa Tezuka, who needs only a Tokyo Yushun win to complete his hand of Classic victories, a feat only four trainers (none of them active) have accomplished. Tezuka has fielded four Derby runners thus far, and Sol Oriens came closest to winning the Derby with his second by a neck to Tastiera in 2023.
The 2025 Saudi Cup-winning jockey Ryusei Sakai, who rode the colt in the Kyodo News Hai, is expected up on Sunday. Sakai, currently third in the JRA jockey rankings, has won eight G1s in Japan and hopes to land his first Tokyo Yushun.
Read the rest of this article about the Tokyo Yushun and the Japanese horses in contention on JRA News.
RELATED:
- Yushun Himba: Kamunyak Snatches the 2nd Jewel of the Fillies' Triple Crown
- Norihiro Yokoyama Rides Danon Decile to Tokyo Yushun Victory
- Tastiera Edges Race Favorite Sol Oriens in 90th Tokyo Yushun
Author: JRA News
You must be logged in to post a comment Login