Odds-on favorite Croix du Nord validated his Hopeful Stakes (G1, 2,000 meters) victory in December 2024 by winning the 92nd Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby) by three-quarters of a length on Sunday, June 1.
The son of Kitasan Black had three wins in as many starts last year and kicked off the 2025 racing campaign with the Satsuki Sho (Japanese 2000, Guineas, G1, 2,000 meters) on April 20 as the heavy favorite. In that race, Croix du Nord had to settle for second, 1½ lengths behind Museum Mile.
On Sunday at Tokyo Racecourse, trainer Takashi Saito and jockey Yuichi Kitamura both claimed their first Japan Racing Association G1 title since the 2024 Hopeful Stakes with this colt. It was Saito's ninth overall G1 win and Kitamura's seventh.
While it was their first Classic title for both the trainer and jockey, owner Sunday Racing notched its fifth Japanese Derby victory — renewing the JRA record for most Derby titles won.
Croix du Nord's Path to Victory
Croix du Nord broke smoothly from stall 13, shifted closer to the inside and secured a prominent position around third or fourth behind Satono Shining (Yutaka Take's ride), who was rushed to the front in his bid to lead the 18-horse field. He then gave way to Ho O Atman (Hironobu Tanabe) soon after as a pacesetter entering the backstretch.
Kitamura kept his mount in good rhythm as Ho O Atman increased his lead from the rest of the field by almost 10 lengths. The 2,400-meter race began in earnest as the leader weakened 300 meters out. At that point, Croix du Nord came powerfully up the center lane to duel with Satono Shining. Croix du Nord then pulled away from Satono Shining at the furlong pole while holding off a powerful chase by runner-up Masquerade Ball (Ryusei Sakai) and third-place finisher Shohei (Christophe Lemaire) to earn a three-quarter length victory. (Watch the full race on the JRA's YouTube channel.)
Kitamura Reacts to His Tokyo Yushun Victory
"I felt it was my responsibility to make Croix du Nord a Derby winner ever since the colt won the Hopeful Stakes. So my feeling now is that I am relieved to have accomplished my mission," Kitamura said after the race. "The whole process since the win last year, including our runner-up effort in the Satsuki Sho, was a meaningful and precious learning experience for me."
Added Kitamura, "The colt felt great today and I was able to come into the race with every confidence, so victory itself came as no surprise to me."
How did the race unfold?
"The break was smooth and after that, I was concentrating on keeping him in a comfortable rhythm more so than what position he was sitting in," said Kitamura. "In the stretch run, he responded really well and as I've said, I had every confidence in the colt and drove him on believing that he would make it to the wire a winner."
Chasing Victory in the 92nd Tokyo Yushun
Masquerade Ball secured a comfortable position in mid-field with a close view of the race favorite and eventual winner, running a few lengths in front. Giving the colt a breather along the backstretch before edging closer along the outside approaching the last two turns, Sakai guided the colt further out for a clear run into the stretch where the son of Duramente turned in a terrific turn of foot. He closed in on the eventual winner while overtaking both Shohei and Satono Shining to secure second place, although just short of reaching the winner.
Shohei made use of an inside break to sit close to the pace while saving ground along the rails before shifting out slightly coming into the straight to follow the eventual winner. And while unable to match that foe, Shohei ran gamely to overtake Satono Shining in the last strides to secure third place.
Satono Shining finished fourth, a neck's length behind Shohei.
Eighth pick Eri King (Yuga Kawada) and second favorite Museum Mile (Damian Lane) placed fifth and sixth, respectively.
A Look Ahead
The 75th Yasuda Kinen is the JRA's next G1 race on Sunday, June 8 at Tokyo Racecourse.
Read the full report, including details on each of the Tokyo Yushun entrants, on JRA News.
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Author: JRA News
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