By Heather Anderson
The Japanese Classic finale sees G1 Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby) hero Danon Decile (Jpn) (Epiphaneia {Jpn}) line up against 17 rivals in the 3000-metre G1 Kikuka Sho (Japanese St Leger) at Kyoto on Sunday.
Trained by Shogo Yasuda on behalf of Danox Co, the favoured son of dual Grade I runner-up Top Decile (Congrats) has been on a break since his Derby win in May. He will also be venturing beyond 2400 metres for the first time and leaves from stall four.
Yasuda said of the 2024 G3 Keisei Hai victor, “Things went well with him through the summer, and he's now bigger on his return to the stable, but looks more muscular. He's coped well with the workload we've given him since being back. He's not as excitable now as he was before the Derby. I think he should be fine over the 3,000 meters of the race.”
Second to Danon Decile in the Keisei Hai and unplaced in both the G1 Satsuki Sho (Japanese 2000 Guineas) and Japanese Derby, Silk Racing's Urban Chic (Jpn) (Suave Richard {Jpn}) was on something of a recovery mission in last month's G2 Asahi Hai St. Lite Kinen. The Japanese Guineas fourth duly delivered in that 2200-metre contest, beating Big Red Farm's Group 2 winner and Japanese Guineas second Cosmo Kuranda (Jpn) (Al Ain {Jpn}), who was one place better than Masatoshi Haramura's G1 Asahi Hai Futurity Stakes bridesmaid Ecoro Walz (Jpn) (Black Tide {Jpn}) in third.
“He was returning from a break for his last race, and I think he'll be better for that run,” said trainer Ryo Takei of Urban Chic. “He found a good rhythm in that race, and it sets him up well for this next one. He's becoming more mature now. It'll be his first time to transport to the Kansai region, so we'll have to see how he handles that. The jockey [Christophe Lemaire] can bring out the best in him. I've thought the Kikuka Sho would be the best of the Classic races for the horse. He's lost twice to Danon Decile so far, so I want him to do his best here.”
A winner of the G3 Mainichi Hai in relatively rare soft going at Hanshin in March, Yoshio Matsumoto's frontrunner Meisho Tabaru (Jpn) (Gold Ship {Jpn}) should thrive over the 3000-metre trip. Scratched from the Tokyo Yushun, he resumed in the autumn with a tally in the G2 Kobe Shimbun Hai at Chukyo on Sept. 22. Tetsuhide Kunimoto's Shonan La Punta (Jpn) (Kizuna {Jpn}) was third that day.
Trainer Mamoru Ishibashi said, “Jockey Suguru Hamanaka has been riding him in training and feels the horse is more relaxed now than he was for the Kobe Shimbun Hai. The horse had a nice break in the summer. We won't know about the 3000 meters distance of the race this time until we try, but with the way he ran in the Kobe Shimbun Hai, if he can find a good rhythm again, we'll get to see what he's capable of. He does have plenty of stamina.”
Untested at this level is Peace One Duc (Jpn) (Greater London {Jpn}), who is a homebred for Narutoshi Hasegawa. Second at first asking in March, the colt sports three straight victories over 2000 metres, 2400 metres, and 2200 metres in April, June and August, respectively. However, he has yet to face a stakes -quality field and he will breath from gate one.
Jockey Yoshitomi Shibata said, “The horse's condition and reactions are good. He's a powerful horse with a lot of stamina. His wins have been good, even though they have been at a lower level. I don't think we have to lead, with another frontrunner [Meisho Tabaru] in the line-up.”
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