Despite running a forgettable 19th when last seen in the G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe last October, last season's G1 Japanese Derby scorer Do Deuce (Jpn) (Heart's Cry {Jpn}) launched the 2023 season the right way, coming from far off the pace to take Sunday's G2 Kyoto Kinen at Hanshin. Named Japan's 2021 juvenile champion following an undefeated season that included a victory in Hanshin's G1 Futurity S., the 4-year-old is expected to make his next start in the G1 Dubai Turf at Meydan Mar. 25.
Unhurried near the back early, the bay gradually closed the gap from his outside perch through the opening mile, began to narrow the gap on front-running Pradaria (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) rounding the final turn and blew by that rival midstretch en route to a geared-down 3 1/2-length victory over Mantenro Leo (Jpn) (Heart's Cry {Jpn}). Japanese Horse of the Year Efforia (Jpn) (Epiphaneia {Jpn}) was pulled up and was later determined to have suffered from atrial fibrillation.
Pedigree Notes:
A winner of six starts, including the GII Gallant Bloom H. and GIII Sugar Swirl S. and runner up in the GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint, Dust and Diamonds realized $1 million when offered at the 2016 Keeneland November sale after producing black-type performer Much Better (Pioneerof the Nile) earlier that season. In Japan, she dropped full-brother named Fulleren (Jpn), an earner of $699,654, before producing a 2018 Deep Impact colt of modest success. A May foal in 2019, Do Deuce is the sole black-type winner for his dam.
Sunday, Hanshin, Japan
KYOTO KINEN-G2, ¥119,800,000, Hanshin, 2-12, 4yo/up, 2200mT, 2:10.90, fm.
1–DO DEUCE (JPN), 128, c, 4, by Heart's Cry (Jpn)
1st Dam: Dust and Diamonds (MGSW & GISP, $496,260), by Vindication
2nd Dam: Majestically, by Gone West
3rd Dam: Darling Dame, by Lyphard
O-Kieffers Inc.; B-Northern Farm; T-Yasuo Tomomichi;
J-Yutaka Take; ¥62,910,00. Lifetime Record: Ch. 2yo Colt-Jpn,
MG1SW-Jpn, 9-5-1-1. *1/2 to Much Better (Pioneerof the
Nile), MGSP, $313,571. Werk Nick Rating: C. Click for the
eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Matenro Leo (Jpn), 123, c, 4, by Heart's Cry (Jpn)–Saratoga
Venus (Jpn), by Brian's Time. O-Chiyono Terada; B-Inoke Farm;
¥25,260,000.
3–Pradaria (Jpn), 126, c, 4, Deep Impact (Jpn)-Chasse' Roll (Jpn),
by Kurofune. O-Nagoya Yuho Inc.; B-Orient Farm; ¥16,130,000.
Margins: 3 1/2, NK, 1 1/2; Odds: 1.50, 14.20, 7.80.
Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Click for the JRA chart and video.
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