The Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby) will be run on Sunday 1st June over 2400m at the internationally renowned Tokyo racecourse. The Japanese Derby was established in 1932 as a race to decide the best classic horses in Japan and to facilitate the improvement of Japanese horses overall. The race was based on the principles of the English Derby, and has become the second leg of the classic triple crown for 3yo colts (but also open to fillies) in Japan. For the first two years, it was run at the Meguro racecourse in Tokyo, but in 1934 it was moved to the Fuchu course - the current Tokyo racecourse, and the track and distance have not changed at all since.
The three races that make up the triple crown have gradually become to be known as the test of speed [Satsuki Sho (Japanese 2000 Guineas)], the test of luck [Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby)] and the test of strength [Kikuka Sho (Japanese St. Leger)]. The Derby is also known as "the festival of racing", and to win the Derby is said to be the dream of every Japanese horseman.
The rules surrounding participation in the Derby are gradually being relaxed - a process which began in 1995 when horses from the provincial NAR circuit became eligible to run in the Derby if they qualified through certain JRA trial races. In 2001, foreign-bred horses were allowed to run in the Derby for the first time - an event which caused the successful owner Makoto Kaneko (also owner of Deep Impact) to name one of his US bred horses of that crop, Kurofune (which means Black Ship), after the black ship which US Navy admiral Matthew Perry sailed into Japan in 1853 beginning the opening up of Japan to the outside world. Kurofune lived up to his name by becoming the first foreign-bred horse to run in the Derby, but unfortunately could only finish 5th (that was the only time he missed a place with 6 wins (2 Grade 1 wins), 1 second and 2 thirds in his 10 start career before starting his successful stud career). The number of foreign-bred 3yos allowed to run in the Derby has increased every year, and this year up to 7 can run if they qualify.
Winners of the Japanese Derby include some of the best horses to have ever raced in Japan, including (naturally) all four Japanese triple crown winners - Shinzan, Symboli Rudolf, Narita Brian and in 2006, Deep Impact. Last year, history was made once again with 3yo filly Vodka becoming just the third filly to win the Japanese Derby and the first since Kurifuji in 1943.
The 2400m Tokyo course is the scene for the Derby, and like the Grade 1 Japan Cup and the Yushun Himba (Japanese Oaks) (won by Tall Poppy last week) which are also run over the same course, the race begins in the home straight. There is a 400m run to the first turn which curves for over 550m before the run down the back straight of about 400m. The last curving turn is more than 400m long and leads into the final straight of 525m, the first 225 of which is uphill.
This year, the Japanese fans will not have a dominant favorite. The winner of the first leg of the triple crown (the Satsuki Sho) Captain Thule injured himself after leading all the way to win that race and will not be lining up on Sunday which means there is no chance of any horse winning the triple crown in 2008.
The clear favorite for the Satsuki Sho was Meiner Charles and he was in no way disgraced in finishing 3rd in that race. He was the public's pick in that race because of his great record at the Nakayama track leading up to the Satsuki Sho, and he may be a little forgotten this week, back at Tokyo. However, Tokyo was where he broke through for his first win and his bloodlines have "classic" written all over them. As a son of Brian's Time (the sire of triple crown winning champion Narita Brian) there is no doubt he will run the 2400m on Sunday, but that is reinforced even more by his damsire, the Australasian supersire Zabeel. He did not have much luck last start when all other jockeys were focused on him as the favorite, but on Sunday he may get an easier run and he should go very close to becoming the 14th top-level race winner for Brian's Time.
Other horses coming into the Derby directly from the Satsuki Sho include Take Mikazuchi (2nd), Rainbow Pegasus (4th), Not Alone (7th), Fusaichi Assort (8th), Smile Jack (9th), Subject (10th), Flotation (11th), Shonan Alba (14th), and Oriental Rock (16th).
Take Mikazuchi won his debut with a powerful finish (running 33.0 seconds for his last 600m in a 1600m event) and has been consistent without winning ever since. His sire Gold Allure has had a great year so far with his first crop, and a win in the Derby would really cement his future as a top notch stallion.
Rainbow Pegasus has the breeding to win a Derby, being by popular undefeated Sunday Silence stallion Agnes Tachyon out of a Danehill mare. He broke his maiden on dirt last year and was top-level race placed on the NAR dirt circuit last December. However, switched back to turf for the 3yo classics, he came with a big finish to win the Kisaragi Sho in February and with the principal race prizemoney from that race he guaranteed himself a place in the feature spring races. His next run was disappointing, but his run in the Satsuki Sho last start was outstanding, making up a lot of ground in a slowly run race. He looks to have at least a place chance here.
The other contenders coming directly from the Satsuki Sho would have to show significant improvement to feature on Sunday, although some of them had shown promise earlier in their careers, and it is possible they had valid excuses for their failures last start (i.e., not handling the tight turning Nakayama course).
Since the running of the Satsuki Sho, other 3yos have also staked their claims for a shot at the Derby trophy - Deep Sky most strongly. After struggling to win his maiden (he finally won at his 6th start) this horse shot to fame with a dominant win in the principal race Mainichi Hai two starts back over 1800m. He powered away to win that day, and was sent out favorite to win the top-level race NHK Mile Cup over 1600m which he did easily. By Agnes Tachyon, he should handle the jump to 2400m on Sunday, and the way he won last start impressed so many that he may even start favorite in the Derby. Jockey Hirofumi Shii will be out to prove a point here as well as he won last year's Derby on champion filly Vodka before subsequently losing her to Yutaka Take.
Take will be on rival Black Shell on Sunday. Black Shell is yet to break through in any major race, but his runs have been excellent without much luck. In the Satsuki Sho, he was forced to be wide throughout and was still finishing strongly to be narrowly beaten into 6th place, and last start he looked to have the NHK Mile Cup won at the top of the straight before Deep Sky produced a withering final burst to beat him into 2nd. The extra distance may favor the son of Kurofune here and Take's record in the Derby is second to none.
Admire Commando was also beaten into 2nd by Deep Sky, but in his case it was not in the NHK Mile Cup, but the Mainichi Hai before that. Yet another son of Agnes Tachyon, Admire Commando started favorite that day on the back of a sensational debut win but could not get clear at the top of the straight. By the time he was out, Deep Sky had dashed away with a winning break and Admire Commando had to settle with 2nd. To force his way into the Derby, he lined up in the principal race Aoba Sho over the Derby course next start and he won that easily to not only get a run in Derby, but to line up as one of the favored runners.
The Aoba Sho may have been a high class affair this year (horses winning the Aoba Sho have traditionally done poorly in the Derby) with the effects of EI still lingering from last year and forcing connections to wait with their spring hopefuls until the last minute. The horse that finished 2nd to Admire Commando in the Aoba Sho, Crystal Wing, is another beautifully bread horse, by Japanese Derby winner Admire Vega, out of the fabulous producer Fairy Doll (dam of Dubai World Cup 2nd placed To The Victory). He has also arrived late on the scene, debuting in February, but forced his way into the field with a 2nd to Admire Commando last start. It is interesting to note that his trainer Kazuo Fujisawa (one of Japan's top trainers) has entered him for the Group 1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe later this year, so he obviously has shown connections plenty of ability.
Even the 3rd horse in the Aoba Sho, Monte Kris S, must have some kind of chance on Sunday, as the son of Symboli Kris S has plenty of ability, but he can tend to get overexcited in the lead up to a race, and with the start of the Derby being in the home straight in front of a crowd of around 100,000 cheering fans, that must be a major concern.
Of the other chances, one that will attract major interest is another Symboli Kris S first crop 3yo, Success Brocken. This horse is unbeaten, with 4 very easy wins from 4 starts so far, but all of those races have been on dirt. It would be an amazing effort for a horse having its first start on turf to win the Derby, but the connections must believe it is worth a try, as they paid the late nomination fee of 2 million yen (approx. USD20,000) last week.
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