Nov 25,2024
Europe's barren run in the Japan Cup continued as home favourite Do Deuce came from dead last to prevail at Tokyo racecourse, with the Aidan O'Brien-trained Auguste Rodin only eighth.
Yutaka Take settled the 13-10 favourite at the very back of the field early on and was forced to swing wide when making a forward move around the home turn.
However, Do Deuce quickened up in fine fashion to hit the front a furlong out and kept on well enough to fend off the fast-finishing Shin Emperor and Durezza, who dead-heated for second a neck behind.
Yasuo Tomomichi’s five-year-old flopped in the 2022 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe on very testing ground after edging out Equinox in that year’s Japanese Derby.
His form had been up and down since then, but victory in last month’s Tenno Sho had established him as the one to beat in the Japan Cup and he duly gave 55-year-old jockey Take a record fifth success in the race.
Shin Emperor was an excellent third to Economics in September’s Irish Champion Stakes before disappointing in this year’s Arc, while William Buick’s mount Durezza was fifth behind City Of Troy in the Juddmonte International back in August.
It is almost two decades since Alkaased struck in Japan’s biggest race for Luca Cumani and Frankie Dettori, while the likes of Falbrav, Pilsudski, Singspiel and Jupiter Island had prevailed before him.
King George hero Goliath fared best of the European raiders this time in sixth, with Germany's Fantastic Moon finishing three places behind Auguste Rodin in 11th.
"As was the case before his victory in the last Tenno Sho, he was extremely calm, even more so than last time, throughout when he was in the saddling area, the paddock and then the post parade, so I was very optimistic today," said winning trainer Tomomichi.
"The race itself unfolded with no one wanting to set a solid pace, as expected to a certain extent but resulting in a very slow pace, around 62 seconds in the first 1,000 meters. Take seemed to struggle to settle him down so I was a bit worried watching him go along the backstretch.
"In contrast to how the race went in the Tenno Sho, Do Deuce ended up having to lead much earlier at the stretch this time and having to fend off challenges from behind and sustain his lead to the wire, so I had to hold my breath until the very end.
"This horse gets better with every start – I had thought that his last start was very much his best performance but he even exceeded that in the Japan Cup – so if his condition allows for another start, I hope that he is able to show his very best in his final Arima Kinen."
