By Helen Edwards
Do Deuce swept past the star-packed field in the home straight to win the Japan Cup by a neck on 24th November at Tokyo Racecourse.
In doing so, the five-year-old son of Heart’s Cry thrilled the sell-out crowd and gave his veteran jockey, Yutaka Take, his record fifth Japan Cup victory.
Do Deuce raced at the back of the field until Take unleashed his mount’s breathtaking finishing speed turning wide into the home straight.
He claimed the lead from early leaders Shin Emperor and Durezza, who dead-heated for second place in a close-fought finish.
Three-year-old filly Cervinia, winner of the 2024 Yushun Himba (Japanese Oaks), started as second favourite and finished fourth under Japan-based jockey Christophe Lemaire to complete another clean sweep of the places for Japanese horses.
In the deepening dusk, the crowd showed their deep affection for 55-year-old star jockey Take, chanting his name “Yutaka” as he brought Do Deuce in front of the stands for a victory run.
Race Action
With no-one wanting to go to the front early in the 14-runner race, the pace was quite slow. Winning trainer Yasuo Tomomichi said that Do Deuce went into the race in good condition and was calm in the preliminaries, as in his previous race, the Autumn Tenno Sho.
Yutaka Take added that Do Deuce’s position toward the rear of the field was planned, to some extent, and the slow pace expected, but the pace did not pick up as soon as he thought it would, so he started his move a little earlier than usual and Do Deuce’s speed carried them to the front very quickly.
Tomomichi has announced that Do Deuce will retire at the end of the year, with a final appearance planned in the Arima Kinen, if he is in good condition.
If Do Deuce can prevail, he would complete a ‘triple crown’ of major Group 1 races for older horses (the Autumn Tenno Sho, the Japan Cup and the Arima Kinen).
The 44th renewal of the Japan Cup this year took place in the Japan Racing Association’s (JRA’s) 70th anniversary year.
The field sparkled with equine talent and quality from both Japan and abroad, raising hopes of strong foreign competition breaking the 18 year dominance of Japanese runners in the Japan Cup.
Auguste Rodin
Much of the pre-race focus was on the participation of 2023 Derby winner Auguste Rodin, who generated a real buzz of anticipation in the lead-up to the race and was sent off fourth favourite.
He finished eighth. Another strong contender from Europe was Goliath, trained in France by Francis-Henri Graffard and the impressive winner of the 2024 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot.
He’s owned by American interntional racing enthusiast John Stewart and the 4 year-old gelding had the Japan Cup as his autumn target after his King George win in July. Goliath was sent off sixth favourite in the betting and finished sixth under Christophe Soumillon.
He travelled on the inner rail from stall 1 where he was crowded briefly turning into the home straight.
Graffard and Soumillon agreed that the slow pace hadn’t suited Goliath and he had been unable to get into a rhythm and show his usual finishing speed.
The trio of European challengers was completed by 4-year-old Sea The Moon colt, Fantastic Moon.
Trained and led up in his races by Sarah Steinberg, Fantastic Moon is winner of the 2023 G1 Deutsches Derby and 2024 Grosser Preis von Baden.
Japanese Crowds
Japanese race fans have become renowned for their enthusiasm and devotion to supporting their equine and human heroes.
Some form an orderly queue for hours or days before a major race and then stampede into the course when the gates finally open to get a good position at the track for viewing, taking photos or collecting autographs.
This year the prospect of seeing Auguste Rodin was a major attraction.
Coolmore-bred Auguste Rodin is by the legendary Japanese superhorse, Deep Impact.
His Derby win in 2023 made him the first Derby winner sired by a Japanese horse.
It was a significant milestone for Japan’s racing community. It’s hard to understate the enthusiasm his appearance in the Japan Cup, his final race, generated among fans and all quarters of racing.
Trainer Aidan O’Brien was making the trip to Japan for the first time with Auguste Rodin, his 7th Japan Cup runner. He thought Auguste Rodin was the strongest challenger he had sent to the Japan Cup.
It would be a dream to win the race but with such strong competition, it was hard to be confident.
Auguste Rodin’s Retirement
In an unprecedented move, the JRA set up a retirement ceremony for Auguste Rodin to be held after the Japan Cup at Tokyo Racecourse, causing surprise and excitement.
It’s common for Japanese horses who achieve popularity to make a racecourse appearance for a retirement ceremony, to give fans a chance to show appreciation and to say goodbye.
This was the first time such a ceremony has been held for a foreign horse. Aiden O’Brien said that the JRA had proposed it and the horse’s connections felt honoured to agree.
It would be something special. … Indeed it was! Auguste Rodin’s connections including owners, trainer Aidan O’Brien and jockey Ryan Moore, attended and tens of thousands of racegoers stayed more than an hour after the last race for a chance to bid farewell to a horse they took to their hearts.
Riding honours over the 23-24 November two-day meeting at Tokyo (aside from Yutaka Take) must go to UK-based jockey William Buick.
In addition to his third in the Japan Cup on Tomohito Ozeki-trained Durezza (7th favourite), he rode a treble on Saturday 23rd and a double on Sunday 24th.
It was a good meeting overall for British-based jockeys riding in Japan on short-term licences as Tom Marquand and Ryan Moore each picked up a winner on both days.
