G1 Tokyo Yushun

Despite missing the break and getting bumped by a foe to begin the Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby), favoured Lovcen delivered regardless stepping up to 2400 metres for the first time. His head victory over fellow tenacious closer Peintre Naif (Kizuna) handed his trainer Haruki Sugiyama his ninth JRA Group 1 win. The World Premiere colt is the 25th to win the G1 Satsuki Sho (Japanese 2000 Guineas) and then the Japanese Derby. The Kikuka Sho (Japanese St Leger) over 3000 metres in October would give Lovcen the opportunity to become...

Classic winners tend to beget Classic winners, and with record-breaking G1 Satsuki Sho (Japanese 1000 Guineas) hero Lovcen, that adage certainly applies. If Lovcen delivers a Classic double in Sunday's G1 Tokyo Yushun, the colt would be the first to win the first two legs of the Japanese Triple Crown since Contrail six years ago. His sire, the Deep Impact stallion World Premiere, captured the 2019 G1 Japanese St Leger (Kikuka Sho). Said jockey Kohei Matsuyama of the ante-post market favourite, "He was calm on the day of the Satsuki...

Saturday, Carlisle, post time: 15:10, THE BETWAY LESTER PIGGOTT FILLIES' STAKES-G3, £125,000, 4yo/up, f/m, 11f 39yT Field: Azaniya (Ire) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}), Coedana (Ire) (King Of Change {GB}), Crepe Suzette (Ire) (Saxon Warrior {Jpn}), Estrange (Ire) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}), Naga (Fr) (Dubawi {Ire}), Patagonia Girl (GB) (Australia {GB}), Sharpen (Ire) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}), Waardah (Ire) (Postponed {Ire}). TDN Analysis: Moved from Haydock due to the well-documented ground concerns there, this represents a different test on a stiff track than it would have been at its traditional Merseyside home...

Japanese Triple Crown hero Contrail sired his first group winner when Going To Sky punched his ticked for the G1 Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby) with a three-quarter length win in the G2 Aoba Sho on Saturday. Stepping up to 2400 metres for the first time, the son of the stakes-winning Tapit mare Goin To The Window was sent off at 7-1. Breaking in stall 16 of 18, the Field Racing runner secured a spot in midfield while Noche Cerrada (Drefong) showed the way into the first turn. The pace was...

After losing his unbeaten record when second in April's G1 Satsuki Sho (Japanese 2000 Guineas), Croix Du Nord was on something of a recovery mission, and he delivered when it counted, running out a three-quarter length winner of the G1 Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby) on Sunday. Masquerade Ball (Duramente), third in the Satsuki Sho, charged home second, 1 1/2 lengths to the good of Shohei (Saturnalia). The betting public felt the 2400 metres of the G1 Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby) was well within the son of Kitasan Black's scope, and...

Saturday, Baden-Baden, Germany, post time: 15:50, JAPAN RACING ASSOCIATION DERBY-TRIAL-G3, €55,000, 3yo, 10fT Field: Aquaman (Ger) (Cracksman {GB}), Eagle Emblem (Ire) (Sea The Moon {Ger}), Juwelier (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), Next Mine (Ger) (Dabirsim {Fr}), Path Of Soldier (Ger) (Soldier Hollow {GB}), Zafirelli (Hun) (Study Of Man {Ire}). TDN Verdict: Path Of Soldier had Aquaman resume rivalry, having been first and third in Munich's G3 Bavarian Classic at the start of the month. Juwelier was fifth in Chantilly's Listed Prix de Suresnes last time and that could represent the strongest...

Despite losing his unbeaten tag to Museum Mile (Leontes) in the G1 Satsuki Sho (Japanese 2000 Guineas), Croix Du Nord still carries the burden of favouritism in Sunday's G1 Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby). Never tested at the 2400-metre trip, the son of Kitasan Black and the Cape Cross mare Rising Cross went three-for three in his juvenile season and put an exclamation point on his career thus far in the G1 Hopeful Stakes, defeating Giovanni (Epiphaneia). The Japanese Champion 2-Year-Old Colt will leave from stall 13 in the 18-horse field...

A late absentee from last month's G1 Satsuki Sho (Japanese 2,000 Guineas) due to lameness, Danon Decile (Jpn) (Epiphaneia {Jpn}) gained compensation with an emphatic victory in Sunday's G1 Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby) at Tokyo Racecourse, the second leg of the Japanese Triple Crown. The 17-strong field featured six of the first seven from the Satuski Sho, including the unbeaten winner Justin Milano (Jpn) (Kizuna {Jpn}), runner-up Cosmo Kuranda (Jpn) (Al Ain {Jpn}) and sixth Regaleira (Jpn) (Suave Richard {Jpn}), who was attempting to become the first filly to win...

Record-setting G1 Satsuki Sho (Japanese 2000 Guineas) hero Justin Milano (Jpn) (Kizuna {Jpn}) faces 15 colts and one filly in Sunday's ¥611,240,000 G1 Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby) at Tokyo over 2400 metres on Sunday. Flawless in three starts, the Masahiro Miki runner won his career bow over 2000 metres on this course in November, and added the G3 Kyodo News Hai with Jantar Mantar (Jpn) (Palace Malice) second in February. He knocked 0.70 seconds off of the Japanese 2000 Guineas record, covering that trip in a sparkling 1:57.10, with Group...

Shahryar (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) denied heavy 3-5 favourite and G1 Japanese 2000 Guineas hero Efforia (Jpn) (Epiphaneia {Jpn}) by the narrowest of margins to take the G1 Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby) at Tokyo on Sunday. It was the record-setting seventh win in that Classic for a son of Deep Impact, whose earlier successes include Deep Brillante (Jpn) (2012), Kizuna (Jpn) (2013), Makahiki (Jpn) (2016), Wagnerian (Jpn) (2018), Roger Barows (Jpn) (2019) and Triple Crown victor Contrail (Jpn) last term. Sent off at 10-1, Shahryar was rank and tugging for...