Do Deuce gives Yutaka Take fifth Japan Cup triumph

Yutaka Take settled his mount at the 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 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 Aidan O’Brien’s six-time Group One winner Auguste Rodin back in eighth on his final start and Germany’s Fantastic Moon 11th.

“As was the case before his victory in the last Tenno Sho (Autumn), 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.”

Take is one of the most famous names in Japanese racing and was lifting his nation’s most coveted prize for the fifth time, with Auguste Rodin’s illustrious sire Deep Impact amongst his Japan Cup heroes.

He has formed a fine relationship with Do Deuce over the past few years and was thrilled with the way the race panned out.

Take said: “The positioning during the race went as planned. It was expected, but the pace was extremely slow and I had to struggle keeping him in hand.

“In the first half a mile, if the pace was to quicken more, then I was planning to stay back, but it didn’t, so I let him gradually make headway along the outside, not so much as to quicken and close the gap, but to release the reins a little bit.

“Making ground from the last corner, his speed was so great that he was already in front in an instant and after that a normal horse would be worn out and pinned down, but this horse is exceptional and while I wasn’t sure that I’d won until the end, I kept believing he would stay and he did.”

He went on: “His retirement from racing is already decided and I was told that the last three Grade One starts – the Tenno Sho (Autumn), the Japan Cup and the Arima Kinen – would be his final starts.

“He certainly finished strongly in his first two this fall and, of course depending on his condition after this race, I look forward to riding him in the Arima Kinen.

“The Japan Cup this year was fortunate to have great runners from overseas to raise the quality of this race and I feel privileged to have won in such company and sincerely hope that the race will go on to be recognised as a leader within the world of racing.”