Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby) (Group 1)

THE Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby) is the most influential race of the year in terms of defining the champion three-year-old colt’s title. Over 78,000 people descended on Tokyo Racecourse for the 91st running of the summer showpiece.

The late withdrawal of Meisho Tabaru meant that a field of 17 went to post. More importantly, the absence of the guaranteed front-running colt left the race void of any obvious pacemaker.

Jumping from stall five, Danon Decile broke sharply to take the early lead but was slowly restrained to race in third and fourth on the rail.

As the race evolved, rider Norihiro Yokoyama enjoyed a dream run up the inner, quickly pulling away by two lengths approaching the final furlong.

Danon Decile maintained that two-length margin to the line to claim the €1.95m first prize at odds of 45/1. The winning time was 2m24.3secs, over two seconds outside the race record.

The winning rider commented in his post-race interview: “With no other horse taking the lead, I anticipated a slow pace. If we had a good start, I was ready to take the lead, but Yasunari Iwata took the initiative. The horse really kicked on well in the straight.”

Oldest rider

Norihiro Yokoyama, at the age of 56, became the oldest rider to win a JRA Group 1, renewing the previous record held by Yutaka Take. The veteran rider has won 28 Group 1 races in his career that began in 1986.

On the opposite side of the scale, Yasuda Shogo is among the youngest trainers in the JRA. He began his training operation in 2018, and Danon Decile was his first top level success.

Short-price race favourite and previously unbeaten, Justin Milano, recovered from a clumsy start to race on the heels of the pace throughout.

The Satsuki Sho winner raced keenly behind the pedestrian early gallop. Once in the clear, Justin Milano began to draw away from the field but could not match the winner’s kick and finished second.

Shin Emperor made a slow start before being settled in midfield. As the field approached the final bend, the son of Siyouni was shuffled backwards as runners were jockeying for position.

Despite the hampered run, Shin Emperor displayed an impressive turn-of-foot to secure the final podium place a length and a quarter behind Justin Milano.

Like her run in the Satsuki Sho, the sole filly in the field, Regaleira’s late progress proved too little too late as she finished in a never nearer fifth place. She once again recorded the fastest final three-furlong sectional time.

Danon Decile was making his fourth career start in the Tokyo Yushun, he made his debut in October and broke his maiden on his second start.

He rounded off his juvenile year with a fourth-place finish in the Group 3 Nikkei Hai.

The strapping chesnut claimed his first graded win in the Group 3 Keisei Hai in January.

The form of that race was confirmed by the runner-up, Urban Chic, flashing home in the Group 1 Satsuki Sho to finish fourth.

Danon Decile was a last-minute scratch by stewards behind the starting stalls in the Satsuki Sho as he was seen to be lame on a front leg. The April-born colt is by Epiphaneia and is the fourth foal out of the multiple Group 1-placed dirt mare, Top Decile.

Fine form

Epiphaneia is in a fine vein of form in 2024. He has also sired Oka Sho winner Stellenbosch and Victoria Mile heroine Ten Happy Rose. Epiphaneia stands at Shadai Stallion Station for a fee of €90,000.

Bred by Shadai farm, Danon Decile was sold as a yearling at the JRHA Select Sale. He was knocked down for €880,000 to Danox Co. Ltd., owned by Masahiro Noda who names all his horses with the prefix Danon.

Top Decile (Congrats) was purchased by Shadai Farm for $950,000 in Keeneland’s 2017 November Sale.

Bolstered by the career-best performance of Shin Emperor in third, his connections have been quick to announce their intentions with the colt for the remainder of the year.

The Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe has been pinpointed, with a possible prep race coming in the Irish Champion Stakes, an identical path that his full-brother, Sottsass, successfully employed.