Tokyo Daishoten (Group 1)

THE final Group 1 of the 2024 season took place on the dirt at Ohi on Sunday and it was a horse familiar to international racing this season, who got on the scoreboard in his native land.

Forever Young had travelled to Saudi, Dubai and America in the course of his season, winning the Saudi Derby and UAE Derby in the spring, before he went to Churchill Downs for the Kentucky Derby and just failed by a short head, or two noses, when third to Mystik Dan and the subsequent Breeders’ Cup winner, Sierra Leone.

After returning home and winning the Japan Dirt Classic also at Ohi in October, he returned to the US and finished two and three-quarter lengths behind Sierra Leone in the Classic at Del Mar.

In the Tokyo Daishoten over 10 furlongs, the son of Real Steel broke well and raced in second early, behind Crown Pride in the field of 10.

He was asked for his effort off the bend and hit the front two furlongs out, as Ramjet made a strong challenge on the inside and Wilson Tesoro came wider.

They never looked like getting on terms with the winner, who went on to beat Wilson Tesoro by a length and three-quarters under winning jockey Ryusei Sakai, for trainer Yoshito Yahagi.

Hopeful Stakes (Group 1)

ON Saturday last, the final Group 1 juvenile contest of the Japanese season took place with the Hopeful Stakes at Nakayama.

The strong favourite Croix Du Nord remained unbeaten in his bid to become the JRA’s top juvenile colt.

The colt has emulated 2020 Triple Crown victor Contrail in seeing out his juvenile campaign with three consecutive wins, as the Kitasan Black colt won his debut start in June and scored a graded win in a Group 2 in November.

Jockey Yuichi Kitamura scored his sixth Group 1 win, this time for trainer Takashi Saito.

Croix Du Nord, out of the Cape Cross mare Rising Cross, who won the Group 2 Park Hill Stakes for John Best, broke sharply but allowed the early leaders to pass and settled off the rails in mid-division behind a brisk pace from Jun Asahi Sora.

Making headway, the unbeaten colt found another gear soon after entering the stretch in third or fourth and maintained his challenge from the top of the uphill stretch to win by a comfortable two lengths.

Physical condition

“It was his first time going right-handed and against a full gate of 18 runners, but I totally believed he would handle that too.

“His physical condition since his last start had improved and his movement was sharp.

“I wanted him to finish the last of his two-year-old starts at a good note, so that we would be able to focus on his three-year-old campaign, which now will carry much expectation.

“I am so grateful for everyone who had supported me, which is why I am standing here today as a Group 1 winner and I hope to give my best again next season,” commented his rider Yuichi Kitamura to Japanese media of the colt trained by Takashi Saito for Sunday Racing Co Ltd.

Giovanni raced on the inner into the straight, the Epiphaneia colt shifted out to join the eventual winner in his run for home and, while unable to match the winner, he stayed at well and showed great effort to overtake Faust Rasen for second.