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Year in Review Santa Anita opening day HK Cup Entries Hong Kong Cup works Hollywood Derby Day |
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 Jockey Yutaka Take celebrates aboard Do Deuce after winning the Japan Cup. |
The most prestigious race in Japan is the 959.26 million yen ($6.2 million US) Japan Cup (G1), for older horses going 2400 meters (about 1 1/2 miles) around 2 turns of the Tokyo Racecourse turf course. Conditions were typical for late November, with partly cloudy skies and a race time temperature of 15 C (59 F) with the course rated good-to-firm.
Last year's 6th place finisher Do Deuce was sent off as the 9-5 favorite in the field of 14 off his Tenno Sho Auutumn (G1) win after disappointing in 6th in the Takarazuka Kinen (G1). In to challenge him included 9-2 second choice Cervinia, winner of the Yushun Himba (Japanese Oaks-G1) and Shuka Sho (G1), and 5-1 third choice Justin Palace, 4th in the Tenno Sho Autumn after finishing 5th in the Takarazuka Kinen. Top foreign invader Auguste Rodin was the 6-1 fourth choice off his 2nd place finish in the Irish Champion Stakes (G1).
 First time by in the Japan Cup with eventual winner Do Deuce at the back of the pack. |
Payoffs and odds are from the North American pool.
Pgm Horse Jockey Win Place Show 3 Do Deuce Take 5.70 4.60 3.40 7 Shin Emperor Sakai 10.30 11.00 10 Durezza Buick 8.00 8.60 Winning Time: 2:25.5 $2 Exacta 3-7 38.35 $2 Exacta 3-10 38.00 $2 Trifecta 3-7-10 415.00 $2 Trifecta 3-10-7 338.70Results chart |
Left: Do Deuce in the winner's circle. Winning trainer Yasuo Tomomichi said, "As was the case before his victory in the last Tenno Sho (Autumn), he was extremely calm, even more so
that last time, throughout when he was in the saddling area, the paddock and then the post parade, so I was
very optimistic today. 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."
Right: Do Deuce heads back to the barn. Winning jockey Tutaka 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."
Left: Do Deuce in the walking ring before the race. Tomomichi added, "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 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."
Right: Do Deuce parades for the fans after the race. Take added, "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. His retirement from racing is already decided and I was told that the
last three G1 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."
Left: Winning jockey Yutaka Take addresses the crowd after the race. Take said, "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 recognized as a leader within the world of racing. Certain things have changed over the years, but I love horse racing and I always have this feeling that I want to win, which is something that I've been able to keep. It goes unchanged. When I come across a wonderful horse like I did today, that feeling gets stronger."
Right: The celebration after the race.
Left: Second place finisher Shin Emperor in the walking ring. The Yoshito Yahagi trainee improved his record to 2 wins, 3 seconds, and 2 thirds in 9 starts, earning $2,447,262 for owner Susumu Fujita.
Right: Third place finisher Durezza in the walking ring. The Tomohito Ozeki trainee improved his record to 5 wins, 2 seconds, and 1 third in 10 starts, earning $3,186,575 for owner Carrot Farm Co. Ltd.
Left: Natural Rise in the winner's circle. Winning trainer Keizo Ito said, "He had a long layoff. He had a long, long break, so I had an expectation, but I also had some nervousness at the same time. It's a long interval between this race and the Kentucky Derby. So we have to see how well he's going to land from this and then decide. Now that he's won this race, he's eligible to run in the open class. So I think of the future races that I can think of for him, some would be the future races in the series. So that's possible."
Right: Natural Rise heads back to the barn. The Keizo Ito trainee improved his record to 2 wins in 2 starts, earning 23,543,000 yen ($153,135 US) for owner Hiroyuki Yoshioka.
Left: Second place finisher Clay King in the walking ring before the race. The Eiji Nakadate trainee improved his record to 1 win, 1 second, and 1 third in 3 starts, earning 16,428,000 yen ($153,169 US) for owner Silk Racing Co. Ltd.
Right: Third place finisher T O Elvis in the walking ring before the race. The Daisuke Takayanagi trainee improved his record to 1 win and 2 thirds in 3 starts, earning 11,349,000 yen ($78,836 US) for owner Tomoya Ozasa.
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