24/11/2024. ‘There was no way he was going to lose’ – local heroes Yutaka Take and Do Deuce strike in Japan Cup with Auguste Rodin eighth // Do Deuce gives Yutaka Take fifth Japan Cup triumph

 

 
  • 1st
    Silk
    3Do Deuce
     
  • 2nd
    Silk
    7Shin Emperor
     
  • 2nd
    Silk
    10Durezza

The world’s best descended on Tokyo for the Japan Cup but it was local legend Yutaka Take who prevailed, delivering a perfectly timed ride aboard Do Deuce to win the race for the fifth time.

Deep Impact is among Take’s five winners and he kicked off a now-19-year streak for the hosts in 2006. One of his highest-profile sons, Auguste Rodin, was unable to strike a blow on his final run for Aidan O’Brien on Sunday, finishing eighth.

Do Deuce was last of the 14 runners for much of the way, making ground only in the final few yards of the back straight, but it proved to be the race-winning move as a motionless Take cruised widest and fastest past Auguste Rodin in midfield on the turn for home before surging to the front.

Durezza, ridden by a William Buick in scintillating form on his return to Japan, kept the pressure on the leader in the final furlong, along with the strong-finishing Shin Emperor, but neither could reach the favourite as they dead-heated for second, a neck in arrears.

 

The love for Take, 55, is huge and chants for the rider in his 38th year with a licence echoed around the city-circuit track from the near-80,000 spectators packed in. 

Take, who continues to quash retirement rumours, said: “I love horseracing and always have this feeling of wanting to win, which is something I’ve been able to keep. That’s the number one thing in why I’ve continued my racing career.

“When I come across a wonderful horse like Do Deuce, that feeling gets stronger. Every day is a happy day for me, but it’s a bit sad there’s only one more race for the horse. I’ll keep trying my best and hopefully I can continue to have a future as well.

“We had three wonderful horses from overseas running in the race and I’m appreciative of that. The Japan Cup is an even more exciting race for it. It’s special for me to ride against better horses. I hope the Japan Cup will continue to be a leading race around the world. That would make me very happy.”

There was huge confidence behind the 13-10 market leader and trainer Yasuo Tomomichi was delighted a global audience got to witness the five-year-old’s talent. 

The son of Heart’s Cry famously defeated the great Equinox in the 2022 Japanese Derby over course and distance, but that season ended in disappointment as he beat just one home in the Arc won by Alpinista.

Having been among those on the receiving end of Equinox’s rise to world-champion status in 2023, Do Deuce finished the year with victory in the Arima Kinen, and he produced another high-class performance on his Japan Cup warm-up to win the Group 1 Tenno Sho (Autumn) last month. He will retire after the Arima Kinen next month.

Yutaka Take celebrates after winning the Japan Cup on Do DeuceCredit: Masakazu Takahashi

“We had a miserable experience overseas,” said Tomomichi, who was winning the race for a second time after Cheval Grand in 2017. “This time we were running on a Japanese track and there was no way he was going to be defeated. 

“I think he’s been strong on the day and I was really glad he was able to show that to the fans. I want everyone all over the world to see that performance and not what we saw in Dubai or France.”

King George winner Goliath finished best of the overseas runners in sixth, with German raider Fantastic Moon 11th.

Read more:

Signing autographs in the streets and Marquand mania – a day in the wacky world of Japanese racing fans 

 

by Racing Post

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Do Deuce gives Yutaka Take fifth Japan Cup triumph

 
Europe’s barren run in the Japan Cup continued as home favourite Do Deuce came out on top in a three-way late battle at Tokyo. 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.
 
by Racing TV