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Satsuki Sho Runner-up Makahiki Wins a Close Contest in the Tokyo Yushun

Third choice Makahiki bested a strong field of three-year-olds in the Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby) to claim his first G1 title in front of the cheering crowd of close to 140,000 fans. Marking three consecutive wins from his debut in the G2 Yayoi Sho in March, Makahiki finished 1-1/4 lengths behind Dee majesty in the Satsuki Sho (Japanese 2000 Guineas, G1), closing in on the winner with a powerful late charge for a runner-up position. Trainer Yasuo Tomomichi claimed his first Derby title and sixth JRA-G1 win, following his victory in last year’s NHK Mile Cup with Clarity Sky. Jockey Yuga Kawada also celebrated his first Derby title and eighth G1 victory following his Takarazuka Kinen win with Lovely Day last year. With this win, he has conquered all five classic races for colts and fillies. Owner Makoto Kaneko marked his third Derby title following King Kamehameha in 2004 and Deep Impact in 2005, tying with Sunday Racing Co., Ltd. for the most Derby titles.

Third pick Makahiki broke smoothly from stall three and traveled in mid-division, around eighth from the frontrunner, along the rails while eying second favorite Satono Diamond in front. Rounding the third corner and approaching the final turn, Yuga Kawada steered the Deep Impact colt to the outside for a clear path. Although caught between horses at the top of the stretch, Makahiki found an opening 300 meters out and after slipping out from the pack behind Air Spinel around the 200-meter marker, accelerated strongly to take command 100 meters out and managed to fend off a strong challenge by Satono Diamond before the wire for a photo-finish win.

“The colt broke smoothly and I was able to race him in good position as planned. I gradually advanced him while marking Satono Diamond and he stretched really well after threading through a small opening. The moment we crossed the wire, I felt that we were a margin in front but I was overwhelmed with joy when the photo-finish result came out. I’m just happy to be able to ride in the Derby and feel very fortunate to have been able to achieve the best result,” commented Yuga Kawada.

Satono Diamond was rated seventh from the front with Makahiki and Dee Majesty traveling close behind. Though allowing Makahiki to surge out before him in the straight, the second favorite dislodged a powerful late charge under Christophe Lemaire to close in on the leader in the last furlong.

Odds-on-favorite Dee Majesty sat in midfield and made bid from an outward position after turning the last two corners wide. The Satsuki Sho winner showed good efforts and diligently closed ground behind Satono Diamond to finish half a length behind in third.

Other Horses:
4th: (5) Air Spinel—ran along rails in 5th, ran willingly and took command 300m out, outrun in last 100m
5th: (12) Leontes—keen to go early, raced 3rd from rear, timed fastest over last 3 furlongs but was too late
6th: (10) Smart Odin—traveled back in mid-pack, switched to outside for clear path 300m out, responded well
7th: (9) Mount Robson—saved ground 2nd from rear, showed belated charge in last 200m
8th: (4) Rainbow Line—was off slow, hugged rails in rear pack, quickened in last furlong
9th: (13) Red Eldest—settled 4th form rear, circled wide, passed tired rivals
10th: (18) Prodigal Son—made headway to 4th from widest stall, ran gamely until 300m out then weakened
11th: (7) Lord Quest—sat behind winner, found little room at early stretch, unable to reach contention
12th: (11) Azur Rose—ran in front of winner and runner-up, lacked needed kick at stretch
13th: (14) Vanquish Run—raced 3-wide in mid-division, even paced at stretch
14th: (6) Agnes Forte—chased leaders in 3rd, sustained bid until 300m out
15th: (15) Immortal—traveled 3-wide toward rear, never fired at stretch
16th: (2) Meiner Honey—set pace, led until 300m out, outrun thereafter
17th: (17) Prophet—chased leader in 2nd from wide draw, used up 300m out
18th: (16) Brave Smash—trailed in rear, no factor throughout

THE 83RD TOKYO YUSHUN (JAPANESE DERBY, G1)
3-year-old Colts & Fillies, 2,400 meters (about 12 furlongs), turf, left-handed
Sunday, May 29, 2016   Tokyo Racecourse   10th Race   Post Time: 15:40
Total prize money: ¥ 432,000,000 (about US$ 3,600,000 <US$1=¥120>)
3-y-o: 57 kg (about 126 lbs), 2 kg allowance for Fillies, 3 kg allowance for Southern Hemisphere-bred born in 2013
Safety factor: 18 runners

1. Makahiki (JPN), bay, colt, 3-year-old
   Deep Impact / Wikiwiki (French Deputy)

   Owner: Kaneko Makoto Holdings Co., Ltd.	Breeder: Kaneko Makoto Holdings Inc.
   Trainer: Yasuo Tomomichi	Jockey: Yuga Kawada
   5 Starts, 4 Wins
   Added money: ¥ 231,535,000	Career earnings: ¥ 360,553,000
   Principal Race Performances:	’16 Yayoi Sho (G2, 2,000m)	1st
   	’16 Satsuki Sho (Japanese 2000 Guineas, G1, 2,000m)	2nd

   
   
2. Satono Diamond (JPN), bay, colt, 3-year-old
   Deep Impact / Malpensa (Orpen)

   Owner: Hajime Satomi	Breeder: Northern Racing
   Trainer: Yasutoshi Ikee	Jockey: Christophe Lemaire

   
   
3. Dee Majesty (JPN), bay, colt, 3-year-old
   Deep Impact / Hermes Tiara (Brian's Time)

   Owner: Masaru Shimada	Breeder: Masaru Shimada
   Trainer: Yoshitaka Ninomiya	Jockey: Masayoshi Ebina

* Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby) (G1)
With the aim of establishing a systemized program that emulates the Triple Crown race held in Britain, and enhancing the quality of thoroughbreds in Japan, a 2,400-meter race for three-year-old thoroughbreds was established at the Tokyo Racecourse (then situated in Meguro ward) in 1932. While maintaining its status as one of the most popular JRA events with a record crowd of 196,517 in 1990, the race has evolved during its long history, opening its door to runners from National Association of Racing (NAR; local public racing) since 1995 and foreign-bred participants since 2001. In 2010, the race entered a new phase as JRA reached the final stage of its internationalization project, allowing foreign contestants in all its graded events. The winner’s prize money, which had already exceeded 100 million yen in 1989, has now reached 200 million, making it the third richest race behind the Japan Cup (G1, 2,400m) and the Arima Kinen (G1, 2,500m).
Recent winners include Vodka (JPN, by Tanino Gimlet) who became the first filly in 64 years to claim the derby title in 2007 and Orfevre (JPN, by Stay Gold) who subsequently became the seventh Triple Crown winner in JRA history and won against older G1 winners in the year-end Arima Kinen to become the Horse of the Year of 2011. Last year’s winner Duramente (JPN, by King Kamehameha), who claimed two of the three classic titles by winning this race and the Satsuki Sho (Japanese 2000 Guineas, G1, 2,000m), has marked a runner-up effort in the Dubai Sheema Classic (G1, 2,410m) in March this year.
Top four finishers of the Satsuki Sho on April 17—Dee Majesty, Makahiki, Satono Diamond and Air Spinel—acquired the ticket to this race while fifth-place finisher and 2015 Best Two-Year-Old Colt Leontes attempted to make revenge as fourth favorite.
Contenders from the trial races were Vanquish Run and Red Eldest, winner and runner-up, respectively, of the Aoba Sho (G2, 2,400m) on April 30, and Azur Rose, winner of the Principal Stakes (2,000m) on May 7.
Other notable runners included Smart Odin who marked his third grade-race title in the Kyoto Shimbun Hai (G2, 2,200m) on May 7, Agnes Forte who was runner-up in the same race and Lord Quest who finished second in the NHK Mile Cup (G1, 1,600m) on May 8.