Dust and Diamonds

Despite running a forgettable 19th when last seen in the G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe last October, last season's G1 Japanese Derby scorer Do Deuce (Jpn) (Heart's Cry {Jpn}) launched the 2023 season the right way, coming from far off the pace to take Sunday's G2 Kyoto Kinen at Hanshin. Named Japan's 2021 juvenile champion following an undefeated season that included a victory in Hanshin's G1 Futurity S., the 4-year-old is expected to make his next start in the G1 Dubai Turf at Meydan Mar. 25. Unhurried near the...

The reigning champion 2-year-old male in Japan, Do Deuce (Jpn) (Heart's Cry {Jpn}) will be out to avenge a pair of defeats this season in Sunday's middle jewel of the Japanese Triple Crown, the G1 Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby) over 2400 metres. Perfect in three starts last season, including a half-length success in the G1 Asahi Hai Futurity S. going the metric mile last December, Do Deuce just failed to reel in pace-pressing Ask Victor More (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) in the 10-furlong Group 2 event named in honour of...

As has been well-documented, Japanese interests have--over the course of many years--accumulated some of the best bloodstock from all corners of the globe, and as evidenced in Riyadh and Dubai in the last couple of months, the Japanese are breeding horses that can compete anywhere at any level. Classics season in the island nation kicked off last weekend with the running of the G1 Oka Sho (Japanese 1000 Guineas), with the colts' equivalent--the G1 Satsuki Sho (Japanese 2000 Guineas)--set for this weekend at Nakayama Racecourse. The 3-year-old offspring of some...