Favorite Croix Du Nord Conquers Japanese Derby originally appeared on Paulick Report.
Odds-on favorite Croix du Nord validated his Hopeful Stakes (G1) victory last year that earned his status as the season’s Best Two-Year-Old Colt in Japan and a potential middle-distance runner at the highest level when he rose to the top of the nation’s 7,950 registered 3-year-olds Sunday by winning Tokyo Yushun (G1) (Japanese Derby), the second leg of Japan’s Triple Crown.
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A son of Kitasan Black owned by Sunday Racing Co., Croix du Nord kicked off this season in the Satsuki Sho (G1) (Japanese 2000, Guineas) on April 20 as the heavy favorite but was beaten by Museum Mile by 1 1/2 lengths, finishing second. Museum Mile ultimately finished sixth in the Japanese Derby.
Ridden by Yuichi Kitamura for trainer Takashi Saito on Sunday at Tokyo Racecourse, Croix du Nord broke smoothly from stall 13. He shifted closer to the inside and secured a prominent position around third or fourth behind Satono Shining, who was rushed to the front in his bid to lead the 18-horse field, then gave way to Ho O Atman soon after as pacesetter entering the backstretch.
Kitamura kept Croix du Nord in good rhythm as the Ho O Atman increased his lead from the rest of the field by almost 10 lengths. The race began in earnest as leader weakened 300 meters out at which point Croix du Nord came powerfully up the center lane to duel with Satono Shining then pulled away from that foe at the furlong pole while holding off a powerful closing rally by Masquerade Ball and Shohei to win by three-quarters of a length.
Masquerade Ball was second, and Shohei, third in the 18-horse field.
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Time for the 2,400 meters (about 1 1/2 miles) was 2:23.7.
“I felt it was my responsibility to make Croix du Nord a Derby winner ever since the colt won the Hopeful Stakes, so my feeling now is that I am relieved to have accomplished by mission,” Kitamura said. “The whole process since the win last year, including our runner-up effort in the Satsuki Sho, was a meaningful and precious learning experience for me.
“The colt felt great today and I was able to come into the race with every confidence so victory itself came as no surprise to me. The break was smooth and after that, I was concentrating on keeping him in a comfortable rhythm more so than what position he was sitting in. In the stretch run, he responded really well and as I’ve said, I had every confidence in the colt and drove him on believing that he would make it to the wire a winner.”
Masquerade Ball, secured a comfortable position in mid-field with a close view of the race favorite and eventual winner, running a few lengths in front. Giving the colt a breather along the backstretch before edging closer along the outside approaching the last two turns, Ryusei Sakai guided the colt further out for a clear run into the stretch. The son of Duramente uncoiled a terrific turn of foot to close in on the eventual winner while overtaking both Shohei and Satono Shining to secure second place although just short of reaching the winner.
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Shohei made use of an inside break to sit close to the pace while saving ground along the rails before shifting out slightly coming into the straight to follow the eventual winner and, while unable to match that foe, ran on gamely to overtake Satono Shining in the last strides to secure third place.
Croix du Nord was bred in Japan by Northern Racing. His dam is the Cape Cross (IRE) mare Rising Cross.
This story was originally reported by Paulick Report on Jun 1, 2025, where it first appeared.
AloJapan.com