Ridden quietly from the tail of the field by 55-year-old Yutaka Take, DO DEUCE (h, 5, Heart’s Cry {Jpn}–Dust and Diamonds, by Vindication) produced a telling turn of speed down the Tokyo straight in Sunday’s G1 Japan Cup at Toyko Racecourse and held off a resurgent 2022 Arqana August topper Shin Emperor (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}) and top stayer Durezza (Jpn) (Duramente {Jpn})–who dead-heated for second–en route to a narrow victory. Shin Emperor took up the running prior to the first corner, but was displaced on the front end by 2023 G1 Kikuka Sho (Japanese St Leger) hero Durezza, who was sent into the lead by William Buick midway down the backstretch. Take had Do Deuce three wide and out of harm’s way into the final 1200 metres and held him together entering the second turn. Durezza was committed by Buick at the top of the long Tokyo straight, banking on his strong staying ability, but Take went for Do Deuce in earnest and they sprinted home best of all to prevail, albeit narrowly. As he did when third in the G1 Irish Champion Stakes, Shin Emperor displayed admirable battling qualities late in the piece and fought on to earn a share of second at the wire. Goliath (Ger) (Adlerflug {Ger}) was outrun in the early stages and tugged Christophe Soumillon right onto the back of Shin Emperor down the back before sitting three back the fence into the turn. He remained in contention deep into the final stages before finishing sixth. Auguste Rodin (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}), having the final start of his career, got a bit warm in the preliminaries, but traveled nicely throughout and was in position, but couldn’t muster the necessary kick and finished eighth. Fantastic Moon (Ger) (Sea The Moon {Ger}) was 11th, but beaten only about a half-dozen lengths. It was a fifth Japan Cup for Take. Lifetime Record: 16-8-1-1. O-Kieffers Co Ltd; B-Northern Farm; T-Yasuo Tomomichi.

Sunday, Tokyo, Japan
JAPAN CUP-G1, ¥959,260,000 (£4,944,985/€5,948,371/US$6,197,779), Tokyo, 11-24, 3yo/up, 2400mT, 2:25.50, gd/fm.
1–DO DEUCE (JPN), 128, h, 5, by Heart’s Cry (Jpn)
1st Dam: Dust and Diamonds (MGSW & GISP-US, $496,260), by Vindication
2nd Dam: Majestically, by Gone West
3rd Dam: Darling Dame, by Lyphard
O-Kieffers Co Ltd; B-Northern Farm; T-Yasuo Tomomichi; J-Yutaka Take; ¥502,982,000. Lifetime Record: Ch. 2yo Colt-Jpn, 16-8-1-1, $12,552,854. *1/2 to Much Better (Pioneerof the Nile), MGSP-US, $350,454. Werk Nick Rating: C. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
(DH)-2–Shin Emperor (Fr), 123, c, 3, Siyouni (Fr)–Starlet’s Sister (Ire), by Galileo (Ire). (€2,100,000 Ylg ’22 ARQAUG). O-Susumu Fujita; B-Ecurie Des Monceaux; T-Yoshito Yahagi; J-Ryusei Sakai; ¥165,639,000.
(DH)-2–Durezza (Jpn), 128, c, 4, Duramente (Jpn)–More Than Sacred (Aus), by More Than Ready. O-Carrot Farm; B-Northern Farm; T-Tomohito Ozeki; J-William Buick, ¥165,639,000.
Margins: NK, (DH), 2HF. Odds: 1.30, 25.80, 15.20.
Also Ran: Cervinia (Jpn), Justin Palace (Jpn), Goliath (Ger), Stars on Earth (Jpn), Auguste Rodin (ire), Danon Beluga (Jpn), Struve (Jpn), Fantastic Moon (Ger), Blow the Horn (Jpn), Karate (Jpn), Sol Oriens (Jpn). Click for the JRA chart and VIDEO.