2025 Tokyo Yushun: Group 1 Review
Venue: Tokyo Racecourse
Distance: 2400m
Value: ¥651,000,000 (US$4,465,848)
Croix du Nord stamped himself as the premier Japanese three-year-old, justifying favouritism to take the G1 Tokyo Yushun (2400m) on Sunday.
Trainer Takashi Saito and jockey Yuichi Kitamura both landed their first Japanese Derby as Croix du Nord produced a tough three-quarter length success over the fast-finishing Masquerade Ball with the popular Shohei sticking on stoutly for third.
Croix du Nord – Northern Cross in French – could potentially target the G1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (2400m) at Longchamp in October, having been entered last month. Past Tokyo Yushun winners like Do Deuce, Makahiki and Kizuna ran in the Arc four months after their Derby success, but they joined the long list of Japanese horses who have tried and failed to take one of the world’s great races.
The Winner
For almost a year, Croix du Nord had been considered the most likely winner of the Tokyo Yushun and a name capable of joining an honour roll that boasts stars like King Kamehameha, Deep Impact, Vodka, Orfevre, Duramente, Contrail, Shahryar, Do Deuce, Tastiera and Danon Decile.
That reputation was only enhanced by a dominant G1 Hopeful Stakes (2000m) success in December. However, after he was defeated by Museum Mile in the G1 Satsuki Sho (2000m) – Japan’s 2,000 Guineas – in April, his aura was slightly diminished.
It was not enough to replace him as favourite though and much of the pre-race build-up was about whether he would start at odds-on or odds-against. In the end, it was the latter – $2.10 – and he justified that quote with a strong enough triumph where he never really looked in too much trouble.
In victory, Croix du Nord was able to achieve something his dam Rising Cross couldn’t – winning a classic. She was second to Alexandrova in the 2006 Oaks at Epsom and third in the Irish Oaks. Croix du Nord is Rising Cross’ 11th foal and her 10th to race; the mare currently has a younger brother to Croix du Nord named Charing Cross in training with Takeshi Okumura.
The Jockey
Kitamura has ridden for almost 20 years and took his first Tokyo Yushun mount in 2009, finishing sixth on Schon Wald. He had not managed to get closer than that since.
After winning five Grade 1 races across 2019 and 2020, primarily with Chrono Genesis, he had not struck again until Croix du Nord’s Hopeful victory last year. That came after he suffered a serious injury in May, 2021, one which saw him sidelined for more than a year.
Now, he is a Tokyo Yushun-winning rider and he is on track for his strongest year since 2019.
The Trainer
Saito, 42, landed his first Tokyo Yushun with Croix du Nord. He is no stranger to success at the highest level, though, having won Group 1 races with Chrono Genesis, Killer Ability and Geraldina before Croix du Nord.
Saito is only just over a month younger than last year’s Derby-winning trainer Shogo Yasuda and the pair represent the newest generation of talented Japanese horsemen.
Chrono Genesis finished seventh in the 2021 Arc and Saito may get the opportunity to improve his record in the race with Croix du Nord.
The Beaten Brigade
Masquerade Ball may have finished second, adding to his third in the Satsuki Sho, but he shapes as the one horse in this race with the most upside. He is making a habit of making ground late but running out of time. If he can harness his talent, the world is his oyster as a four-year-old.
His jockey Ryusei Sakai cemented his second place too on the world stage by finishing in the runner-up stall. Sakai sits second in the World’s Best Jockey race behind James McDonald, largely thanks to Forever Young’s heroics in his last three starts. However, Masquerade Ball has done his bit to help Sakai hold down second – although it may not last long given the European season is just heating up.
Shohei, named for baseball superstar Shohei Ohtani, stuck on well for third. Jockey Christophe Lemaire believes he will be better on firmer ground and so he may be one to watch come the G1 Japan Cup (2400m) and the G1 Arima Kinen (2500m).
Eri King produced the fastest last 600m and caught the eye making ground late. He looks a leading candidate for the G1 Kikuka Sho (3000m) in October.
The Quotes
Yuichi Kitamura (jockey, Croix du Nord, 1st): “What makes me happiest isn’t that I became a Derby-winning jockey, but that Croix du Nord became a Derby winner. I’m most proud that I was able to give him the best possible ride towards that goal. I feel that every step we took to get here had meaning. Everything came together for this moment, it all led to today.
“All I can do is believe in myself and believe in the horse. Today, I really felt like we were completely in sync, as if we were one being. Even without doing anything extra, he ran with a good rhythm on his own.
“I had full faith that he would accelerate in the final stretch, and I’m glad that belief led us to the win. I really hope the name Croix du Nord becomes known far and wide.”
Ryusei Sakai (jockey, Masquerade Ball, 2nd): “He managed to stay composed and I felt he was in good form. I aimed to track the eventual winner, and he settled well. I think we ran the best race we could from the wide draw. He gave a good kick in the final stretch, but the winner was strong.”
Christophe Lemaire (jockey, Shohei, 3rd): “He ran a good race even against Group 1-class competition. The ground was soft, so his balance wasn’t great from the third and fourth corners through to the straight. Even so, he fought on well to finish third. He’s definitely a horse to look forward to in the autumn.”
Yutaka Take (jockey, Satono Shining, 4th): “He gave it his all. He got a bit too fired up when another horse came up on him at the first corner.”
Yuga Kawada (jockey, Eri King, 5th): “He came into today in good condition and his run down the straight showed his true ability. I think this race will set him up nicely for the next one.”
Damian Lane (jockey, Museum Mile, 6th): “He jumped well from barrier seven. With the early pace being strong, we had to come from the back. He found a good rhythm, and his response in the straight was solid. The difference came down to race position and how the race unfolded.”
The Future
Croix du Nord may potentially target the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe while Masquerade Ball and Eri King look likely to head to the Kikuka Sho. Whatever path they take early in the autumn, it is anticipated that the top six will race against the older horses in either the Japan Cup or the Arima Kinen. ∎
