2024 Tenno Sho (Autumn): Group 1 Review
Venue: Tokyo Racecourse
Distance: 2000m
Value: ¥475,200,000 (US$3,120,465)
Do Deuce may not have been sent out as the favourite for this year’s Tenno Sho (Autumn), but it’s unlikely there could have been a more popular winner as the legendary Yutaka Take won the feature for a record-equalling seventh time.
There may have been no Equinox this year, the champion having won the race the last two years, but his 2022 Tokyo Yushun conqueror Do Deuce proved an equally fitting winner with an extraordinary effort from near last.
The Race
As is often the case in this race in particular, there was a charge in the first furlong with a quick run to the first bend. Ho O Biscuits, Bellagio Opera and outsider Schillthorn pushed towards the lead, but it was right in behind where horses like Liberty Island, Danon Beluga and Lebensstil struggled for position. Meanwhile, Do Deuce – slightly squeezed at the start – had eased back to second last on the inside under Yutaka Take.
Into the back straight, Mirai Iwata on Ho O Biscuits slackened the speed to 12-second furlongs before slowly increasing the tempo approaching the 700m. It was a masterful front-running ride from Iwata that will likely slip into the shadows given some of the race’s other stories.
Iwata’s read of the pace looked spot on when, early in the straight, Ho O Biscuits was travelling sweetly while most of his rivals were under pressure. At first, it appeared Liberty Island would be the main challenger as Yuga Kawada brought her into the race with ease. However, when Kawada asked for an effort at the 400m, there was little response.
Even at the 200m, Take still had six lengths to make up on Do Deuce and yet he swept down the outside with ease. The five-year-old passed another Tokyo Yushun winner, Tastiera, to win by a length and a quarter with Ho O Biscuits hanging on for third.
To highlight the enormity of his performance, Do Deuce unleashed a 32.5s last 600m. It was a world-class effort from both horse and rider.
The winning time of 1:57.3 was more than two seconds slower than Equinox’s world record time from last year, but it was still the seventh fastest Tenno Sho (Autumn) ever.
The Beaten Favourite
Liberty Island had raced somewhat below her best when third behind Rebel’s Romance and Shahryar in the Dubai Sheema Classic in what was her only start of 2024. Making her return for the first time in seven months, she was sent out as the 2.3 favourite with plenty of market confidence that she would run to the form that made her a Triple Tiara winner last year.
While she did race wide, she still came under pressure a lot earlier than her other races and found very little when asked by Kawada. She finished 13th, beaten five and a half lengths.
She wasn’t the only disappointment among the market fancies. Third favourite Lebensstil raced back and wide and, although he made up some ground, he was still never a winning chance and finished three and a half lengths from Do Deuce.
Fifth favourite Danon Beluga raced further forward with blinkers applied, but stumbled noticeably on the sweeping first turn. He eventually found the back of Liberty Island through the middle stages, but was under pressure upon straightening and weakened out badly to be beaten about seven lengths.
The Legend
What more can you say about Yutaka Take? For four decades now, he has been king of the Japanese jockey ranks and – even into his mid-50s – he is still a constant fixture in the country’s biggest races.
Cold as ice through the first mile of the 2000m feature, he knew the capabilities of Do Deuce and trusted his instincts in pushing the button at just the right time.
It was his 82nd JRA Group 1 victory, his seventh Tenno Sho (Autumn) – equalling the record set by Takayoshi Yasuda – and there still appears more to come later this year.
He may not have received as loud an ovation as when he won the 1990 Arima Kinen on Oguri Cap, but there were plenty of tears reported trackside for both horse and jockey.
Remarkably, he is not the oldest jockey to win a Japanese Group 1 race this year. Norihiro Yokoyama, who partnered Tokyo Yushun winner Danon Decile, won the Japanese Derby aged 56 years and 93 days. A “youthful” Take was aged only 55 years and 226 days on Sunday.
The Statistic
With his victory, Do Deuce became the first Japanese colt to win Group 1 races at two (Asahi Hai Futurity Stakes), three (Tokyo Yushun), four (Arima Kinen) and five (Tenno Sho).
That longevity is rare globally, with Luxembourg the closest comparison of those currently racing. It will make him immensely popular when he retires to stud at the end of the year.
The Quote
Yutaka Take (Do Deuce, 1st): “I’m extremely happy. I had somewhat prepared myself before the race and planned to rely on his turn of foot. The pace was slow, but we just had to stick to the plan. I was just hoping we’d make it, but with his incredible turn of foot, I felt confident throughout as I rode him.
“He truly is a strong horse. However, it’s not always easy to get results, there have been races where I couldn’t ride him well, so today I was determined to win no matter what. I’m really happy to have won with Do Deuce today. He showed his true strength and, once again, I was reminded of how strong he is. There are only two races left in his career, but I want to bring out his best and make this the best final season possible.”
Kohei Matsuyama (Tastiera, 2nd): “The start was good, and the horse ran in a nice rhythm, but we were just a bit short. We were beaten by the finishing speed of the winning horse. I regret not being able to deliver results when given another chance with such a fine horse. However, the horse did show its capability.”
Christophe Lemaire (Lebensstil, 8th): “The wide draw was tough. The horse settled well and showed patience. He ran the best he could. We’ll try again.”
Yuga Kawada (Liberty Island, 13th): “The warm-up went well, and the horse responded excellently up to the home turn, but this is the first time she has performed this poorly.”
The Future
The Japan Cup and Arima Kinen will serve as the final two starts for Do Deuce before he retires to stud. He is certain to be popular among bettors for both races and a rematch with Tastiera looks likely.
The question is, will he go up against Liberty Island once more? The Japan Cup is the most logical target for her as she aims to go one better, but perhaps she could take on the fillies and mares in the Queen Elizabeth II Cup – although that is only two weeks away.