The 2025 Tokyo Yushun, the world’s richest Derby, comes up at Tokyo this Sunday, June 1.
Idol Horse‘s Japan racing experts have ranked the contenders from one to 18 ahead of the barrier draw, which takes place on Thursday afternoon.
At relevant points leading into the big race, our experts have each ranked the emerging Derby contenders one to 18. Their individual lists have been used to calculate a top 18, in order. Their final lists have calculated the below rankings.
Who will join an honour roll that includes King Kamehameha, Deep Impact, Vodka, Orfevre, Duramente, Contrail, Shahryar, Do Deuce, Tastiera and Danon Decile?
1. Croix Du Nord
PREVIOUS RANKING
1
TRAINER
Takashi Saito
JOCKEY
Yuichi Kitamura
OWNER
Sunday Racing Co. Ltd.
BREEDING
Kitasan Black x Rising Cross
BIGGEST WIN
G1 Hopeful Stakes (2000m), Nakayama
2. Masquerade Ball
PREVIOUS RANKING
2
TRAINER
Takahisa Tezuka
JOCKEY
Ryusei Sakai
OWNER
Shadai Racehorse
BREEDING
Duramente x Mask Off
BIGGEST WIN
G3 Kyodo Tsushin Hai (1800m), Tokyo
3. Museum Mile
PREVIOUS RANKING
3
TRAINER
Daisuke Takayanagi
JOCKEY
Damian Lane
OWNER
Sunday Racing Co. Ltd.
BREEDING
Leontes x Museum Hill
BIGGEST WIN
G1 Satsuki Sho (2000m), Nakayama
4. Satono Shining
PREVIOUS RANKING
4
TRAINER
Haruki Sugiyama
JOCKEY
Yutaka Take
OWNER
Hajime Satomi
BREEDING
Kizuna x Sweetie Girl
BIGGEST WIN
G3 Kisaragi Sho (1800m), Kyoto
5. Fandom
PREVIOUS RANKING
5
TRAINER
Tetsuhide Tsuji
JOCKEY
Hiroshi Kitamura
OWNER
U.Carrot Farm
BREEDING
Saturnalia x Fanatic
BIGGEST WIN
G3 Mainichi Hai (1800m), Hanshin
6. Giovanni
PREVIOUS RANKING
6
TRAINER
Haruki Sugiyama
JOCKEY
Kohei Matsuyama
OWNER
KR Japan
BREEDING
Epiphaneia x Barefoot Lady
BIGGEST WIN
Listed Wakaba Stakes (2000m), Hanshin
7. Eri King
PREVIOUS RANKING
7
TRAINER
Mitsumasa Nakauchida
JOCKEY
Yuga Kawada
OWNER
Susumu Fujita
BREEDING
Kizuna x Youngstar
BIGGEST WIN
G3 Kyoto Nisai Stakes (2000m), Kyoto
8. Feiern Kranz
PREVIOUS RANKING
8
TRAINER
Noriyuki Hori
JOCKEY
Daisuke Sasuki
OWNER
Sunday Racing Co. Ltd.
BREEDING
Duramente x Colorful Blossom
BIGGEST WIN
Debut (1800m), Sapporo
9. Shohei
PREVIOUS RANKING
9
TRAINER
Yasuo Tomomichi
JOCKEY
Christophe Lemaire
OWNER
Tatsue Ishikawa
BREEDING
Saturnalia x Oro Trajet
BIGGEST WIN
G2 Kyoto Shimbun Hai (2200m), Kyoto
10. Kalamatianos
PREVIOUS RANKING
16
TRAINER
Takeshi Okumura
JOCKEY
Kenichi Ikezoe
OWNER
Sunday Racing Co. Ltd
BREEDING
Rey De Oro x Dancar
BIGGEST WIN
Koyamaki Sho (1600m), Chukyo
11. M’s
PREVIOUS RANKING
10
TRAINER
Yasotoshi Ikee
JOCKEY
Keita Tosaki
OWNER
M's Racing
BREEDING
Duramente x Life For Sale
BIGGEST WIN
Okanzakura Sho (2200m), Chukyo
12. Faust Rasen
PREVIOUS RANKING
13
TRAINER
Masayuki Nishimura
JOCKEY
Mirco Demuro
OWNER
Toshiya Miyazaki
BREEDING
Mozu Ascot x Peisha Felice
BIGGEST WIN
G2 Deep Impact Kinen (2000m), Nakayama
13. Lila Emblem
PREVIOUS RANKING
11
TRAINER
Koshiro Take
JOCKEY
Suguru Hamanaka
OWNER
G Riviere Racing Co. Ltd.
BREEDING
Kizuna x Delphinia
BIGGEST WIN
G3 Shinzan Kinen (1800m), Chukyo
14. Toppi Born
PREVIOUS RANKING
New Entry
TRAINER
Kazuhide Sasada
JOCKEY
Mirai Iwata
OWNER
Kazuaki Matsushima
BREEDING
Real Steel x Chika Noir
BIGGEST WIN
Allowance (2000m), Hanshin
15. Readiness
PREVIOUS RANKING
15
TRAINER
Mitsugu Kon
JOCKEY
Norihiro Yokoyama
OWNER
Koji Yasuhara
BREEDING
Suave Richard x Little Shambles
BIGGEST WIN
Principal Stakes (2000m), Tokyo
16. Nishino Agent
PREVIOUS RANKING
18
TRAINER
Naoto Chiba
JOCKEY
Akihide Tsumura
OWNER
Shigeyuki Nishiyama
BREEDING
Isla Bonita x Victoria Smile
BIGGEST WIN
G3 Keisei Hai (2000m), Nakayama
17. Dragon Boost
PREVIOUS RANKING
17
TRAINER
Kenta Fujino
JOCKEY
Yuji Tannai
OWNER
Miho Mizutani
BREEDING
Screen Hero x Toko Dione
BIGGEST WIN
Maiden (1600m), Kyoto
18. My Universe
PREVIOUS RANKING
New Entry
TRAINER
Koshiro Take
JOCKEY
Andrasch Starke
OWNER
Toshio Terada
BREEDING
Rey de Oro x Church Choir
BIGGEST WIN
Azusa Sho (2000m), Kyoto
Idol Horse Expert Panel: David Morgan, Andrew Hawkins, Jack Dawling, Shuhei Uwabo, Masanobu Takahashi and Frank Chang. ∎
Last Round
2025 Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby) Power Rankings, May 15
Damian Lane
Home Or Away? Melbourne's Champion Has "Pivotal" Decision To Make
Eri King
Derby-Bound Colt Can Learn From Satsuki Sho Defeat
Satsuki Sho
Moreira Shocks Nakayama As Museum Mile Downs Croix Du Nord
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