Do Deuce, winner of the May 29 Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby, G1), arrived in France Sept. 2 ahead of an intended start in the Oct. 2 Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (G1) at ParisLongchamp.
One of four Japanese-trained horses aimed toward the Arc, the 3-year-old son of Heart's Cry is out of the mare Dust and Diamonds, who won the Gallant Bloom Handicap (G2), Sugar Swirl Stakes (G3), and finished second in the Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint (G1), all in 2012.
After producing three foals in America, including the graded stakes placed Much Better, the dam was purchased for $1M by Northern Farm's Katsumi Yoshida from the Three Chimneys Farm consignment to the 2016 Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale, and exported to Japan.
In 2021, Do Deuce won the Asahi Hai Futurity (G1) and was awarded Japanese Champion 2-Year-Old Colt.
This season the colt was third in the April 17 Satsuki Sho (Japanese Two Thousand Guineas, G1), the first leg of the Japanese Triple Crown, but came back to win the Japanese Derby a month later.
Do Deuce, who is settled at Pascal Bary's yard at Chantilly, will be prepped for the Sept. 11 Prix Niel (G2) at the same course and same distance as the Arc. Yutaka Take, who has ridden the colt in all of his starts, has the mount for the Prix Niel.
